FMAT: Do you think these principles hold true in our Art?

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Do you think these principles hold true in our Art?
By selfcritical - Thu, 29 May 2008 19:21:36 GMT
Originally Posted at: FMATalk

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This is from a discussion of George Silver, an english swordmaster who wrote Paradoxes of Defense, a book defending traditional longsword material against the new fangled "rapier" fencing. ARMA and HEMA guys consider him one of the definitive words on renaisance swordsmanship. Anywho, among his principles is an enumeration of "True Time", a notion of the order of movement among the body to preserve both power and defense.

Here's an excerpt from the relevant discussion

"Silver’s notion of the "twofold mind" is especially compelling. It refers to the unpredictability of real fights, and the flexibility that one must have with one’s actions, in order to cope with any sudden changes in the situation.


Silver also defined the "True Times" as thus:

the time of the hand,

The time of the hand and body,

The time of the hand, body, and foot, (and)

the time of the hand, body, and feet.



It goes without saying that Silver’s "True Times" are still observed in correct fencing, to this very day. That hand MUST move before the feet

If you want to see a good example of Silver's maxims being grossly violated, check out the Dog Brothers video, The Stick vs. Other Weapons, and you can see Eric Knauss use a regular baston against two different tapado practitioners. The tapado fighters repeatedly attack with their weapons "cocked" behind them--advancing before swinging--and they pay for it time and again, as Knauss counterattacks"

The quoted is from a HEMA scholar and fighter who's name has eluded me.

So, do you believe that Silver's maxims are applicable to the art as we pratice it? Or do we in some fashion, give lie to Silver's "True Times"?


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