Greetings,
I haven't been on here in a while, most of my posts go to my Patreon site these days. However, I will share some thoughts with you which came together over the past week or so. I haven't really edited this much. It started out as thoughts for a historical fiction, or something similar, and then coalesced as a collection of thoughts about fencing and training for fencing. As I said it is a collection of thoughts which I really have not edited. So here it is, this post is also available on my Patreon site, which I recommend you go have a look at, because you are missing out on some free stuff as well.
I hope you find this interesting and useful.
Cheers,
Henry.
The blade sliced effortlessly through the
air. A sharp noise rang out as the two blades intersected. The offensive action
of one countered by the action of the other, placing his weapon in the right
position, at the right time. The reason for their contest with weapons had
melted away, it was trivial compared to the importance of skilful use of their
weapons and the defence of life and limb. How long would the contest last, was
the death of one required to satisfy the encounter, or was it simply a test of
arms, a test of courage? Only the two combatants knew.
The scene around them seemed to have been
blotted out, the only things left were the two people in the contest. It was as
if a black cloth surrounded them as they moved about, concerns of the outside
world were gone. Any focus on those details would detract from their focus, and
any minor loss of focus could result in failure of action, due to the
distraction. They were focused on one another and their weapons and nothing
more.
Why were these two individuals attempting
to strike the other? What is the reason for these martial skills to be
employed? What is the prize, the goal, the purpose of their combat? All of
these questions are questions for away from the combat, so neither combatant
considers them at this moment. There are more important things to be concerned
with.
A counter made from the defence of the
other’s attack, there is the hissing sound of edge on edge as one weapon slides
down the other with pressure. One blade dominates the other to gain the
combatant an advantage over the other. To gain such dominance requires
placement at the correct time, everything is bound by the concepts of Time and
Distance, more about these things in action. The other blade flies off the
weapon as pressure is increased to its limit.
The blade moves almost silently toward its
target, like a predator in the night, seeking to strike the other’s flesh. With
the blade deflected away from the counter, the combatant moves their body,
clearing it from the line of the opponent’s attack. Using his body, he brings
his weapon back, cutting at the other in their exposed position as they thrust.
A foot is drawn back, bringing the body and
the weapon with it, the blade is lifted over the combatant’s head, deflecting
the opponent’s blade away from the combatant’s arm, countering the attack again.
The opponent moves again, stepping and using their body, throwing another cut.
The combatant draws their weapon down impacting on the opponent’s weapon,
another attack, another counter made.
This is how the story of combats between
individuals is made, an attack, a defence, a counter, a counter to the counter,
maybe even another after that. The combatants withdraw as Time runs short, not
pressing any perceived advantage past its limit. The two combatants are
controlled in their actions; this is a contest of precision more than strength.
The combatants work with their weapons, not against them. They seek the best
line, the best angle, the best distance, for their actions.
These actions are a conversation between the
combatants; one makes a statement, the other replies in kind a counter to the
statement. There is a counter to the counter, another statement is made, another
counter. This is a conversation in motion, in action, in steel. Each has his
time to speak, each has his time to reply. Unlike the conversation in words,
the statements and their responses are quicker, based on trained instinct.
Some actions are learnt, others are
trained. This is the way of the student of the blade. Those which are trained,
become instinct, informed and educated by the situation, the action of the
opponent. Often the difference between victory and defeat is a mistake made by
one opponent or the other, rather than a purposeful action made or action
perfected. To every action there is a counter, the combatant merely has to find
it.
There is no question of social status once
the weapons are drawn, there is no question of race, gender, or any other
difference between the combatants. They rely on their skills to succeed not
some imposed identifier; the sword is the great leveller, anyone can learn enough
to succeed, once weapons are in hand, one combatant facing the other, outside
considerations pale in comparison to the skills of the fencers. The short can defeat
the tall, just as the tall can defeat the short; it is a matter of the
application of skill. The skills of the combatants are what really matters.
Some will claim there are differences due
to various factors, but these differences can be countered. A longer weapon, a
shorter weapon, both can be countered. The fencer needs to know their ability,
their attributes, their situation and then apply it to counter the opponent’s.
Some will counter with the question of luck. This is always present regardless
of the skill, but it is not as reliable as skill. Luck requires certain things
to be present and is random. The combatant dices with the skills of their
opponents, presenting a random occurrence against the honed skill of the
opponent. This is no sure way to succeed. Better that the fencer learns and
trains, becomes proficient, rather than rely on luck.
Train, and train well. The path is long,
and it is not easy, but for those willing to travel it, the benefits are
certainly present.
