Phoenix Society -rapier video-

[Richard Marsden]

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=lGrjq64x498

Rapier and Dagger, Richard and John!

John loses hold of his sword at some point, I'm so used to him being sneaky, I assumed it was a trick and react unusually.
John is using his custom rapier and dagger pieced together by James the Just.

[Steven Reich]

Just a quick note:

Spend less time in measure (i.e. in range that you can hit each other with lunges--or even closer). You should ingrain two "rules" based on this: 1. Always come into guard at least one step out of measure (2 steps is better), and 2. once you are done with an attack, unless you are going to redouble it, retreat to one (or more) steps out of measure. In the event that your opponent comes into guard in measure, you should use that tempo to attack him (directly, by feint, or however appears best).

BTW, Nice practice space.

Steve

[Richard Marsden]

Good call, Steve. Sometimes, when we aren't paying attention we'll actually step 'closer' then start.

[Steven Reich]

Good call, Steve. Sometimes, when we aren't paying attention we'll actually step 'closer' then start.

Yeah, it's an easy trap--I fall into it, too.

Steve

[Trey]

Nice vid. Couple of notes here, I agree with Steve about coming into guard IN measure. I've found rapier and dagger as much about the approach as the strike, in fact, it's how I view single rapier itself. But, especially with rapier and dagger where circular advancing and recovery are essential, as one is trying to get to the weak side and not to attempt a frontal assault without the benefit of feints and other deceptions of the blade.

One important tidtbit is that I was curious about some of the actions that seemed to only serve to bring the dagger into play. I understand that's, yep, it's a dagger and all, but I always think of it as a supporting forte, and if we're in range for the dagger to be the main weapon, then well...it's a much different game and I'm dropping my sword and going CQC.

Don't be afraid to commit to your lunges either, there were quite a few times where a committed lunge would have landed a solid blow.

In all, a nice solid start, keep looking at the guards of rapier and dagger and how the weapons work together, instead of independently. Keep working the footwork and the approach into measure. Practice your feints and hand-parries. The hand parries equate directly with the parries in rapier and dagger. Most importantly, I'll say again, keep practicing feints, feints, feints. Because of the added defense of the dagger, there's very little chance of a first intention landing. Most strikes I've landed have been from a second or third intention (redouble attack, counter, etc) or a feint / double feint.

Here's a vid of me and John from the CSG a while ago, haven't filmed anything recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi8cxiBU ... ature=plcp

Cheers!
-Trey

[Richard Marsden]

Missed your reply, Trey.

Thanks for the comments and the proof-of-life video!

[John P]

Thanks for the advice. I was joking a while back that for longsword we should have a reset points 20 feet apart that we return to after each pass.

[Richard Marsden]

Various Rapier Videos with the Phoenix Society and some of our High School kids who are still developing. Usual issues!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk4to1-HHMo
John and Randy of the Phoenix Society 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1fSCJiJ_uE
John and Randy of the Phoenix Society 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRDV2VwDBOU
Randy and Sean. Sean was in the High School club and has been away for some time. He likes to work with Spanish, which we only dabble in. Our premiere Destreza fighter graduated and is away! If Sean shows up more often we'll see improvement. If he only appears once a year. Not likely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4IlfJVTb9M
Randy working with Onray. Onray likes to go into non-guards, so in this brief video we tried to get him more proper-like. He wants to learn Spanish, but slides into other guards, and systems. His background is a variety of Eastern Martial arts. Onray has been working with us for under a year.

This one shows what's up. (Onray on the left)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMDA45DzxXE

We did the same with Duy, who has also been with us under a year.
Before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bPO9uGxFo
And after a little guidance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfesDD5iek

I don't film the High School kids often until they get older or I get parental ok. Onray is a Junior and Duy is 18. More videos of them will appear and hopefully we'll see steady improvement. In Duy's case it's been a dramatic shift. He couldn't lift a sword or lunge, or move a few months ago. Now, he's figuring out rapier and does much better in longsword.

For those who follow our work, you'll note Randy is working with the kids more and more. That's not an accident. I'll assign him to improve them. This way John and myself aren't the only ones teaching. It takes time though to get used to that aspect of things.

[Richard Marsden]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4rE8C63b3w

Rapier sparring, plus a few oddities like dagger alone vs rapier.

[Richard Marsden]

Our latest 'how to'
Will put it on our rapier 101 website shortly and get it in a play-list. We'll get some updated pics as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FvriqoMoXI
Footwork

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRbX-g1oMTk
Guards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiG5idGT_Bc
Grip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGcv0AUeMKg
Finding the Sword/Gaining the Blade/Mechanical Advantage/Stringere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEeEZBwSWz4
Tempo (Brief)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKwlVmy2VX8
Measure (Brief)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcWN1FE-CXA
Lunge from Tattershall with an introduction by Richard Marsden (We shamelessly promote good and simple how-to's from anyone!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfm7ekhXNLQ
Heel or Ball of Foot/Toe? (Little tongue and cheek. We don't have an opinion on this)

Our You-Tube Channel will hit 30,000 views this week. Thanks everyone!