fencing stuff - Italian rapier?

[anotheranon]

This has been a long time coming, but I admit that looking at the swank gear in Museum Replicas got me thinking about it more seriously:

I'm looking into the possibility of learning some period fencing - specifically, Italian rapier (ca. 17th century). I went to an SCA rapier practice a few years ago and while I was intrigued, their schedule didn't fit into mine and I was still very awkward with sport foil.

Now that I'm feeling more "natural" with foil, I am more confident about branching out. I've found a local group that sounds like a good fit: they're not SCA, so I won't need a costume; they're not theatrical/stage fighting so no push to "perform"; and they're informal so there won't be pressure to compete for awards or hefty membership fees. There IS an emphasis on drills and practice, which is just fine by me because all I really want to do right now is learn.

My coach looks down his nose at period fencing, and I do admit a concern that I could screw up my foil game. At the same time, it would be a new challenge and I'd get to work out both sides of my body!

I'm asking around my fencing contacts to find folks who have done both and who can give me some idea of how one discipline might help/hurt the other. I've got time to think about it as the local group isn't going to be meeting anywhere that local to me for a few weeks at least.

Maybe I will be a musketeer after all ;)

Comments

well

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I've not done both of those, but I did start on SCA heavy-weapons (sword & shield) and then learned to fence sabre. I enjoyed the fact that I got to train both sides of my body.

The only problem I can imagine is if there are differences in right-of-way rules or target areas, there might be some initial confusion.

Maybe you should make sure there is a special piece of equipment (even a beadband or something) that you use ONLY for the rapier work, so when you put it on you are "putting on" that set of rules?

Re: well

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Re: target areas - that's where I'm worried that period fencing might make my foil game "sloppy". Foil has a very limited target area (torso only) and if you don't have right of way you don't even score. Interestingly, the sport training DID help me at that one rapier practice, because I was already geared to go after the "kill zone"!

In a fit of enthusiasm/extra $ a few years ago, I went ahead and got a pair of SCA gloves and hood for "just in case", so I've already got an extra glove and headpiece that might help me transition from foil to rapier "headspace" if it comes down to that.

[tommdroid.livejournal.com]

Dartanjang, Phortos and the likes, throw yourself into the wall (as we say in Swedish), here comes Allison!