Royal Navy Sword/Stick Techniques

[Louie]

Just purchased a book on Royal Navy Cutlass / Singlestick techniques which features the guards & cuts developed in the late 1800's.

A simple system was developed which relied on 3 guards:
The Hanging Guard, The Cross Guard & the Outside Guard
Attacking thrusts came directly from these guards with the knuckles turned upward, this allowed the sailor to return directly to the Hanging guard.

There were 2 cuts, diagonally down on each side of the neck/chest/leg....
The downright blow to the head was also used.

In training practicioners drilled both right then left handed!

The photo shows the 1st or Hanging Guard

Louie

[ats]

that ROCKS!

[Louie]

Although Cutlass & singlestick fell into dis-use in the army & navy in the 1930's it was still practiced by individuals right up to the 1980's-90's

Naval Commander, Locker Madden re-introduced single-stick fighting back into the Royal Navy in the 1980's. He also Fought with 2 sticks (a practice called cudgels) and used it in RN competitions.

This photo below shows the downright blow to the head-

Louie

[teacher]

Louie if we're going to practice this do I have to wear the sailor suit?

[Louie]

Louie if we're going to practice this do I have to wear the sailor suit?

:D He! He! If you like Teach, but I wanna be a Pirate!!!

Louie

[lklawson]

Although Cutlass & singlestick fell into dis-use in the army & navy in the 1930's it was still practiced by individuals right up to the 1980's-90's

Singlestick, Cutlass, Military Sabre, and Broadsword are all still practiced by individuals.

There are discussion forums dedicated to each.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singlestick
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/broadsword_heavy_sabre

...are two examples.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[Cudgel]

LOL
louie is on the singlestick group and Im on both of those groups and the western_arts group.
And keep up the good work louie.

[Louie]

Singlestick, Cutlass, Military Sabre, and Broadsword are all still practiced by individuals.

Hi Kirk....

What I meant was that there would seem to be an unbroken tradition of these arts up to the 1980's & 90's, by fencers who are now veterans.
So it's up to the present generations to maintain these arts... ;)

Personnally, I study/practice the singlestick featured in the Scottish 1790 'Anti-pugilism' manual and have been in contact with a couple of veteran singlestickers and a Backhold wrestling coach who was taught dirk fencing as a youth.
Another combative link I am following up is the Highland Dirk Dance....

Louie

[Wynnston]

Good thread Louie. Was the book callled "Fencing in the Royal Navy & Marines 1733-1948"? There was an article about it in the last issue of British Fencing's Sword magazine and it looked pretty good. If it was a different book I can give you a name and address of where to get this one.

[lklawson]

Hi Kirk....

What I meant was that there would seem to be an unbroken tradition of these arts up to the 1980's & 90's, by fencers who are now veterans.
So it's up to the present generations to maintain these arts... ;)

Ah... Well... OK then.

Either I misunderstood your post or flat mis-read it. :P

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain...

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[lklawson]

LOL
louie is on the singlestick group and Im on both of those groups and the western_arts group.

Ah-ha!

I thought I recognized your face!

err... or something like that.

:-)

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[Cudgel]

yeah
And I recognize you also.
I wonder how many other peopl from the western_arts group will end up here.

[Louie]

Was the book callled "Fencing in the Royal Navy & Marines 1733-1948"? If it was a different book I can give you a name and address of where to get this one.

Hi Wynnston,

Apologies for the delay, the book was 'Naval Cutlass Exercise' produced by the Royal Navy Amatuer Fencing Association (2002). Can you post details of the book you mention.... Cheers!!

Louie

[Cudgel]

that diagram makes no sense to me at all.

[Louie]

that diagram makes no sense to me at all.


Hi Cudgel....

In the top section the figure performs the footwork, in the diagram the lines connected to the sword hilt are the guard positions, the lines with the numbers are the cutlass cuts -
1. Diagonal Down
2. Diagonal Down
3. Diagonal up
4. Diagonal up
5. Horizontal across
6. Horiontal across
7. Vertical (Head to Groin)

Louie

[Cudgel]

oooooooohhhhh OK that makes sense.

[Wynnston]

Hi Wynnston,

Apologies for the delay, the book was 'Naval Cutlass Exercise' produced by the Royal Navy Amatuer Fencing Association (2002). Can you post details of the book you mention.... Cheers!!

Louie

No worries, will do tonight.

[Wynnston]

It's a booklet called "Fencing in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines 1733-1948".

Available from John McGrath, Beech Lawn, Bridgefoot Drive, Fareham Hants. PO16 ODB, £4.50, postage free.