Why Is the Rapier Part of Our System?
An Argument for Training with Diverse Weapons, Part 1
Sparring as Participation
There are many ways that you might look at sparring: As a simulation of life-and-death encounter, as an effort to kill or be killed, as…
Getting Out of Your Head
When You Practice the Hardest Thing
Everything tends to be uncomfortable when you are learning something new. The challenges loom large. The postures are new, the terms are unfamiliar, and the…
Obedience and Conspiracy
To put one’s opponent into obedience is to force them into predictable action based on threat and cover (control of their attacking lines). You can…
Don’t Hold Your Breath
Fighting for less two than minutes I was already gassed. The first minute of the finals match had been active but not enough to warrant…
Drilling as Scientific Experiment
When I set out to write this article I was reminded of this old Jim Carey sketch from In Living Color (be warned it involves some stab…
How to Get Better Sparring Feedback
On our Friday night open sparring sessions I like to get in and do a few fencing passes like everyone else. It’s not uncommon for…