Military sabre stance and footwork lesson

[@gojimoji9085]

Really liking the new kinds of videos coming out! I really appreciate the guidance!

[@xenophon5354]

Great video! Thanks!

[@patriotmartialartsstudios5399]

My son and I have become fascinated with your videos on military sabre. I have tried searching for instructors teaching this near me with no success. We live near San Antonio Texas. Do you perhaps know of any instructors within say 100 miles? We will be practicing with your videos but we would also like an instructor to guide us. Thank you.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

Great to hear it. I don't sorry, but it would be worth asking in the Facebook group HEMA United, or a more subject specific one such as military and classical sabre. I suggest you check out the HEMA at Home series we put up during the lockdowns as it covers the core of the Roworth system. Good luck with your training.

[@demomanchaos]

I've always been curious why later period sabre and rapier are so linear and don't seem to utilize lateral movements.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+demomanchaos It's not so much later period, From Agrippa (1553) onwards the rapier was largely taught in a linear fashion by many masters, whilst others such as those developed in Spain were using non-linear systems. This is exactly the period where the long thrust orientated rapiers were becoming popular, so this was the early period. Even so, they do still use some lateral movement, they are just predominately linear. If you look to the Roworth-Taylor manual I think it explains it well. Lateral movements are used where you need to change position due to sunlight, rough ground or to get space, but the lunge provides the fastest, most efficient manner to attack. I also don't think it is any coincidence that this kind of system became more popular as many sword forms became more agile, whether that be the rapier because of it's point speed, or the sabres because they are lighter than most one handed swords that came before them.

[@timothyheimbach3260]

could you do a video composing rapier to sabre? they seem similar in their style though rapier us more thrust centric and sabre is more cut centric. both have lunges and are linear though.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Timothy Heimbach I will add the subject to the list of things to do, though it is rather large so it may take a while. As a result I will give some explanation now. Overall yes there are many similarities between the two, even though one is more cut orientated and the other more thrust orientated, the methods of using those cuts and thrusts are frequently the same. The core difference is the use of single time actions in rapier, where attack and defence are made in one motion, as opposed to the parry-riposte, two time actions of the sabre. The rapier also makes more use of passing steps, offline steps when striking rather than just positioning, and the open hand for parries and grabs too. The rapier was also more often used with an offhand weapon than the sabre (in Europe at least, sabre was often used with offhand weapons elsewhere in the world).

[@timothyheimbach3260]

Very good, thanks.

[@all9472]

1:45 in that position how do u add the bodies power fully to the attack is it just dropping all ur weight into it ?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

You don't add the bodies full power. Power comes from the wrist, elbow, and sometimes shoulder depending on the specific technique or what has proceeded it.

[@rataca100]

Who's system? I can't make it out well. Three years late. :P

[@matthewpham9525]

This footwork is identical throughout the world, but the AHF prefers Roworth for their saber fencing.

[@Tyler_Lalonde-]

I'm not a fan of the lunge. I understand that it's the most direct which is fine but it leaves you the most exposed. also I think people have focused to much in it and have neglected other skills that are important. like how when people get to a stalemate with the block and attack they go for the legs. which would be fine if it wasn't the first strike. leaving your head open for a leg shot doesn't seem smart imo.

[@Tyler_Lalonde-]

the choice of fighting with the least moves possible is where I think this way of fighting comes from. it's from the martial artist's desire to be the best of his peers which is great as long as you stay with in the context of it being used for combat not competition.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Tyler Lalonde And yet of all of the swordsman I have ever know throughout the world, those without the ability to lunge well are at a disadvantage, It is a well developed and calculated move that takes a lot of practice to use well, and when mastered, gives huge advantages in the fight. Striking the legs and exposing your head is a massive risk no matter what your footwork is, that isn't unique to the lunge. It is true that people should also learn other methods of attacking. However, the military sabre is also a system that needed to be taught quickly and could be practiced often with a small number of drills. In that regard, it excels. As for the lunge leaving you the most exposed, yes, after the strike whether it landed or not. However, it also provides more cover on the attack than many steps. Every single technique has weaknesses and strengths. The lunge is a technique that exceptionally strong with few weaknesses, which is why it became the predominant manner of attack from the mid 16th century onwards (and was used well before under different names too). In essence, the lunge is essential to footwork in almost every form of Western swordsmanship over the last 500 years, and I would not underestimate its importance as a result when those systems were taught by experienced experts for survival.

[@cygil1]

+Tyler Lalonde You are probably lunging too deep if you are "left exposed" during/after a lunge. A lunge isn't necessary a deep sport fencing lunge, it can be a foot's length movement as the video points out.

[@Tyler_Lalonde-]

Academy of Historical Fencing I'm not doubting it's usefulness. just why so much focus on it from beginner to expert. Why so you think they started to neglect other tactics and techniques?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Tyler Lalonde Because it is efficient, fast and effective, and later in the military context of sabre, it is also well suited to teaching large blocks men how to fight in a regimented fashion. In this regard it is a very simple system that can be honed and perfected with few amount of drills practiced regularly. It's also very well suited to thrust work, as well as fighting in formation in the confined spaces of infantry combat. It also favours complex hilted swords. I think it is no surprise that the lunge began to dominate footwork in swordsmanship as hilts grew progressively more protective in the 16th century. These more protected guards allow a more forward guard posture, which in turn is well suited to lead foot forward stance and lunge based footwork, as opposed to earlier open hilts where the hand and sword was kept back for safety, and hence then, it is less important or beneficial to fight lead foot forward and use lunge based tactics. This is well highlighted and compared when you look at Polish sabre, or langes messer, to British military sabre that came later.

[@timothyheimbach3260]

could you do a video composing rapier to sabre? they seem similar in their style though rapier us more thrust centric and sabre is more cut centric. both have lunges and are linear though.