Posts Tagged ‘ Fencing ’

Spanish Fencing Notation Part 5 – Strength of the Weapon

(11/3/2009)

LINK TO ARTICLE 1

LINK TO ARTICLE 2

LINK TO ARTICLE 3

LINK TO ARTICLE 4
Degrees of Strength in the Weapon
The amount of physical power you can exert with a sword varies along the length of the blade.   The part of the blade closest to…



Pacheco’s Destreza Curriculum

(12/16/2009)

[caption id="attachment_1114" align="alignright" width="156" caption="Don Luis Pacheco de Narváez"][/caption]

With the Ettenhard translation rolling out we have been getting some requests on what material a fencing instructor should tea…



Fencing Criticism and Feedback for Dummies…

Fencers?  Cocky?  Never!
[caption id="attachment_1184" align="alignright" width="300" caption="William provides Italian sabre feedback at WMAW 2009"][/caption]

I recently witnessed an Internet discussion on fencing that rapidly degenerated into bad …



Pregnant with Twins (Embarazada de Mellizos)

My lovely wife is pregnant with twins and the first trimester officially ends on Thursday, February 25, 2010.  Of course, you want to see the pictures and I won’t deny you.
Baby Pictures
Here is the latest Ultrasound from this last Thursday:

[caption…



Using Classical Phrasing to Teach the Spanish Attacks

When a classical instructor from my tradition introduces new techniques each fencing action is taught individually with a focus on form, distance, and timing.  Too much emphasis on individual actions can create fencers without depth or the ability to…



Italian Rapier Flowchart

(10/12/2009)

After WMAW 2007 I prepared this Italian rapier flowchart to explain some of the possible actions when executing tactical drills with a student.

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Italian Rapier Flowchart (Click for High Resolution)"][/caption]

There are things I would change about this chart today.  This flowchart does not include actions like attacks …



Italian Rapier Flowchart

(10/12/2009)

After WMAW 2007 I prepared this Italian rapier flowchart to explain some of the possible actions when executing tactical drills with a student.

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Italian Rapier Flowchart (Click for High Resolution)"][/caption]

There are things I would change about this chart today.  This flowchart does not include actions like attacks …



Spanish Fencing Notation Part 4 – The Position of the Hand

(10/1/2009)

LINK TO ARTICLE 1

LINK TO ARTICLE 2

LINK TO ARTICLE 3
Hand Positions
In the Italian tradition the hand positions are notated as first, second, third and fourth.  While this is concise, it doesn’t provide any information that guides the student to the correct position without additional explanation.  When grasping a sword, we …



Swetnam’s Postulate

(9/28/2009)

[caption id="attachment_794" align="alignleft" width="100" caption="Image from Swetnam"][/caption]
“…yet regard chiefly the words rather than the Picture.” ~ Joseph Swetnam
First, a postulate is to maintain or assert that something is self-evident.  It is part of the fundamental element or basic principle of a logical argument.

Second, a primary source is an original text …



Fencing Blogs

(9/6/2009)

With WMAW next week, I am going to do the blog equivalent of a punt and direct you to the fencing blogs of some friends of mine.

Chris Holzman is a classical Italian fencer whose book The Art of Dueling Sabre is coming out very soon from Swordplay Books.  His work …