The word "foin" caused some trouble in this week's Saviolo class. Fortunately, the OED is to the rescue: "To make a thrust with a pointed weapon..." It occurs as both transitive and intransitive verbs and also a noun.
The etymology is uncertain, but best guess is from an Old French word for three-pronged fish-spear (which I would call a "trident").
It seems that in the 17th C the word merged with "foil" (a blunted sword).
A return to the hip cut, maintaining initiative, some devices from the Low guard.
Warm-up: Same cutting drill as last time.
Hip cut as an exemplar of two tactics
In the previous lesson we tried two hip cuts, one starting with a lunge, the other with an Oberhau. In both cases the cut was a result the inital cut being parried. This is a device based on maintaining initiative, allowing you to follow an attack with another attack, while your opponent is restricted to parrying.
Angela and I, with help from Wendy, tried a few of the grappling moves out of Meyer.
Ildhafn Council Meeting Minutes March 2013
In Attendance: Patrick Bowman (Seneschal), Shannon Wanty (Reeve/Herald), Eleanor Hall (Marshal), Nora Czaykowski (Reeve-in-waiting)
Apologies: Chantelle Gerrard (A&S), Wendy Rowsell (Chatelaine), Katherine Davies (Webwright), David Robb
Absent:
Lesson: Some cuts.
With no beginners present, we ditched the plan and did some reconstruction work.
Rapier and cloak - Meyer presents two options:
Class three in Meyer's rapier.
Now we tackle the lunge (Fliegende Stich): From Eisenport, gather the back foot just a little in preparation. Then thrust, straightening the arm and stepping forward approximately one foot's length, leaning well over the front knee. Power is generated by pushing with the back foot, being sure to keep it flat on the floor (not rolling the heel). This simple set of movements need to happen quickly in the right order, which takes considerable practice. Meyer's usual rule of turning your long edge against the opponent's weapon still holds, so the lunge can take place in first, second, third or fourth.
Second class in Meyer's rapier
We did a quick revision of key concepts from last week. Then practised cutting from posture to posture (right foot forward throughout):
A first class on Meyer's rapier.
Sword terms: The sword has a point, a long edge (knuckle-side, the edge you do most of the hitting with), a short edge (the other edge, the one that faces you in stance) and a flat. Meyer uses all these surfaces to some extent.
I had an enjoyable week's fencing at Canterbury Faire. Don Emrys, Don William and I participated in the melees, which continued last year's theme of silliness with revivals of Zombie scenarios, and the addition of Space Invaders. Christine and I were both authorised in Cut and Thrust, which meant I could examine James in his Free Scholar's prize in longsword (which he easily passed), and we -- along with Emrys -- could play in the Cut and Thrust tourney. I played longsword throughout as it is my new toy.
