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HEMA 101


Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 7: Counter sieges and what they tell us about timing
I considered leaving this arrow out of the diagram in case it over-complicates matters. However, I want to write a post about it as I...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 266 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 6: Sieges
This post covers the pink circled arrow on the diagram Many have come to believe that the 'siege' (Obsesseo) in i33 is either some...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 199 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 5: Counter wards vs wards
This post covers the pink parts of the diagram We've seen that a ward is a position from which you can launch one or two attacks from. ...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 195 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 4: Parries and counter wards
This post covers the pink parts of the diagram When your opponent attacks you, you need to defend against it. You can do this in several...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 1914 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 3: Attacks and footwork
This post covers the pink part of the diagram From the wards, we generate attacks. The wards influence the attacks we can make, but it...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 1810 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 2: Wards
This post covers the pink part of the diagram Wards ('custodia') are 'resting' positions. They generally keep the sword held back close...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 174 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 1: Introduction to this new interpretation
Caveat: This is meant to be a practical guide on fighting with the sword and buckler 'inspired' by i33. It is my own interpretation and...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 1716 min read
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What's the correct interpretation of i33?
It has been a year since I wrote my in depth interpretation of i33. It wasn't really my interpretation, it was an exploration of the...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 1712 min read
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Bolognese sidesword 101 - part 3: Attacking with provocations
I suppose I better say something about Tempo. (Since I began writing this, I have written a separate post on tempo: Using tempo/timing to...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 127 min read
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Rapier 101 - Part 6: One-to-one exercises
This post is about one-to-one training whereby a 'master' provides stimulus to a 'student' so that the student can perform various...
HEMA 101 admin
Sep 15, 20244 min read
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Rapier 101 - part 5: Hierarchy of actions for the outside stringer (complete)
Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 introduced the key concept in rapier, and showed the hierarchy of actions that stem from a stringer on the inside. ...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 28, 20244 min read
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Rapier 101 - Part 4.5: Hierarchy of actions for the inside stringer (complete)
As I started to write part 5 (the hierarchy of actions for the outside stringer), I realised I could put the entire list of actions in a...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 28, 20243 min read
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Rapier 101 - part 4: Clever counters to being stringered on the inside line
In part 2 I showed that, when fencer B is stringered on the inside line, they counter this by disengaging and attacking to the outside...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 15, 20244 min read
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Rapier 101 - part 3: Counter actions to the disengage from the inside line
In part 2 , you saw that, for the fencer who has gained a stringer on the inside, they are expecting their opponent to disengage. If you...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 12, 20243 min read
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Rapier 101 - part 2: Counter to the stringer on the inside - the 'disengage'
In part 1 , I explained that Capo Ferro's rapier is largely based upon stringering. In fact, it is based on just two scenarios:...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 12, 20243 min read
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Rapier 101 - part 1: Terms and basic theory
This series of posts is based on Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli (1610). My aim is to make this practical and to aid in the teaching of...
HEMA 101 admin
Aug 12, 202411 min read
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Beginner's Guide to Fencing with the Longsword
This has been developed for an 8 week beginners course on longsword that I am teaching. It is designed to introduce a beginner to the...
HEMA 101 admin
Jul 1, 20241 min read
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Strategy, tactics and technique: What's the difference?
One of the hardest things to do as a new HEMA practitioner is to understand when to use the techniques you've learned. You spend time in...
HEMA 101 admin
Jun 15, 20242 min read
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Double trouble - using right of way and priority in your fencing
This week I taught a lesson on double hits, which saw a big improvement in the quality of fencing from the students. Whether this is long...
HEMA 101 admin
Jun 15, 20245 min read
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The 5 Words re-visited: using tempo to understand Vor, Nach, Indes
I recently wrote an article about tempo: Using tempo/timing to fence better (hema101.com). This article is a continuation of that. I...
HEMA 101 admin
May 12, 20247 min read
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