Early Modern Rapier Training Notes

Here are the training notes and other documents used to support the LongEdge Fencing training program. Notes for workshops will appear here as well. All represent links to the PDF of the document. This section will grow as we develop more documents to codify what we already do. Check back regularly. Bookmark this page.

These are the basic movement blocks which make up the LongEdge Fencing interpretation of our source texts. The actions and movement mean very little on their own but provide the physical vocabulary and terminology reuqired for further learning.

• Stances and Guard Positions
• The Half-Thrust
• Basic Thrusts in Tierce and Quarte
• Basic Parries with the Sword Alone

These documents describe a particular situation or set of circumstances found during a fencing bout and the preferred method of handling it according to the LongEdge Fencing interpretation of our source texts. Fencing techniques are combined in this section to solve a particular fencing problem and deal with an opponent.

• Attacking from Engagement on the Inside Line
• Attacking from Engagement on the Outside Line
• When Engagement is Refused
• When the Opponent Engages You

There are three defensive situations which we address:

• Invitation in tierce
• Invitation in quatre
• Invitation to the low line

On the offensive side, there are three strategies addressed:

• Against one who holds their weapons apart
• Quarte over the arm
• Beat and enter

These are extended movement patterns and techniques from which larger motions can be developed and can be used in fencing situations. Techniques represent single fencing actions useful in a wide range of circumstances. Again, they mean nothing by themselves as they are divorced from any context.

• Quarte over the Arm
• Pass Below (coming soon)
• Beat and Enter (coming soon)

This list will grow over time. These are drills/exercises and games which highlight decision making and other tactical aspects of fencing.

Very simply, the difference between an exercise and a game is that, in an exercise, the training partner is simply there to provide the correct stimulus to demonstrate the action in question, whereas, in a game, both partners are trying to “win” (however that's defined). The difference is shown in the flowchart (stolen from https://www.gd4h.org/hga/infoAbout.php)

• Sticky Swords: Strong on Weak Playing with blade engagement.
• Two Measures: Direct Thrust Simple attacks and parries.
• Two Objectives: Engagement Playing with compound attacks and lateral movement.

• Le Poulet Poignardé (Stabby Chicken) Playing with simple attacks and parries.
• La Zone Dangereuse (The Danger Zone) Playing with compound attacks and parries.
• Capture the Point Plays with what happens after a successful touch.

And here is the proposed lesson overview for Terms 1 and 3. The lesson plans so far are very bare-bones and covers basic actions only.

• Basic Concept Overview

• Week 1: Intro, stance, true/false edge, strong/weak of the blade
• Week 2-3: Rapier alone basic movements
• Week 4: Sword alone games – comprising Sticky Swords and Stabby Chicken.
• Week 5: Sword and off-hand

This section is notes for developing lesson plans and other documentation to support the LongEdge Fencing rapier practice.

• Key Principles
• Stance and Postures
• The Magic of the Half-Thrust

Notes for rapier-and-off-hand

• Drills for Sword and Off-hand - Between the Weapons