They (Sean Hayes, Paul Wagner, Stephen Hand, David Rawlings) are also picking apart my interpretation over on the SwordForum. I expect to be feeling somewhat dumb by this time tomorrow.
"Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall."
I am only beginning to learn anything about period sword techniques, but it is really nice to know that what I have learned looks like what other people are doing.
Great stuff...Nice to hear that sexy steel on steel sound as opposed to clacking wood. Technique looks good- pretty much what I had in mind too. Lots of slips, buckler engagements and thrusts.
Fascinating! I'd never taken more than a passing glance at I.33, but this is genuinely interesting. Much different from Fiore's "active defense" and worlds different from Talhoffer's constant agression.
The principals at work seem to be slight direction changes, economy of movement, and control of the enemy's weapon. Very elegant. It's not flashy at all -in fact, it puts me very much in mind of Aikido.
This here is a style for wise gray foxes, not young firebrands.
Destichado wrote:Fascinating! I'd never taken more than a passing glance at I.33, but this is genuinely interesting. Much different from Fiore's "active defense" and worlds different from Talhoffer's constant agression.
The principals at work seem to be slight direction changes, economy of movement, and control of the enemy's weapon. Very elegant. It's not flashy at all -in fact, it puts me very much in mind of Aikido. This here is a style for wise gray foxes, not young firebrands.
Anyone else thinking the same thing?
Personally I have thought for a little while now that the really good fighters, in whatever situation, are the ones that seem to move the least. The man in the medieval manuscript that controls the center and makes his opponent try to work the outside. The SCA knight who slips a blow by moving his head back an inch. The man who watches the blow whiz by his face because he controlled the range.
I agree that I.33 is fascinating. I've spent a year trying to understand it and anticipate spending at least one more year before I get close to that goal. Then I get to apply it.
"Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall."
Jester, thank you for spending some much time focussed on this project. It is a great service to all of us.
It's not flashy at all -in fact, it puts me very much in mind of Aikido. This here is a style for wise gray foxes, not young firebrands.
Anyone else thinking the same thing?
I think it all depends on how each system is taught. My personal take on Fiore is that it works very much like this; very little motion in many of the techniques; seemingly effortless grace in the execution of techniques against strong, resistant opponents; conservation of motion; use of any motion/force from the opponent to power a technique appropriate to the situation.