Research and Discussion Forums

As usual, we must remember two things:

1) Swords are weapons - they are dangerous;
2) Only wield a weapon if you know how to use it;
3) Avoid confrontations - you never know with who you're messing;
4) If you end up having to defend your life, then REALLY go for it and put the agressor down as ...

Agreed.

One thing I noticed from MY experiences is that when facing someone unskilled, a very agressive stance will probably help your swordplay. Most unskilled people can't deflect a thrust properly.

Depending on the model, you can use it mainly to thrust or to cut and thrust; the gladius can vary alot in it's dimensions (it can range from 55 cm to 80 cm, it seens).

I know this may sound irrelevant to the whole thing here, but just a quick question:
Who read the fighting manuals back in the Middle Ages? Nobles? Mercenaries? Taking in consideration that being able to read was not so common back then, of course!

Hello
I would like to ask if there is any source of spear and shield combination avaible around in the Internet. All I found so far was something about the hoplite attack-step with spear and shield, but not much more <img src="/forum/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thank you in advance!

However, there were actual techniques for weapons, as the actual researches about the gladiatorial activity and culture exemplify. When you look at fight in general, there is always a tendency to develop specific techniques; as many historical documents from different sources mention, the bretons ...

True, the lack of actual knowledge of the western martial culture is sometimes even more damaging than the lack of living traditions on specific techniques. As matter of fact, I've been reading a lot about the Roman Empire and it's easy to notice the rich martial culture they had. Quoting Edward ...

Ah that's interesting! By the way, I know our main information comes from Italian schools, but is there any source for Spanish rapier around? I've read Comprehension de la Destreza, but I was looking forward for something more pratical than theorical. Spanish rapier fencing is very ''obscure'', some ...

Thank you very much for pointing those examples! But there's just one doubt of mine I would like to expose: the parry must be made directly with the hilt (contact/shock with the attacker's blade) or you must use the Prime part of the rapier to slide the attacker's blade into the hilt? Forgive my ...

Greetings everyone.

I've been reading Pallas Armata and I've found it a very nice guide for rapier training, but I feel kinda uncorfortable without proper directions on how to peform against a sword blow using the rapier. Is there any kind of contratempo you can use? Is it possible to parere the ...

While obtaining more resistant padded swords is always good, sometimes we should look more forward our own technique. From my experience, people tend to use the sword as if it was a club or something. Remember that you're training to cut, not bash rocks...I've been practicing using the pell with ...

Greetings all! Again, please excuse any flaws in my english, for it is not my primary language!
I recently posted a question about tips to how to get started at rapier training. I found a very nice manual, Palla Armatta, and I've reading it and testing some Prime, Secunde, Tertz and Quarte ...

First of all, forgive me for any grammatical mistake I commit here. As you see, english is not my primary language. Thanks!

I've been looking forward to start studying the rapier and reinassance's swordplay, but I lack any kind of material about instances, footwork, attacking, defending, etc. I ...

Actually, in Kenjutsu we do train close fighting (it's called Tae tari or Tatari, I'm not sure how to write it). It's just like the normal instance, but you are close to your enemy, and I mean like guard to guard with his sword. You can push him forward with your body (this requires insane amounts ...

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