I've found that newer fencers (who know how to execute the thrust correctly) often don't fully extend their arms because they're worried about hurting their opponent. If they make contact (or think they might make contact) they'll collapse their structure almost entirely. I guess it just takes time to get comfortable making committed strikes against other people. Although when I first started we'd test gorgets by taking turns stabbing each other in the neck with aluminum swords (not to date myself) which I think helped rapidly build trust in the protective equipment.
It's normal especially while not having blades which flex enough, to train proper thrusting a blade safe enough is required, otherwise it brings in other habits which are necessary to keep the training safe, such as flexing the arms after making contact with the opponent ;-)
Very useful advice! & you explained it brilliantly 1) Be mindful of measure 2) Fully extend the arms 3) Arms 1st, before feet 4) Bind awareness 5) Gain degrees (Bind a stronger part of your blade, in comparison with the opponent's, before thrusting) 6) Contact before opposing/defending 7) Use opponent's time/movements to your advantage (effectively doubling 1's speed) 8) Don't tense up before striking 9) Use confusing rhythms 10) If it doesn't work, adapt 😄
As a modern Epee fencer these are the exact tips I tell students and other fencers so it is awesome to see this great list with clear explanations! Thank you for taking the time to make this!
The more I do this and interact with similar martial arts and sports, the more I realize that there are only so many ways of making a metal stick reach out and touch someone.
Hello Federico, your videos are clare, concise, on the point and contain amazing views of nature. They are a very good supportive material for my longsword learning, which I've just recently started. Thank you and I wish you a lot of success in growing up your channel. It has the qualities required to do so.
I really really value this as a moderately experienced fencer. Even these more middle or fundamental techniques are so important to review. Frankly, I get way more out of them as an experienced fencer than I did as a beginner
Very nice video! A weak on weak bind can be a good tactic (and is in the correct measure) for setting up a disengage-thrust. When you engage in the bind and displace your opponent's blade, as soon as you feel your them pushing back on the bind, just disengage below their blade (a fast, small circle) and thrust into the unguarded side of the torso. If the opponent does not respond to the pressure of your bind, then you can just continue the original thrust without disengaging (using, of course, all of the tips you have presented in your video). A 'fleche' style running thrust can also be a useful tactic, using fast, crossing footwork (a quick, short sprint really) to run past your opponent on one side or the other while thrusting (and remembering to protect your back or flank with your blade as you run past).
Yeah definitely. I am not a fan of weak on weak bonds though, they tend to fail more often then not. While instead they are good if the plan is not hitting directly, as for your first example, which fits perfectly.
Fantastic video, Federico. Each point is good advice, but the last is particularly important. It's so easy to get fixated on a particular technique. You want it. You plan it. You *see* it. And this traps you.
Cool video, detailed analysis of binding is very helpful. Theorethically its obvious, but you showed it realy clearly and belivably on video examples. I have some additional toughts: there is a thing about positioning pelvis - if you wrap your pelvis up (as if youre doing hollow body or hip thrust exercises, or simply sitting), not only you gain better balance in combat stance, but also, with wrapped pelvis, your back leg does not cause your upper body to tense up, so you need less effort to aim and thrust, so you telegraph less, so your thrust is more dangerous. This is sick! Sitting more on the back leg as in some of Italian rapier sources gives, suprisingly, similar advantage, although the body mechanics is also present in horseback fencing. Leading with the sword (arms first, feet after) is much deeper than ppl think. While it's the rule that sometimes can be broken (to change rythm, confuse, body feint, zucken and what not) its also the key to solve most problems. Not only it hides your action, gives you better bind position and makes your attack harder to exploit via counters if in proper distance, but also: makes it possible to change intention (you have more time to reposition blade to feint, parry or counter if hadn't moved the feet yet), makes it possible to aim (once you moved your feet, you moved your aim, this is reason for a lot of missed actions), it scares the opponent - increasing chances of succesfull feint or compound action - as the opponent isn't afraid of your advance but of your weapon moving towards his eyes (would be better to hit opponent, but its better that he frantically parries, than frantically doubles), it makes it easier to gain reach (I can always add more footwork that carries me further, but I have only one arm extension) and much more. Pseudo Danzig (Liechtenauer glossa) describes all of that as one of two ways of seeking the opening: ,,from approaching, following enemy sword and shooting the longpoint". The other way is to seek weapon positioning that steals enemy's options (in pseudo Danzig winden and versetzen, in 1.33 obsessio, in Italian rapier contraguardia, guandanare and stringere). Its important to note, that both ways have their place and time, as anything in fencing its not a style I can choose, but rather an opportunity I need to recognize (once I saw it happening randomly, or after I anticipated or created it) if I want to use it.
You go further when you thrust first, step after, as well. Honestly, tip#0: just solo practice thrusting 100 times a day until you actually figure out the mechanics before you try doing it against someone at all. Way more complex than it actually seems. Also, some gloves don't allow for full extension of the arms in all thrusts, so sometimes adjustments have to be made.
Che tristezza! Sto guardando il video e realizzato di fare ciascuno di questi errori 😂 Per fortuna sono un novizio e ho ancora il tempo per migliorare!
If you are learning by yourself approach it this way: 1 - Buy books (Historical Sources, Fencing Theory Books, other M.A. Books) 2 - Watch videos, my one and others. 3 - Train solo to improve your form, it's time well spent anyway, because when you'll find a training partner you'll dedicate the time to other activities. In the meantime, search for a club. If there is none, consider creating one by yourself. While in the process, you can train other martial arts, or modern olympic fencing, to improve your skills in the meantime.
@@anoakenstaff you should check Guy Windsor's book, our interpretations and approach to work are radically different, but it may be a good way to approach the matter through the words of someone more experienced. Also Greg Mele wrote a lot of interesting Material, but their book are by now quite expensive: www.amazon.it/Flowers-Battle-Fifteenth-Historical-Manuscript/dp/1937439186
Your valley is looking beautiful
Thank you!
I've found that newer fencers (who know how to execute the thrust correctly) often don't fully extend their arms because they're worried about hurting their opponent. If they make contact (or think they might make contact) they'll collapse their structure almost entirely. I guess it just takes time to get comfortable making committed strikes against other people. Although when I first started we'd test gorgets by taking turns stabbing each other in the neck with aluminum swords (not to date myself) which I think helped rapidly build trust in the protective equipment.
It's normal especially while not having blades which flex enough, to train proper thrusting a blade safe enough is required, otherwise it brings in other habits which are necessary to keep the training safe, such as flexing the arms after making contact with the opponent ;-)
Very useful advice! & you explained it brilliantly
1) Be mindful of measure
2) Fully extend the arms
3) Arms 1st, before feet
4) Bind awareness
5) Gain degrees (Bind a stronger part of your blade, in comparison with the opponent's, before thrusting)
6) Contact before opposing/defending
7) Use opponent's time/movements to your advantage (effectively doubling 1's speed)
8) Don't tense up before striking
9) Use confusing rhythms
10) If it doesn't work, adapt 😄
As a modern Epee fencer these are the exact tips I tell students and other fencers so it is awesome to see this great list with clear explanations! Thank you for taking the time to make this!
Thanks! 😃
The more I do this and interact with similar martial arts and sports, the more I realize that there are only so many ways of making a metal stick reach out and touch someone.
Hello Federico,
your videos are clare, concise, on the point and contain amazing views of nature. They are a very good supportive material for my longsword learning, which I've just recently started.
Thank you and I wish you a lot of success in growing up your channel.
It has the qualities required to do so.
Thank you Pavel, happy to be of any help :-)
As basic as gaining the blade is, it's something so many longsworders don't remember.
HEMA 🧡
🙌
Your videos are so helpful. So much better than all these reversegrip and katana vs zombies videos 👍
@@sventorgersen7545 thanks!!
Point 8 is key. It’s true for so many actions!
Definitely!
Thank you for another excellent explainer video. I really love the 'make a rhythm, break a rhythm' concept.
Thank you Federico. Please visit China some time in the future. Our hema community really likes you.
I would be glad to teach there, if some club will invite me teaching I’ll definitely come there ;-)
I really really value this as a moderately experienced fencer. Even these more middle or fundamental techniques are so important to review. Frankly, I get way more out of them as an experienced fencer than I did as a beginner
I understand what you mean ;-)
The innuendo is certainly strong in this one 😂 Good vid though ;)
Excellent advice.
Thank goodness, I always wanted to know some good thrusting techniques. My lady said I was slacking
Ahahahahahah
Mille grazie!
Ottimi consigli grazie a❤
Excellent video, great advises, easy to apply also in rapier fencing. I actually am getting a bit of Fabris vibe from some of them, well done!
Thanks ;-)
Superb
Very nice video! A weak on weak bind can be a good tactic (and is in the correct measure) for setting up a disengage-thrust. When you engage in the bind and displace your opponent's blade, as soon as you feel your them pushing back on the bind, just disengage below their blade (a fast, small circle) and thrust into the unguarded side of the torso. If the opponent does not respond to the pressure of your bind, then you can just continue the original thrust without disengaging (using, of course, all of the tips you have presented in your video). A 'fleche' style running thrust can also be a useful tactic, using fast, crossing footwork (a quick, short sprint really) to run past your opponent on one side or the other while thrusting (and remembering to protect your back or flank with your blade as you run past).
Yeah definitely. I am not a fan of weak on weak bonds though, they tend to fail more often then not. While instead they are good if the plan is not hitting directly, as for your first example, which fits perfectly.
Good!
🙏🙏🙏
You are welcome!!
Fantastic video, Federico. Each point is good advice, but the last is particularly important. It's so easy to get fixated on a particular technique. You want it. You plan it. You *see* it. And this traps you.
Hehe! True!
Yeahhh... Do not tense up... That's really hard to acheive for me. Here's the area to work.
Cool video, detailed analysis of binding is very helpful. Theorethically its obvious, but you showed it realy clearly and belivably on video examples. I have some additional toughts: there is a thing about positioning pelvis - if you wrap your pelvis up (as if youre doing hollow body or hip thrust exercises, or simply sitting), not only you gain better balance in combat stance, but also, with wrapped pelvis, your back leg does not cause your upper body to tense up, so you need less effort to aim and thrust, so you telegraph less, so your thrust is more dangerous. This is sick! Sitting more on the back leg as in some of Italian rapier sources gives, suprisingly, similar advantage, although the body mechanics is also present in horseback fencing. Leading with the sword (arms first, feet after) is much deeper than ppl think. While it's the rule that sometimes can be broken (to change rythm, confuse, body feint, zucken and what not) its also the key to solve most problems. Not only it hides your action, gives you better bind position and makes your attack harder to exploit via counters if in proper distance, but also: makes it possible to change intention (you have more time to reposition blade to feint, parry or counter if hadn't moved the feet yet), makes it possible to aim (once you moved your feet, you moved your aim, this is reason for a lot of missed actions), it scares the opponent - increasing chances of succesfull feint or compound action - as the opponent isn't afraid of your advance but of your weapon moving towards his eyes (would be better to hit opponent, but its better that he frantically parries, than frantically doubles), it makes it easier to gain reach (I can always add more footwork that carries me further, but I have only one arm extension) and much more. Pseudo Danzig (Liechtenauer glossa) describes all of that as one of two ways of seeking the opening: ,,from approaching, following enemy sword and shooting the longpoint". The other way is to seek weapon positioning that steals enemy's options (in pseudo Danzig winden and versetzen, in 1.33 obsessio, in Italian rapier contraguardia, guandanare and stringere). Its important to note, that both ways have their place and time, as anything in fencing its not a style I can choose, but rather an opportunity I need to recognize (once I saw it happening randomly, or after I anticipated or created it) if I want to use it.
You go further when you thrust first, step after, as well.
Honestly, tip#0: just solo practice thrusting 100 times a day until you actually figure out the mechanics before you try doing it against someone at all. Way more complex than it actually seems.
Also, some gloves don't allow for full extension of the arms in all thrusts, so sometimes adjustments have to be made.
Che tristezza! Sto guardando il video e realizzato di fare ciascuno di questi errori 😂
Per fortuna sono un novizio e ho ancora il tempo per migliorare!
Tranquillo! È normalissimo, altrimenti non avrei fatto il video! Vedrai che con il tempo si sistema tutto!
Advice 7, is basically the "Indes" in german fencing terminology. What is the italian word/equivalent ?
It's "in tempo" or "on time".
Русы, пейте воду из Байкала, да агитируйте в тик токе!
Frederico, if there are no instructors I can reach in my country, would you recommend learning from the sources and videos like yours?
If you are learning by yourself approach it this way:
1 - Buy books (Historical Sources, Fencing Theory Books, other M.A. Books)
2 - Watch videos, my one and others.
3 - Train solo to improve your form, it's time well spent anyway, because when you'll find a training partner you'll dedicate the time to other activities.
In the meantime, search for a club. If there is none, consider creating one by yourself.
While in the process, you can train other martial arts, or modern olympic fencing, to improve your skills in the meantime.
@@FedericoMalagutti I see, thanks a bunch!
@@FedericoMalagutti What books would you recommend for Fiore's dagger and longsword systems, besides the source?
@@anoakenstaff you should check Guy Windsor's book, our interpretations and approach to work are radically different, but it may be a good way to approach the matter through the words of someone more experienced. Also Greg Mele wrote a lot of interesting Material, but their book are by now quite expensive:
www.amazon.it/Flowers-Battle-Fifteenth-Historical-Manuscript/dp/1937439186
@@FedericoMalagutti Thank you!