How to win your sword fights true to your source

Hello fellow sword fans and fencers,

does it bug you too when our modern free play does not look like what we see in historical manuscripts?

Of course we all know that sword fighting techniques described in medieval treatises were never intended for use in modern competitions with blunt weapon simulators and fencing masks. However, I cannot deny that I very much enjoy free play, and I strive to make historical techniques work in this context too. Alas, it is really challenging for various reasons.

On a technical level, blunt edges slide where sharp ones would stick or "bite," making it more difficult to sense pressure signals and also accelerating overall weapon motion. On a psychological level, we have to deal with far more suicidal actions than you would expect if no protection was worn and weapons were sharp.

All this likely distorts the reality of historical sword fighting, creating numerous flaws and artefacts that make the application of refined historical solutions difficult, if not inappropriate.

So, what can we do?

Cornelius Berthold and I believe that despite the shortcomings of modern sword fighting practice and free fencing, your performance will improve if you continuously and without exception remain true to a system’s principles, even when the source material, i.e., the combat treatise, does not cover situations you encounter in the fencing salle.

To this end, Cornelius has designed a training method which we call the longpoint lesson. It comes in many variations and can be adapted to your needs and skills. We find it so useful that we included it in our I.33 online course, where Cornelius introduces you to the basic elements step by step. Watch the wrap-up as a free preview. As with all videos, you can turn on English or Spanish subtitles.

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This approach of maintaining self-discipline, cautious distance management, keeping the centre line, and acting in accordance with the opponent’s tempo won us the majority of passes at the Berlin Buckler Bouts against all sorts of fencers. Each time I did get hit, it was when I violated the underlying concepts.

Stay true, and win!

Sword Excavations at Gnezdovo

Gnezdovo is an archaeological site near the village of Gnezdovo in Smolensky District, Smolensk Oblast, Russia. Between 2017 and 2020, extensive excavations were conducted at the site, which contains remains of a Slavic-Varangian settlement from the 10th century.

Now, archaeologists Sergei Kainov and Vasily Novikov have published a must-have monograph on the numerous Viking Age swords they recovered. The book, which features plenty of images, is available as a free download. Bravo, Sergei and Vasily, and thank you for your and your team's work.

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So, that's it for today. Take care, and keep your blade well-honed.

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To learn to fight, consult our sword & buckler online course.

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Yours,

Roland

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