Fencing Times

[Stuart McDermid]

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering if someone could give me an official ARMA definition of the terms "single time", "double time" and "mezzo tempo" ?

Sometimes think when I use the words "fencing time" here they are not used in quite the same way as I use them. Given that for a long time, divergent definitions of "edge parry" and "flat parry" caused no end of pointless argument, I am keen to clear this one up.

In the Vadi Unterhau thread John C said that Vadi didn't use "double time defences" but defended in "mezzo tempo" instead.

I am very confused as to my knowledge, these do not describe an action that constitutes the same thing.

A fencing time is not a linear measure of a specific time frame, it simply refers to one movement with a weapon.You can make a lightening fast parry riposte and it will still be a double time movement. You can make the slowest of counterthrusts with opposition and you will still be acting in single time.

Both of these concepts are completely divorced from mezzo tempo which refers to when you move rather than how fast you go.
Cheers,
Stu.

[Stuart McDermid]

Hi All,

So do folks here generally concur with Sean's description? Does anyone have an opinion about single and double time?
Cheers,
Stu

[Guest]

I think mezzo tempo is something like an attack to the advanced target without lunging in Capoferro.
But for the single and double time I'd stick with popular opinion:
blow; slipping-blow, stop strike = single time
parry-blow; beat-blow, bearing- blow = double time
one blade action -> single time, two blade actions -> double time.

[Scott Anderson]

This could just be me, but as I understand it, Single Time is any number of actions done in a single movement, Double Time consists of two distinctly seperate movements.

SPA

[Guest]

It makes sense to me Scott, maybe that definitions of single and double time are to be fitted to the weapon and relative age. Your definition, I think, is very well fitted to long swords, mine is for the late single sword styles, the ones in which you can parry and reposte.
Carlo