Our traditional cutting diagrams don’t really work with thrust-centric rapier plays. So we have created a new style of diagram more suited for the style. To start, we divide a circle into zones. These aren’t specific places on the opponent, but rather relative to where their sword would be in 3rd (e.g. Terza/Tertia, Langort). Onto… Continue reading Understanding Rapier Diagrams
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Longsword Notes for May 7
First we went over all 12 patterns in chapter 10. Here is what will probably be the final version of our Chapter 10 poster. Next we worked on an indes drill. This is where the agent starts an action, then waits to see how the patient responds before choosing which of the various patterns they… Continue reading Longsword Notes for May 7
Marozzo Cutting Diagram
Note that these names refer to angles, not target. A Tondo is still a Tondo if you aim for the head instead of the waist. Though originally printed vertically, the Falso Dritto probably doesn’t refer to a vertical cut, but rather a diagonal somewhere between the red and lower green lines. The numbers are the… Continue reading Marozzo Cutting Diagram
Understanding the Cutting Diagrams
The cutting diagrams we are using in class are inspired by the Meyer Lund diagrams. We don’t have clear instructions on how to interpret these diagrams, but it’s fairly clear that they meant to be used as patterns for cuts and thrusts. Since Meyer didn’t leave us with a key, we have to invent our… Continue reading Understanding the Cutting Diagrams
Practice Notes for Wednesday, March 8
The guards (postures) we studied can be found in Meyer’s Rapier, Chapter 3. Here is a brief summary. Oberhut (High Guard) or Ochs (Ox) There are two thrusting variants, point forward on the left or the right. There are three cutting variants. One the left or right with the point back, or Straight High Guard… Continue reading Practice Notes for Wednesday, March 8
Practice Notes for Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5
Meyer’s Example Device for the longsword can be found in Chapter 9 of his book. If you are unfamiliar with the term, device can also be translated as “technique” or “drill”. Here are some videos on the topic. https://hemadrillbook.azurewebsites.net/b/Meyer1570/p/Longsword/s/Example-Device-1/t/videos We also looked at the first device for Tag from chapter 11. https://hemadrillbook.azurewebsites.net/b/Meyer1570/p/Longsword/s/Tag-Device-1/t/videos
Practice Notes for Oct 13
Fitness For our warm-ups, we are using exercises from Guy Windsor’sThe Duellist’s Companion: A training manual for 17th century Italian rapier. Sword and Buckler For Sword and Buckler, we looked at a selection of plays from Manciolino’s first book, chapters 3 and 4. In this book, all of the attacks from a given guard are… Continue reading Practice Notes for Oct 13
Practice Notes for Oct. 16
Rapier For L’Ange rapier we reviewed the fine details of the ‘German’ style grip. Then we repeated the exercise with the ‘Italian’ grip as you might see in Capo Ferro. Then we looked at plate 7 of Capo Ferro’s Use of Fencing. This play teaches one how to safely disengage when constrained and to punish… Continue reading Practice Notes for Oct. 16
Longsword Focus: Meisterhau
During the month of August, we will be focusing on the Meisterhau (Master Strikes) and how they lead to the Vier Versetzen (Four Displacements). Relevant Blog Posts Vier Versetzen | Grauenwolf’s Study of Western Martial Arts
Resources for Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli
For our next rapier unit, we’ll be studying the Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing by Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli. This manual was published in 1610 in Siena, which is part of the Tuscany region of Italy. His contemporaries include Vincentio Saviolo (1595), Camillo Palladini (ca. 1600), Marco Docciolini (1601), Nicoletto… Continue reading Resources for Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli