Description of Bolognese swordsmanship workshop at Swordfish 2013

This video shows most of the exercises that were practiced in the workshop I ran at Swordfish event in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2013. The workshop presented a progression from basic actions and concepts to more free fencing -like exercises.
The basic actions were the mandritto and riverso cuts (from right and left side), the stoccata and imbroccata thrusts (from below and above), passing steps forwards and backwards and parrying with falsi and dritti (with false edge and true edge) and subsequently riposting with any of the attacks mentioned.
The concepts presented were the provocations, most importantly the invitation and the beat (on the opponent's blade), and their relation to the five tempi (opportunities for wounding the opponent). A detailed discussion of these concepts will be done in another video.
Also included are cuts to the legs and how to defend against them, and an excellent flow drill we use to quickly internalize the different motions and to build stamina in the arm wielding the sword.

[@etorelly]

Ikka, I came here on the recommendation of a mutual friend, Davide Lupidi. FANTASTIC VIDEOS! Congratulations on the incredible work.

[@NickRossi]

Ilkka, this is fantastic. Thank you so much for posting this work. Our group has been studying Godinho (sidesword) for the past year. I've recently become interested in the Bolognese system also. Cheers.

[@e22378]

Beautiful!

[@Rikitocker]

Wonderful stuff Ilkka, keep up the great work - I am training with Mr Cullinin on Bolognese and it is great to see your work also. I hope to get a chance to visit and train with you in the near future. Regards!

[@thunderforcex]

Thank you!! This is soo useful

[@ilkkaouto]

Ernesto, the workshop was three hours long.

[@iarroganti]

Thanks Ilka, this is great.
How long was the workshop?

[@ikonkolwaiss989]

Schön!

[@rimandries]

Do you ever change position with the left hand? If find it easier to manouvre having it tucked in under my chin, arm flat against the chest, like in some rapier treatises. I do know that when comes to sabre, messer and side sword systems that you hardly see this. Is that hand really that vunerable in cutting orientated systems when it is in that postion? I know i should probably just train more but it feels so rigid and undynamic placing it on my hip or back. This no criticism, just an honest question. Salute!

[@ilkkaouto]

Traditionally the Bolognese have the left hand (unless armed, of course) held at the hip, but when fighting different positions can be used. I consider having the left hand strictly at the hip a sort of "elegant-style"-position. Whether you choose to use it or not depends on the situation.
Usually holding the off-hand forward tends to square the body, hence offering a larger target area. Holding it behind the back or at the hip suggests a more turned body position and it forces one to practice using the sword as the primary means of defense. Often when fencing with blunt weapons the off-hand becomes unrealistically effective in parrying and grapping, intentionally holding it back can emphasize using sword actions primarily.

[@creatureris]

Thank you for this fantastic resource!
In some of your videos you mention your website has a resources section with links to treatises and translations.. can you please link me to them?

[@ilkkaouto]

Hi, that section is currently not up. Sorry about that. But you can use Wiktenauer as a starting point.

[@creatureris]

Thank you 😊

[@ericcerna4286]

Hey Ilkka what kind of gloves are you using here? It seems you and your partner have the same gloves, just curious!
Thanks

[@seosaidh]

Is there a reason that you are doing those first cuts from well out of measure? Safety or some such?