Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Feb 22nd, 2012
More Ringeck.
New postures: Alber (fool) -- point down in front. Pflug (plow) -- hands at the hips, point at opponent's face. Langort (longpoint) -- arms extended, point at the opponent.
Scheitelhau (vertex or scalp cut): A vertical descending cut with the long edge. Tactical considerations: 1. The target can be easily and rapidly changed from left shoulder to head to right shoulder; 2. This is cut with the longest reach, so it is possible to "over run" the oppenent (ablauffen), hitting without closing the line.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Feb 15th, 2012
First regular practice of the year!
It was great to see some new people, and some just new to Wednesday fencing.
Anyway, the first project for the year is German Longsword. Sources: Ringeck, Mayer.
Parts of the sword: long edge (Langeschneide), short edge (Kurtzeschneide), point (Ort), weak (Schweke), strong (Stark).
Cuts: Oberhau, Mittelhau, Unterhau.
Stances: Vom Tag, Ochs, Zornhut. Weight is generally forward, making it easy to move the back leg. The odd one out is Zornhut, which is depicted in Meyer with the weight well back.
Posted by Katherina Weyssin to the Fencing journal on Jan 12th, 2012
Some of Ildhafn's fencers are participating Auckland Museum's "Summer Nights" program over the next few weeks. These are our planning notes.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Nov 16th, 2011
Meyer rapier and dagger: a first look.
Preliminaries: Meyer says that you can either defend with the sword and hit with the dagger, defend with the dagger and hit with the sword, or use the sword and dagger together (and the end he urges Germans to use the last tactic, as they get confused otherwise). Meyer then offers some examples of increasing complexity. In this section Meyer varies the footwork, sometimes standing left foot forward.
Posted by Katherina Weyssin to the Fencing journal on Nov 9th, 2011
Katherina, William de C, Emrys, Iuliana
We revised the Rundstreich and Doppel Rundstreich, which Ludwig, Eleanor and Katherina examined a few weeks ago.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Nov 2nd, 2011
Mostly sparring, but we attempted the two grappling manoeuvres from Meyer's Dusack treatise.
Running in: Both of these are responses to a Scheitelhau. The defender blocks the cut above his head, stepping in on his right (unless the attacker rushes in).
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Oct 27th, 2011
One puzzle of Meyer's rapier treatise is that he frequently refers to a position called "Straight Parrying [gerade Versatzung]", especially in part two of the treatise, despite the fact that it is not listed as a guard in Chapter 3. It is defined in the Dusack treatise as follows:
Stand with your right foot forward and hold your dusack in front of you with your arm extended, so that your long edge stands toward the opponent and the tip of your weapon is forward...
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Oct 26th, 2011
Class: A set of exercises demonstrating aspects of Meyer's footwork.
Warm-up: For a change, Nicola lead up through a few minutes of Scottish dancing around the room.
Cutting exercises: Meyer's example of six cuts for Dusack (described previously) going forwards and backwards (cut on the back foot when going backwards). An example of stopping a cut and switching to the other side (adapted from Dusack):
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Oct 12th, 2011
A brief review of basics of Meyer's rappier: stance, footwork, some basic attacks and defences.
Reviewed Meyer's six cuts example (from dusack): Zornhau right, Mittelhau left, Unterhau right, Unterhau left, Mittelhau right, Scheitelhau.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Sep 21st, 2011
Class: Plays with single sword (spada da filo)
The plays start in Porta di Ferro Stretta stepping towards the opponent (gathering steps) to provoke a response.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Sep 14th, 2011
Rapier, rapier and dagger, rapier and buckler, dagger, dagger and buckler. Smiles and bruises all round.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Aug 31st, 2011
Giocco Stretto (close-in fighting) from Manciolino.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Aug 24th, 2011
Continuing with Manciolino's first Assalto, and starting his plays from Gioco Stretto.
In the Assalto, we added the approach (the first bit):
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Aug 10th, 2011
Continued with Manciolino's first Assalto. Managed to sandwich the first part of the exchange between two embellishments.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Aug 3rd, 2011
Manciolino's First Assalto: The first engagement section.
Starting in Guardia Alta with feet together (right foot forwards)
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Jul 13th, 2011
Class Outline: A start on Manciolino's first Assalto, then opportunities for sparring.
Great to have Lisa visiting from Adelaide.
Manciolino guards review
High guards: Guardia Alta, Guardia di Testa, Guardia Faccia, Guardia di Sopra il Braccio, Guardia di Sotto il Braccio
The high guards are performed with either foot forward, with narrow or wide stance. Alta sometimes occurs with the feet together.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Jun 29th, 2011
Class plan: Continued introduction to Manciolino
Warmup: Footwork exercises (17th C Italian)
Introductory Exercise: Sample transitions
Start in Guardia Alta with right foot forward. Mandritto (with pass) into Sopra il Braccio, Riverso (with pass) into Porta di Ferro Stretta, Montante into Guardia Alta with left foot forward. Continue with alternate foot variations.
Defences from Guardia Alta:
Fendente and Montante
Pass back with Montante-like thrust into Guardia di Faccia
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Jun 15th, 2011
Class: A few manoeuvers from Meyer
Warm-up: Footwork, Meyer's 1st cutting drill for Dussack
Cutting drill: Start with left foot forward, in Oberhut. Cut with pass into Langort, lift hilt into Ochs with gathering step and cut again, and again. Thus three cuts, stepping with each, the first delivered with a passing step. Then cut stepping backwards, landing the cut with the back (left) foot.
I was inspired to practice cutting while stepping back on the left foot by a recent Manciolino class.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the Fencing journal on Jun 8th, 2011
Class: Basic Meyer Rapier
Warm up: Footwork and cutting drills
Cutting drill 1: Oberhau B-F followed by Oberhau H-D, each following smoothly from the other with appropriate stepping.
Cutting drill 2: Oberhau B-F then Unterhau F-B (ending in Ochs on right), transition to Oberhut on left by thrusting, dropping the tip and letting it fall down to the left side and up for the stroke, Oberhau H-D, Unterhau D-H etc. Smoothly join cuts together with appropriate stepping.
