Sunday sparring this past weekend was in Reading where a number of students turned out for a couple of hours to put techniques they’d learned at training into practise. We tried out a new venue that proved perfect for the size of the group.
There were also a number of weapon disciplines in play including, rapier, rapier & dagger, single sidesword and sword & buckler.
One of the things School of the Sword is known for is our events. The International Rapier Seminar that we hosted back in April was a massive success, and back in August we brought Ilkka Hartikainen on his first official visit to the UK for a packed sidesword workshop.
You might ask what we’ve got planned next? The answer is the Broadwater Bucklerthon, an informal sword and buckler tournament aimed at people that have never made a quarter final in any weapon.
It’ll take place on the 19th November at Broadwater School in Godalming (same location as our previous events) 13:00 – 17:00
If you’ve started to wonder what tournament fighting is like, if you’ve sparred with your clubmates and want to try fencing to a ruleset, competing against others, then this event is for you.
Only ten pounds gets you an exhilarating day of fun, fighting and the chance to win your first medal using synthetic weapons and Bucklers. There will also be a steel invitational tournament for those who’ve placed in tournaments already. The competition will be followed by a social dinner at a local pub, come and join us for a fantastic day.
Minimum kit: gloves, mask, gorget, chest protector, jacket, back of head
Recommended kit: knee, elbow, shin protection, groin guard
The tournament will run in a king of the hill format: winner stays on. Judges/scorekeepers will record who won and who lost each exchange to be totalled up at the end to see who goes through to compete in quarter finals.
There will be a maximum of 10 people to a pool. Fighting will last for 60 minutes or to 60 bouts – whichever comes first. Competitors will have numbers attached.
Scoring will be as follows (note this is much the same as the system used at the International Rapier Seminar recently)
clean hit = win,
double/afterblow = both lose and next pair on
The judge may ask fencers to confirm using an honour system. Each fencer will be allowed one protest if a score goes against them but good sportsmanship will be encouraged i.e. honesty about hits received
The judge will confide good technicality to the scorekeeper and the competitor with the most technical points will win a technical prize.
Register here, the cost of entry is £10 https://manager.dojoexpert.com/student/register.aspx?g=ac026bad-9056-4936-9ff1-94e2504e705b&j=
There was a good attendance at Godalming on Wednesday for our regular training session with a number of our Reading students making the trip for a bit of extra tuition.
Pim continued his work with the rapier group, whilst Lizzie progressed her Bolognese stream through attacks from Manciolino. Fran and Lynette took the beginners through the foundations of swordplay as they work their way towards their safety test.
Students turned up on Monday night for our regular training session in Reading.
Pim continued his work with the rapier & dagger teaching stream on tactics, Matt and James took the students in our beginners course through the foundations of swordplay and Lizzie continued her work in the Bolognese stream on attacks from Manciolino.
It was another busy night at Godalming last Wednesday with three streams of training.
Fran worked with the beginners on the foundations of swordplay whilst Lizzie took the Bolognese group through attacks from Manciolino, and Pim continued his work on tactics in rapier & dagger.
A good turnout at Reading on Monday night with the sports hall packed with practitioners of all levels.
Lizzie continued her work in the Bolognese stream on attacks from Manciolino, the rapier & dagger teaching stream were taken through counter-posture by Pim, and Matt and James continued to work with our recent intake of beginners.
Sunday Sparring went to Godalming this past weekend as students from both our Reading and Godalming salles met up to put in a bit of extra sparring time and try to put into practise techniques learnt at our training sessions.
There was a multitude of weapon combinations crammed into our 2.5 hour session including rapier & dagger, sidesword & buckler, single sidesword, single rapier, rapier & cloak and even montante.
It was a very intense session on Wednesday night with a good level of concentration from all students despite getting very hot and sweaty.
Pim worked with the rapier & dagger group on counter-posture whilst Lizzie continued her teach block on Manciolino’s attacks with the Bolognese group. Fran taught the beginners who are working towards their safety test
It was an eventful night in Reading on Monday with a lot of activity in each of our three teaching streams.
James worked with the beginners on cutting between guards, Lizzie continued her work with the Bolognese group on Manciolino’s attacks, whilst Pim took the rapier & dagger class through counter-posture in rapier & dagger
Sparring was back in Hawley on Sunday with a number of students from both our Reading and Godalming salles turning up to put techniques they’ve been using into practise.
It was an intense session with a good mix of weapons including rapier & dagger, as well as sword & buckler.
