Sussex Sword Academy

A small announcement-

Yesterday was the Silver Anniversary of Duncan’s Dagger Tournament and it turned out to be a jubilee event as the quality of fencing was better than ever.

The holder of the Dagger from last year, Tom Tassie, had to hold the field against all comers in a selection of mixed weapons and companion forms and put all who came against him to serious test.

It is a tribute to our fencers that they all held good form, there was no rushing in for cheap hits, but considered use of measure, placement and tempo, even when they were on the back foot and using weapon forms they were unfamiliar with. As instructors it made us feel like we were doing something right.

In saying that the fencing was considered this in no means implies that it was slow, some of the bouts were of a pace where it was difficult to score and, yes, there were the occasional double hits that were discounted, but there were also moments of beauty where I felt duty bound to award skill points.

As ever it was held in great good humour with clapping and cheering at the appropriate moments and, importantly, the combatants praised each other and treated one another with the respect and friendship.

The event could not take place without the fabulous help of the members who score, time-keep and assist in the draws, so many thanks go to Angie, Shaun and Robin who took on these roles and also to those who, when not fencing, acted as very good corner judges – in fact the corner judging was better than ever this year and much needed.

The winner of the tournament was Aleksy, who performed with skill and judgement and maintained his good humour and smile both on and off the field. He will be the holder of the dagger for next year.

It was a close run thing and the luck of the draw as ever does play a large part in the outcome, as does the caprice of our scoring system, but skill and experience will always elevate.

Photos will follow and once again thank you all for attending with good spirit and maintaining a joyful SSA tradition.

The SSA would like to thank the Malta Historical Fencing Association for them inviting us to their 14th International Event.

As ever they provided an impeccable environment for the art of fence to flourish and for the bonds of fraternity and fellowship to be strengthened. This was achieved by them simply being, brilliant, organised and supremely hospitable.

The sign of a good fencing master is to be able to bring on their student our members returning from the event have certainly ‘come on.’

Here are some pictures of our members enjoying themselves at the event. Give yourself points if you can spot which picture we may use as an illustration of why we say you should wear groin protection, and which we may use to illustrate the SSA ‘High Five’.

I thought I would share what we have been doing in our rapier classes recently: taking our more experienced fencers from ordinary to advanced level, i.e. from a+b=c to a+b can equal c, d, e ... depending on small variables in a or b

In the perfect fight the fencers would have a few exchanges, realise how perfect they were, stand back, salute, sheath their swords and step forward to shake hands and go off together to have a drink and congratulate each other on how brilliant they are. Such things rarely happen.

Tempo is a type of fencing timing and, in the below, I have misjudged the tempo to attack my opponent, and/or misjudged my opponent. This has given my opponent the opportunity to deflect my blade and have advantageous placement on it (a parry). Being in an extended position I have really limited the options available to me. In chess this would be equivalent to my moving my king back to be surrounded by my own pieces with one open line through which the opponent’s queen has put me in check. I have used all the time I had for my attack and given it to my opponent, I am not in a position to hit my opponent (I am out of measure) and my opponent is in a position to hit me (he is in measure).

If I did the normal thing and try to recover backward from the lunge it would be relatively slow compared to my opponent’s counter thrust and I would be lucky to survive. However, there is the smallest lack of momentum between my opponent’s parry and counter thrust and the only thing that is fast enough to take advantage of this is my hand. As the counter thrust (riposte) comes in, using my sword hand, I follow it and capture it (closing the line to the attack), turning my body slightly as I do so. This turning of my body serves several functions: it takes my body away from the incoming blade, it creates a stronger frame for my sword to act against my opponent’s blade and it shifts my weight slightly toward my back foot which re-primes my back leg for further forward movement.

I am now have what is known as a true tempo (time) to attack and, in that moment of time, I am in measure (a position where I can hit my opponent) and he is out of measure . Controlling my opponent’s blade with the lower stronger part of my blade and then my hilt and cross guard (quillon) I recover forward, continuing to control my opponent’s blade and continuing to stay in measure until I hit them.

If there were any variations in the positioning of the blades or bodies e.g. they had parried my blade lower, they had moved my point further off line, they had put more pressure on my blade, then my responses would have to adapt to those and could be quite different from what occurs here. In training exercises this means that it is imperative the opponent gives exactly the correct provocation for the other person to practice the given response.

In real-time situations it means that the answers cannot be found in fencing treaty x, chapter x, paragraph x, but in an understanding of the ancient and unmodified principles of fence and training your judgement, body and your sixth sense: proprioception, which is the instinctive and instantaneous knowledge of how and where your body is place within time and space.

Shocked at the news of the passing of Rob Lovett We started on our journeys at similar times, treading different paths but sharing much in common, as is the way with most martial journeys, but, beyond that, and far outweighing, he was a good man and too good to have lost. Our condolences to his family and friends

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Dear all,

It is with great concern that the Sussex Sword Academy must report that Father Christmas has entered the ‘ONE HORSE, OPEN, SLAY’ Grand Slam Tournament.

For your safety and that of your families, we strongly urge you to BE NICE, LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES and have a FABULOUS CHRISTMAS.

You know it makes sense x

Yesterday, the annual Duncan’s Dagger Tournament (DDT) was held for its 23rd year, which must make it one of the oldest continuing tournaments in HEMA history.

In this tournament a range of weapon combinations are randomly allocated to the defender of the dagger and the contestants who aim to be the holder the following year. The holder of the dagger faces all contestants.

As ever, a fine, fun, finesse time was had with the true spirit of the SSA coming through as its members not only participated in the duels, but volunteered as scorers, time keepers, corner judges and helped each other ready themselves with kit and look after one another.

This year Tom held the field defending the dagger with aplomb and style and the worthy winner was Shaun.

Here is a picture of Tom handing the dagger over to Shaun at the end of the DDT for Shaun to defend next year.

We were very sad to say goobye to Catrina who is moving away and has been with the SSA since it was the SRS. During that time she has been an inspiration to many, a fine fencer, been a central part of many of the events we have done, and been a great flag bearer for the SSA at the many fencing events she has attended and with the many fencing groups she has had contact with. We were proud to make her an honourary Free Scholar as indeed we were honoured that she studied with us.