Fair Weather Sword Press: News from December 2015

by Wes von Papineäu

"When one has taken for a long time lessons at the salle, it is outside, on the beaten dirt or on the gravel of the road that one has to make the rehearsal for combat. … Prepare yourself, train at the salle. However, you will have abandoned success to mere chance if from time to time, as often as possible; you do not fence épée in the field, in all seasons, in the mist, under the sun, in the rain, in the wind, on hard or water-soaked ground, in your ordinary shoes. [1]

“Heart beating fast, Kahuel drew dagger and longsword. “Generate uneven terrain. Snow and Ice on the ground.” Both elements, commonplace in Kassouk and Yalta, would constitute an additional challenge for the Estrell.” [2]

Let’s see now, medieval battles were fought in snow and ice, as were a few in every campaign to modern times… and we’re sure that "bar fights" happened historically in all seasons -- as did affairs of honour.  But that said -- show of gloves -- how many of us actually train within our art in all seasons, and both indoors and out.  Are we only fair weather fighters? (Should we be?)

Swordplay Instruction at Ten Calories a Minute

FOX 32 (Chicago, Illinois). 15 December 15.  Local gym trading treadmills for medieval sword fighting.

Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts share column inches with the Chicago Swordplay Guild as they’re both featured as "the" way to undertake a 400-calorie-an-hour fitness regime… just in time for that New Year’s resolution.  On the other hand: swordplay and treadmills, why not do both?

I found Forteza instructor Jesse Kull’s comment to the effect that "popular culture such as GoT gets people into the salle… but you need something else to keep them there", distills the essence of the problem of ensuring that our historical swordplay art continues to grow, once swordplay-based movies and television dwindle in popularity, once again making way for the inevitable cycle of police dramas and lawyer shows… maybe even some westerns.

You get some dirt, and you get some dirt, and you get … an axe to the head!

BOSTON GLOBE (Massachusetts). 29 December 15.  New England’s medieval fight club is no larping matter.

This article provides a detailed behind-the-scenes look -- complete with a two-minute documentary-style trailer and photo gallery -- at Jaye Brooks' efforts to train aspirants to compete in the Armored Combat League (which looks to merit an article in its own right) or the Battle of Nations.  His Knights Hall is currently working about 80 combatants through two programs and individual coaching.

Theory versus Practice?

RHEINISCHEN POST (Dusseldorf, Germany). 20 November 15. Internationale Fachtagung rund um das Schwert.

The Solingen German Blade Museum held its symposium on “The Sword - Shape and Thought” last month.  Seventy “scientists” (archaeologists, historians, linguists and swordplay experts) gathered from at least eleven nations to discuss the use, development and culture of swords in history… with a nod to current developments as well.  Keep an eye out for the proceedings from the meeting.

On Guard in Offenbach

EXTRA TIPP (Rhein-Mein, Germany). 28 November 15.  Dietzenbacher kämpfen mit Säbeln wie im 18. Jahrhundert.

In Dietzenbach, Germany Heiko Große is bringing back sabre techniques as they were during the Napoleonic-era campaigns.  Within the Broad Sword Academy the circa 1839-ish period techniques are being based on the recently discovered fightbook of Franz Conrad Christmann.

The homogenization of European swordplay techniques that is necessary to allow for the training of large numbers of industrial era, mass-production, draftee combatants in a short time notwithstanding, Große emphasizes that, even then, "every fencing master had his own tricks."

Mixed Metaphor Martial Art

iDNES (Prague, Czech Republic). 15 October 15. Jde o to dát první ránu a soupeře utlouct, říká učitel německého šermu.

Training out of the T. J. Sokol in historic České, Budějovice, Pavel Foltan is leading the Czech renaissance of medieval German longsword as taught by Joachim Meyer.  In this lengthy article, Foltan explains his attraction to and interpretation of German longsword technique, emphasizing that since the blades were so lethal, it was critical that one approached with good cover and technique and got the first controlled strike in before the fight escalated.  Longsword work is a psychological duel.  Foltan ends his interview with some impressions on what western martial arts can bring to people working in modern times.

Culture Clash!

МОЛОДОЙ КОММУНАР (Tula, Russia). 04 December 15. Первомайская битва.

The Department of Culture of Tula city once again supported the fourth annual historical fencing tournament Frontier, and saw fifty fighters from four cities compete for the silver ring of Saint George.

The competitive grading of this event is a bit different from other Russian mêlées, with points being awarded for the number and accuracy of landed blows, rather than a submission or knock-down decision.  As a result, the combatants within Frontier tend to wear less armour and be lighter in their boots.

Interesting elements within this item include how the fighters of various clubs support each other by passing on their experiences on how to create functional "under armour"; using washing machine and refrigerator parts!

Snippets

“The salute… is a civility due to the spectators… a genteel deportment and a graceful air are absolutely necessary to execute this.” [3]

“Monsieur Gardel, superintendent of the Opera’s ballets, coached the new officers on the ceremonial salute they were to make. The results were sometimes more comic than impressive.” [4]

1.  La Marche, C. The Duelling Sword. E. Flammarion, ed. 2009 edition. Paris. 1884.  pp.24-25.
2.  Schartz, Vijaya. The Chronicles of Kassouk Book Three. Castaic, CA: Black Jaguar Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. 2010. Web. Accessed 1/1/2016.
3.  Angelo, Domenico. The School of Fencing.  London, UK. 1787.  p.17.
4.  Elting, John. R. Swords Around a Throne. New York NY: Da Capo Press. 1997.  p.170.