Meeting with Swords

 Swordplay from the Ground: Crossing the Sword in Front and Behind

For the Green Spur there are only two ways you need to worry about encountering your opponent's sword: from in front, and from behind.

Crossing in Front

This is most direct and natural way of preventing your opponent from striking you. As she delivers her cut, you move your sword to block, or parry it.  For an effective parry the forte of your sword ('strong' half of the blade from the middle down to your hilt) should encounter the debole of hers ('weak' half of the blade, from mid-point to tip).

Crossing Behind

Meeting the sword from behind requires a bit more nerve and timing.  The aim is to redirect your opponent's sword away from you, altering its path by striking it from behind as it travels through its arc.  Because you are using your opponent's momentum rather than stopping it, you don't need the forte of your sword.  Debole-on-debole will keep you safer by allowing you to be farther away from your opponent, and will in fact deflect the sword better.

You will not have to demonstrate these crossings against all eight cuts.  The abilty to meet in front and behind the sword from squalembratti (cuts to the shoulder) and an understanding of the difference is sufficient.

There is a 'sweet spot' in the middle of your blade (mezza-spada) which will produce the most rebound during parries and, if you're using a steel sword, the clearest ring.  While it's nice to hear and feel, your goal at this level is not to hit the sweet spot every time, but to make sure your parries and deflections are achieved with the appropriate part of the sword.

next week: the three turnings of the sword

o o o

Mounted Combat Returns

This Sunday February 3rd we will be running both an Intro to Mounted Combat and a Mounted Combat Workshop.  The Intro workshop is almost full, and we won't be running another one until April, so hurry and sign up if you've been looking for a chance to learn to ride and swordfight!

Intro to Mounted Combat
Sunday 3 February, 10am - 4pm
cost: $149

Mounted Combat
Sunday 3 February 1pm - 4pm
cost: $60

Integrated Package
Mounted Combat + 2 Cavaliere Classes
Sundays 3, 10 & 24 February, 1pm - 4/4:30pm
cost: $120 for all 3 classes

To sign up call the front desk at 604 568 9907.  Our full Cavaliere Calendar can be seen here:
https://www.academieduello.com//school/workshops/cavaliere-calendar

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