new video training bouts

[Carlos Negredo]

You have fenced someone like me? What is their name?

Yes, don't you know you have a twin brother? Just kidding.

Where do you test it then? Or do you prefer not to test at all, but only have good Catholic faith?

Free bouts and bouts where your opponent has a restricted way to fight (only hitting hands, only absetzen, defensive way, offensive way, Zufechten with cuts...etc). You can take limited and distorted conclusions from a tournament.

[John H]

Carlos

Javier posted this video of a Sabre fight where it seems he is very comfortably working at a cutting game and attacking the hands. In your view why is sabre different than longsword for this type of cutting? Why is the same binding fight not applied to the Sabre?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6AC3b4bjTg

[Javier Azuaga]

John, I'm the guy that is fighting in this sabre video, but I'm from Barcelona. Carlos is from Zaragoza and the Javi you see on his videos is another one, not me.

Anyway, as I said when I posted that video, that was my 4th or 5th sabre bout in my life. Don't take conclussions about it.

[Javier Azuaga]

Carlos

Why is the same binding fight not applied to the Sabre?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6AC3b4bjTg

I don't use the same binding with sabre than with longsword because it's not the same arm. It's not the same length, not the same POB, not the same hanging, not the same hilt type, not the same wheight...

[John H]

I don't use the same binding with sabre than with longsword because it's not the same arm. It's not the same length, not the same POB, not the same hanging, not the same hilt type, not the same wheight...

Well stated answer, thanks. But that brings to a different question. who makes the longswords you use? I ask this of everyone

One of the guys in our club got a sword out of Spain and the PoB was very close to the grip about 1-2 inches, much closer than any of the other blades we use. Every time I pick it up I want to use it like a rapier and thrust with it. It is a pretty blade.

[Carlos Negredo]

In Zaragoza We all have feders from Ensifer. Barcelona, if I am not wrong, is a great (if not the greatest) customer of Ensifer.

[Carlos Negredo]

In any case, as said before, we don't use "rapier fencing" with the longsword.

[Carlos Negredo]

A new video added to the first post.

[Carlos Negredo]

Added three exercises.

[KeithFarrell]

UPDATE 11/02/12

EXERCISE 1

It is not a tactical exercise, but a biomechanical one. The objectives are boost the coordination of the student, not to apply as a right offensive and defensive technique in the right situation.

Objectives: Turn the right and left side or the body without changing the forward foot (look at the footwork here), and close the right opening. At the fourth strike, setting aside thrust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drkpqxDA11Q&hd=1

EXERCISE 2

It is not a tactical exercise, but a biomechanical one. The objectives are boost the coordination of the student, not to apply as a right offensive and defensive technique in the right situation.

First, a shadow simple exercise about turning the side of the body from a position where there is not rear or forward foot. This part can be made initially this way, and later with right foot forward, and then left foot forward.

Objectives: Turn the right and left side or the body without changing the forward foot (look at the footwork here), and close the right opening. At the fourth strike, setting aside thrust. It is made in a wrong way at the video, you need to use a Unicorn Ward to receive the fourth strike in order to avoid your sword to be deflected and be able to set aside with a thrust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X1XY_uAWpo&hd=1

EXERCISE 3

We have different levels of exercises, some are biomechanical, some are tactical, some are technical, and some are global. Global exercises try to boost general aspects of fencing, as this one, that boost the global techniques and wards with the hands up from the bind. In this exercise you CAN'T hit the opponent, you have to let it defend always, so there are no hits. The first part you can use strikes and thrusts. The second part you can ONLY use thrust movements.

You can use Mutieren, Duplieren, Schwerthau, Krumphau, Schielhau, absetzen, Ochs, etc... BUT YOU CAN'T, BY ANY WAY, LOWER YOUR HANDS FROM THE UP POSSITIONS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y039tyJiwac&hd=1

Thanks for posting these, Carlos. They look quite interesting. I do like that first exercise - I think I might do something similar to that with my students, there are a lot of good concepts and skills in there. The second exercise seems very similar to the first. From a brief watch through it, without looking for details, I didn't actually see any difference from the first video other than the solo exercise bit at the start. Is there a difference that I just didn't see? And the third exercise is interesting. Clearly it will accustom the combatants to fighting in the bind and keeping their hands high. However, I must ask about the rule that says that the combatants cannot hit each other. What is the point of doing the various strikes and winds in the bind if they aren't supposed to hit the other person? If the purpose is merely to get people used to keeping their hands high for an extended period of time without breaking to reset after hits then fair enough, but if I were to borrow this drill for my students then I would want to ensure that they were trying to hit each other and not just waving a sword about, even if the waving was purposeful

[Carlos Negredo]

KeithFarrell, I personally recommend you to do some exercises where you can't hit your partner, it is much instructional.

All exercises can be made this way, and later you can do it with hits, of course. But I can assure you we have learned a lot trying differents settings and objectives in exercises, and tactical concepts (as initiative, hitting the opponent etc) are easy to teach, and they can be obstacles to learn some things, because you rarelly come to the situation needed to apply the technique required due to the shorter duration of the exchanges.

But again, you can do it both ways

[KeithFarrell]

KeithFarrell, I personally recommend you to do some exercises where you can't hit your partner, it is much instructional.

All exercises can be made this way, and later you can do it with hits, of course. But I can assure you we have learned a lot trying differents settings and objectives in exercises, and tactical concepts (as initiative, hitting the opponent etc) are easy to teach, and they can be obstacles to learn some things, because you rarelly come to the situation needed to apply the technique required due to the shorter duration of the exchanges.

But again, you can do it both ways

Changing the rules within drills and exercises to make students focus on different skills and concepts is a good idea, I do that sort of thing all the time. I'm curious as to why you do this drill without trying to hit each other though... Surely the whole idea of swordfighting is to defend yourself and to hit the other person with your weapon? In my mind, training to *not* hit the other person seems to be introducing bad habits into students who need to learn good habits, and this does not seem like a good idea. Of course, if there is a particular benefit that you have found from doing things this way then I would love to hear it, I'm willing to change my point of view if a good reason can be presented

[Carlos Negredo]

Well, it is not "training to not hit the other person" but "training without hitting the other person". There is a whole difference. This way, and slowing down the exercises, you can learn a lot.

The benefits are you will have the required situation frequently, so you will more easily can improve your technique in this situation. Later you should do the same exercise but without restrictions, of course. This way I can assure students don't learn bad habits, but the opposite.

Oh, I forget to add that this exercise is designed to train the transitions between thrust distance and cut distance, but no other distance.

[KeithFarrell]

Ah, I see what you mean. There is quite a difference between "training to not hit the other person" and "training without hitting the other person", and I do the latter sometimes in my drills as well. Thanks for explaining what you meant yes, those benefits are certainly present in slowed down / less competitive drills, and they do help to establish better habits. It is interesting what you say about training the transition between thrusting and cutting distances... I shall certainly have to look at that myself. Thanks for the ideas!

[Motley]

Nice thanks for posting these... it is really good to see what others are doing.

[Carlos Negredo]

New video added to the op post.

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UPDATE 21/03/12

Longsword - Javi & Carlos - Training bout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ru0zi0lN0&hd=1

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