Playing With My New Rapier

This may be proof of ADD or something, but I've switched from German longsword to an attempt at some rapier work. I start with a technique from Capo Ferro (also German) and then try Salvator Fabris (Italian). I'll go back to the longsword stuff soon enough though. I just have a short attention span and like to bounce around. :D

It comes to me a little easier than the longsword work I think, given that I just got the sucker today and never touched one before. It's a Hanwei Bone Handled Swept Hilt Rapier, try saying that five times fast.

I think it is a little whippy since you can see the blade droop in the video and I have heard a lot about how historical rapiers were usually rather stiff. Because of the balance, it also seems very light compared to my other swords... at first. Holding it out at arms-length repeatedly gets a little old. I hasten to clarify that this feeling comes from the weight being largely in the hilt. It is only 5 ounces less than the Hanwei War Sword I show in my other video. It is largely a myth that rapiers were much lighter than the swords that came before them.

Disclaimer: I have, as mentioned above, never done this before and have had no official training. I welcome any useful advice. I intend to keep at this and upload a bigger video with more techniques in the future. Offer subject to limited terms and conditions. See participating stores for details.

Oh, and that is Blue Oyster Cult, Veterans of the Psychic Wars, in the background. Next time I'll turn it up so the audience can hear my bad/great taste in music.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Salvator Fabris
• Capo Ferro
• rapier
• martial arts
• sword
• German
• Italian

[AtrusOranis]

This seems like a dumb question, but what kind of blade do they provide on it? I want to get 2 of them, one sharp and one blunt (for practice), but it seems like they only have it with one kind of blade. If you don't know the official Hanwei kind, can you at least tell me if the edge and tip are sharp? Thanks!

Oh and as for advice, It seems to me that you move your wrist a bit much (i.e. rolling it ) whenever you lunge. Try to not roll it around so much as it takes time and can lower accuracy.

[SkinnyGuy31]

@AtrusOranis Actually for this rapier I got both the sharp and blunt, as sold by Hanwei. There is no real edge to either, which isn't important for a rapier. However, I felt a little disappointed at the blunt version. It is basically the same thing as the sharp, only with the point ground off. It also had a slightly longer tang, and I had to apply a hacksaw to get it to fit in the hilt.

As for the wrist, doesn't the twist lend strength to a thrust?

[AtrusOranis]

@SkinnyGuy31 Thanks for the quick response!

Actually, for rapier I do want an edge to it for "draw cuts", in which you basically run the blade along the person while applying pressure, basically a slicing action. It is one of my standard moves where I get on the person's inside quickly and then use a draw cut on his midsection or neck.

When fencing rapier, strength is not as important as speed, accuracy, and finesse; so while you may be correct that it increases strength, its not as practical.

[SkinnyGuy31]

@AtrusOranis Ah, Abschneiden, or "slicing off", last of the Three Wounders. No, the blades used in this rapier are blunt ('bout 1/32nd I'd say) and would take work to get a decent edge. No difference between the blunt and sharp versions as far as edge goes.

True, it's usually not the strongest blow that counts, but the first blow. I do not remember where I read it, but apparently some guy out there can put a standard modern fencing "toy" through a thin door by twisting his wrist just right.

[Chattanclan]

HAND FIRST!

[gr3ysw0rdsm3n]

Capo Ferro is not German

He may have studied with the German schools of fencing but his manuscripts and fencing plates very much represent traditional Italian styles

[carlyle0229]

@UsuallyKind you never seen me, he is nerdy, id kick his ass

[valentekevin100]

try not to lift that back leg it throws you off balance and it is also a telegraph.

[valentekevin100]

i think you deffinetly need to workon tequnique a little bit.( if you dont mind the constuctive criticism ) relax a little more in your stance, and you lift your back leg a little bit on your lunge.

[UsuallyKind]

@carlyle0229 I think that he could beat the shit out of you :/