Styles

Styles

Singlestick

Singlestick is typically used as a training tool for military swordsmanship. Often played on village greens and in pubs across the United Kingdom, it also had the military purpose of training for the use of the saber. Our practice of singlestick allows the beginning fencer to train with as little gear as possible while still gaining the skills they will use in the practice of the saber.

Single-stick is to the sabre what the foil is to the rapier, and while foil-play is the science of using the point only, sabre-play is the science of using a weapon, which has both point and edge, to the best advantage.

— R. G. Allanson-Winn, Broadsword and Singlestick, 1911

Smallsword

The precursor to the Modern Olympic Fencing discipline of foil, these thin blades served at the side of many military and civilian men of the era. This is the premier weapon of a duelist. Study of this weapon teaches point control and falls directly in line with our saber curriculum.

I therefore think the knowledge of the use of the sword, or the science of fencing, is essentially necessary to every officer who is to wear one; but I confess that it is not that description of knowledge taught by Major Angelo which I mean. The knowledge gives suppleness and address to the body and limbs, and applies to the use of the broadsword; but everybody who knows what a sword is, is aware that a man with a broadsword has no chance with one who has a small sword. The very act of lifting up his arm to use the former, would give the opportunity to him who should know the use of the latter to run him through the body.

— Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Letter To Major-Gen. Sir Henry Torrens, 1817

British Military Swordsmanship

Although the saber (or sabre) is the weapon we focus on the most, British military swordsmanship applies to multiple weapons: spadroon, sabre, cutlass, broadsword, and hanger. Through study of Roworth’s Art of Defence on Foot, we are able to gain understanding of their use by members of the British military during the Napoleonic era. We plan to expand our study of saber to different nations of the period as well, including French, Prussian, and Hungarian sabre styles.

The sword is the weapon in which you should have the most confidence…Its blows are the more certain, accordingly as you direct them coolly; and hold it properly.

— Antoine Fortuné de Brack, Light Cavalry Exercises, 1876

KdF German Longsword

The longsword is one of the most prolific weapons studied under HEMA curriculums around the world. It has been widely portrayed in film, video games, fantasy literature, and other mediums for decades. The style our club focuses on is that of the German master Johannes Liechtenauer and his descendants. Through his Zettel, and the interpretations of students and contemporaries, we attempt to understand his school of the sword. We also include the works of Joachim Meyer.

Here begin the zedel of the knightly art of fencing, which were composed and made by Johannes Liechtenauer, who was a high master in the arts, and on whom God may have mercy.

— Johannes Liechtenauer, MS Chart.A.558 (Talhoffer Fechtbuch), 1448

Toyama Ryu/Nakamura Ryu [Unlicensed]

Toyama Ryu was created in the early 20th century in order to standardize a school of military sword instruction for Imperial Japan. Despite the history of its use in horrible atrocities and conflicts, we can use the standing iai techniques of the school for betterment of our own swordsmanship.

Iai: not killing others; not being killed by others.
Self-training and polishing, the road to discipline and cultivation.

— Nakamura Taisaburo

Niten Ichi Ryu [Unlicensed]

A kenjutsu ryu and school of strategy created by the famed samurai duelist Miyamoto Musashi. Surely, study of this school leads to a strong development of the bouting skill of a fencer.

Whenever you cross swords with an enemy you must not think of cutting him either strongly or weakly; just think of cutting and killing him. Be intent solely on killing the enemy. Do not try to cut strongly and, of course, do not think of cutting weakly. You should only be concerned with killing the enemy.

— Miyamoto Musashi, Go Rin No Sho