Tactical Gardener, issue 1. By the Lawn's Early Light.

Just so we don't have to carry swords through the underground at peak hours over the Olympics, the London Longsword Academy is back on sickle for the next couple of weeks.

For those of you who are familiar with the FMA karambit, you really should be aware of the European sickle fighting system as shown in Paulus Hector Mair's "Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica" a treatise that really show's the agricultural and common place tools of Europe in a rather more...aggressive light.

The three G's
I have noticed that when most people come to train with the sickle, there are three G stages.
1: grumble...what is this for, what does it it do, why isn't it a karambit?
2: grin...as realization sinks in of what this will do to sinew and tendons.
3: giggle, as they figure out "that muscle is coming away from the bone".
I will point out here: that all the folk I teach are sensible folk, not prone to cruelty. But something in realizing your martial heritage is a little icky seems to make people happy....don't ask me why, people are strange.

It is a truly horrible tool, which is why we don't use the real thing to drill, and again we relied on the hard work of Purple Heart Armouries to supply a suitable training tool (but even with these great control and care is required to train safely).
If you want to pop in and have a look over the next two weeks contact at the usual address. I'm pretty sure you will find it most illuminating,

Makes you squint and back on buckler.

This week it's more of the basics
Longsword:

• Guards proper structure.
• master cuts, mnemonic reasoning and use against guards.

Sword and Buckler:

• long point
• angles and entrance, getting the response you want from the opponent.

Most of the sword and buckler syllabus is based around the Obsesseo training DVD. So-if you want to get a good idea of what we are doing and how the system works I'd recommend picking up a copy.

Here's a bit of blurb to help you make up your mind.

Based on the earliest known fencing manual "I.33", Obsesseo offers an unrivaled insight into medieval combat. The DVD features:

• A simple "watch and do" multi angle, instructional format which is perfect for both the beginner and advanced student.
• Each technique is clearly illustrated with an "as it happens" labeling system, explaining on screen the move used by each combatant.
• An extensive and informative voiceover, offering both tactical and in-depth theory for the more advanced student. 

As well as being a practical guide to early swordsmanship, Obsesseo is an academic work showing that common principles – often regarded as the hallmark of more "evolved" systems, such as rapier and even modern fencing – were relevant, advanced and had been documented as early as the 13th century.

Winding works

 
This week;  it's more of the arm aching longsword work,  hi rep stance and cutting drills. This seems to be helping so smile through the pain, it's doing you good.
From there it's winding against multiple cutting angles, this is good exercise not only for winding, but also for mutier, duplier and varying cuts.
Also sword and buckler, simple entry drills, against a dominance of the line.
And of course sparring.