A friend lamented about the low bandwidth for venues like this in sharing thoughts and experiences. At first I thought, "I read it...what is the issue?" Then I remembered that these socials engines depend on participation from every direction and I am long overdue. So here is a thought or two from me ( Read more... )

Good gods....these people are sooo arrogant. And passive-aggressive arrogant at that! Can't we all just have an opinion and be good?

So I have been reading thru my books on German longsword extensively. One thing I have noted is the preference for the point forward guards of Ochs and Pflug for countering a thrust oriented opponent. Silver basically suggests the same two guards in his manual. Interesting ( Read more... )

So I just learned that there is a society rapier deputy for historical combat. I hope that the purpose of this role is to eventually remove the need for it ( Read more... )

So I have always believed that the Italian style of fencing liked to define a tempo not as a chance to strike, or measure of motion/stillness, but rather as a chance to be struck. The more tempi, the more opportunity to be hit. So tempi are bad....sorta. Therefore, less tempi in an exchange is good. And forcing your opponent into obedience for ( Read more... )

I am not particularly interested in I.33, but I know Silver retained some very old mechanics in his system....so I may refer back when I need a different perspective. It's not that I don't like the style...more so I don't like how people apply it. Who am I to say how it is supposed to be done...but I do know how I like to move and I fight...

So Silver constantly chastises the Italians (tho more so the Enghlishmen that vainly imitate them) for utilizing peculiar tricks and sneaky techniques. At the same time, he begrudginly compliments the Spanish for the eccentricity of their fight. What's the deal? Well, Fabris tells us that most of those trick shots are designed for a specific ( Read more... )

Maybe it's time I learn some longsword...

So some of my Black Tiger buddies are planning to enter this crazy European rapier/longsword/etc tournament in 2013. One of them called me to ask if I wanna join. Not an everyday activity. I youtubed some footage of the 2011 event. Not sure what I think. Same general setup as a sport karate tournament. Three minute rounds, four judges to call ( Read more... )

Just watched it. Lesson learned? Never trust an Italian fencer.