Here is some footage recorded at the New Year’s Day fencing with Karen, Ingo and myself: <
https://youtu.be/u5dc3sFAJWk> I have to admit that only a few years ago I would not have thought it possible to safely fence at this level without any protection, leave alone with sharp weapons. I am very proud of Karen and Ingo.
Here are a few things that you may want to watch out for:
- Note the different speeds of bodies moving compared to weapons. This makes for the impression that the fights are slow and fast at the same time. When we spar against other people, we usually notice that they tend to use way too many steps, thereby actually slowing themselves down by moving the whole weight of the body too much. At the same time, moving the body a lot means moving the head a lot. The fight is thus perceived as faster and more chaotic. I actually win the majority of my fights at the Berlin Buckler Bouts with taking no more than 3 or 4 steps after first contact of blades. Often I do not have to step at all.
- See that the focus is on controlling the space between the fighters, the center. All entries from wards are designed to clear and control this position first before continuing on the way to a traget. Only when a combatant is sure that it is safe to bridge final distance, because he controls the center by whatever means, an shot at the target is launched. So an attack requires a previous mistake on the part of the attacked party. Accordingly, there are zero double hits (there actually were none the whole session that day and we hardly ever have them at all any more).
- Note how fencers often use their swords like antennae to sense through a bind what the opponent is up to next, probing which is the best way to safely cross the middle ground. This is why sometimes the flow of blades stops, which is a more evident effect with sharps than with blunts. Note also how this sticky bind is sometimes released by explosively re-aligning the blade to strike, pressure permitting. In other cases, binds are solved to find the sword anew, yet in a more favorable crossing. Not the relatively gentle character of finding a sword which completely differs from hacking into or striking at a sword, which offers zero advantages and should be strictly avoided.
- See how good posture wins you a fight: The illustrations in I.33 suggest that weight is generally kept rather central. Save for „Krucke“, no depiction in I.33 shows the front leg’s knee extended over the foot. Whenever fencers adhere to that, they are doing well. Whenever posture is faulty, a combatant quickly gets into severe trouble.
- There are also plenty of historical wards, actions and techniques that you may know from I.33 and Andres Lignitzer's buckler plays
Enjoy the video!
Mein Credo ist immer: Lerne deine Waffe zu beherrschen und zu kontrollieren, damit deine Waffe nicht dich beherrscht und kontrolliert.
