Techniques & interpretation Archives

Some thoughts on playing the victim

Posted by Roger Norling | Sep 13, 2018 | Articles, Psychology & Mentality, Reading, Teaching, Teaching & training methods, Teaching Pedagogics, Techniques & interpretation, Train, Training exercises, Training methods |

A problem that we commonly encounter in the training and teaching of martial arts in general, is...

On The Five Words and Withdrawal

Posted by James Reilly | Aug 12, 2018 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Dagger, Meyer Dusack, Meyer Halben Stangen, Meyer longsword, Meyer Rappier, Research, Research articles, Study, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Mark, this is that before all things you shall rightly undertake and understand these two things,...

Brief notes on fencing, from the military treatise of Giovanni Alberto Cassani (1603)

Posted by Piermarco Terminiello | Dec 23, 2017 | Research articles, Study Articles, Teaching & training methods, Techniques & interpretation |

Giovanni Alberto Cassani published a military treatise in Naples in 1603.1 In this work he...

Johann Georg Paschen’s Rapier Lessons: Developing a curriculum for teaching rapier fencing

Posted by David Coblentz | Nov 1, 2017 | Articles, Study Articles, Teaching & training methods, Teaching Curriculum, Teaching Pedagogics, Techniques & interpretation |

This article will present an analysis of Johann Georg Paschen’s (1628-1678) Kurtze iedoch...

Riddled in Ink – A Stylistic Comparison of Artwork in MS M.383 and the Novati Facsimile

Posted by Jay Leccese | Oct 24, 2016 | Articles, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Proposition This article proposes that Francesco Novati’s 1902 facsimile reproduction of Flos...

The Flower of Battle of Master Fiore Friulano de’i Liberi

Posted by Michael Chidester | Aug 18, 2016 | Articles, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Last week, in the same spirit of information freedom that inspired Wiktenauer’s creation, I...

The Recital of the Chivalric Art of Fencing of the Grand Master Johannes Liechtenauer

Posted by Michael Chidester | Aug 11, 2016 | Articles, Research articles, Study Articles, Teaching & training methods, Techniques & interpretation |

Though long delayed, this book represents the most complete picture possible of the Liechtenauer tradition of foot combat as it was recorded in the mid 15th century. It’s the text I wanted for my students when I was leading a study group, and I’m happy to finally offer it in print. I hope it serves in some small way to advance the study of Johannes Liechtenauer’s art.

Florius de Arte Luctandi: Challenges and Discoveries in a Contemporary Latin Translation of Fiore dei Liberi

Posted by Kendra Brown | Jan 2, 2016 | Articles, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Florius de Arte Luctandi is formally designated Ms. Latin 11269 by the Bibliothèque nationale de...

The Ringen of Joachim Meyer

Posted by Keith Cotter-Reilly | Jun 26, 2015 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Dagger, Meyer Dusack, Meyer Halben Stangen, Meyer longsword, Meyer Rappier, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

This article shall group Joachim Meyer’s Ringen into collections of similar throws....

Hack & Slash in the Age of Reason: Italian Rapier Against Multiple Opponents

Posted by Piermarco Terminiello | Jun 19, 2015 | Articles, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

“Finding yourself assailed by enemies, and supposing there are many of them, the situation demands...

From WHAT to teach to HOW to teach: A coaching contribution for the HEMA of the XXI century

Posted by Luis Preto | Apr 24, 2015 | Articles, Teaching & training methods, Teaching Methodology, Teaching Pedagogics, Techniques & interpretation |

Tactical intelligence tends to be made out to be more complex than it actually is, by being seen as weapon specific. Furthermore, it also tends to lack specific and straight forward training guidelines … which has tactical skill...

The importance of tactics in duel & sport

Posted by George Zacharopoulos | Mar 13, 2015 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

A couple of weeks ago when I was reading the excellent manuscript “La Scherma” by the maestro...

The nature of the work ahead of us

Posted by Roger Norling | Feb 10, 2015 | Fencing Culture, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Our personal goals in studying HEMA are varied, complex and individually quite different. For...

Checkmate! A workshop guide

Posted by Martin Fabian | Jan 30, 2015 | Articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Back in the end of May this year we had the honor to be invited to the internationally renowned...

Meyerozzo: The influences of the Bolognese method in German Rappier

Posted by Andrea Conti | Jan 10, 2015 | Articles, Fencing Culture, Meyer Articles, Meyer Rappier, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

There are many reasons why I devote much of my time and my energies on what Joachim Meyer has...

Polish Hussar Saber

Posted by Jerzy Miklaszewski | Dec 19, 2014 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Could one find a more Polish weapon than the Hussar szabla? Literally, when someone thinks of a saber from Poland, he probably thinks of this very specific weapon, that is (not fully accurately) attributed to the famous winged...

Gaited horses in Fiore’s manuals?

Posted by Tuuli Salmi | Sep 5, 2014 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

I was originally researching technical aspects of Fiore’s mounted combat, staring at the...

The Cuts of the Bolognese School of Swordsmanship

Posted by Roger Norling | Aug 20, 2014 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Another great video by the amazing Ilkka Hartikainen. Enjoy!

Florentines Doing “Florentine”: Combat with Two Swords According to Altoni and Docciolini

Posted by Piermarco Terminiello | Jun 14, 2014 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The sixteenth century saw a proliferation of fencing treatises written and published in the Italian peninsula. Some masters and styles have long been well known to fencing historians and modern historical fencers. Other masters,...

Meyer quarterstaff workshop in Florence, Italy

Posted by Roger Norling | May 6, 2014 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Halben Stangen, Study Articles, Teaching & training methods, Techniques & interpretation |

Here’s the workshop on Joachim Meyer’s quarterstaff held by me and my fellow GHFS member Mattias Moberg at the HEMAC Florentia event in March, in Florence, Italy. It has been edited down from a 3 hour workshop into a...

Vibration of the blade and how to use it

Posted by Herbert Schmidt | Mar 22, 2014 | Arms & Armour, Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Everyone is aware of the fact that a sword blade vibrates, at least anyone with a basic level of...

Teaching progressions in Meyer’s longsword 1: the attacking skill tree

Posted by James Roberts | Feb 22, 2014 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer longsword, Research articles, Study Articles, Teaching & training methods, Techniques & interpretation |

Over the last five years, I’ve given several workshops in both South Africa and Europe focused on sequencing the teaching of techniques from Joachim Meyer’s “Gründtliche Beschreibung… der Kunst des Fechtens”[i]. In my view, each...

Follow some Lessons with Dagger and Rapier

Posted by Reinier van Noort | Jan 24, 2014 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

In a previous article, a detailed introduction to manuscript Cod. 264.23 was presented along with an English translation of the first two sections, dealing with the single rapier. In this contribution, a translation is presented...

Some Fencing Rules

Posted by Reinier van Noort | Dec 20, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The following translation of the manuscript Cod. Guelf. 264.23 contains the notes of an unknown German speaking student about his fencing lessons at the knight academy at Sorø (Ritterakademie Sorø). It was most likely written...

Translation of an Essay on Saint Didier’s Fencing Treatise

Posted by Phil Crawley | Nov 22, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

… Published in 1573, by George Dubois, Master-of-Arms. Examining the nature of the works by...

“Contenders ready!” The Gladiator Revival of Belle Epoque France

Posted by Phil Crawley | Sep 28, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

During the Belle Epoque of France gladiators were held up as the very model of physical perfection...

15th and 16th century Italian wrestling analogies

Posted by Andrea Morini | Aug 23, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Wrestling, in any era, culture and geographic era, is an archaic aspect of man, as a game,...

Combat Glima – Tricks of the Trade

Posted by Roger Norling | Jul 6, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

New video of Combat Glima, Norse combat techniques, by the great Glima Master Lars Magnar Enokssen.

Brief Notes on Using the Cloak with the Rapier

Posted by Rob Runacres | Jun 7, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The following are some suggestions for using the cloak with the rapier. Please note, the techniques will vary from those which can be used with a sidesword, so this should not be taken as a definitive form for all sword types....

A short note on strengeren, or “gaining the blade”.

Posted by Reinier van Noort | May 17, 2013 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

What’s our problem? The main purpose of any fencing art is to keep the fencer safe from the...

Dynamic gripping of swords

Posted by Roger Norling | Mar 2, 2013 | Articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

Here’s a good clip from John Clements focusing on an often forgotten aspect of...

Why Fight? The Objectives of Liechtenauer’s Fencing

Posted by Falko Fritz | Oct 24, 2012 | Articles, Fencing Culture, Techniques & interpretation |

When we hear how people describe the art of fencing in the Middle Ages, we often hear them say that it was all about fighting to the death, or at least to harm the opponent in a way that he couldn’t continue fighting. Preferably...

Meyer and Marozzo dagger comparison

Posted by Roger Norling | Jun 12, 2012 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Dagger, Research articles, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

It has been debated regarding to what extent Meyer was inspired by the Italians, the...

About the flat parry

Posted by Andrea Morini | May 24, 2012 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

In the world of historical fencing, and particularly the fascinating field of research, we...

Doing what we are told or what we are taught?

Posted by Roger Norling | May 2, 2012 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Halben Stangen, Meyer longsword, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation, Training methods |

Here’s an old but still always relevant question for us HEMA practitioners to ask ourselves:...

A journey through a technique: the Durchlauffen

Posted by Giorgio Fonda | Feb 27, 2012 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The “running through” is mentioned already in the pseudo-Hanko Döbringer (on folio 23), and is...

The tools for the job

Posted by Roger Norling | Feb 26, 2012 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Halben Stangen, Meyer longsword, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation, Training methods |

To understand the body mechanics involved in a technique we not only have to train our bodies so we are strong and agile enough, we also need to use tools that work together with our bodies in the appropriate manner. This may...

Joachim Meÿer Halben Stangen techniques

Posted by Roger Norling | Feb 20, 2012 | Articles, Meyer Articles, Meyer Halben Stangen, Study Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The Guards Here are the main guards of Joachim Meÿer’s Halben Stangen: 1. Oberhut (left) 2. Gerader Versatzung (or Mittelhut) 3. Unterhut 4. Wechselhut (Not really a “main” guard, but a key stance) 5. Oberhut...

The Rules of the Fight and Effective Training

Posted by Tinker Pearce | Jan 31, 2012 | Articles, Techniques & interpretation |

The Rules of Martial Arts There are rules in martial arts. The rules in modern martial arts are many and varied. These arts are often oriented towards sporting applications or may be practiced for fitness or spiritual...