Insights from Historical
Artwork Fascinating glimpse of a late 1600's fencing room at Lieden
University by William Swanenburgh. The figures train in great-sword/two-hander, musket,
arming sword, foiled (blunt tipped) rapiers (both in and out of safe distance), and
gymnastics (on the "horse"). The walls are lined with many weapons
including Dussacken and staffs. On one side gentlemen sit and observe and on the
other some stand by. Only one figure (perhaps an instructor) stands by with a staff
on the lower right. Center on the floor is a familiar training device from
many schools and styles, a Segno diagram showing lines of stepping and attacking --not
necessarily a "mysterious circle". Notice the combined practice of
military and civilian methods (despite the martial obsolescence of the
two-hander/great-sword by this time). Looking closely at the action of the
great-swords on the back left it can be seen by their cross guard positions that the left
figure is clearly striking with his edge against the right side figure's flat, and not
performing an edge-on edge block.
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