SCA Fencers

[jkormann]

Just checking if there's any other SCA fencer out there. I'm in the Eastern Kingdom, south of Iron Bog in the Baronany of Carillion.

-Joseph

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by jkormann
Just checking if there's any other SCA fencer out there. I'm in the Eastern Kingdom, south of Iron Bog in the Baronany of Carillion.

-Joseph

hehe.......

Sorry, I just find it refreshing to find somebody who's a bigger geek than me!

-m

[jkormann]

Originally posted by epeemike81
hehe.......

Sorry, I just find it refreshing to find somebody who's a bigger geek than me!

-m

Errr.. Thanks?

[Inquartata]

There's a line from Terentius: "Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto", meaning very roughly "I am a man; everything concerning man is of interest to me". I would paraphrase that as "I am a swordsman; everything concerning the sword is of interest to me". ( Well, except maybe foil. ) So yes, I do SCA fencing. Also SCA heavy. Also longsword. I'd do kendo if I could find a dojo/sensei. But you see the pattern, I'm sure...

[Saber-Psycho]

Originally posted by epeemike81
hehe.......

Sorry, I just find it refreshing to find somebody who's a bigger geek than me!

-m

Sorry Mike you ARE still the biggest geek

[Saber Girl]

I would..........But I don't meet the age restriction(sp?)

[jkormann]

Originally posted by Inquartata
There's a line from Terentius: "Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto", meaning very roughly "I am a man; everything concerning man is of interest to me". I would paraphrase that as "I am a swordsman; everything concerning the sword is of interest to me". ( Well, except maybe foil. ) So yes, I do SCA fencing. Also SCA heavy. Also longsword. I'd do kendo if I could find a dojo/sensei. But you see the pattern, I'm sure...

I've wondered what the difference between the heavy and light weapons are.. I can imagine tactics and strategy would change, as would your distance. Is there as much interplay of the blade itself or is it more of a 'body feint' game?

I've considering doing some heavy work, but time and budget only go so far.

Schlager is an interesting toy. I used to joke that I could make, eat and partially digest a sandwich between touches. It's a slow weapon, but after trying it, I can see why.

[Inquartata]

Depending on the sort of rebated weapon you're using, there are substantial differences, yes. Schlager blades are really too light and flexible to simulate rapiers very well; the wider, distal-tapered "sidesword" blades and heavy so-called ren blades are much closer. With these most of the action is ( or should, if you're doing it by the old manuals and not "gypsy" style ) consist of body voidings and passes. Blade actions are mostly line closings and pressures of various sorts, like the modern croise---very few tap-parries, because the blades just won't traverse fast enough; and when you do them you keep the point on target and move the guard, not the blade. Static cut-blocking parries are fewer still with the rapier ( more the farther back in time you go and the more cut-and-thrust the blades get ).

With smallsword you start to get somewhat more modern, as the blades get lighter and are seldom used to cut, but it's still quite a way from foil.

[jkormann]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Schlager blades are really too light and flexible to simulate rapiers very well

?! Are you serious? The Schlager oval blades that I used were dang heavy! At the end of a 3-touch bout, my finger tendons were aching. Almost dragging the silly thing on the ground behind me like a claymore! I'd hate to see what a 'true' rapier felt like.

I'm sticking to foil or epee...

[Sildar]

Schlager blades usually feel heavier than accurate rapier blades, even when they are actually lighter. This is because most schlagers aren't properly balanced, since few people know how to balance a rapier correctly. Also, since very few schlager blades have a distal taper, even the ones that are balanced well still handle poorly and have a great deal of "blade presence."

For rapier practice your best bet is either the Del Tin bated rapier or the Del Tin FISAS rapier blade, depending on the time period and style you prefer.

Many new rapier fencers wear themselves out by trying to fence as though they were using a foil, swinging the blade back and forth. As Inq said, most rapier defenses are voids with simultaneous counterattacks; nearly all of the rapier Masters of the time clearly explained that two-tempo defenses (ie parry-ripostes) are flawed actions, inferior to single-time defenses.

William Wilson has written a book on Italian rapier which should be out in a month or two, which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in rapier fencing.

[jkormann]

Originally posted by Sildar
Schlager blades usually feel heavier than accurate rapier blades, even when they are actually lighter. This is because most schlagers aren't properly balanced, since few people know how to balance a rapier correctly. Also, since very few schlager blades have a distal taper, even the ones that are balanced well still handle poorly and have a great deal of "blade presence."

Many new rapier fencers wear themselves out by trying to fence as though they were using a foil, swinging the blade back and forth. As Inq said, most rapier defenses are voids with simultaneous counterattacks; nearly all of the rapier Masters of the time clearly explained that two-tempo defenses (ie parry-ripostes) are flawed actions, inferior to single-time defenses.

I was voiding because it seemed more natural than either moving the blade (too dang heavy!) or getting stuck. Lesser of 3 evils.

Originally posted by Sildar
William Wilson has written a book on Italian rapier which should be out in a month or two, which I would highly recommend to anyone interested in rapier fencing.

I'll keep an eye out. Does he discuss how to balance one of these silly things? That alone might be worth the cover price.

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Anywhere in Ma is there SCA fencing?

[oiuyt]

Kevin-
Check out:
http://www.sca.org
http://www.eastkingdom.org
http://www.sc2.com/~smokingrocks

You'd be part of the East Kingdom, probably in the Shire of Smoking Rocks (Southeast MA) but possibly in the Barony of the Bridge (RI).

No, I'm not a member of the SCA, it's amazing what 2 minutes of research will yield online....

-B :)