Godalming Group
Students at Godalming got to enjoy the start of a new stream tonight, looking at sword and dagger. They looked at the principles of dall’Agocchie – matching the guards between the weapons; parrying with the True Edge of the dagger on the outside, and with the flats or true edge to the inside.
It was a special night in Godalming tonight, as the school saw two students rise to the rank of Laureando.
Laureando is the second exam students at the School can take after their initial safety test (which makes sure they are safe to spar). The laureando typically after 200 hours of study and some experience of teaching others.
April and John untook a number of bouts with a variety of weapons ending in an exchange against a weapon they hadn’t encountered before. They had each submitted a written piece prior to tonight.
Congrats to both. It’s taken a lot of hard work but is well deserved.
To finish their latest block of training tonight, Godalming students had a mini rapier tournament in the hall, some supervised exchanges in Sword and buckler in the studio, and some single sword Melee in the field.
Taking advantage of the warm weather, our Godalming students trained outside tonight, where there were a number of streams available focusing on both sidesword and rapier.
Eight members attended FightCamp Skirmish at Ripley in Surrey, this weekend. It was very hot but I think we all had fun and learned new things. It is always good to meet up with fencers from other clubs, two guys even came from Sweden just for the event.
Godalming Senior Instructor, Fran Lacuata, also taught a class on Bolognese Sword & Buckler
Three classes in Godalming tonight despite the oppressive heat! Single sword according to sainct Didier in the field, rapier invitations in the hall, and a beginners private lesson in the studio.
Three full and fun classes at our Godalming chapter tonight at our regular training session, with rapier, single sidesword, and beginner’s sword and buckler streams all running for students to choose between.
Godalming students started new teaching blocks this week with Luke beginning his lessons on sidesword, looking at the work of Henry de Sainct Didier. Meanwhile Apollon started his block on single rapier by looking at some Capo Ferro. Lynette and April took beginners through their first steps in the foundation of swordplay.
At the end of each training block we have a night of freeplay. Tonight, it was Godalming’s turn. We also held gradings where three beginners graduated to full membership. Congratulations to Jonathan, Jeremy and Michael who rise from the rank of candidati to Studenti
