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HEMA 101


Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 10 - The plays
Using paper-dolls, I have created my own variations of the plays of i33. These have been formed by following the principles laid out in...
HEMA 101 admin
Feb 22, 20255 min read
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The lessons of i33 - my notes
In preparation for part 9 in the i33 102 series, I went through i33 and wrote out what I thought were the key lessons on each folio. ...
HEMA 101 admin
Feb 1, 20259 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 9: Handworks and grapples
This post covers the pink area of the diagram I've used the term handworks to designate actions taken from the bind, to echo a similar...
HEMA 101 admin
Feb 1, 202511 min read
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Sword and buckler 102 - i33 - Part 8: Binds
This post covers the pink part of the diagram A bind is where your sword touches (or very nearly touches) the sword of your opponent's. ...
HEMA 101 admin
Jan 26, 20254 min read
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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 26, 20256 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 19, 20259 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 19, 20255 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 19, 202514 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 18, 202510 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 17, 20254 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 17, 202516 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 17, 202512 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 12, 20257 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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