Sword Alone Versus Everything

Greetings,

First let me give an apology to all of my classical and sport fencing readers as this blog will not apply to you. The following blog is about fighting against different forms. While the initial focus will be on fighting single sword against others, there will be a further discussion later on based on more general combat conditions.

The first thing that I would like to point out in this blog is that we have spent more time using a single sword, be it with a parrying gauntlet or without than any other form in rapier combat. In our training mode we start with the single sword as it teaches principles which will apply to all of the other following forms. This means that it is the form which we have had the most practice, not to mention that while our opponent may have had a great deal of practice with whatever form they are using, still also their main form for practice will also have been the single rapier. So no matter what your opponent brings out against you remember that proportionally, if not in actual fact, you have had more practice with your single than they have had with their other form.

Some of the newer fencers will be intimidated by an opponent taking an offhand device when they only have a single sword. Part of the point of this blog is to reassure these individuals that there is nothing to be truly worried about only to be aware of the other item that they have in their hand. The most important thing to remember in all situations is that in both cases there are only two hands even if their is more than one weapon/device being used. This means that when the opponent has two weapons the offhand becomes more significant, as does the use of the weapon that you have. The most important thing to look at in this situation is what are the advantages and disadvantages of the combination that the opponent has chosen.

When examining what the opponent has chosen to take it is important to take in what advantages the form has and what disadvantages the form has. For example, in a defensive combination such as sword and buckler, the buckler cannot be used to strike and therefore should have less regard paid to it. This doesn't mean that it should be ignored, just that the weapon is really the main threat in that situation. Once you have ascertained these advantages and disadvantages you should play toward the opponent's disadvantages and attempt to minimise the advantages. This particular situation is the same in all accounts with all opponents in all weapon forms. We need to maximise our own advantages while minimising those of the opponent.

In order to realise the advantages and disadvantages of each form it is important to examine them in a little detail. This is best done as a general look and then given some more detail in order to realise the specific characteristics of each one. In this way we are able to see the characteristics from both a generalised point of view and also a more specific point of view. The best way to do this really well is to have a go at the forms yourself and figure out what these characteristics are.

....

The rest of this article can be found in Un-Blogged: A Fencer's Ramblings by Henry Walker, which is available in paperback from:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blogged-Ramblings-Henry-Leigh-Walker/dp/098764470X
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/un-blogged-henry-leigh-walker/book/9780987644701.html
Among other places...

It is also available in electronic format (pdf) from: https://buy.stripe.com/fZecP419c7CB9VKeUV

... or direct from the author.