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Deconstructing Manual Del Baratero

ROOM: O.C. 232

INSTRUCTOR: Maestro James Loriega

DESCRIPTION:

The Manual del Baratero has been referred to as “the oldest manual on the art of Spanish knife fighting ever published and … the only known historical text on the subject.” Over the last five years, western arts aficionados have unsuccessfully attempted to reconstruct the “art of Spanish knife fighting” by using the manual as their bible.

The main instructional objectives of this workshop are to: 1) provide a proper interpretation of the archaic Spanish text, and 2) differentiate the valid techniques contained in the manual from the some of the less plausible ones fabricated by its intriguing author. Using his recently-published translation as a guide, Maestro Loriega will address the manual’s various lessons, demonstrating how the valid ones are correctly applied, and revealing how the flawed lessons should be revised.

Content Outline:

Segment I

• Identifying the Manual’s Author

• The concept of the Barateros

• Knives and Nomenclature

• Utilitarian blades vs. Fighting Knives

• The Concept of Stances and Guards

• The Concept of Slashes and Thrusts

• Drills and Applications

Segment II

• The Concept of Boundaries

• The Concept of Defense

• Basic Footwork

• Corridas

The Concept of the Jiro

The Concept of the Contrajiro

• Recortes

• Drills and Applications

Segment III

• The Four Lines of Approach and Attack

• Deceptions and Ruses

• The Andalusian Style of Navaja

• Drills and Applications

Segment IV

• The Use of the Cuchillo

• The Use of the Tijeras

• The Use of the Faja

• Unarmed Strategies against Armas Blancas

• Drills and Applications

Necessary equipment for this workshop: live folding knife or navaja; training knife; bath towel.

(Small navajas, large navaja trainers, books, and manuals will also be available for purchase.)

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