Shield Maidens of San Antonio

by: Karina Sturdivant

In a city as diverse as San Antonio, we have a treasure trove of activities to choose from. Take your pick from a scenic stroll along the Riverwalk and visit the assortment of stores, go to one of many local art and culture museums, or find a cool bar and unique flavor experience at The Pearl. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, wield a sword. San Antonio has a few sword groups in her arsenal, but a new one has popped up and has gained a following nearly overnight. Meet San Antonio’s own, Shield Maidens.

Nerds at heart, a group of four all met at a Comic con where their love for cosplay brought them together. Michael, known as “Viking Mike” and his wife Erin, known as “Sigrid Quinn,” within the group, met Gigi “Eilidh Stuart” and Krista “Xiomara Espina.” As they learned about each other, Mike’s extensive sword training background came up. “I have a history of learning the sword about 10-15 years ago as part of ARMA (Association of Renaissance Martial Arts) in Austin [and] have also been solo practicing some of my skills for […] the last seven plus years,” stated Mike in our interview. As they discussed Mike’s extensive knowledge, Sigrid, Eilidh, and Xiomara decided that they too wanted to take-up arms and train to become shield maidens, later becoming known as “The Founders.” For fun, they would document their journey, as so many do, through social media such as Instagram and TikTok. Which is how this author discovered them, doomscrolling (we all do it) on TikTok.

They have an exuberance and light-heartedness, which comes through their videos, as they train and illustrate female camaraderie and strength. And they invited all those interested to be a part of their journey as they documented their growth. However, what they thought would be simple views and comments, quickly became requests of how to join or expressions of wishfulness that they were local to others who wanted to join. When asked if they intended or expected an evolution into a bigger community their answer was unanimous, no.

“We definitely did not plan to make this as big of thing [as] it has become,” Xiomara (Krista) expressed. “But, as we posted [the] more we realized how much of a hole was in this niche. […W]omen and other marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, often do not feel super comfortable in a male dominated space, especially when […] just starting out, so we decided to create that safe space […].”

According to an article put out by HEMA Graz, a HEMA (Historic(al) European Martial Arts) club based in Austria, found during a survey that out of “836 people who answered the question about gender, 77.6% stated to be male, 4.2% […] non-binary and 18.2% stated to be women.” Therefore, a need for a space such as what Shield Maidens provide is a welcome sight. And, in a time where it feels as if there have been back steps taken when it comes to conversations such as, what it means to be a woman, and the rights of both women and those a part of the queer community, something that brings a sense of strength and wellbeing has also been welcomed by those who felt marginalized.

When asked individually what they hoped to gain from sword training, their answers were different but with a vein of commonality. Becoming someone powerful, inspirational, to be a role-model, and to gain resilience not just in oneself but as a group. “I want this journey for many reasons,” Eilidh (Gigi) starts in a Shield Maiden TikTok video, “I want for my daughter to see that strength comes from believing in yourself but also finding people around you that uplift you and make you stronger. […] I always dreamt of being the princess. I want to be the warrior now.”

The Shield Maidens had their second training session on April 25, 2026 and, out of curiosity as well as wanting to do something different, this author bought a training sword, grabbed some gloves, and headed over to San Pedro Springs Park, to see for myself what Shield Maidens was about. Upon arriving I was greeted by a group who had an eagerness to bring newcomers into the fold. It is clear from the get-go the extensive knowledge that Mike has and with his patience, willingness to answer questions, as well as with the support of the shield maidens, they have a passion for the community that is beginning to grow.

 “We are kind of planning as we go, but we definitely want to get a place where we have consistent public meetups every month to continue to build this sense of community and belonging,” Xiomara commented. When asked about future goals that they have for the group Sigrid answered saying, “[…] I am super excited […] to celebrate our learning together and cheer each other on as we improve!” As the group grows, learns, and becomes confident in their abilities, Viking Mike even plans to expand the teachings of the sword from the German methodology, that he is currently teaching, to other schools of thought from the Italian and Spanish lessons, and even to additional weaponry.

And what do you need to join? They say, bring your tenacity and curiosity! Oh, and a sword. (Though they do have a few to borrow, if you need to get the feel of one first.) Newbies, veterans, or if you’re somewhere in between, all are welcome! You can find them on Discord, TikTok, or Instagram.

The Shield Maidens are a perfect addition to the diverse tapestry that makes up our great city. A place where women and the LGBTQ+ communities can come together to train, sweat, and become warriors in their own right, is something that is beautiful to see. Welcome Shield Maidens of San Antonio!