Rapier and Rotella (Shield) Sparing Bout AHF

This is the first sparring bout using the rapier and rotella combination, a small to medium sized round and concave shield seen in Capo Ferro's manual of 1610. Both are members of the Academy of Historical Fencing, the one with white stripes on the trainers is Nick Thomas, a rapier instructor and the other Mike Thomas, a longsword instructor, though both practice many weapon combinations.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Rotella
• Rapier
• fencing
• sparring

[Nikos3000]

Well no, you can train how you want to, most choose to follow a school rather than make it up, I use Capo Ferro's rapier system because I find it the most effective, I still draw from other works, but only if I feel they are successful, constant motion and circling is not efficient and is also dangerous in a fight, so yes, I have found what works best for us.

[BlueBluszcz]

great movie, great work!

Justdont agree with that the legs are more expoed. You just seen to forget about defensing them with rapier during fight, probably you were concentrate on enemy rotella

[Nikos3000]

Thanks, the legs are always more exposed with any combination fight because the opponents weapon can be displaced allowing for a safe strike. Here it is easier because rapierists are taught to strike high against a low attack, but when the opponent has a rotella this is difficult, the best thing is to move the lead leg back, but still not always possible, you will see this in my second video which is uploading now. Capo Ferro does actually discuss striking the leg when in guard which is unusual

[jbujko]

Well the lower target area is always exposed when one sticks only to upper stances. Move the shield up and down, put it forward, pull it back and switch leg stances more often and the exposure will be equalised. Move around more, flank the adversary and so on. However - nice vid! Looking forward to seeing more! What are the rotellas made of?

[Nikos3000]

Remember this is Italian Rapier, not Spanish, you do not continually move or flank, that is the opposite of Italian rapier principle, same as fighting left leg forward, specifically not done in Capo Ferro. They are plastic, ex-police riot shields.

[demomanchaos]

I'd like to see the rotella facing a rapier and buckler and a rapier and dagger combo.

[adventure002006]

Tough enough to get past an opponents sword, then throw in a shield. Back in time when they fought for real I wonder how long these engagements lasted. Was it over in seconds or dragged on for ever with each opponect winning by a thousand cuts, instead of one solid strike.

[th7dude]

BlueBluszcz said, "You should find the compromise and fight in most effective way, not stick hard to old schools "

Says whom exactly? Why compromise when it works perfectly fine. Capo Ferro is a complete, stand-alone and very effective system, as we know from its study and acceptance across the German States and Italy.

[BlueBluszcz]

italian, spanish what the problem? You should find the compromise and fight in most effective way, not stick hard to old schools