Research and Discussion Forums

Thanks for the support Steven, I actually am practically done with it since it is only 15 pages, I 'm just having trouble with some terms that I don't know what he means, to translate properly.

I have to have those precautions too when I read Godinho and Figueiredo, since a montante is still very ...

From at least Figueiredo and Godinho, that are the ones I had a closer look at, it seems to me that they focus alot on multiple opponents, and it is my conviction that is where the benefit of the practice of the montante lies, since most authors with other weapons rarely deal with this situation ...

well, I guess I can agree to disagree but also agree to some point :)

I do think what you describe is very reasonable thing to do if you can do it, that is, the isolation of a member, I just don't think it is often possible, for enough time to make it a safe and common approach.

Luis preto made a ...

Sean, what I say is that you should manage distance, with the sweeping strikes, and in that way you avoid being attacked by all at the same time (you keep them at distance).And there you do kind of isolate one for an instant I just dont think it is enough most of the time to create a small fight ...

Really like how he teaches there the way the opponents should move.

Silver takes advantage of the huge range and weight of his staff for this situation, the montante authors do the same, since they would be fighting people with shorter weapons. I think that shows a respect for the situation that ...

Jon, great quote, thanks, I believe I agree with all that.

One note about the thrusts. Figueiredo does it alot, I don't like it, and was kind of turned off by it. But then with Godinho, he does it alot too, but he explains it, when to use it and how, and it makes sense in the entire system, he ...

Director Clements does a much better, cleaner job of isolating and finishing one opponent then turning to do the same to the other opponent.


To use the tactics of creating multiple fights you have to go fighting multiple opponents with this assumption:

You can win all small fights you create ...

I've seen other martial artists that also don't use any historical source for multiple opponents, nor any martial tradition nor have to use it in any practical way, doing it the way you describe, and assume they can isolate and defeat their opponents one by one.

I guess it works against multiple ...

James, I don't read spanish very well myself, and have not studied the other weapons deeply, but it isn't that hard to follow.

The montante is about 80% multiple opponents, he just gives some hints on one on one combat, but his sword section seems to be common one on one combat stuff. but I'm not ...

James, the guys translating his work say they can't find much information on him, contrary to Figueiredo that we know a bit more about, and has a similar work on the montante .

Domingo Luis Godinho' s "Do arte de Esgrima" is from 1599.
He is Portuguese, but the text is in spanish.
It deals with ...

Jonhathan that is a nice description of how I see it should be too. I just don't think you can have 2 seconds to fight one on one most of the time, much less than that, and it doesn't allow you to use all one on one techniques you would like (even parries for example)But the idea you give of space ...

Ray, Agree with you, Figueiredo doesn't give you much, it is practically just movements and a paragraph or 2 in the end. I wouldn't take him much seriously before I found Godinho, and would compleately disregard figueiredo too if I didn't practice multiple opponents already.

Godinho however is much ...

Ray, I don't know how to explain better, that these are different situations that require different approach.

of course the goal is self defense, but so was USA using the bomb on japan, i'm talking about more specific stuff, of course.

when you are facing your opponent your goal is much more clear ...

The principles are not comparable, the goals are different, situation is different, but of course you are striking and stepping.

So, you should neglect authors that deal with that specific topic, because you already know it, from authors that didn't?

I don't know much about battle formations, but I have to disagree with you on fencing multiple opponents in general. I think there are significant differences, that if you don't practice them, when you are in that situations you will not be ready for it.

When you are surrounded for example, even ...