A new fitness trend is sweeping the UK, drawing women and non-binary people to sword-fighting and combat drills inspired by popular fantasy novels. The class, called ‘A Court of Battle and Burn,’ launched in Newcastle in February and has already expanded to accommodate 35 participants per session, with tickets priced at just £9.50.
Founded by best friends Annie and Rebekah, both in their 20s, the immersive workout was born from their shared love of romantasy books like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing. The duo, who met during their musical theatre degrees, trained in stage combat and decided to channel that expertise into a themed class under their wellness initiative, NCL Wellness, which aims to bring women and non-binary people together.
From Page to Practice: The Birth of a Fantasy Workout
Annie told Metro that the idea came from a simple conversation at the start of the year: “We sat down at the start of the year and said ‘what have you been doing?’ I’ve been reading a lot of fairy smut. I’ve also been reading dragons, and castles, and witches.” That lightbulb moment led to the creation of a class that lets participants step into the worlds they usually only visit in their imagination. “We thought we could make this other world we only visit in our minds happen,” Annie added. “It might be a bit janky at first, but if anyone can do it, it’s us.”
To bring their vision to life, the pair purchased 30 plastic swords and hosted their first battle initiation. The event sold out, with attendees spending an hour practicing sword drills under the premise of defending against dragon attacks. Rebekah recalled the initial nerves: “It was amazing, but we were terrified, because we were trying a new thing. We’re like, this is how you use a sword and here’s a drill – the drip of sweat that was coming off of us was crazy. Muscles that I didn’t know I had were hurting. It was crazy. From there it’s just snowballed.”
Expanding the Experience: From Rubber Ducks to Interactive Maps
The classes have since moved to a music venue equipped with lights, a projector, and an interactive map showing where the enemy is approaching. Despite the upgrades, the ticket price remains accessible at £9.50. Rebekah explained the evolution: “Our interactive map started as a piece of A4 paper with some rubber ducks pretending to be the dragons and people they’re trying to defeat. We’ve made it immersive, we’re the commanders and it’s just gone from strength to strength. We now have girls coming in, buying their own swords for our class, they’re dressed in full gear like ‘I’m ready to be a Valkyrie’.”
The class taps into the growing BookTok phenomenon, where readers share their love for fantasy and romantasy novels. Valkyries, the legendary female warriors from Norse mythology, have been popularized in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series through characters like Nesta Archeron, Gwyn Berdara, and Emerie. Participants are encouraged to embody these fierce heroines, training as if preparing for battle against mythical creatures.
Community and Empowerment: More Than Just a Workout
The classes have gained significant traction online, with many women expressing a desire to join. Comments on TikTok include: “I would sign up to a Valkyrie class so fast, oh my god,” and “Stop it right now, I need one of these near me.” Members have shared that the class takes them “back to playing with their brothers in a field with sticks,” allowing them to embrace that playful spirit as adults. Annie emphasized the lighthearted nature: “It’s not serious, it’s not that deep. And actually, we can just do things for fun.” Rebekah added, “It’s bringing that inner child back, and looking after them, and just being like, hey, you can have fun, and it’s safe to have fun.”
For many, the class has become more than exercise. Annie described a special moment at the end of each session: “At the end of the class, there’s a really special moment when everyone has let everything go, they’re sweating, they’ve screamed, they’ve done things they didn’t think they would do outside of their bedroom in front of the mirror, pretending. And we say to them, ‘Yes, you are now a Valkyrie. Yes, you have defeated the enemies, and you are part of the army, but the warrior has been inside of you all along. That hasn’t changed.’ Their chest rises, their chin lifts, and it’s just the most beautiful, rewarding experience.”
Rebekah reflected on the broader impact: “Women and non-binary people go through so much, but they can get through anything, and if it takes them holding a sword in their hand and doing drills to realise that, then we are over the moon, we’ve done our job.” The founders have received inquiries from Australia and America and plan to expand their UK offerings, providing a safe space for self-expression and empowerment.
