Measure Up!

 "Were our weapon despoiled of its proper steps, it would fall into the darkness of a serene night being orphaned of the stars."
- Antonio Manciolino

In fencing, "measure" or "misura" is the distance between opponents, from the tip of the sword to the opponent.
The type of measure you are in, or want to go into can be defined by that distance.

Rolling out an old yoga mat to help define distance, I worked on the following:

Narrowest Measure/Misura Strettisima - The distance at which I can strike my opponent’s lead arm with a simple extension of my own.

Narrow Measure/Misura Stretta – The distance at which I can strike my opponent with an extension or a lean of my body.

Wide Measure/Misura Larga  – The distance at which I can strike my opponent with a lunge.

The wall target got a pretty good work out tonight. Soon, I'll be starting out of measure and moving into these.

Saturday, Saturday!

 So, the back end of a good week got a little derailed when I took a spill on Thursday. Banged up both palms, wrists elbow and knee but did manage to roll so I didn't hit my face or head. (Small victory)
Some swelling in in said areas kept me from practice on Thursday, but this morning was better.

Isometrics to begin, loosening up my wrists ad forearms.
Stretching to open up my abdominals, hips, spine, shoulders and neck. Knee and leg lifts have also been included.

Foot work!

Thrusts and lunges, right side only. Left elbow and knee are not supporting the actions at the moment.

Weights and planks are no go right now, but that should clear up in another day or two. 

2025 has not been very kind to my fencing, it has been getting frustrating, but I am determined to get things back in order for March.

Happy Wednesday!

The morning drive started with Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio, the second time in three days! Yesterday, I left work to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now".
It's been a decent week, so far.

Minimal stiffness from the other night, all good.
Tonight was about limbering exercises:
Knee kicks
Leg lifts, front and side.

Basic yoga:

Cat/cow

Butterfly pose/lower back stretch

Light weight work

Planking

Let's Try This Again!

 The last time I posted was during Lockdown, 2020.
A lot has happened since then, ups and downs; fortunately more ups.

I'm bringing the blog back to keep myself accountable for my off practice training. I'm getting my stamina back after a bout of Flu A, so in the rebuilding, I'm dedicating 30 minutes practice time. 

For now, I'm going for every other day, but I hope to increase the time over the next month.

Tonight:

Footwork (All work done on both sides)- Advance/retreat, crossing steps.

Thrust- Break down- 

1. Extend
2. Fold
3. Lean forward
4. Recover
5. Unfold
6. Back to guard

Combine into four moves, then two moves.

Light weights

Planking

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