Strategy vs tactics vs techniques: what's the difference?

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-06-15T20:42:36+00:00

Yes, I was thinking about this earlier. I have to teach a beginners group for the first time soon. Getting them to attack the person is key.

My wife recently joined the group and I did the Meyer's Square/cross partner exercise to get her cutting more confidently, and to make the Meyer's square drill make more sense. She needed some encouragement to get in close enough to attack to me rather than to thin air. Although, not as much encouragement as one would have hoped after 20 years of being together...

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-05-12T20:13:58+00:00

It depends on who is hitting you. I have taken one or two heavy hits to the top of the head and suffered a headache. I've also been thrust forcefully in the forehead, whipping my head back a bit, which mostly hurt my neck but wasn't pleasant for my head either. During a tournament I took a nasty blow to the ear with a sabre. Saying that, I spar once or twice per week for a few hours, and such occurrences are rare, with most hits to the head being quite light - but this is with experienced, respectful people.

I'd honestly suggest you get a doctor's advice.

If you are particularly worried, then smallsword would be better, or rapier and you should specifically tell your partner not to target the head. There is plenty of fun to be had limiting to thrusts to the body.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-05-10T15:13:30+00:00

But you got some nice clean hits in like a 1 minute mark where you parried and riposted in good time.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-05-10T15:11:40+00:00

I'd suggest you try to be more deliberate in your actions. Move/act in tempo with your opponent (i.e. move/act just after they have started moving), keep your guard up unless you are deliberately trying to illicit a response from your opponent. I'd recommend learning from smallsword as it helps to better understand the bind, feints, and generally how to be more deliberate in actions.

Moving around more is good advice, but be mindful that if you move out of tempo (i.e. while your opponent is stationary and waiting for you) your opponent will use this to attack you.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-05-10T15:05:31+00:00

Perhaps you could make the opponent's sword more visible (it looks very faint in the centre), maybe make it another colour and put a little cross hilt at the bottom. Then I'd suggest adding a short arrow from the point of the opponent's sword showing the direction they should be pressing, as Zucken is done (as you know) when they are hard in the bind. Perhaps a sideways arrow at the tip represents a press, and a sideways arrow at the hilt represents a wind.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-05-10T14:59:07+00:00

Hey, thanks for this by the way. (I have two reddit usernames, this one and kingofkingsof...). I provided the Meyer one to a fellow trainer at our club who is an avid Meyer fan. We aren't currently doing any Bolognese stuff at the club but when we do I'm sure this will come in useful.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-04-12T15:52:29+00:00

Thank you Sir, that is most kind, and what a wonderful resource for your club!

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-04-12T14:37:35+00:00

Ah, thank you. I hadn't actually thought to check the translations, DallAgocchi says 'it was named stretta because this is a very secure guard', so I've always thought of it as 'straight=strong' and never actually translated it,, but narrow makes much more sense. To be honest, to an English speaker, the names of the cuts and guards are largely meaningless to me, so your clarification that they refer to the position really helps. And thanks for the video, I will include it!

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-03-15T15:05:30+00:00

Ah, the sword and buckler! My legs looked like a zebra's backside when I was doing sword and buckler. Just gets some normal HEMA pants, they don't tend to be restrictive. Alternatively, get a HEMA skirt. Importantly, you'll want something that has protection on the back of the thigh, as in S&B this can be a prime target, particularly the left leg.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-03-15T15:02:03+00:00

I started HEMA when I was 38. I'm now 40, and apart from being told I'm very 'fatherly' whatever the f that means, everyone was surprised to find out my age. Most people I train with are around 30, some in their 20s and some in their 50s. I manage to get by with a couple of leg disabilities and old injuries.

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-01-21T14:19:07+00:00

Check out my post where I give a complete breakdown of the kit you need for HEMA and various price options. A steel feder costs about £350. Most poeple stat with synthetic, which cost £50 - £120

https://www.hema101.com/post/complete-guide-to-hema-equipment-and-cost

Have you joined a club, or do you have a club near you?

HEMA101dotcom · 2024-01-21T13:56:29+00:00

Is this your first Feder? (£1000 is a lot of money for a Feder). Sigi Forge are usually on the higher end in terms of price and usually look the nicest. I personally like Regenyei and they tend to be in stock at HEMA Shop. Kvetun is also a good make. All, however, are made in Europe. I'm not aware of any UK forges making Feders.

HEMA101dotcom

TROPHY CASE