Welcome

I was torn on practice this week. I knew that we could work on forms without much risk to each other, but wanted to be smart about it. This is just a recreational activity.

We haven’t posted updates for a long time, but we are still working out in Bend, Oregon. Eric returned from a work trip to Brighton having connected with Chris Chatfield and his 1595 crew.

S., M., and E. in attendance and we worked on longsword. Practice comparing longsword footwork patterns comparing heel-first drop and toe-first drop. With the heel-first footfall, the stride is naturally lengthened, while with toe-first, the stride is shortened.

Informative review of a new economy broadsword coming from Castille Armory. https://youtu.be/-fq5Hci_SAM

To know the perfect length of your sword, you shall stand with your sword and dagger drawn, as you see this picture, keeping out straight your dagger arm, drawing back your sword as far as conveniently you can, not opening the elbow joing of your sword arm; and look what you can draw within your dagger, that is the just length of your sword, to be made according to your owne stature.

Met two new participants, T. and J., today! Welcome! Backsword basics Explanation of compass step Practice compass step with passing with left and right foot True guardant and open fight Cutting basics Distance practice on pole Distance drills with partner Switched to plastic trainers Worker attacks from both sides, makes light contact to shoulder Feeder moves head, keeps posture and vision forward, tries not to blink Feeder can counter attack to check distance, after touch Same drill with movement Balance adaptation drill Feeder in posta frontale with two hands on stick Worker in posta longa with one hand on stick Worker pushes, feeder follows Feeder pushes, worker follows Same drill with worker practicing dagger strikes

Another basics workout Warmup Sword squats on heels and toes Working volta stabile as stretching Working volta stabile with thrusts Working volta stabile from rear-weighted posta donna with cuts Sword planks Cutting fundamentals Descending blows with two hands from point, working weight shifts Ascending blows from point Review of low guards: full iron gate and boars tooth Three-step cutting drill: Full descending blow with pass, full ascending blow with pass, half cut to posta longa.

We are starting the beginner’s cohort as promised! Come on out to the Masonic Hall of Bend this coming Tuesday. Practice starts at 5:30 sharp. This week: Historical review Brief discussion of the Fior di Battaglia, Fiore, and Armizare Balance fundamentals Setup is feeder with two hands on stick, worker with one hand.

Sean and I demo some basic sword and dagger plays from Fiore, and explain how our practice drills connect to historical combat with sharps.

Light warmup Longsword Basic oppositional counter setup: Oppositional counter blow in response to pass and fendente Counter to above: displace counter-blow outside, elbow push and strike across arms Counter-counter: parry with false edge and strike while retreating Work elbow push as a flow drill

Short sticks Box system review Roof and inside interrupt strikes Discuss concept of aggressive defense Longsword Passes with fendente and compass step Passes with fendente, feeder slips using box footwork Feeder adds parry and displacement/thrust with agent in presence Feeder adds parry and counterblow with agent yielding Agent adds pommel / close-in follow-ups Backsword Same footwork combo’s with backsword

Staff Staff rolling hits With body drop Reverse rolling hits Parry/thrust game Parry/avoid/collect game Parry/avoid/strike game Longsword Basic grips and striking mechanics Compass step Box step with parry and counter Stationary parry/counter and counter-measures - various arm wraps, elbow pushes, etc Working box step and parry/counter as 2-part drill with masks on