Flourishing / parats

[KeithFarrell]

Hey folks, I have a question for you. There is the concept of "flourishing" or performing a "parat", effectively shadow-boxing with the sword. As far as I can remember, I have only come across one such reference (HS 3227a, aka Codex Döbringer) in my own research of the medieval manuscripts, but clearly there must be more references than just that one for the concept to have grown to such an extent throughout the community. Can anyone point me to more references, and does anyone have any information on the subject that you might be willing to share?

Cheers!

[Sean M]

Do you mean solo forms? They are pretty prominent in the Bolognese tradition (eg. Dall'Agocchie's way of stepping in the guards). There are also several sources who tell you to practice against a pell or cutting against the air in a less structured or more repetitive way (eg. di Grassi, a father's letter to his son, Vegetius and the Poem of the Pell).

[KeithFarrell]

I do mean solo forms, whether at the beginning of a competitive bout or as a method of solo training. There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing flourishes, plenty of good reasons for doing them in practice, but I am unable to put my finger on many sources that describe flourishing. Do you have any links that would point me to such references?

[Piermarco T]

I would second the Bolognese authors, Ilkka Hartikainen has posted some nice videos of the some of the assalti from Marozzo and Manciolino.

http://vimeo.com/14262468

http://vimeo.com/5741557

[Sean M]

Hi Keith,

I thought I just gave you half a dozen sources? A translation of the letter on training (to, I think, a law student in Spain in late medieval Europe) has been posted on one of the major HEMA forums within the past five years. I would also read the Norwegian King's Mirror.

[KeithFarrell]

I would second the Bolognese authors, Ilkka Hartikainen has posted some nice videos of the some of the assalti from Marozzo and Manciolino.

http://vimeo.com/14262468

http://vimeo.com/5741557

Thanks, I will have a look at them

[KeithFarrell]

Hi Keith,

I thought I just gave you half a dozen sources? A translation of the letter on training (to, I think, a law student in Spain in late medieval Europe) has been posted on one of the major HEMA forums within the past five years. I would also read the Norwegian King's Mirror.

Sorry, I meant that until now I didn't know of any good sources. Your notes have helped, so thank you. I shall have a look for some of these and will see what I can glean from them.

[Ariella]

The early English manuscripts mention a number of solo exercises, although the language requires some interpretation. I think the "Ledall" manuscript specifically refers to the actions as flouryshes.

[Jeffrey Hull]

If you do happen to want to fixate on the HS 3227a / Doebringer thing, then there is this PDF essay:

Doebringer Longsword Flourish

And if you want exceedingly well interpreted & photographically illustrated flouryshes via English longswording sources, then there is the book by our peers:

Lessons on the English Longsword

Enjoy

[Mark H.]

Not my thread, but I do thank Jeffrey for the excellent PDF!