In part 1 of my discussion of Agrippa’s fencing system, I focused on the positions that are described in the manual. Importantly I extrapolated a set of “degrees-of-freedom” based on the ways in which the various positions differed from each other. In this posting, I hope to demonstrate the importance of those degrees-of-freedom by describing […]
Archive for October 2015
Agrippa part deux: Movement 10 comments
The Blade-Gain, in Modern Times 9 comments
I’ve recently been thinking about how the majority of people at my practice go to great lengths to ward off any and all of my blade gain attempts, keeping their blade free from entanglement entirely. This morning, a thought occurred to me: Most period fencing masters put emphasis on finding/gaining the blade when teaching their […]
Breakthroughs 9 comments
Giacomo has a funny story he’ll tell. It goes something like this: Determined to broaden his skills, one evening Giacomo decided to sew a seam on his pants. His wife set him up with a sewing machine, gave some basic instruction, and left him to it. Manfully, Giacomo applied himself to the task. He held […]
Announcement of the Vigil, Prize, and Elevation of Wistric Oftun to the Order of Defense 2 comments
Be it known to all to whom these words come: Their Majesties of Meridies, King Wulfstan and Queen Thorkatla, on the the 10th day of October, 2015, at their Coronation, charged Lord Wistric Oftun with a writ to join the Order of Defense. Therefore, on the evening of the 20th day of November, 2015, at […]
Rambling: First Blood Part 2 11 comments
It’s been a good year. At the start of it, I pursued physical therapy to correct a twenty-year-long issue with my left shoulder, and experienced firsthand just how difficult it is to access tiny muscles you never knew existed, and re-learn common movement patterns by telling other, bigger muscles to shut up. Shortly after, I […]
Rambling, Part 1: Plate 32 9 comments
I’ve not posted here in several weeks. This is not reflective of a lack of things to say, or even a lack of free time. Instead I am motivated by the thought that I should be spending more time doing things, rather than merely writing about it, particularly since every week brings some new insight […]