There is literally NO DIFFERENCE between this and styles of Kali and Silat. I mean, it is exactly the same. I've done ALL of these techniques hundreds of times.
@amritatva, in my experience, certain arts reach similar points of development, and at that point, one can see similarities between them even if their practitioners were separated. The parallels between medieval Japanese and European fighting arts seem endless, for example.
I find it reassuring, in its way. Walkers upon the path can always end up finding the truth no matter their circumstances, if they apply themselves.
Good stuff as always :) You say it is based on a private translation from latin. Do you know of any readily available material (pref. english, but german coulde work as well) on Mairs dagger plays?
@ProzacPreacher, there is a pdf floating around of the initial dagger plays. The translation is all right in the beginning, but it thins out as it goes along. The interpretations thin out much faster, as it is difficult material not only to translate but to interpret.
like it - mair seems tactically very different from most other medieval dagger fighting. Do you think this is indicative of a different fencing context for Mair's dagger? Certainly to me it looks like he is expecting a much more 'aware' opponent - as might be found in a duelling/fencing school context.
@MarkHolgate, in my opinion, Mair's work can be best described as, "layer upon layer". Every play is a sequence of counters, each of which in any other fightbook might merit its own page. Mair orchestrates them together in a way (even 4 or 5 to a page) that gives great context, and hints at more. It is a complex representation that comes from seeing the whole, and it's that totality that implies a fight school, somewhere to learn to take out not only a ruffian but also a skilled technician.
@JosephEpik, hehe, I don't know how amused Franco was at the time when he was "brought down to size", but he's an excellent student and knows how to take a pretty good deal of dishing-out.
Very nice; especially like the switching of the grip, and the notation that dagger fighting is ambidextrous.
I've only ever worked with rubber training knives; while there's a lot you can do with them, one thing you can't do is parry, so partner-work tends to devolve into wrestling.
An interesting unarmed application to knife training; "weight" your attention in one hand (e.g. imagine you were holding a knife), and favour that hand in feints and attacks. Whenever you change hands, physically signal passing the imaginary knife to the attacking hand. The opponent will begin to follow your "weighted" hand with his eyes, and ignore the other one... until it hits him.
It's not one someone would automatically think of; it comes from (yet again) that same sensei who taught me so much, with his remark that we're not likely to use archaic weapons training in the modern day, so there must be a practical use for any training that we do; nunchaku train hand-speed and dexterity, swords train courage and focus. Knives have obvious applications to modern day self-defence, but there are less obvious applications too.
@JCLeSinge, I think all weapons are useful in a physical sense. They teach distance, and how to fight against them, and give you the ability to fight with whatever comes to hand, if you train enough of them in the right way.
My background has ingrained in me the need to be able to fight with anything I might find, from a keychain to a firearms, as I grew up on survivalist martial arts mentalities. So for me, it's all good. : )
And in some places (Italy), melee weapons are still used.
@ArmeAntica: Weapons are definitely fundamental to martial arts; it's sad that so many classes focus solely on unarmed training (to the detriment of learning effective skills, IMHO).
@JCLeSinge, sad is the word. Spot on. I guess it is the relative situation of peace that permits these false ideas to proliferate. I see it sadly as the decadence of much of today's martial art scene. False securities are often sold in the name of tradition or history that have only a limited relevance to a realistic and sufficient self-defense.
People can of course do whatever they want for fun, but for the heart of the martial artist, the real seeker, I think there needs to be more.
@JCLeSinge, I was quite surprised myself at first to see any real use of the left hand, other than static blocks or grips, but it says a lot to me when the concept of attacking with the dagger in the left hand is introduced in only the second play sequence.
I really prefer using real knives for these things as much as possible. There is a fear factor with steel that is important to get used to, and to respect. Psychologically, it's very important, and like you said, for leverage it's a must.
@ArmeAntica: I'm left-handed, so anything that espouses equal use of either hand is good by me; lefties tend to have partial ambidexterity anyway.
It's important to train both hands; many techniques simply won't work if the opponent is off-handed, and there are "options" available to the off-hand fighter that don't occur to someone who fights only with their right hand.
Also, given that it's easier to slash the wrist than parry the blade, ambidexterity is a big advantage in knife-fighting.
@JCLeSinge, my student figured prominently here is left-handed as well. I prefer work on principles, but plays are 1-2-3 for a reason, so you have to follow them to dig out their secrets. It's much harder when we get to longsword, to figure out the versions with him.
Yes, the first play starts with a parry to the blade, and the second to the wrist, which then prompts the introduction of ambidexterity in dagger fighting, just like you mention. Besides, using both hands is good for the brain.
@Flow1987, glad to hear it! Then you're in luck, as I have a couple other things to put up soon. I hope you'll find something interesting or useful from them, too.
Stabby Stabby
Domo230 2 months ago
The song is The Light Before We land :D
NoThInG1337rofl 4 months ago
This is so awesome. Im blown away. I really want to practice this stuff.
HadesJr9001 6 months ago
Great vid! The explanation and great quality of video really do a great job. A lot better than many out there, great work!
Cheers!
Kaslor 8 months ago
This is one of the best knife fighting video I have seen on youtube.
1NX9 10 months ago
There is literally NO DIFFERENCE between this and styles of Kali and Silat. I mean, it is exactly the same. I've done ALL of these techniques hundreds of times.
amritatva 1 year ago
@amritatva, in my experience, certain arts reach similar points of development, and at that point, one can see similarities between them even if their practitioners were separated. The parallels between medieval Japanese and European fighting arts seem endless, for example.
I find it reassuring, in its way. Walkers upon the path can always end up finding the truth no matter their circumstances, if they apply themselves.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago 2
Good stuff as always :) You say it is based on a private translation from latin. Do you know of any readily available material (pref. english, but german coulde work as well) on Mairs dagger plays?
ProzacPreacher 1 year ago
@ProzacPreacher, there is a pdf floating around of the initial dagger plays. The translation is all right in the beginning, but it thins out as it goes along. The interpretations thin out much faster, as it is difficult material not only to translate but to interpret.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
your videos always seems to be so easy to practice =)
any chance of a book or dvd coming out?
cerkuenik 1 year ago
@cerkuenik, thank you for the feedback. Other projects are being considered for the future, thanks for the interest.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
I love this video! I am totally going to Italy to train with him!
strtmnky 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this. I'm always interested in learning more of the old European styles of fighting.
silatstudent 1 year ago
@silatstudent, you are welcome!
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
like it - mair seems tactically very different from most other medieval dagger fighting. Do you think this is indicative of a different fencing context for Mair's dagger? Certainly to me it looks like he is expecting a much more 'aware' opponent - as might be found in a duelling/fencing school context.
great work as always people.
MarkHolgate 1 year ago
@MarkHolgate, in my opinion, Mair's work can be best described as, "layer upon layer". Every play is a sequence of counters, each of which in any other fightbook might merit its own page. Mair orchestrates them together in a way (even 4 or 5 to a page) that gives great context, and hints at more. It is a complex representation that comes from seeing the whole, and it's that totality that implies a fight school, somewhere to learn to take out not only a ruffian but also a skilled technician.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
haha gotta love the ending. you my friend are awesome! these videos are inspiring.
JosephEpik 1 year ago
@JosephEpik, hehe, I don't know how amused Franco was at the time when he was "brought down to size", but he's an excellent student and knows how to take a pretty good deal of dishing-out.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
Very nice; especially like the switching of the grip, and the notation that dagger fighting is ambidextrous.
I've only ever worked with rubber training knives; while there's a lot you can do with them, one thing you can't do is parry, so partner-work tends to devolve into wrestling.
JCLeSinge 1 year ago
An interesting unarmed application to knife training; "weight" your attention in one hand (e.g. imagine you were holding a knife), and favour that hand in feints and attacks. Whenever you change hands, physically signal passing the imaginary knife to the attacking hand. The opponent will begin to follow your "weighted" hand with his eyes, and ignore the other one... until it hits him.
JCLeSinge 1 year ago 2
@JCLeSinge, Ha! Excellent. Yes, I understand just what you mean. Good one,thank you.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
@ArmeAntica; Cheers. =)
It's not one someone would automatically think of; it comes from (yet again) that same sensei who taught me so much, with his remark that we're not likely to use archaic weapons training in the modern day, so there must be a practical use for any training that we do; nunchaku train hand-speed and dexterity, swords train courage and focus. Knives have obvious applications to modern day self-defence, but there are less obvious applications too.
JCLeSinge 1 year ago
@JCLeSinge, I think all weapons are useful in a physical sense. They teach distance, and how to fight against them, and give you the ability to fight with whatever comes to hand, if you train enough of them in the right way.
My background has ingrained in me the need to be able to fight with anything I might find, from a keychain to a firearms, as I grew up on survivalist martial arts mentalities. So for me, it's all good. : )
And in some places (Italy), melee weapons are still used.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
@ArmeAntica: Weapons are definitely fundamental to martial arts; it's sad that so many classes focus solely on unarmed training (to the detriment of learning effective skills, IMHO).
JCLeSinge 1 year ago
@JCLeSinge, sad is the word. Spot on. I guess it is the relative situation of peace that permits these false ideas to proliferate. I see it sadly as the decadence of much of today's martial art scene. False securities are often sold in the name of tradition or history that have only a limited relevance to a realistic and sufficient self-defense.
People can of course do whatever they want for fun, but for the heart of the martial artist, the real seeker, I think there needs to be more.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
@JCLeSinge, I was quite surprised myself at first to see any real use of the left hand, other than static blocks or grips, but it says a lot to me when the concept of attacking with the dagger in the left hand is introduced in only the second play sequence.
I really prefer using real knives for these things as much as possible. There is a fear factor with steel that is important to get used to, and to respect. Psychologically, it's very important, and like you said, for leverage it's a must.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
@ArmeAntica: I'm left-handed, so anything that espouses equal use of either hand is good by me; lefties tend to have partial ambidexterity anyway.
It's important to train both hands; many techniques simply won't work if the opponent is off-handed, and there are "options" available to the off-hand fighter that don't occur to someone who fights only with their right hand.
Also, given that it's easier to slash the wrist than parry the blade, ambidexterity is a big advantage in knife-fighting.
JCLeSinge 1 year ago
@JCLeSinge, my student figured prominently here is left-handed as well. I prefer work on principles, but plays are 1-2-3 for a reason, so you have to follow them to dig out their secrets. It's much harder when we get to longsword, to figure out the versions with him.
Yes, the first play starts with a parry to the blade, and the second to the wrist, which then prompts the introduction of ambidexterity in dagger fighting, just like you mention. Besides, using both hands is good for the brain.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
I always look forward to your videos! You guys always put together some great demonstrations.
Jiosonus 1 year ago
@Jiosonus, thanks, I'm glad to hear that they get something across.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
love to see new videos from u
Flow1987 1 year ago
@Flow1987, glad to hear it! Then you're in luck, as I have a couple other things to put up soon. I hope you'll find something interesting or useful from them, too.
ArmeAntica 1 year ago
Amazing!
TheTearingVIKING 1 year ago
@TheTearingVIKING, I'm glad you like it!
ArmeAntica 1 year ago