30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 30

"The Finale!" 

Day 30.

In a few days, we will be saying good bye to 2020; 2021 will not begin any easier but, with luck and a lot of work the winds will finally be at our backs.

Tonight was a combination of two previous drills:

A measure (misura) drill incorporating the thrust (stoccate/punta) and lunge (affondo). It's a timed drill, fitting x-amount of correct thrust and lunges into a set amount of time.

The four measures to cover are:

Strettissima - Point the sword to strike

Stretta - Point the sword and lean the upper body forward to strike

Larga - Point the sword, lean the upper body forward and bend the knee to strike

Largissima - Point the sword, lean the upper body forward and bend the knee and step to strike

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnPK4BeesH0YSrLYARVeakA

A flowing guard drill. Going from one guard to another, it is easy to see where cut and thrusts would fill in those spaces; how an offense becomes a defense that becomes a counter attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aijGSXbA2nw

This has been rewarding, it has kept me connected to fencing and with other my friends who have not seen or worked with each other since March.

All the stresses are still there and, in February, my District is bringing us back to the classrooms (hybrid); this challenge has put me back in my manuals, giving my brain a chance to just step away from all of this craziness and giving me more to deal and get through it.

This was a good choice.

Day 30!

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 29

"Reengaging the Disengaging"

Tonight was a replay of last night's drills with a focus on small wrist circles and half circles.  My left hand definitely needs some fine motor skills work.

This is the home stretch, tomorrow is my final day.

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 28

"Disengagement"

Disengagement (Cavazione): Moving either over or under your opponent's blade to free your weapon from their (attempted) engagement or parry.

"A successful attack by disengagement needs to be made in an oval motion, such that the disengagement finishes as the lunges finishes-otherwise, you would not arrive in tempo.  If you do as I have described above and you have made the disengagement in tempo the enemy will not be able to parry."

                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                          ~Salvator Fabris

Disengagements are used for attacks and counter attacks by changing the line the sword travels past your opponent's blade.

Tonight's drills were disengagements from terza to seconda, then terza to quarta, accompanied with lunges.

As a variable, terza rolls to prima with a passing lunge.

Repeat of the first set of drills with passing lunges.

Perform on both sides.

Gran Simulacro dell'Arte e dell'Uso della Scherma ("Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing"); ~Ridolfo Capo Ferro,1610

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 27

 "The Repeat"

This morning was a repeat of yesterday morning; not too creative, but effective.

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 26

 "Holiday Paces"

Getting in late last night/early this morning from this year's Reindeer Trax Run (See link), I relaxed a while with my wife and our dog.

I was gifted with a new fencing manual "Fundamentals of Italian Rapier" by David Coblentz, Master at Arms and Dori Coblentz, PH.D.

My wife went to sleep, and as I was reading, I decided that My 30 minutes can be done at 2AM.

Silence was required for this, as we are apartment dwellers.

Advance, retreat, lunge, reverse lunge.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

https://www.facebook.com/stories/?card_id=UzpfSVNDOjcyNDAwODU3NTE2MTU1MQ%3D%3D&view_single=true

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 25

"Stand and Move"

After taking Yosei on a half mile walk, I went into my session. The walking was a good way to loosen up and knock the sleep off. His sudden bursts of puppy play energy also leads to a lot of shuffling, stepping and pivoting, regardless of the terrain!

The knee and neck felt better and stance training followed then progressed into footwork.  I do both of these a lot because they are just as, if not more important, than the thrust or cut.

If you have a weak stance, you will not have the proper alignment, balance or power to deliver a proper attack (or defense, for that matter).

If your footwork is clumsy (slow, poor timing, etc.) you will also have bad stances and be more of a threat to yourself than your opponent.

Finally, you will, ultimately, injure yourself with poor body mechanics that can end your ability to train with the sword.

Giovanni dall'Agoccie writes:

                                      "With reason and the art of movement and in finding your adversary in all the guards, and this starting with one or the other foot, for traversing, as with the pushing of one foot or the other forward, according to the time and the need.

Nevertheless, the movement should be with steps that are neither big nor small and the most useful: because going forward and back without disordering the person, accompany always the hand with the foot.  But there is a need to admonish that the leg that is forward is bent a little at the knee and remains strait towards the enemy.  The leg to the rear should be a little curved and the foot always in a traverse; in the manner that every movement is full of grace."
                                                                                     ~Opera Necessaria

                                                                                       Translation: William E. Wilson

While the entire body must be in concert, the foundation for everything is in the stance and footwork.

Artist Unknown

30 Minutes for 30 Days, the Return: Day 24

 "Maintenance"

There have been some frustrations with this challenge, particularly with neck and knee issues.

A large part of this is teaching from home.  Normally, in my classroom, I easily spend 70% of the time on my feet as the lessons are presented and working with my students.

Due to the set up I have at home, I am in my seat the entire time. It's definitely taken its toll.

At any rate, tonight was another stretch routine and looking forward to a better work out tomorrow.