Here you can see many slides that are easier to understand rather than my crooked English from the videos, (but you will find less jokes, indeed). Some of these images are screenshots and as well I have some schemes I made using paint around 2010… So my apologies if you don’t like the quality, it is what I have. If one day I am millionaire I will pay a studio to do so.
1. Knuckle Bow: To protect your fingers. In case an attack slips under the front quillon.
2. Quillon button. The union of the quillons with the grip.
3. Quillon or cross. Metal wings, an obstacle for the opponent’s blade while moving around the hilt.
4. Forward arm, commonly known as rings, but since they are sustaining the cup it is better to call them arms, since the commonly called rings have protection purpose when found alone.
5. Inside face of the cup, sometimes is recover with some leather to prevent being rosted.
6. Pommel. A piece of metal connecting the grip and the blade. It has an important role in balancing the blade. Usually, the heavier the blade the bigger the pomel.
7. Grip or Hand.
8. External side of the cup. This is the “shield” of the Diestro once the enemy avoids the blade.
9. Blade.
10. Front edge, or true edge. A diestro will push and cut using almost always this side of the blade.
11. Falso or false edge.
12. Fuller. A compressed part of the blade in the core of it, in order to make it lighter.
13. Bottom of the fuller, the thinnest part of the blade.
14. External ricasso, where the marks of the blacksmith usually are.
15. Internal ricasso. This section will be grappled by the thumb, index and middle finger. The control of the blade in its movement is principally here.
16. Blade tang.
This is my “Standard Position”. Somewhat comfortable, with flexed knees. Some people called it French style, but I am less bent than that. Well profiled, front foot always looking at the opponent. If possible right and left food should not be in the same vertical line, it can unbalance you.
Backweighted position. The weight changes during the combat depending on the situation, I copied the 3 position of Manuel de Brea treatise (1805) but between those 3 there are infinite ones.
Sword Angles, because they are important to know them for pedagogical purposes.
Acute Angle position, not only against lower attacks but also very long far uncontrolled thrusts from for example, the Italian tradition.
The body sides, a very basic concept to know in many Historical Fencing disciplines.
The next slides are for the position of the Hand/Sword. In Iberian Swordmanship is very common to mention the position of the nails with the side of the body.
About the circles, measures, means & lines. Refer to the video lectures to find more information. A & B make reference to the fencers.
The schemes of the Steps:
Also línea receta o rasceta.
It is very useful to explain the position of the sword in a 3D scheme.
Up, North = 2, East = 4 and so on…
Beware that is similar to a clock but it has different numbers and it can lead to confusion when using it.
Always be consistent and decide with your students which scheme is on use.
The picture is from Ettenhart’s treatise and this is because I particularly like it.
EXPLANATION: If the opponent is doing the binding on our weak part of the blade, we will use a “Libramiento” in order to get out of the control.
In case the opponent is controlling the middle section of our blade, we will use a transference.
Lastly, if the strong part of the blade is being subjected by the other sword, we will get out of it by using a formación.
I put many hours of my life in fencing, teaching and making clubs and
events bigger with little or no reward on the way. If you think that my spent time has been helpful to you, in any way, feel humble to get me a coffee in the following link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/destrezanova
Much Appreciated!!
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