Hi Rob. I am not sure how to contact you, but I see that you read and often respond to comments. I wanted to let you know what these videos have meant to us. I was asked to take over a small historic fencing class from a Ren Faire fencer who brought his own loaner gear to our local youth center in rural, mountainous northern California. Since I has SCA rapier experience and was a parent, I served as an aide; but his term had always been clear for one year only. When he left, we had two young people who had mowed lawns and cut wood to buy starter rapiers and some of their own gear. The youth center ponied up for some loaner youth masks and gorgets, and I bought two student swords...but apart from that, I knew I was way out of my depth. I guess you could say I was the best fencing option in a community of about 800. The kids *loved* what they were doing, so I drove hours to bone up with the nearest SCA group, read historic guides, and snooped around for videos. I still felt barely treading water in what the kids needed for real growth as fencers...and along came these videos. I do not exaggerate to say that you have made our small little group into a viable community. When one of my students was able to drive to the SCA practices, he held his own, was able to follow diverse instruction, and had their respect as much as their welcome. Despite the limits of our resources, as a fifty year old asthmatic, I was able to manage over thirty bouts at a kingdom level event last summer, and won about 3:5. More to the point, I was able to learn from all but two of those bouts. What I hope to express is that you are helping us bridge the gap between having so little to help us be anything more than minnows in our own small little pond. You have said many times how you hope to help elevate the practice and spread the art of defense. I wanted to tell you in all sincerity that you have done so. I suspect we have at least three life-long fencers in our group, and this would not have happened without your generosity and skill in instruction. Thank you!
Thank you very much for your kind words, Robert. I am truly honored by them and happy your club has gotten so much use out of these instructionals. I first started making these videos as a way to help out my fellow fencers during the COVID lockdowns, since most--if not all--of the practices near my fellow swordfighting friends across the country were shut down and yet the desire to learn remained strong as ever. Hearing from people and clubs like yours is the reason I decided to keep them going. Thank you again for taking the time to share this with me. It's always nice to know one's efforts are actually helping out. :)
They are great tools but highly dangerous to the one using them if you don't know how to use them properly. A lot of people set to using a disengage without covering the simple straight thrust from the opponent. Once you know the time and place for their use, they are quite the benefit. I use them quite a bit once I have a feel for my opponent's method.
It is a good thought, and you are on the right track by mentioning a ceding of the line. But the problem lies in both the time and reflex. When you move without tells (see different video on this), such as the attack on the opponent's blade, that action will complete. There is nothing the opponent can do about it. I have even told students what I am going to do and ask them to avoid the action when they see it go. But they can't. Because the eyes are very slow they are forced into reaction--and their first instinct for that first moment in the capture maneuver is to push back. Those two aspects combine together to ensure the attacking swordsman will complete the blade capture. What the defender does AFTER that is key to whether they survive.
@@RobertChildsRapier super fair. My first coach and my best friend are lefties and I know that's exactly what they'd do. I feel like your measure is too close, that could just be the space you're in too and camera angles etc. I feel initiating this farther apart would be better and thrusting in opposition. Also full disclosure, I'm not a rapierist, closest i get is smallsword or spear. My sidesword game isn't super thrusty.
I will definitely be teaching classes and seminars on rapier combat there--and invite teachers of other styles, for that matter. For longsword, saber and the rest I will bring in people who have studied them to offer their own knowledge on the topic.
Hi Rob. I am not sure how to contact you, but I see that you read and often respond to comments. I wanted to let you know what these videos have meant to us. I was asked to take over a small historic fencing class from a Ren Faire fencer who brought his own loaner gear to our local youth center in rural, mountainous northern California. Since I has SCA rapier experience and was a parent, I served as an aide; but his term had always been clear for one year only. When he left, we had two young people who had mowed lawns and cut wood to buy starter rapiers and some of their own gear. The youth center ponied up for some loaner youth masks and gorgets, and I bought two student swords...but apart from that, I knew I was way out of my depth. I guess you could say I was the best fencing option in a community of about 800. The kids *loved* what they were doing, so I drove hours to bone up with the nearest SCA group, read historic guides, and snooped around for videos. I still felt barely treading water in what the kids needed for real growth as fencers...and along came these videos.
I do not exaggerate to say that you have made our small little group into a viable community. When one of my students was able to drive to the SCA practices, he held his own, was able to follow diverse instruction, and had their respect as much as their welcome. Despite the limits of our resources, as a fifty year old asthmatic, I was able to manage over thirty bouts at a kingdom level event last summer, and won about 3:5. More to the point, I was able to learn from all but two of those bouts.
What I hope to express is that you are helping us bridge the gap between having so little to help us be anything more than minnows in our own small little pond. You have said many times how you hope to help elevate the practice and spread the art of defense. I wanted to tell you in all sincerity that you have done so. I suspect we have at least three life-long fencers in our group, and this would not have happened without your generosity and skill in instruction. Thank you!
Thank you very much for your kind words, Robert. I am truly honored by them and happy your club has gotten so much use out of these instructionals. I first started making these videos as a way to help out my fellow fencers during the COVID lockdowns, since most--if not all--of the practices near my fellow swordfighting friends across the country were shut down and yet the desire to learn remained strong as ever. Hearing from people and clubs like yours is the reason I decided to keep them going. Thank you again for taking the time to share this with me. It's always nice to know one's efforts are actually helping out. :)
How do you feel about disengages, and how often do you use them?
They are great tools but highly dangerous to the one using them if you don't know how to use them properly. A lot of people set to using a disengage without covering the simple straight thrust from the opponent. Once you know the time and place for their use, they are quite the benefit. I use them quite a bit once I have a feel for my opponent's method.
Why not cede the line, but the leg and take prima to prevent your action? As a response that is.
It is a good thought, and you are on the right track by mentioning a ceding of the line. But the problem lies in both the time and reflex. When you move without tells (see different video on this), such as the attack on the opponent's blade, that action will complete. There is nothing the opponent can do about it. I have even told students what I am going to do and ask them to avoid the action when they see it go. But they can't. Because the eyes are very slow they are forced into reaction--and their first instinct for that first moment in the capture maneuver is to push back. Those two aspects combine together to ensure the attacking swordsman will complete the blade capture. What the defender does AFTER that is key to whether they survive.
@@RobertChildsRapier super fair. My first coach and my best friend are lefties and I know that's exactly what they'd do. I feel like your measure is too close, that could just be the space you're in too and camera angles etc. I feel initiating this farther apart would be better and thrusting in opposition.
Also full disclosure, I'm not a rapierist, closest i get is smallsword or spear. My sidesword game isn't super thrusty.
You are dead on about the measure. Because of the frame of the camera we have to start a bit closer than would actually be used in a sparring context.
Awesome. When the castle is built, do you think you personally will be teaching classes or seminars ?
I will definitely be teaching classes and seminars on rapier combat there--and invite teachers of other styles, for that matter. For longsword, saber and the rest I will bring in people who have studied them to offer their own knowledge on the topic.
TOO MUCH TALK