Research and Discussion Forums

Hi Mike,

I'm writing this on someone else's computer and am in a bit of a hurry, so please forgive the possible typos and poor grammar - don't have the time to double-check my post right now..

If you're referring to the systems we practice in ARMA with that last bit, John has rebutted such ...

Hi Mike,

What do you think of the fact that numerous other quite non-sportised lineages from all around the world, both Europe and the Orient, parry with the edge as well? Do you think *all* of these systems (some of which have been used in real combat with sharps as recently as the beginning ...

Hi Casper,

o you think Silver advocated being the last to strike? To wait to be attacked in order to use a counter?

At least I don't, since there are plenty of offensive actions to be found in Silver, but he certainly places an emphasis on fencing defensively and in a manner that is *safe ...

>I don't know that much about small swords, it could be a better way to fight with them, but it's obviously a last resort/second choice to most, if not all, medieval and ren. fencing texts>

The British fencing tradition *always* emphasized parry-riposte and fighting on the defensive.

Yeah ...

Hi Jeanry,

I am considering longsword primarily of course. But even with sidesword, I have seen all manner of sidesword simulators and you cannot cut full force with these safely with anything less than complete body coverage.

As for using "control", of course you always do that even with ...

You are right, they can perform free play.

What it means is they are extremely restricted in their ability to perform full-speed, full-contact sparring. In fact they cannot do it at all except in heavy armor and even then, they are still constrained in their fencing particularly in thrusts ...

In the US, AEMMA has (or had until very recently) a policy of not sparring with padded weapons. That is not 'utter rot'. Several other smaller schools have the same policy.

That's true, but the fact that they don't use padded wasters doesn't mean they don't do freeplay.

Rabbe

You'll also hear members of other groups applying modern sport fencing terms to historical techniques, making suppositions based solely on living Asian lineages ("they do X and Y in Kali, so the Europeans must have done X and Y, too"), and using Asian terminology (i.e. referring to drills as "katas ...

Hi,


Q: WMA seems to have more questions than answers. So much material is missing or incomplete that this is very much a nascent stage, where the duty is to reconstruct through rigorous practical application and rediscover the art. That being the case, is it premature to have other ...

Sorry for jumping in like this in the middle of the discussion.

Dave,

I stated, universally accepted. Of course there will be exceptions to any rule in competition that is held worldwide by different organizations. For example, foot stomps to the face are allowed in PRIDE FC, another MMA ...

Since you are located in London, your best bet might be to contact Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria: http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/intro/

You can also find links to other UK-based HEMA groups on the site.

Rabbe

There have been so many replies since my last post in this thread that it'd take quite a bit of time to specifically answer every point raised, so I'll try to address them a bit more generally. Sorry about that.

First, about my comment on flat parries causing potential breakage: I *never* said ...

Sorry for the brief message and possibly typos, but I'm in something of a hurry right now.

George,

Oh, but they can be both.

Yes, they can - if improperly performed. A proper parry, with the forte, often assisted by a forwards step to choke up the blow, won't damage your sword, and will ...

Hi Jeff,
Hey Rabbe

I miss typed that i meant the edge of the forte, I can see using the flat of the forte.

It seem's natural to use the flat of the forte to me in this position, like I said I see no reason to use the edge to block, stifle, parry, except in an "Oh No!" type of manner ...

Matthew,

About living lineages: no, I did not mean that there are living lineages from the Renaissance or earlier (thought there is at least one that *might* be, but that's aside the point). My point was that there is concrete proof of edge-to-edge parries being done for centuries by men who ...