Picking up a blade again!

Discussion in 'Western Martial Arts' started by Mitlov, Mar 31, 2010.

  1. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Hi everyone! After eleven years of various East Asian martial arts, I'm back to my first love, fencing. I fenced epee in high school (modern Olympic style); I'm fencing sabre now (once again, modern Olympic style). While I really enjoy what I'm doing now, I also have an interest in the more traditional approach to swordplay, ARMA and all that, particularly when it comes to some of the earlier, heavier weapons (as opposed to rapier), but I've never had the opportunity to train with such a group. Besides, I personally do really like the heavy emphasis on competitive sparring that I get from my current training.

    I do also have a question to ask...is the term WMA generally used to refer specifically to traditional approaches to sword and empty-hand training, or does it encompass modern sport-ified western martial arts as well (from Olympic and pro boxing to freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling to FIE-rules fencing)?

    Anyway, I'll likely be poking my head in here a bit now, and wanted to do a proper introduction.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2010
  2. Langenschwert

    Langenschwert Molon Labe

    Awesome. Enjoy your sabre fencing!

    WMA applies to basically any Western fighting art, not only the reconstructed ones. So Jogo so Pau and La Canne are WMA, and so is Italian longsword.

    Best regards,

    -Mark

    Edit: Just noticed your location! Be sure to get a taste of classical Italian duelling sabre at the Northwest Academy of Arms: http://www.northwestacademyofarms.com/ it would be well worth the road trip!
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2010
  3. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Hey, thanks for bringing that to my attention! It's a little bit of a drive (three hours each way, to be exact), but I'll check it out some time.
     
  4. 47MartialMan

    47MartialMan Valued Member

    I'm picking up fencing again also...I have the perimeter of a whole yard to fence... :)

    Actually, I think fencing, the art, sport is great.
     
  5. YouKnowWho

    YouKnowWho Valued Member

    One of my favor move is to press my sword on my opponent's sword. Remain contact and slide my sword along my opponent's sword. The tip of my sword points to my right (my opponent's left). I then run toward to my left (my opponent's right) and use the tip of my sword to cut my opponent's throat. I feel very safe in this attack because I know exactly where my opponent's sword is. I also know that since my moving path, my opponent's sword can not reach me at that moment (if I move in fast enough).

    Not sure this move is used in western fencing though.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2010
  6. DavidRPAcker

    DavidRPAcker New Member

    I'll second that reccomendation. I've never met Maestro Hayes, but I've crossed blades with David Borland many times. He's a joy to fence rapier with. Very clean, and so technical that even if you kick his butt, he can tell you every little thing you did wrong, and be absolutely correct. I've never crossed blades with him without walking away a better fencer.

    I will never do singlestick with him again though. That was a lifetimes worth of swift lesson learned in about 30 blows...over about about ten seconds. Ouch. :)
     
  7. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    This is an area where skills don't cross over. That wouldn't work in Olympic sabre.

    Just so you know how different Olympic sabre is from traditional Chinese sabre are, this is the gold medal match from Beijing 2008 in men's individual sabre:

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIgQhBdc0eA"]Beijing 2008 - MSI - GOLD - Zhong CHN v Lopez FRA - 1 of 2 - YouTube[/ame]
     
  8. YouKnowWho

    YouKnowWho Valued Member

    You are right, it may work better with long and heavy 2 hands holding sword.
     
  9. DavidRPAcker

    DavidRPAcker New Member

    The standard response to that sort of action is simply to drop the tip of the sword and gut you as you move forward.

    You need more elaborate setup. Marozzo recommends a few similiar actions, but they involve some fairly advanced footwork, very advanced timing, and the use of selective grappling.

    I recommend you spar more with advanced fencers.
     
  10. Polar Bear

    Polar Bear Moved on

    I have seen one of his Fiore longsword seminars. It was ok, some of the techniques wouldn't never work in a free environment and while he talks alot about principles in his classes, I felt he didn't explain them well to the class. As a result the seminar was very technique driven. A problem I find alot in WMA in general.
    His fighting skills are above average for WMA but lacks aggression and the explosive power of the top fighters. He is probably too nice a guy.
    Overall, he is probably a good teacher to start you out on your WMA journey.

    The Bear.
     
  11. Louie

    Louie STUNT DAD Supporter

    Hi Mitlov
    Welcome to the WMA section of MAP and good luck with the training.

    Louie
     

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