To call a spade a spade

One of the great problems in training in the tournament arts is the lack of consistent terminology. We do not even have a credible name for what it is we do. Fighting evokes something more like mixed martial arts, or stoush out the back of the pub. Hard Suit and Heavy Combat are likewise poor descriptors of what we do. Medieval Combat is sort of getting there as is possibly Knightly Combat and Western Martial Arts has now become its own entity.

Syr Gemini has ventured Oplomachia (fighting in armour), which could work. I really liked Harnischfechten (also ‘armoured fighting’). Despite this I think it will be some time before we as a Society settle on a decent name. In the mean time I will use Tournament Arts or Oplomachia until someone comes up with something better.

I think one of the main attractions to studying some of the historical manuals is that here laid out to us is a how-to-guide on slaying your opponents and being generally awesome. No such manuals exist for the default tournament weapons of sword and shield (and I.33 does not count).

Our Tournament Arts have grown organically, buy trial and error and with a great deal of regional and personal variation. So we do not have a commonly accepted set of terms for what we do. Let’s take ‘snap’ for example. This is perhaps the first cut (see, most people would say ‘blow’) that we learn. What exactly do we mean by that? I have seen several people tech it differently with slightly different positions, movements and targets. And this is a common cut though out the SCA. I could also mention things like, retiques, scorpions, rick-rack, wooga, and aardvark range.

It is clear that a common system of nomenclature is required so we are able to speak to each other about what it is we do. I have been adopting the system developed and taught by Syr Gemini. He has developed a complete school of armored combat which he teaches full time at Knight’s Quest: Academy of Chivalry in California. Gemini’s system (DeGrendelus) gives us a unified and coherent school of combat. It is by no means the only school out there, but I have found that it works well for all body types, leads to a gracefully powerful style and is beautifully straight forward to teach. Even after 20 years of SCA Oplomachia, I am redeveloping my technique and improving my own skills under Gemini’s guidance.

The important thing we have in the DeGrendelus school is simple terminology for what we are doing.  I list these here so that we can all be on the same page in future discussions. For those of you who have attended any of my classes, most of this should be very familiar.  This is not a definitive guide but rather an introduction to the terminology. And yes, some pictures would explain much better than the written word can, but that may be a task for another day.

 Stances:

• Bladed – The fundamental stance. Shield side forward with the sword side foot to the side and behind. Always face your opponent’s weapon.
• Box – Sword side toes line up with shield side heel. Body between 45/30 degrees.
• Square – Feet are square to your opponent.
• Aggressed – Feet and body are side on to opponent with the front foot pointing forward.

Movement:

• Shuffle Step – move first with the leading foot and bring the trailing foot in quickly. Weight is always on the balls of the feet.
• Half step – only one foot moves in the given direction.
• Pass Step – One foot ‘passes’ the other.
• Volta – A quick pivot of the feet to power a cut (wraps etc).

Guards:

• High – Sword is held high at 45 degrees, behind the head with the elbow back.
• Forward – Sword is horizontally held in front of the head (poor offence).
• Point – Sword is held next to the head with the point directly towards your opponent.
• Split – Sword is held at the side with your elbow down.

Targets: (The targets are numbered from one to six going clockwise from the point of view of the attacker.) 

1. Neck (the targets left side)
2. Left side armpit
3. Left top of the thigh (aim for were the pockets would be on a pair of jeans)
4. Right top of thigh
5. Right armpit
6. Right neck

Attacks: (assumes right handed) 

• Forehand (cut) – A cut to the onside of your opponent with the true edge of the sword (targets 1-3).
• Ear-to-ear- A cut to the ‘off-side’ with the hand and blade mostly at the same height. The cut starts with a half step, bringing your sword hilt to your left ear and then cutting to targets 4, 5 or 6, with your hand palm facing down.
• Molinet- The cuts begins with the sword pointing down from Forward Guard and turning over to strike the target. Mostly used to attack the off-side 4-6 but can be used to attack 1-3. Generally the point of impact will be higher than your hand.
• Pendulum – The cut starts on your opponents shield side and then turns over to strike the off-side (4-6) with your elbow high. The point of impact will be lower than your hand.
• Wrap-A cut using the false edge of the sword to strike the back of your opponent. Often powered with a volta.

Measure:

Measure describes both time and distance on a fight. You are either in or out of measure. Measure can be different for each combatant depending on weapon length, height, etc. You are in Measure if your opponent can hit you without moving their feet.