How we treat each other
Every member and instructor at SDS agrees to the same standards — on the mat, online, and everywhere our club shows up.
Applies to all members, instructors, and visitors.
What we don’t tolerate
SDS members should remember that their conduct inside and outside the club reflects on the art and on the club itself. Because the well-being of our members comes first, everyone is expected to act in a way that respects other people's physical, mental, and emotional health.
Criminal offenses of any sort.
Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety or well-being of another person.
Inappropriate or threatening physical or verbal behavior, including sexual harassment.
Theft or purposeful destruction of training equipment, SDS assets, or other personal property.
Derogatory or offensive conduct, including rude or disrespectful language or actions about another person's ethnic background, race, age, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
Purposeful misrepresentation of another's intellectual work as one's own, including plagiarism or theft of research and technique.
An academic atmosphere
We believe a robust intellectual atmosphere depends on healthy skepticism over unquestioning acceptance. HEMA is a reconstructed art — every technique we teach is our best current interpretation of a centuries-old text, and interpretations improve when they're tested.
So we encourage every member to question techniques, research, and theories discussed within the club — including those presented by instructors. Good-faith disagreement isn't disrespect; it's how the art gets better.
That freedom comes with a responsibility: offer criticism in a way that's respectful and doesn't disrupt classes, demonstrations, or other instruction. The same courtesy extends outward — we aim to be respectful in our disagreements with other clubs and organizations sincerely working to understand historical martial practices.
How we handle concerns
If you ever witness or experience a violation of this Code of Conduct, we want to hear from you.
Report it — to any instructor, or directly to club leadership
Any violation of this Code of Conduct should be reported as soon as possible. In most cases, that means speaking with any SDS instructor. If your concern involves an instructor, or you'd simply rather not raise it in person, you can report it directly to club leadership instead — every report will be taken seriously and handled discreetly.
Members will never face retaliation for reporting a concern in good faith. Raising an issue — even about an instructor — will not affect your standing, class access, or membership at SDS.
In person
Speak with any instructor at practice
Club Leadership
Lorenzo Mendoza
General Contact