Comments for marozzo.com http://www.marozzo.com/blog Ilkka Hartikainen on historical swordplay Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:45:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Free fencing and other updates by Steve Hick http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/05/28/free-fencing-and-other-updates/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Steve Hick Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:45:55 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=135#comment-135 Great news Illka, I think the Bolognese school deserves the kind of serious attention and discipline you'll bring to it. And besides, it is just cool.Steve Great news Illka, I think the Bolognese school deserves the kind of serious attention and discipline you’ll bring to it. And besides, it is just cool.Steve

]]> Comment on Free fencing and other updates by Steven Reich http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/05/28/free-fencing-and-other-updates/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Steven Reich Sun, 30 May 2010 01:42:23 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=135#comment-126 Excellent news! Excellent news!

]]> Comment on Wrestling training by Ilkka http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/24/wrestling-training/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Ilkka Tue, 04 May 2010 06:05:03 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=111#comment-90 Thanks for the comment, Cory! Thanks for the comment, Cory!

]]> Comment on Wrestling training by Cory Winslow http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/24/wrestling-training/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Cory Winslow Mon, 03 May 2010 13:49:10 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=111#comment-89 Looking very good, Ilkka! Looking very good, Ilkka!

]]> Comment on Traversare traversando attraverso by Ilkka http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/26/traversare-traversando-attraverso/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Ilkka Mon, 03 May 2010 11:53:16 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=116#comment-88 Hi James! I tend to look at the line similarly. It is interesting that Meyer makes this distinction in his rappier text, I wasn't aware of that! I'll look into it! Thanks for the hint. Hi James!

I tend to look at the line similarly. It is interesting that Meyer makes this distinction in his rappier text, I wasn’t aware of that! I’ll look into it! Thanks for the hint.

]]> Comment on Traversare traversando attraverso by James Roberts http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/26/traversare-traversando-attraverso/comment-page-1/#comment-81 James Roberts Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:55:28 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=116#comment-81 Defining "the line" is always tricky. For longsword, I define it as the line perpendicular to my hips, centred on my torso. If you step forward and attack, the maximum extension lies along this line. "Off line" strikes would be those where the sword either crosses the line (Krumphau) or strikes at an angle to the line (Schielhau and Zwerchau). When I talk about "crossing his line", I mean that my line is not angled at his body, but across his body. Thus, when I step out and strike a diagonal blow from the right, I don't angle my hips towards my opponent, but across and past his right side (tend to term this a 60degree angle across). Interestingly, Meyer defines 3 lines for his rappier: the opponent's right shoulder, centre, and left shoulder. Implicitly, these indicate different stepping angles, if the protagonist wants to keep his cut or thrust "narrow", without moving the sword away from his own body. Defining “the line” is always tricky. For longsword, I define it as the line perpendicular to my hips, centred on my torso. If you step forward and attack, the maximum extension lies along this line. “Off line” strikes would be those where the sword either crosses the line (Krumphau) or strikes at an angle to the line (Schielhau and Zwerchau). When I talk about “crossing his line”, I mean that my line is not angled at his body, but across his body. Thus, when I step out and strike a diagonal blow from the right, I don’t angle my hips towards my opponent, but across and past his right side (tend to term this a 60degree angle across).

Interestingly, Meyer defines 3 lines for his rappier: the opponent’s right shoulder, centre, and left shoulder. Implicitly, these indicate different stepping angles, if the protagonist wants to keep his cut or thrust “narrow”, without moving the sword away from his own body.

]]> Comment on Traversare traversando attraverso by Ilkka http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/26/traversare-traversando-attraverso/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Ilkka Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:10:04 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=116#comment-80 Hi James! I'm unlikely to be at the Championships, I don't think I can be away at that time. About our topic, it depends a bit on what you mean by the line, are you discussing a line between the fencers, or just the line of your opponent, the normal of the center point of the line across his hips. If you're doing viggiani, you may notice that with a one-handed weapon your center becomes - unlike with the longsword - the line of your right shoulder, or the shoulder-knee line that divides the Bolognese guards to Porte di Ferri and Code lunghe. Or for viggiani, to offensive and difensive. Yours, Ilkka Hi James!

I’m unlikely to be at the Championships, I don’t think I can be away at that time.

About our topic, it depends a bit on what you mean by the line, are you discussing a line between the fencers, or just the line of your opponent, the normal of the center point of the line across his hips. If you’re doing viggiani, you may notice that with a one-handed weapon your center becomes – unlike with the longsword – the line of your right shoulder, or the shoulder-knee line that divides the Bolognese guards to Porte di Ferri and Code lunghe. Or for viggiani, to offensive and difensive.

Yours,
Ilkka

]]> Comment on Traversare traversando attraverso by James Roberts http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/26/traversare-traversando-attraverso/comment-page-1/#comment-79 James Roberts Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:44:45 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=116#comment-79 Interesting thought. I'm not a Fiore man, but I have seen various interpretations. Colin Richards takes the traversing step idea to the extreme, and always steps in and across the opponent. I don't agree with that, but I have start to advocate angling your hips across the opponent's line during striking (i.e. so my hips don't face the opponent, but across his line). Anyhow, thanks for the comments. I'm deep into Viggiani and Meyer's rapier at the moment- any chance of you making it to the World Champs to discuss notes? Interesting thought. I’m not a Fiore man, but I have seen various interpretations. Colin Richards takes the traversing step idea to the extreme, and always steps in and across the opponent. I don’t agree with that, but I have start to advocate angling your hips across the opponent’s line during striking (i.e. so my hips don’t face the opponent, but across his line). Anyhow, thanks for the comments. I’m deep into Viggiani and Meyer’s rapier at the moment- any chance of you making it to the World Champs to discuss notes?

]]> Comment on Wrestling training by Sparky http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/24/wrestling-training/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Sparky Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:08:24 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=111#comment-75 absolutely agreed. A modern greco-roman wrestler would likely see many similarities to their techniques in Fiore's wrestling, but also as many differences because of context. Another interesting point of comparison that Greg has had me look at is in some of the living Japanese traditions that still actively include armoured combat like Takenochi Ryu: http://www.youtube.com/user/maxshinkendo#p/a/u/1/tQXtTxJ7_nA absolutely agreed. A modern greco-roman wrestler would likely see many similarities to their techniques in Fiore’s wrestling, but also as many differences because of context.

Another interesting point of comparison that Greg has had me look at is in some of the living Japanese traditions that still actively include armoured combat like Takenochi Ryu:
http://www.youtube.com/user/maxshinkendo#p/a/u/1/tQXtTxJ7_nA

]]> Comment on Wrestling training by Ilkka http://www.marozzo.com/blog/2010/04/24/wrestling-training/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Ilkka Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:12:15 +0000 http://www.marozzo.com/blog/?p=111#comment-74 Thanks for the comment Sparky! I agree with you here, but for my own part, I don't wish to be too hasty in giving myself more leeway. The reason is twofold. Firstly, with swords I have more experience and therefore it is easier too see the differences between various styles, as I get better I might start seeing the same in unarmed arts as well. And secondly, with wrestling we have a lot of knowledge and skill around us today, and therefore it is easier to start looking for learning in other people instead of the old books. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it might distort the interpretation. With swords, we just don't have that skill around us. Of course there are some who are doing a good job and are skilled individuals, but basically for people like you and me who already have a certain level of knowledge, we are forced to look into the sources often. When it comes to things like wrestling, it is very tempting to simply go with the people who already have the knowledge, but are unaware of our context. Yours, Ilkka Thanks for the comment Sparky!

I agree with you here, but for my own part, I don’t wish to be too hasty in giving myself more leeway. The reason is twofold. Firstly, with swords I have more experience and therefore it is easier too see the differences between various styles, as I get better I might start seeing the same in unarmed arts as well. And secondly, with wrestling we have a lot of knowledge and skill around us today, and therefore it is easier to start looking for learning in other people instead of the old books.

Nothing wrong with that per se, but it might distort the interpretation. With swords, we just don’t have that skill around us. Of course there are some who are doing a good job and are skilled individuals, but basically for people like you and me who already have a certain level of knowledge, we are forced to look into the sources often. When it comes to things like wrestling, it is very tempting to simply go with the people who already have the knowledge, but are unaware of our context.

Yours,
Ilkka

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