“Who doesn’t like just straight up getting to whack people?“ said Sidnie Clark, a junior at UNI and current member of the UNI Sword Fighting club. Clark can typically be spotted outside with her friends and fellow fighters at Lawther Field on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and even Saturdays.
“It’s very. . . Medieval vibes,” Clark added. With three years of sword-fighting experience under her belt, Clark will always come to the field prepared. She’ll always bring her water bottle, sunscreen if it’s sunny, and the right clothing to prevent getting overheated. Knee pads will also do wonders to protect her knees.
“Obviously, I bring my weapons,” Clark said. While the club may be called UNI Swordfighting, Clark wields more than just a foam blade, and she dislikes using shields. “I am definitely a Spear user,” Clark said. While she started with “flow,” which is fighting with two swords, ” I didn’t have the coordination for that,” Clark said. Once she learned how to use a spear, she found that for her, “stabbing was easier than swinging.”
They’ll typically practice from 6 to 8 p.m., battling across Lawther field. It typically takes Clark about 15 minutes to prepare for combat. This might mean drinking water, putting on gear such as knee pads, and, of course, talking to her friends. They started fighting one-on-one, leading to “King of the Hill,” where Clark fought with her spear against swords and shields for roughly 20 minutes.
That’s when the fighting intensified as the club split into two teams, known as “lines.” Forming these large groups of intense fighting with various swords, shields, flails, and even other spears. Clark led the charge and swiftly struck her opponents out of the game. They fought on those same teams for roughly 30 minutes, trading blows, before taking a break for water. Then it’s back to the fray.
On Fridays, her group also does “build days” where they build or buy their own equipment. The spear that Clark has been using to stab her friends she actually made her. She says that you can buy or make your weapons, but she enjoys the crafting process. After getting some bamboo from a friend to form the core of her spear, she’s been using it for over a year to fight her battles.
While she has her spear, no fighter can go on the field without the proper attire. While “garb” isn’t required, some members will make outfits for events. Clark created her outfit using pants and a corset that were both thrifted. “It’s usually more muted colors, kind of like nature vibes, and medieval vibes,” Clark said, “Mine’s obviously very nature.” Using acrylic paint, Clark painted her corset to look like tree bark, and sewed fake leaves onto her pants to fit her nature aesthetic.
Clark appreciates that she doesn’t have to be there every practice to be a member, “This is the only thing outside of music that I’m involved in,” she said. “I come out when I can and when I want, and I whack some people, and it’s fun, especially being a music major, because the only other things I’m involved in are music.”
Clark appreciates that UNI Swordfighting requires little commitment and the chance to meet all sorts of new people. There is a very tight and “close-knit” community, both inside and outside of UNI. “I’ve met a lot of people that are really, really cool at events and stuff, that I’ve made a lot of connections with,” she said.
Once practice is over and everyone is tired from their numerous battles, Clark will pack up her equipment and say her final goodbye to her friends and fellow fighters. Then she walks back to her dorm, where she carries her bag and spear after a long night of battle.
