Practice Yesterday, With Video!

Practice yesterday was good. I authorized someone, and I attempted to use the new hilt-sweep-thrust thing that I described in a previous post. It worked okay. Then I started using the alternate versions of it, and those worked great.

*****

I did an exercise in which myself and my opponent fought without stopping or calling shots. It was interesting. It allowed for both of us to practice redoubling, even if our shot was pretty clearly successful. This is a good thing, because frequently there will be shots which look clear, but aren't good. Whether it's sleeve, or it looks like arm but is shoulder, or it's something else, double-tapping until they say "dead" is a good habit to get into.

*****

I also had a conversation in which I clarified the technique I described a few posts ago. I sometimes don't put terribly much effort into writing clearly, but it was interesting to see opinions of the technique. It certainly does seem Spanish-ish, but I'm unsure that there's any documentation that specifies exactly what I have been doing. It is possibly similar to Viedma's High General, comprised of Narrowing and Weak Above Strong, but it's done with the false edge, rather than the true edge.

Oh well. I'll give it more thought. I should probably review Spanish more.

*****

The fights which occupied most of my brain-cycles were myself with a short blade versus Aiden with two mid-size blades. He and I have been fighting this fight quite a bit - he has been working on his case game, and I have been trying to work out ways to beat case with single rapier, when you can't just out-range your opponent.

Here is some video from about a month ago:

In that video, I primarily try to Destreza at Aiden. We complete two points, and then we take a long-ish time to do a third.

Here is video from yesterday:

At the beginning I was trying to catch his blade with the New Thing, and this decidedly doesn't work due to his blade positioning. After about 2:40 or so, I started using more Fabris-ish stuff. After about 4:40, I started doing the thing correctly.

That is, using Fabris's Rules for Single, in particular the 3rd in which I don't adopt a guard until I'm in the process of stepping into Misura Larga, and the 4th in which I keep my sword below his until I take an offline step and take his sword from the outside. You will note me positioning my feet such that I can take a step to the left or to the right as I approach, by sometimes switching to have my left foot forward. This is to step toward the sword of his that is up, rather than the one which is down.

As a side-note, I wonder if I could step toward the sword which is low, if I took it from above? A thing to think about.

Monday, I was able to catch him with quick lashes inward of speed, but I guess I didn't see that as an option yesterday? As well, I have previously used Fabris's 5th and 6th rules with effectiveness, but I didn't do that yesterday and I'm not sure why. I think he has improved at counter-thrusting under my sword with his other sword, which would preclude usage of the 5th and 6th rules for single.

*****

For next Monday, I want to:

• Continue working single 37".
• Work on Tournament Brain, with emphasis on visualizing myself at Champs as a high-pressure situation.

*****

Anyhow, that's all I've got for now. Sword well!