Blue Spur: Finding & Gaining the Spear Last week we looked at the three advantages of True Edge, Leverage, and Crossing as they apply to the spear or polearm. This week we are examining the mechanics of finding and gaining. Finding the Spear To find your opponent's spear, cross your spear tip over top of…
An excellent series of videos -- Mastering Savate by Professor Salem Assli and Panther Production -- has been uploaded to YouTube from VHS instructional tapes. Here is part 2 of the series which defines many of the core kicks and concepts: Mastering Savate 2 - Fundamental TechniquesWatch this video on YouTube If you want your kicks to…
Pretty but Authentic Blades Doing Ugly but Authentic Things KOTAKU (New York, New York). 26 October 15. How People Actually Fought With Swords. Cédric Hauteville’s Kickstarter-supported HEMA documentary "Back to the Source" is now available on YouTube. “Actual blade combat was messy and nasty, caring less about looking pretty….” Choreography. It’s actually quite boring. EXAMINER.COM (Denver,…
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In the last two posts on spear fundamentals we looked at attacks and defenses of the spear. For your Blue Spur you will also need to Demonstrate finding and gaining against another spear. Those of you who fight with rapier will be very used to the ideas of finding and gaining. If you spar with…
This awesome video showcases Maestro Devon and Matheus, one of our senior students, sparring with longswords at varying speeds. There has been a huge focus on scaled speed sparring in the school since Maestro Devon returned from WMAW a few weeks ago. Devon (Instructor) vs Matheus (3rd Rank) LongswordWatch this video on YouTube This Week…
We have a talented group of students in our FDC intensive course who performed their fight scenes on Friday as a test of their skills. Each scene is a performance, with dialogue memorized from a published script and full-speed choreography. Like a live professional show, there is no stopping midway and asking to start again.…
Ever since I was a kid Halloween has always been my favourite holiday of the year. My mother would spend months sewing exceptionally detailed and original costumes for me and my brother, and I loved heading out into the streets of my neighbourhood to see what all the other families had decked themselves out in.…
Fencing competitively at all times is tiring and restricting. You cannot view every pass that you have with someone as a life or death encounter. If you do, you’ll never allow yourself to bring new material to bear. Experimentation without consequence is an essential part of opening up your swordplay. It is one of many…
There are a multitude of reasons people come to the Cavaliere Program: they always wanted to be a knight; they're bored with the show-ring and want a new equine activity; they want to take their swordfighting to a (literally) higher level; they want to learn about horses and riding; they were horse-crazy kids whose parents…
Read More... from The Cavaliere Program: Many Goals, Many Routes
A true swordplay bout might be as binary as survivor and vanquished. However, in our modern times, no bout is final and all provide an opportunity for practice and growth. Though winning can be thrilling, I recommend setting your sights on different targets for the best long-term success in becoming a master of these arts.…
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Riding, Horsemanship, Swordplay and Spear -- it all starts up again this Sunday, October 18th! Beginner Riding & Horsemanship New or relatively new to riding? This class is for you! Learn everything you need to know to get your journey in the saddle started, from handling, grooming and tacking up, to confidently riding at a…
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At Open Floor on Friday night, there were several attempts at single-leg takedowns, but not with a lot of success. My main advice was to stay low and twist while driving the shoulder. The goal is not to lift the opponent, but to take them down. Picking the leg then twisting will prevent them from…
I have noted a phenomenon in sparring, especially when fencing someone who feels themselves to be less experienced or less skilled than me, of someone giving up before the hit is made. Perhaps my point is winding its way toward home, and two inches before it touches I feel their whole body relax and their…
Read More... from Combat Mindset: Fight All The Way to the End