Inktober 2018 - Day #2: Fundamentals: Grips

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 2!

Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. This year's focus/theme will be on the staff/spear with my notes. Please forgive my crappy picture of the page.

Enjoy!

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NOTES

1. Palm Up/Down grip - Fight initially at long ranges and can rapidly shift hands to center of staff for close-quarters. Powerful long and short strikes using 'push-pull' action of the hands.
2. Palms Down grip - For close-quarters and levering. Effective for blocking and pushing.
3. Baseball bat grip - Facilitates rapid, circular, flourishing attacks, where the staff makes a series of vertical spins to block and strike. Best for 5-6 feet staves. If hands closer together, can deliver powerful strikes like holding a baseball bat.
4. Single-end grip - Used at long range. Facilitates long- and medium- range fights. Can deliver fast long-range thrusts.
5. Reverse grip - Good for ascending strikes or levering between legs for takedowns/trips.

KEY POINTS

1. Some grips may be better for attacks, blocks or both.
2. Practice various grips in various situations.

SOURCES

1. McLemore, Dwight C. "The Fighting Staff". Paladin Press, 2009.
2. Demura, Fumio. "Bo:  Karate Weapon of Self-Defense". Ohara Publications, 1976.
3. Varady, Joe. "The Art and Science of Staff Fighting". YMAA Publication Center, 2016.

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My drawings for Inktober 2018 (this will be updated daily to add links to each subsequent picture in the series):

• Inktober 2018 - Day #1: Fundamentals: Staff Lengths
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Inktober 2017's focus was predominately knifefighting and if you want to check it out, please visit my Projects page.

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Inktober 2018 - Day #1: Fundamentals: Staff Lengths

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 1!

Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. There is an official prompt list for the picture of each day. Last year, I put my own spin to Inktober by focusing each drawing on the martial arts. After the first few pictures, I decided to focus on 1 theme for the whole month. Last year's focus was knifefighting and if you want to check it out, please visit my Projects page.

This year's focus/theme will be on the staff/spear. I am ambitious with this project, will do my best to post 1 picture a day. I also will be jotting down notes to each drawing as after all, I'm trying to learn staff/spear. Additionally, I need to hone my 'gesture drawing' skills as it will be beneficial for notes taking after a martial arts class/seminar. Drawing and notes will be on an 8.5" x 11" paper and I will collect them into a folder.

Enjoy!

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NOTES

1. "...you shall stand upright, holding the staff upright close by your body, with your left hand, reaching with your right hand your staff as high as you can, and then allow to that length a space to set both your hands, when you come to fight, wherein you may conveniently strike, thrust, and ward, & that is the just length to be made according to your stature."
   ~George Silver's Paradoxes of Defense (1599)
2. George Silver is saying length of staff is determined by one's height.
3. Waist height and shoulder height - best to use sword techniques
4. Some Chinese styles consider eyebrow height as ideal
5. Chinese and Germans used 8'-12' staves.

KEY POINTS

1. Shoulder height or shorter, use the staff as a sword.
2. Eyebrow height (~5') up to 12', use staff techniques.

SOURCES

1. McLemore, Dwight C. "The Fighting Staff". Paladin Press, 2009.
2. Lindholm, David. "Fighting with the Quarterstaff". Chivalry Bookshelf, 2006.

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My drawings for Inktober 2018 (this will be updated daily to add links to each subsequent picture in the series):

• Inktober 2018 - Day #2: Fundamentals: Grips
•  

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Paladin Press - Master of Defence

Master of Defence

The Works of George Silver

by Paul Wagner

SKU MASTD2

Softcover
978-1-58160-723-9
352 pages, 8.5" x 11"
photos, illust.

DESCRIPTION

George Silver's Paradoxes of Defence (1599) and Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence (ca. 1605) are probably the most important works ever written on the Western martial tradition. Silver straddles the medieval and Renaissance worlds, summing up the collective experience of centuries of European warcraft, while presenting a fighting style that ensures victory in the urban battlefield of single combat, street brawls and honorable duels. Silver presents a complete integrated fencing system applicable to a wide variety of weapons, but more importantly provides a theoretical framework of universal principles by which to judge any technique, theory or strategy. He teaches how to identify the flaws of any enemy's fighting style, exploit his weaknesses and overcome him while remaining secure and safe, using the traditional "True Fight" of the English knightly class.

In addition to presenting Silver's original works, author Paul Wagner and other scholars examine Silver's contributions, putting the Master and his legacy in context. Master of Defence is a necessity for any student of Western fencing or swordsmanship, Western or Asian martial arts, Shakespearean or Renaissance studies, English military history, medieval reenactment or professional fight choreography.

AUTHOR BIO

Paul Wagner is a founding member of the Stoccata School of Defence (www.stoccata.org ), where he teaches classes and courses on various English weapons – shortsword, sword and buckler, longsword, quarterstaff, backsword and rapier – as well as German sword and buckler and medieval sword and big shield.

CHAPTER LIST

BOOK CHAPTER LIST 
1) A Brief Background to the Works of George Silver by Stephen Hand 
2) Silver's Armoury by Paul Wagner 
3) Silver's Principles and Practice by Mark Hillyard 
4) The Untrue Weapon by Paul Wagner and Stephen Hand 
5) Silver and the Fights in Shakespeare by Paul Wagner 
6) An Elizabethan Book of Five Rings by Paul Wagner 
7) Paradoxes of Defense by George Silver 
8) Brief Instructions Upon my Paradoxes of Defense by George Silver

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the 2017 year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

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Paladin Press - Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts

Masters of Medieval and Renaissance Martial Arts

Rediscovering The Western Combat Heritage

by John Clements

SKU MMR

Softcover
978-1-58160-668-3
396 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illust.


DESCRIPTION

More than a dozen of the most respected names in medieval and Renaissance scholarship have come together to present a variety of fighting lore from the rich heritage of the European fight masters, circa 1350 to 1675.

The list of legendary fighters and instructors contained within these pages reads like a combat honor roll and includes Johannes Liechtenauer, Fiore dei Liberi, Giacomo di Grassi, Henry de Sainct Didier, Joseph Swetnam and Hugues Wittenwiller. Historical documents translated and analyzed include Das Solothurner Fechtbuch, Le Jeu de la Hache, and the Gladiatoria.

Because study of this martial literature requires one to be both scholar and fighter, the translators and interpreters featured in this book are all researchers and/or martial artists – thus serious students of the emerging field of historical fencing studies. These contributions from Dr. Sydney Anglo, John Clements, David Lindholm, Brian Hunt, Grzegorz Zabinski, Gene Tausk, Stacy Clifford and other modern scholars bring to life the words and fighting techniques of the masters of long ago.

This rediscovery of combat skills that have been proven over the centuries will breathe new life into the study of medieval and Renaissance martial arts and preserve this knowledge for generations to come.

AUTHOR BIO

John Clements has practiced cut-and-thrust swordsmanship for almost 20 years and trains regularly in long-sword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger, medieval spear, and rapier and dagger methods. He lectures on historical weaponry and is an ardent promoter of contact-weapon sparring with historical replica swords.

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Medieval Swordsmanship

 

Medieval Swordsmanship

Illustrated Methods And Techniques

by John Clements

SKU MEDIEVAL

Softcover
978-1-58160-004-9
344 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illust.



DESCRIPTION

From the author of Renaissance Swordsmanship comes the most comprehensive and historically accurate view ever of the lost fighting arts of medieval knights, warriors and men-at-arms. Based on years of extensive training and research in the use of European swords, it contains highly effective fighting techniques for the sword, sword and shield, long-sword, great-sword, pole-arm and more. And with more than 200 illustrations and rare historical documents, it is a scholarly reference as well as a hands-on training guide for martial artists of all levels.

AUTHOR BIO

John Clements has practiced cut-and-thrust swordsmanship for almost 20 years and trains regularly in long-sword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger, medieval spear, and rapier and dagger methods. He lectures on historical weaponry and is an ardent promoter of contact-weapon sparring with historical replica swords.


CHAPTER LIST

BOOK CHAPTER LIST 
1) Medieval Combat Environment 
2) Medieval Fighting Manuals 
3) Medieval Swords 
4) Making of Medieval Swords 
5) Swords Against Plate Armor 
6) Fate of the Medieval Sword 
7) Forms of the Medieval Sword 
8) Medieval Shields 
9) Sword and Shield 
10) Long Sword 
11) Practice and Sparring 
12) Obtaining a Real Sword 
13) Problem of Stage-Combat 
14) Methods of Weapon-Sparring 
15) Blunt Steel and Plate Armor Sparring 
16) Medieval Fantasy and "Boffer" Sparring Methods 
17) Importance of the Full-Leg Target in Weapon-Sparring 
18) Kneeling Down in Weapon Sparring Rules 
19) Weapon-Sparring in Martial Arts 
20) Understanding Swords and Martial Arts in America

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Renaissance Swordsmanship

Renaissance Swordsmanship

The Illustrated Use Of Rapiers And Cut-And-Thrust Swords

by John Clements

SKU RS

Softcover
978-0-87364-919-3
152 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illustrations

DESCRIPTION

This is the most thorough work ever about historical swordsmanship. It is both a general reference and an instructional guide for advanced and beginning sword enthusiasts, students of military history and martial artists. Includes rare historical info and 100 original drawings.

AUTHOR BIO

John Clements has practiced cut-and-thrust swordsmanship for almost 20 years and trains regularly in long-sword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, sword and dagger, medieval spear, and rapier and dagger methods. He lectures on historical weaponry and is an ardent promoter of contact-weapon sparring with historical replica swords.


CHAPTER LIST

BOOK CHAPTER LIST 
1) The Rapier 
2) The Small-Sword 
3) Cut-and-Thrust Swords 
4) Illustrations

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Back to the Source - Historical European Martial Arts (Documentary)

Pretty good documentary on the state of HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) now. Well-produced and filmed. Full length feature at a little over 90 mins and in High Definition.

Wonder what the state of HEMA will be in 5, 10, 20, 20+ years. HEMA is picking up traction.

Enjoy!

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Was that awesome or what? I was intrigued with the Reverse Grip briefly shown. And very cool the Gigante Vol 2 was discovered!

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