A Select Look of Techniques from Rosaroll-Scorza & Grisetti’s Smarra
The 19th century saw a resurgence in Italian fencing, starting with Rosaroll-Scorza & Grisetti's "Science of Fencing" with the smarra. Here's a select look at a few fun actions from their fencing manual.
Yielding to the Pressure: A Look at the Historical Use of the Yielding Glide
The yielding glide is a relatively unknown and underutilized fencing action. This paper will go over the use of the yielding glide in historical fencing manuals from the 17th century rapier through the dueling sword and foil of the 19th century classical fencing manuals.
Between the Cape and the Sword
Just how much armor protection does a wool cloak give you against a sharp rapier in a duel? I ran a little experiment (and a bunch of historical research) to find out.
6 Passata Sotto Variations for Rapier & Smallsword
The passata sotto has gone by many names of the centuries and have taken on various forms. In this blog post & video, we look at six variations of the low void.
Full Rapier Sample Lesson: Yielding Glide
Looking for an alternative action to the disengagement? Give the yielding glide a try. Full, free sample lesson.
Achievement Unlocked: Instructor at Arms in Foil
Fresh off my return from Sonoma, I'm happy to announce I passed my instructor-level test at SSU's Fencing Master Certificate Program and am now an Instructor at Arms in Italian foil.
Visiting the Salle d’Armes Coudurier, the Oldest Fencing School in Paris
I recently went back to Paris to celebrate my 40th birthday. While there, I swung by the Salle d’Armes Coudurier, the oldest fencing salle in the city, for a few nights of traditional French fencing.
Taking a Marcelli Rapier & Dagger Lesson with Maestro David Coblentz
At RASP 2023, I took a fantastic lesson with Maestro David Coblentz on Francesco Antonio Marcelli's rapier & dagger. Marcelli was a Southern Italian (Neapolitan) fencing master in the latter-half of the 17th Century.
Comparing Alfieri’s & Fabris’s Rapier & Cloak Guards
To cap off Cloaktober, we do a quick comparison of Alfieri's and Fabris's sword & cloak guards.
A Quick Look at Alfieri’s Rapier & Cloak Guards
Welcome to Cloaktober! Let's examine the basic guards & postures in rapier & cloak, as described by Alfieri.
It’s Free Swords! Disarms in Rapier & Smallsword
Sure, hitting your opponent with a great lunge is cool but know what's cooler? Taking their sword away via disarms. Here's a selection of plays for rapier & smallsword.
Visual Representation of Why You Want to ‘Find the Blade’
We all know you should find the opponent's blade and we may even think we understand why, but you truly get a sense for the why once you've looked down the business end of a sharp antique.