Reading Group
Tonight at our Reading Chapter we saw the start of a new introductory course for beginners, together with dagger fighting and some serious studying of Capoferro for our more experienced students
Students at our Reading chapter had a choice between single dagger and rapier at training tonight.
Tonight at Reading, students got to enjoy a mix of streams. Simon continued his work looking at the parrying gauntlet, whilst Chris gave students an introduction to Capoferro
Reading students started a new stream tonight, looking at an unusual weapon combination in Bolognase fencing (Sidesword and Parrying Gauntlet) from the Anonimo Bolognase and exploring the extrapolation of Bolognase techniques to dagger fighting and unarmed self-defence (based primarily on Marozzo, but with reference to other Italian fencing masters such as Fiore and Di Grassi)
After not having seen a lot of each other over the pandemic, School of the Sword held a cutting party in Godalming this weekend with attendees from all our various chapters. Armed with milk and soft drinks bottles, we got to see how rusty our cutting had got using sharp swords against them.
There were lots of photogenic splashes, a few flying bottles and a whole lot of fun.
After nearly a 18 month long break there was a good turnout for the first post-pandemic meet up of our Reading studente. Everyone was a bit rusty but felt it was wonderful to be back.
In Reading tonight we had a Rapier & dagger sparring and feedback session while the spada a due mani group practiced an assalto from Marozzo.
Recently we held a summer social event consisting of a potluck and test cutting session, it was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to get the students from Reading and Godalming together. Lead instructors Fran and Matt, of Godalming and Reading respectively, took the opportunity to announce the annual awards:
The Scholarship Award
This is given to the student who has stood out for their research and interpretive work on historical fencing texts. This can be someone at any level but given that the Laureando and Spadaccino gradings both contain a written submission it tends to be students at these stages in their careers who are eligible. The prize is cash to be spent on fencing books or manuals, and the nominees (pending receipt and review of their written laureando pieces) are:
Kasten Harris
Simon Bowers
Josh Davis
Dan Skellon
The Endeavour Award
When a student reaches a certain level of competence: demonstrates good all round skill with weapons, applies themselves in class and demonstrates an adherence to the texts and techniques taught, they are eligible for the Endeavour Award. We grant this to the student who demonstrates all of the above and who we believe will make an excellent ambassador for the School. The prize is cash towards travel, accomodation and entry to an international event.
This year’s Endeavour Award goes to:
James Barker
The Dagger of Honour
This is our highest honour. The Dagger of Honour is the oldest award within the School and it is given to the student who has stood out in their services to the School, this can be in any number of ways.
This year’s winner has worked incredibly hard on the behalf of SotS: whether that’s travelling to teach workshops, to participate in tournaments (and win!), or arranging sponsorships and fantastic prizes with suppliers for the events that the school is involved in organising. The English Sidesword Open was the brainchild of this individual, and we thank them for their vision, passion and enthusiasm that inspired us to make it such a successful event, and we plan to repeat in years to come.
The winner of the Dagger of Honour 2018 was an easy decision, and that person is Jay Maxwell.
Well done to all the winners and nominees!
Congratulations to our new studenti who passed their safety test last night in Reading: Jim, Daniel and Emma. They are now able to participate in freeplay, and are full members of the School. We wish them every success in their careers with us.
The Safety Test is an integral part of our curriculum, where we test candidati (new recruits) for their technical knowledge and application, as well as their ability to practice fencing safely. Once passed a student then becomes a full member of the School.
Our Reading students met up last night for our regular training sessions, with three streams of training on offer.
Matt & Andy continued working with the beginners on their introduction to swordplay, James taught sidesword and Christophe took the rapier group.
