[CFML] hello all

new to this site, have been sport fencing couple of years,
previously Karate so interested in fencing as an actual European
martial art. I Have a number of questions if anyone has any info or
views;
1)French & Itailian styles, Don't suppose there was a british style?

2) Which was a better style and why?

3) Read a couple of documents off the net supposed to be copy of
original fencing manuals, difficult to understand and visualize
without pics, What are good books etc?

4) Sport fencing doesn't seem to use 'Kata' system, is this of use
in classic fencing?

Any comments/Info appreciated


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> 1)French & Itailian styles, Don't suppose there was a british style?

Depends on the era. There were certainly systems of fence indigenous to
the British Isles, but as time went on, they became more adulterated by
foreign influence. Ever since Dominico Angelo became fencing master to
London's upper classes in the late 18th century, the French system
predominated.

> 2) Which was a better style and why?

Neither.

> 3) Read a couple of documents off the net supposed to be copy of
> original fencing manuals, difficult to understand and visualize
> without pics, What are good books etc?

Fencing is one of those things that is very difficult to figure out for
yourself with no background, especially earlier texts. That's why there
are fencing masters.

I would suggest picking up William Gaugler's "Science of Fencing" first.

> 4) Sport fencing doesn't seem to use 'Kata' system, is this of use in
> classic fencing?

Pedagogy differs, but, no, "kata" as you're thinking of them are not
something that classical fencing uses (unless you're Adam Crown).

--
Ken Mondschein




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----- Original Message -----
From: "fatfencer" <m4rkm3w@ntlworld.com>
To: <classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 6:02 AM
Subject: [CFML] hello all


> new to this site, have been sport fencing couple of years,
> previously Karate so interested in fencing as an actual European
> martial art. I Have a number of questions if anyone has any info or
> views;
> 1)French & Itailian styles, Don't suppose there was a british style?
>
Fencing, as we think of it today, no. But George Silver, Joseph Swetnam,
and Sir William Hope all taught distinctively British swordsmanship in the
17th Century.
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/paradoxes.html
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/brief.html
http://www.thehaca.com/Manuals/swetnam.htm
http://www.sirwilliamhope.org/NewMethod/


> 2) Which was a better style and why?

I like the Italian, but it is what I was trained in.

> 3) Read a couple of documents off the net supposed to be copy of
> original fencing manuals, difficult to understand and visualize
> without pics, What are good books etc?

What period are you interested in? For late XVI- early 17th century rapier
play you could do much worse than William Wilson's _Arte of Defence_. For
classical fencingthere is Gaugler's _Tne Science of Fencing_.
For English backsword/broadsword Terry Brown wrote _English Martial Arts_.
They are all in Amazon.com

> 4) Sport fencing doesn't seem to use 'Kata' system, is this of use
> in classic fencing?

Funny, my training consisted of endless drills, each practicing a phrae of a
fight. As I understand katas this is similar in principle and application.
There aren't a catalogue of standard phrases one can learn and be tested on,
although I believe Dr Gaugler has a number in his book.

> Any comments/Info appreciated
>
Bob Lyle



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The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier blunts and leather gorgets. http://www.woodenswords.com
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