Some intrigiung new research

[John_Clements]

An interesting week of research for me, I discovered several intriguing things:

- 1315, a physician writing to his two sons at Toulouse tells them to be sure to get exercise, and that if it is too cold or wet outside, to keep in their room a heavy wooden stick “like a sword” and to “wield it” first with one hand than another, “like in a scrimmage” until they are winded

- 1415, commercial professional fencing schools already existed in Heidelberg

- 1444, there was Prize Playing by university students in Ferrara Italy (!)

- 1665, a duel took place in Paris between a man with a pistol and a man with a sword ---the swordsman one. (This is decades years earlier than the supposed first recorded pistol to pistol duel)

[Joachim Nilsson]

Interesting! Especially the part from 1315. I think that this (once again) shows that there really isn't "anything new under the sun" so to speak. When it comes to keeping fit I mean. I find the apparent level of physical fitness and dexterity that swordsmen, soldiers, knight and men-at-arms obviously kept themselves at really intriguing. I also think that we, as modern men (and women), have a lot of distorted views and preconceptions about the pshysical state of people living in any historic period. We tend to put ourselves at the very pinnacle of fitness. Preconceptions that, through throurough research, needs to be put to sleep.

And the fact that Germans had professional fencing schools by 1415 -fantastic! This clearly shows the obvious need for self defense skills at the time.

This research, is this something you will present in a more concentrated form -say in a book or upcoming article?

BTW John, just want to let you know that I haven't given up on my article/post -I just need to borrow a digital camera and get some pictures for the piece. And check your mail please.

Regards (and apologies for the off topic part),

[Randall Pleasant]

John Clements wrote:
- 1665, a duel took place in Paris between a man with a pistol and a man with a sword ---the swordsman one [won].

It may indeed be foolish to bring a sword to a gunfight. However, it is just as foolish, if not more so, to bring a single shot firearm to a swordfight! <img src="/forum/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

"I also think that we, as modern men (and women), have a lot of distorted views and preconceptions about the pshysical state of people living in any historic period. We tend to put ourselves at the very pinnacle of fitness. Preconceptions that, through throurough research, needs to be put to sleep."

Just today during training several of us comment on how fit and tough practitioners must have been, from what we do know about how they trained, and how often (perhaps "how much" would better, as it the amount this was practice was well beyond "often.")

Cool stuff John! I wouldn't mind hearing more about it.

[John_Clements]

Yeah, the material will be in my next book nearing completion.

It is odd how some people seem to neglect the role of phsyical conditioning and fitness in armed martial arts. Wwhen I see things like the UFC events, and the excellent atheletes there, I think how they would do with weapons and it's pretty hard to dismiss the evidence of the advantage of athleticism and muscularity in fighting skills.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Yep. I'm all for the physical "hard a*s" approach. Makes me a better swordsman and more adept at dealing with whatever obstacles, difficulties and/or attcks that happen to come my way.

[Shane Smith]

I think one often over-looked benefits of physical fitness is the mental assuredness and confidence it brings .I know that when I'm training for an event or a fight(tournament),I go the extra mile in my training by steeling my mind with the thought that no matter how hard I"m training,my opponent may be training harder.That is the stimulus which pushes me closer to the limit,both physically AND metally, until I reach the point in my training cycle when I know that no-one could possibly be training harder than me.Being in great shape and possessing the "total package" gives me confidence when the time to get the job done rolls around.Physical fitness in not only good for the body,but beneficial to the mind <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[TimSheetz]

Shanre is absolutely right...

When you train your body and push yourself you exercise not only your body but your WILL. The stronger your WILL is the more you will be able to handle the stress and trauma of actual combat.

[scott adair]

This reminds me of a story from "living the martial way" by Forest Morgan. A televised bout was staged between a karate practioner who was a black belt and an unknown boxer. The story is that the black belt was somewhat out of shape but very confident; the boxer was well conditioned. The karate practioner kicked the boxer once against the side of the head and that was all he had the chance to do before the boxer entered with a flurry of punches and ko'ed the blackbelt. Granted this was restricted sparring, but as the author said it emphasized the importance of conditioning. BTW If anyone has not read "Living the Martial Way" I highly recomend it.

Scott