Rapier & Dagger Stage Combat : Parries in Rapier Fencing

The seven fencing parries are popular with rapiers, foils, and other swords. Learn rapier fencing parry techniques in this free stage combat video.

Expert: Ashley Valentine
Bio: Ashley Valentine is an Actor Combatant with certificates in Unarmed, Rapier and Dagger, and Smallsword stage combat who studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Filmmaker: Louis Nathan

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• stage combat
• stage fighting
• rapier
• dagger
• fencing
• parries

[RedCrayonFace]

WOMEN WITH SWORDS

THERE IS A GOD

[bansheemopar]

The main problem with this video is, that she is wielding a moden fencing saber and not a rapier.

And all parries she presents are saber parriers not rapier parries.

This might be mainly because she is into stage-combat.

Stage combat is flashy and historical looking, but in fact not historical.

[Adanmska1234]

excellent class, i really want a teacher like you ;) im still a little slow

[OneMindAnyWeapon]

I should point out that this is only one version of stage combat, which comes in many shapes and forms. Some I very reality based and others far less so. There are stage combat forms that closely model historical forms, however as has been pointed out, it can not be totally based in reality as it is being used as a story telling tool.

[nujabes7]

@bansheemopar so thats the definition of stage combat....so what is the title for real historical fencing?

[DarthObrin]

@murrayro What I'm referring to (and what I think she's using in the video) is the French System used by The Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). I don't claim to be an expert, but this is the same parry system they used when teaching us broadsword and shield so I'm fairly certain this is the standard for SAFD choreography.

[murrayro]

@DarthObrin Depends on the blade really. Parry 6 can either be what you said, which is primarily used when dealing with thrusts like the kind used with foil or epee. There is also a parry 6 that is the opposite of a parry 5, with the hand across the body, but the blade in the same position as parry 5. This is useful when parrying cuts to the head and you want to make a more powerful cut to your opponent's 3 position. Several teachers teach several things differently.

[DenaturaXXX]

i agree with bansheemopar in 100% , this are parries used in saber fights and with rapier they kinda sucks :d, bc when u use rapier u block with dagger and then strike

[DarthObrin]

Ok, there seems to be some confusion about Parry 6 and 8. Parry 6 in stage combat is actually a parry against thrusts, and is the movement across the chest from Parry 4 to Parry 3. Parry 8 is in the same position as Parry 2 with the hand in supination.

[sidiagung]

Simple but fairly well done. Do more.

Blessings,

David