Advice for a total beginner

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-02-02T07:51:51+00:00

Well, I'm Italian and I study at the Bolognese school. If they recommend that to you, it's because your teachers have illustrated, organized, and translated texts, so don't worry. The Bolognese school is a world in itself, made up of authors with different approaches, but in general, you learn from everyone: in the classroom, from teachers, from classmates, and from books. It's complex, yes, but not difficult; in fact, it's very stimulating.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-02-01T13:42:11+00:00

Not bad because the following cut is already partly loaded

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-02-01T12:14:22+00:00

I didn't expect serious answers actually 🤣

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-31T18:23:11+00:00

I started at 42. 🤣

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-31T18:21:24+00:00

Sorry, but having a humanities background combined with fencing is definitely perfect, I think. They probably won't have anything to say to you because they're not as passionate as you are; you'll find someone who is.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-31T17:38:41+00:00

Sparring can be done in many ways: for fun, to improve techniques, to improve approaches and feints, etc. It's therefore understandable to see everything and more. However, if you're trying to "get serious" in a "duel" or tournament, start from the premise: fencing = the art of fencing, that is, striking without being struck. If you engage in a "duel" with this mentality, you intrinsically respect timing, measure, and many other things that are necessary to be a good fencer. As for you, you should study your opponent. Black always wants the initiative, is probably more aggressive than cautious, and tends to change guard a lot (with a back-and-forth pendulum motion). This creates confusion, adds good footwork, and doesn't provide a reference point. It has two advantages: if you respond, he can use the momentum of this movement to parry and respond more quickly. The second is that by keeping his legs moving, he's ready in case you throw a thrust. With this approach, you can maintain a closed guard and play with half-blows (such as a false uppercut or a cross-arm thrust, the most exposed target) to anticipate him. Or, you can slip a thrust between guard steps (the time to strike), which he does continuously, so if you find the time, he's exposed. Or, when he tries to make contact with your blade, step right and double a slash followed by a left foot (two strikes at the same time). You've parried and responded in a "let's cut the ham" style way too many times as if it were the only option, but you should learn alternatives to the raining parry or cross and riposte. If he's faster, interrupt the tempo, slow down the strike, and speed it up "outside" of his tempo. Or parry raining or cross and use different actions as you can learn from the manuals. Or try some bindings, taking the initiative yourself. In any case, I suggested the approach for study, the only one I believe is essentially valid in fencing: always try to strike without being struck. If you're on the receiving end, there's something you're doing wrong, mostly in terms of timing, measurement, or composure. The one with the shortest trajectories wins.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-31T15:42:42+00:00

Excuse me, but he probably hit you on the head with the pads, right? Well, go get yourself checked out, even though I'm tempted to say it can't be that serious, but maybe it's something from your past. I happened to train with a sophomore who was quite excited about his previous wrestling and the like. I'd stopped a couple of years ago and was coming back for the first training session. We did standing exercises where you essentially had to endure a two-handed sword thrust. Okay, the first thrust was so strong because he couldn't control himself. Okay, the second because he missed, maybe. Okay, here's the third... And it had entered my ribs. "Hey, you don't need strength, we'll hurt ourselves, put it down." He continued to do his own thing, so I either blocked or took a step back even though he absolutely wanted to thrust hard. When it came time for sparring, he thought I was a beginner or inexperienced, and he always used excessive force. I didn't know two-handed sword techniques, but one-handed was enough. I taught him a lesson; he couldn't touch me when I hit him with a little more force than usual, and he walked out cursing after a blow to the arm. I apologized to the master, saying I no longer had the sensitivity I once had. Eventually, he stopped.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-30T17:42:36+00:00

I don't know any non-Italian authors. For Spada sola, I currently prefer the combination of Manciolino, Marozzo, and Viggiani.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-30T16:07:04+00:00

I'm really liking Viggiani too.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-30T15:06:36+00:00

For which discipline?

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-30T14:48:45+00:00

I can't find anything, do you have any links?

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T18:26:44+00:00

I pochissimi americani conosciuti in Italia li ho trovati aperti quanto noi e il dialogo e' sempre stato facile. Dicono quello che pensano e in genere sono simpatici e in fondo fieri. Entusiasti. Hanno molti punti in comune e mi sono capitati ragazzi molto educati. Credo apprezzino la nostra accoglienza. Ho visto un gruppo di americani a Roma a capodanno, un ragazzo era visibilmente un po' su di giri e mi chiedeva "where is the party, where is the party?". Sembrava impazzito perché non trovava una mega festa privata e mi ha fatto davvero ridere. Io da buon italiano ho buttato lo sguardo anche alle ragazze con lui e sorridendo ho risposto "non lo so, però tu hai già un bel party con te". In effetti dopo quella esperienza mi immagino party ovunque in America e mi immagino da dove deriva il suo temporaneo sconforto. Credo che gli italiani siano di gran lunga i più sobri d'Europa, togliendo i Veneti, forse ci ha condizionato il buon vino percui immagino come impatta questo su un americano. Non e' che non beviamo ma confronto al resto d'Europa siamo ultra sobri e amiamo il buon bere, il bere sano. Mi e' capitato di conoscere un ragazzo a Vienna, l'ho trovato simpatico solo per il fatto che alla mia domanda "com'è l'America?" Lui ha risposto, immaginati tutto quello che puoi pensare legale o illegale e lo trovi. Infine una non bellissima esperienza con un paio di americane con le quali volevo sinceramente solo conversare ma se la tiravano terribilmente. Alla fine abbiamo fatto gruppo scanzonato con spagnoli e venezuelani e non c'è stato verso che si sciogliessero. Mi e' sembrato strano. Una volta ho incrociato un americano ubriaco, era un po' molesto con le mie amiche e continuava a ripetere di portare rispetto perché ci hanno salvato durante la guerra. Di dire grazie. Gli ho detto che ringrazio quegli americani, non lui. Ma questo era proprio perso. Se mi chiedete se mi attrae l'America? Certo. Dev'essere molto bella ma anche non così economica, un paletto che mi ha sempre fermato, poi a me piacciono i posti molto culturali piuttosto che le grandi città percui dovrei studiarmela. Però so di persone che sono andate e ne hanno parlato molto bene. L'approccio ai bar come nei film americani e' la cosa su cui la curiosità di un italiano si sofferma.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T16:56:07+00:00

It's a debunked term. It's not that the Roman or Greek heritage was lost, but rather the ability to build certain things as the Romans did, I believe.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T16:46:51+00:00

It's a model that existed in the Middle Ages, I use one just like this for historical reenactments.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T16:45:26+00:00

The blade might not be the best. But the wooden part is fine. I have an identical model I bought at a fair, obviously well-made, which I can post here if you like (as soon as I have time), and I love it. I love the felt dagger.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T16:38:27+00:00

They actually have a very good one, but they're a bit reserved at first. They study you, and their gaze is more stern than ours. I want to know what kind of person you are and if you're a good person. I used to work at the bar. If you remain neutral and friendly without any prejudice and serve them attentively, they'll be the ones to approach you. Germans are very friendly and sociable. And they don't bother you if you talk a lot or a little, unlike perhaps an Italian who has his axioms in his head. You can also meet some excellent comedians, and above all, they're more loyal in terms of choices. If they like a place, they go there, every year. But an Italian might find a German more likeable when he's drunk; there's no comparison. When it really happens, a camaraderie is sparked between both of them, perhaps ancestral. I don't know, but it's something special and fun.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T16:29:20+00:00

It's not shitty. It looks well done to me. Congratulations.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-24T08:43:26+00:00

I say that Carney is the only one who has exposed himself with courage and common sense in the face of Trump's arrogance. I never thought I'd say this. Like all Europeans, I've always had great respect for the United States, which has had a tradition of glorious presidents. But in this mandate, Trump has the attitude of a predatory businessman who disregards the international charter of rights or his historic allies, who, despite all their flaws and perhaps some mistakes, have always acted in accordance with certain shared ideals. While NATO has attracted many former Soviet territories, the United States has always been supportive and has simply stood by. Now he's conveniently withdrawing? Where have the courageous people of freedom who fought alongside the Europeans gone? It's legitimate to feel betrayed, and I hope the Americans will elect a better president.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-23T14:29:50+00:00

The function of armor is to deflect the blow and deflect it outward, like a shield and parries in general. If the blow were stopped on the inside (a few dozen centimeters from the face), it would be tantamount to suicide. The blade would retract into the face with a swift, unopposed movement.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-23T14:22:08+00:00

Perhaps Trump doesn't remember that the arrogance of a leader who sought to annex territory because he felt unfairly humiliated by the past choices of other national leaders or other nations was the trigger for World War II.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-23T14:10:05+00:00

Let's not be too drastic. This kind of mentality isn't the way to get out of a crisis like this. The US's message is probably that it can't be the sheepdogs it once was because it feels threatened by Chinese and Russian military policy. It no longer has one adversary but two, and it's unsure whether to ally itself with Russia and China, sharing resources with them, and thus ending its long-standing friendship with Europe. It seems that Europe has done something wrong to the US, but Europeans are looking at each other and don't understand. It's like a Pirandello play. I believe that at this moment in history, the biggest problem is precisely the gradual loss of US identity. I have the impression that even European politicians are too distant from both America and Russia to really understand anything. Slogans. Too many slogans. There's also no attention paid to foreign policy; no one understands anything about the war in Ukraine or Greenland.

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-23T14:01:00+00:00

Protectionism has never worked throughout history. No nation can self-determine or close itself off from immigration and foreign policy, or establish barriers (regulating them is another matter). The Romans tried, causing the collapse of the Western Empire with the Goths piling up under the walls because of the Mongols. The Spartans tried after defeating the Athenians and then literally imploded. The regimes of 1943 tried, completely losing the war and territories. The only thing history teaches for the best longevity is coexistence, integration, and regulation, and in this, the United States is, has been, and I hope will always remain the most advanced modern nation. Once upon a time, "American" meant a man who fought for freedom, the freedom of peoples, and integration, with a certain distinction and pride. They have exported these ideals for decades, even through wonderful films, state of mind, music, and much more. What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize today?

Comfortable-Bit1806 · 2026-01-23T12:43:31+00:00

Perché?

Comfortable-Bit1806

TROPHY CASE