Vincentio Saviolo very clearly spells out in his treatise, His Practice in Two Books, the surest method to learn fencing is to begin with the single sword through this rather direct statement, “The true foundation verily and the true beginning from whence you may learn all things belonging to this art, is the rapier alone, and from it will I begin, and you shall perceive of what great importance this beginning is, and how without it hardly or never any commeth to true skill and perfection.” Saviolo is not alone in this assertion among 16^th Century fencing masters. What we shall explore in this class is the theoretical concepts which the use of the single sword should expose. By relating time, measure, angulation and proportion directly against actions performed by our partners, we should gain a heightened physical understanding of Saviolo’s true foundation. From this foundation we will proceed to test these very concepts against a partner armed with sword and dagger.

For Saviolo to claim the single sword can teach you everything relating to this art, then our foundation should hold equally well against sword and dagger as it does against the sword alone. While the assistance of a dagger does offer additional reasonable actions, it does not offer so great an advantage that a fencer, armed with a scientific foundation and practice, can not easily overcome it.

Equipment:

Sword or rapier

Fencing mask

Fencing jacket

Leather gloves for both hands

Dagger,

Reason