Published posthumously in 1630, Gerard Thibault’s “Academie de l’Espée” or “Academy of the Sword” stands as one of the most thorough and lavish rapier treatises of its age. While arguments abound as to whether or not Thibault’s methods have a rightful place in the True School of La Verdadera Destreza, his upright postures, clean geometries, and precise judgement of the fight certainly evoke the spirit of that vaunted Spanish school of swordplay.
In this track, we will take a practical approach to understanding and using Thibault’s method of swordplay. Beginning with body structure, movement, and core principals, we will flesh out a method for defending ourselves while, at the same time deconstructing our opponents’ methods. We will examine the nature of advantage and how we can gain, lose, and make use of it, and we will explore how the system’s principals apply against people who don’t fence like us.
By the end of the weekend you should be equipped to approach your own study of Thibault’s text from a place of practical and effective application.
Day 1 – Starting off on the right foot:
We’ll start with stance, grip, and fundamental movement. From there, we’ll look at core, guiding principles, from both a theory and practice standpoint. This session will lay the groundwork for the rest of the weekend.
Day 2 – Who’s Line is it, anyway?:
Building on Day 1, we’ll focus on the idea of advantage, what it looks like, and how to disrupt it, get it, solidify it, and use it. We will work with various tools that allow us to manipulate line, engagement, and tempo so we can deny advantage to our opponents and use it for ourselves.
Day 3 – One of these things is not like the other:
What if my opponent won’t engage? What if they like arm-sniping? What if they’re a bind-and-rush fighter? What if they’re using an offhand weapon? Good fencing is all about disrupting our opponent’s game and forcing them to play ours. This session will be all about doing that with people who don’t want to give us all of the pretty binds and familiar elements that we’ve had the first two days.