Research and Discussion Forums

Hi! The action of parrying with a hanging guard and then striking would not be an action in a single tempo, but rather a due tempi done "almost in a single tempo", as Giovanni dall'Agocchie would put it. An example of a single tempo defense would be a thrust to the face that closes the lin...

Hi, digging up all the references would be an undertaking bit too big for a forum reply. But basically tempo means one of two things: 1) a measure of time (or distance since they are interchangeable) taken by a single fencing action (such as a strike from a high guard to a low one) in relation to it...

Hi! From what I've seen in museums Rotella's were made from steel, wood and an interesting form of rattan? rods covered covered in canvas and twisted into a circular shape to form the shield, then attached to some sort of base. According to Tom Leoni's Manciolino translation, the anonymous Bolognese...

No problem at all! It is important to get things right so that no one misunderstands anything!

- Ilkka

Andreas, Stacy,

I agree with what you say. Definitely the two have enough in common to say that they belong to the same group!

And I meant to analyze the breaking of the thrust and krumphau, not the exchange! Sorry, and thanks fro noticing the mistake in the post!

Yours,
Ilkka

Hi! I didn't read the whole thread that Randall linked, (I read what Mr Mele had posted about the class though) and I don't see what is so funny about it. For me personally it is too much about defining what constitutes a "single art" that anything conclusive could be said. Same weapon, sa...

Randall, thanks for the response. I think this comes down to our definition of what constitutes an art - if we define it according the weapon set there clearly are great similarities between the two suggested traditions. If we look at context, there may be differences but generally I believe both wo...

Hi, I think a more intriguing question would be whether Fiore ever met Liechtenauer or any of the masters that went on to gloss Liechtenauer's teachings. Italy as a nation did not exist in the 15th century, and Fiore certainly originated from the same area, cradle for most of the martial writings of...

Jayson, you understood the point exactly right! The (perhaps already a bit dated) notion of Fiore being defensive may stem from the way his treatise is organized and the possible protocols of the duel - which at least in the 16th century were very important. I'm still looking for more information on...

Hi! I'd just like to add that most of the plays Fiore shows are showing a progression in which the 'masters' - the fellows wearing a crown - show a position called a 'remedy', which Fiore defines in the dagger section as a position that prevents the opponent's attack from landing and allows you to h...

Hi! I agree with you Stacy totally. And as Gene also pointed out, Petter's clothing is difficult to see as training clothing anyway. And just as importantly I should have pointed out how some are depicted practicing or fencing naked. It is difficult to take this literally, but perhaps they did train...

Hi! I agree that flat-soled, flexible shoes are the way to go, and throughout most periods I believe such shoes were what the fighting men used when they trained. With that said, I'd just like to add that it is also important to study a bit the footwear fashion apart from the martial arts context, a...

Matt Bryant wrote:It went all "404 - Not Found" on me.

Matt, thanks for pointing that out... I changed the way the website works and I need to update old material and links by hand which will take a while. The link now works however!

- Ilkka

Stacy, you're rising the expectations!

As to Kron, the key of (especially longsword fighting) may well be found therein. After all, we see Fiore as well showing all his longsword plays flowing from the incrosada, but he doesn't really discuss how one is to get there.

- Ilkka

This is very good. I agree 100%.

- Ilkka