I guess it falls down to how one views the systems: clearly two systems that use different guards and grip the sword differently, and make use of swords of unequal proportions can not be identical, but the basic tactical process underlying the systems can still share great similarities.

I sort of hold an opinion that an expert in the historical European martial arts would be a person who, by manifesting an excellent understanding of the tactical process (ways of attacking, ways of defending) and by demonstrating excellent control of both his/her body and the weapon as an extension of it would find it rather easy to – just by learning the basic positions and strikes of a new system would find it easy to operate within it with ease and effectiveness.

That said, a closer comparison of Meyer and Marozzo and other Bolognese masters is for sure on my list of things to do as well.

Yours,
Ilkka

Some interesting ideas, though I’d love a little more exposition. Considering Marozzo’s time period, I’d be very surprised if a lot of the stuff in Marozzo isn’t similar to Meyer. I’ve been poking around with Fiore, and now that I have a good, working version of Meyer (reinterpreted much of the bindwork, and the approach), the two systems are very similar. I’ll stick a link to your blog on the MACS forums, wouldn’t mind a more indepth discussion.

James