Italian saber burst onto the European scene in the 19th century, and quickly became famous for its speed and power. This was neither a new weapon nor a new tradition, but an approach from centuries old Italian traditions to teaching and fencing with a slightly lighter weapon than the standard service weapons of the day. In this class we will cover some fundamentals of classical Italian saber from several sources, and then explore several iconic elements of the system, such as circular cuts, stop cuts, actions on the blade, and expulsions. Students should be comfortable with the lunge and also have some experience with cutting styles of swordsmanship. Drills will focus on lots of reps, to help develop comfort and familiarity with the actions.
Day 1: Fundamentals of sabre
On our first day we will lay the foundation for the rest of the track. We will cover footwork, the guards, offense, and defense.
Day 2: Iconic elements of sabre
Building on Day 1’s foundation, we will expand into some of the more famous actions from sabre, such as circular cuts, stop cuts, actions on the blade, and expulsions.
Day 3: Putting it into use
On our final day we will look at tactical considerations, and put what we have learned into practice through structured bouting and free fencing.
Required Gear: Mask, jacket, and glove. Also a training saber of some kind: modern sport sabers, Hanwei Pecoraro or Radaelli style sabers, or similar sabers from other manufacturers intended for fencing are fine.
Academie Duello maintains a limited selection of loaner gear, though availability and sizing cannot be guaranteed. If you do not currently have the required equipment or are unable to obtain it, please reach out to us. We do not want gear limitations to prevent anyone from participating in the weekend.