[Our guest contributor this week is Sir Christian von Nuremberg, Knight and Provost of Atlantia] This is an individual sport – YOU are the one who has to learn how to fence – nobody can learn it for you. I fight the way I do in order to maximize my advantages and minimize my weaknesses. […]
Author Archive
Guest Post: How to Train – Sir Christian 3 comments
First Giganti Redux 13: Cuts Leave a comment
At this point, defense against cuts has already been pretty thoroughly covered in the recent discussion of tempo and in the discussion of Second Giganti, in chapters I, II, and III. What follows is a rough summation of those lessons. When discussing cuts it’s always worthwhile to remember Di Grassi’s (and others’) admonition that the […]
Dante wrote a book! 3 comments
Dante, frequent contributor and goad to this blog, has been busy the past six months putting together a book. On Historical Fencing with the Rapier and Dagger by Darren Di Battista et al. When old HMA practitioners gather around the campfire, they talk about the good old days when all there was was Di Grassi, […]
Editorial: On OoDs and ODs 1 comment
My friend and teacher Iskender once described my sense of humor as “like a shotgun.” I try to hit everything. To use a different analogy, if it comes across the plate, I swing at it. Understand this is the person who is now saying: Stop using “OoD”. To bring everybody up to speed: With the creation […]
First Giganti Redux 12: Sword and Dagger 2 comments
In single rapier the sword divides the world into two halves, the inside and the outside. Attacks are generally described as being on the inside or outside line (with variants high and low, and at various angles). To cover these two lines, you have one weapon. In sword and dagger you have a world divided […]
First Giganti Redux 11: Bodywork Leave a comment
Bodywork Most ancient masters and modern instructors discuss footwork and bladework as the means of controlling access to your target area and creating access to your opponent’s target area. “Bodywork” – the movement of your torso to achieve these same goals – is rarely addressed except in the context of the voids previously addressed (ducking […]
First Giganti Redux 10: Voids Leave a comment
During a normal find or parry, the sword is moved laterally or vertically to close the line. During a void, the body is moved laterally or vertically from the open line to a closed line. This bodywork can also be applied without active voids, as we’ll discuss. Voids against attacks on the inside The […]
First Giganti Redux 9: Passing Steps 1 comment
Moving on from theory and swordplay it’s worth taking a moment to discuss the footwork Giganti employs beyond the lunge. He barely addresses advances as most fencers understand them (step the front foot forward, bring the back foot up to end in guard), and they may or may not exist in his system at all […]
First Giganti Redux 8: Feints 4 comments
Up until now the basic tactics of Italian Rapier have been to set yourself in guard so that your opponent’s line of attack is closed (limiting their options) and, when they give you a tempo by performing a predictable action in measure (either stepping to measure, stepping laterally, performing a disengage, or attempting to beat […]
From the Editor: Comments on the Announcement Regarding Creation of the MoD Leave a comment
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! We understand the trepidation of some regarding this. However, we also feel that a) The Royals will determine who will be in this order and after 50 years no set of Royals have been able to make any decision that has destroyed the SCA, so they probably won’t start now, and b) […]