Schedule Page

~for~

Solo rapier drills for physical conditioning and mechanical accuracy

ROOM: TBA

INSTRUCTOR: Tom Leoni

DESCRIPTION: There is a common assumption that for a rapier drill to be effective, it needs to involve two partners crossing blades. While partner-drills are undoubtedly a staple of rapier training, there is another half of the equation that needs to be considered: solo drills. It is in fact with solo drills that athleticism is built and sureness of execution is acquired, without which elements a swordsman will never achieve full potential.

In this class, we will go through a slight variant of the standard Order of the Seven Hearts solo-drill routine. First, a few basic actions will be shown along with the check-points for correct execution. Then, these actions will be performed at full speed in a series of workout-like repetition. It will be immediately apparent how these drills build a rapier-targeted physical conditioning and greatly enhance mechanical accuracy.

The nature of this class is highly athletic in both an aerobic and a muscular sense. Hopefully, attendees will leave it motivated to adapt this concept to their particular training, regardless of what system or master they study.

Equipment required: practice rapier.