A Night of Daggers

Our Hawthorn practice was small and we were all tried, but got some work done.  Malcolm taught us a couple of trap and parry techniques using rapier and dagger, so we pretty much fought that all night.

I did fight single a couple of times, it is important to keep skills tight with the first form.  I make it a point to do so at each practice.

An Off-Handed Buffet

"For the animal's soul is mine..."

Enjoying Disturbed on the way down to the Bhakail practice tonight, feeling pretty good.

I decided to fight all of my weapon forms tonight.

I opened up with single rapier, lots of binds and disengages.  Off hand could have been a bit more active but, overall, things went well.

Second match went rapier and buckler.  I haven't fought this form in about six months or so, but it came back quick.  Our bouts were pretty aggressive and I learned about a few new feints.

Next up was rapier and dagger. My opponent was quite smooth with her techniques and I found myself working a cutting game more than usual.

So far, all of my previous fights were matched bouts, my opponents having the same weapon form as me.

My final fight, I brought out cloak.  My opponent used a cane as his parry weapon.  These passes definitely kept me on my toes! The cane is really effective in trapping and tying things (like a cloak) up. The engagements traded off between patient and fast and furious.

A great way to end the evening.

In between bouts, there was review and discussion on technique and strategies.

I left there sweaty, tired and knowing it was an evening well spent.

Two of Swords

Of the Case of Rapiers

"There are also used now adays, aswell in the schools, as in the lists, two Swords or Rapiers, admitted, and approved both of Princes, and of the professors of this art, for honorable and knightly weapons, albeit they be not used in the wars. Wherefore I shall not vary from my purpose, if I reason also of these, as far as is agreeable to true art. To him that would handle these weapons, it is necessary that he can aswell manage the left hand as the right, which thing shall be (if not necessary) yet most profitable in every other kind of weapon. But in these principally he is to resolve himself, that he can do no good, without that kind of nimbleness and dexterity. For seeing they are two weapons, and yet of one self same kind, they ought equally and indifferently to be handled, the one performing that which the other does, and every of them being apt aswell to strike as defend. And therefore a man ought to accustom his body, arms and hands aswell to strike as defend. And he which is not much practiced and exercised therein, ought not to make profession of this Art: for he shall find himself to be utterly deceived."

                                                -Giacomo DiGrassi 1570, Translated by Kelly Hatcher

The challenge put forth by Master Orlando last night was for "every older fencer, having been fencing for three years or more, to seek out the newer fencers and for the newer to boldly take on the old. Moreover, I challenge all to take on a new weapon form they have yet to try or an old form that they rarely use."

I decided to spend the night fighting two sword, or case.  It was a huge challenge, and I took more losses than wins, but it was a lot of fun.  Because of the equal lengths of the weapons, the risk of getting them entangled was a lot greater, footwork being paramount to navigate proper defense and offense.

This is not the first time I used two weapons, the Asian Arts have dozens of forms of wielding twin weapons, yet the conventions of European Fencing, a weapon that I am still young in learning and new footwork made this a very good challenge.

I plan on purring this weapon form further but most likely, not until the end of summer, as time permits.

Round III

It's a small group that comes out to Hawthorn, but it gives everyone a chance to fight everyone and we can take a little more time to break down our matches and see where we need to improve and what is working.

Doing three practices in a week felt pretty good.  My goal at the moment to to keep a minimum of two practices weekly, if I can keep three, that will be a bonus but two is my requirement for the foreseeable future.

Round II

I finally for down to the Bhakail practice in Philly, it was as fun as I remember!

It's another great group of people with a lot of talent, I had some good fights and did a lot of dagger work and a few hard lessons on the value of retreat and regroup.

It was good to be back there.

Good Practice

We have a really good practice at Glen Gardner; a broad range of skill sets to keep everything competitive, capable teachers and a welcoming atmosphere to get new people started.

With all of this, when visitors from other practices join us, its always a high energy night!

I got some good lessons in distancing and disengages as well as creating a better flow with my techniques.

Stepping Up

When I first started, I was pushing two practices a week, then, as always, like got crazy, and I was only able to make it to one.

In all honesty, I got a little comfortable with it and Ive been working with one practice for a while now. 

It's time to step my game up.

This passed week, that changed and I got to a second practice. It was small, maybe five of us, but it was a great chance to really analyze and break down what worked for us and what we needed to improve.

It was a good night, with some really good fights.

I'm planning on  continuing with, at least, two practices weekly from now on.

Did You Fence Today?

I saw a flow chart for musicians in one of the schools I was substituting in a little while back; it was fun, but also pretty direct.

I figured I that I (and other fencers) could use something like that.  It was fun to make, too!

Steel Therapy

"Steel Therapy" is a term that many fencers I know have come to use.

It could be a rough day at work, all sorts of stress crushing in and it's amazing what a couple of hours at fencing practice can do to ease things.

This was definitely needed on Tuesday; some sibling stuff blew up and left me upset and a bit scrambled. After talking to my wife she said "you are going to fencing practice, yes?".

Yes.

Suiting up, rapier in hand and the therapy began.  There's just something about losing yourself in a match; nothing else exists except for your weapon, your opponent and their weapon.

By the end of the evening, I'm soaked with sweat, lessons learned, some laughs had, and much more centered.

Gotta love Steel Therapy.

Growing as a Fencer

Like any martial art, learning the sword is more about the journey than the destination.  It sounds cliché, but is there really any Master out there who can honestly claim that they have learned everything there is to know about their craft?

Each time there is a breakthrough, there's a whole new set of challenges to meet; new angles of attack, manipulation of distance, methods of attack and defense, better conditioning, and so on. 

It's a quest for the perfect technique, as we celebrate brief moments of the pieces lining up, while the sword seems to hold all the secrets: "Just get the timing and angle right, human, you'll be amazed at what I can do!"   Sometimes it's an encouragement, sometimes it's a bit mocking, but it works all the same.