On Solo Training, and training with disabilities. Ask the Sword Guy episode 9

Today’s AMA topic are solo training, and training with disabilities. Raymond, in Montana, sent in this question: “I really enjoy your video trainings and teaching. I purchased the combo package (complete long sword, complete medieval dagger, and footwork) and a few freebies for my 50th birthday. I watched (and practiced) all the footwork, all the … Read more

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Breaking the Thrust (Fiore Translation Project #23)

The two-page spread of plays against the thrust continues with the six plays relating to breaking the thrust. I’ll cover them all in order, starting with the 11th play of the master of the zogho largo crossed at the middle of the swords, shown on f26v. The text reads:  Questa sie unaltra deffesa che se … Read more

Mismatched weapons: Ask the Sword Guy episode 8

In today’s video I discuss the problem of mismatched weapons. Swords versus spears, rapiers versus halberds, and so on. The questions were: Thanks for taking questions. I’ve been reading your books for a long time and have more than a few but I’ll stick with two recent ones. 1) I’ve seen a lot of HEMA … Read more

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On training children. Ask the Sword Guy, episode 7

I have had a few questions regarding training children coming in, such as this one: Here’s a question- there are a lot of potentially unscrupulous martial arts clubs out there who’ll give a 5-year-old a black belt if their parents cough up enough cash, but most historical fencing clubs I’ve come across have a lower … Read more

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Ask the Sword Guy 5: left handers, and one-handed thrusts

Today’s episode has me talking about left-handers, and the one-handed long thrust with a longsword. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/vHcAK_LmUk0   Shownotes: Fiore Facsimile (the closest you can get to owning the manuscript): https://amzn.to/2MOowWH The Flower of Battle (Leoni translation) http://www.freelanceacademypress.com/flowersofbattlethecompletemartialworksoffioredeiliberi.aspx The Rapier, part Four: Sword and Dagger and Sword and Cape Workbook: https://www.guywindsor.net/blog/rbc400

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Ask the Sword Guy AMA part 4: training motivation, and knights with katanas

https://youtu.be/JmSxAGY7jaw The shownotes for this episode: Fighting Depression Personal Update: Mental Health Learning Rapier: your free workbook video The Unconquered Knight: A Chronicle of the Deeds of Don Pero Niño, Count of Buelna Alan Williams, The Knight and the Blast Furnace Fiore Facsimile (the closest you can get to owning the manuscript) The Flower of … Read more

Exchanging the thrust: Fiore Translation Project #22

Having kicked our opponent in the groin, we turn the page to see this spread: [Note, this image is not a photograph of the manuscript opened up; I have just put the scan of each page next to each other.]  The story is the same though; having dealt with a whole lot of cuts, including … Read more

Ask the Sword Guy: AMA part 2

Here you go! Some rambling on training with sharps, and the ethics of martial arts… https://youtu.be/boOVVT9qUxY Links from this episode: Bullshit post Training with Sharp Swords: article on the CFAA blog My book Swordfighting for Writers, Game Designers, and Martial Artists My book the Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts My short book Ethics … Read more

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