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Basic Longsword Study

Instruction in the use of the longsword exposes the new historical fencer to the fundamentals of combat with all Renaissance close-combat weapons. For this reason, all new members (called "White Shirts") first study to develop core skills in basic and intermediate longsword techniques. Upon the successful completion of two six-week courses and demonstration of proficiency, the member will be allowed to test for his Free Scholar ("Red Shirt") Ranking.

The ranking test will check for the candidate's familiarity and fluency in basic knowledge and techniques. The ranking scholar should expect to have to demonstrate any or all of the following:

  • Basic Stances and Their German and English names.
  • The 8-Cut Drill
  • A Basic Flouryshe
  • Explain the ARMA method
  • Explain the Significance of One or More of the Fechtmeisters.

Training of basic cuts, stances, and other historical fencing techniques is performed with a waster (wooden sword). Students will begin sparring using padded weapons, and as they become more proficient with control of the weapon, they will be allowed to progress to sparring with the waster, and ultimately with blunted steel (See " A Few Words Regarding Sparring" below).

 

A Typical Class

Our usual classes are held on Wednesday nights from 7:30 - 9:30, although it is recommended that the scholar arrive 15-30 minutes early to stretch and begin warming up.

7:30 pm – Class Begins (All Students) - The entire class begins basic warmup exercises for 20-30 minutes.

A. Tiprogressions with Foot Work
B. 8 Cut Drills with Foot Work
C. 18 and 16 Cut Drills with Foot Work
D. 5 Cutting Exercises with Foot Work
E. One each week:

1. Touch drill
2. Press Drill
3. Foot Work
4. Pell Work
5. Floryshing

8:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Course Study - Official course study begins. Beginning and advanced students ("Whiteshirts" and "Redshirts") break into two seperate groups. The Redshirts work on advanced techniques, while Whiteshirts work on basic longsword techniques. One or more Redshirts will instruct the Whiteshirts on a weekly rotating basis.

This Session:
Red Shirts – Longsword NTP 1.0

White Shirts (New Students)
1. Basic Long Sword Guards and Stances
2. Foot Work
3. Basic long sword cuts
4. Alternate Long Sword Guards
5. Sword Ranges / Times of Attack
6. One-on-One Drills

9:00 pm to 9:30 pm – Sparring/Group Sparring (In Advancing Order) - The only way to get good at fighting with a sword is to fight with a sword! The last 30 minutes of each class is devoted to sparring (with some nights devoted strictly to combat). Padded weapons are used by fencers of all levels, although as the scholar progresses, he will be expected to gain enough control over his strikes that he can safely use a wooden sword ("waster") and ultimately a blunted steel weapon.

All Students – Padded Weapons
Wasters
Blunt Steel
To the Death – Just Kidding!

One each week:

  1. Sparring circle
    2.
  2. Open Freeplay
    3.
  3. Sparring stations
    4.

 

A Few Words Regarding Sparring

The idea behind our study is to learn and master an ancient art of combat. While we have adopted the philosophy "if you pad the weapon, you won't have to pad the person", our padded weapons are not merely pool noodles, or "boffers", as used by other organizations. Our padded weapons are designed to hurt, but not injure.

The old German masters had the philosophy, "Was Sehrt, Das Lehrt" (What Hurts, Teaches). Lack of pain when being hit will destroy the individual's respect for his opponent's weapon, turning a "lethal" duel into a "pillow fight". The weapons have enough padding to reduce injuries (slight bruises are not uncommon), but are hard enough that you will feel getting hit. In short, they are designed to "hurt but not injure". Therefore, the fighter develops parrying and voiding reflexes simply because "getting hit doesn't feel good."

Wooden and blunted steel swords require the user to "pull" the blow at the last second, reducing the strike to a non-injurous level. Even so, accidents do happen. While serious injuries are almost unheard of, minor injuries (including cracked and broken fingers), are not uncommon, and head and finger protection is strongly advised (see our section on equipment). Before the fencer will be allowed to spar his classmates with these, he must demonstrate that he can control the weapon effectively. These are never used in mass combat matches, as the adrenaline level and lack of control during these matches makes their use unsafe.

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