A really great guy Ion, I've fenced a couple of times againts him and I've really enjoyed my combats againts him though he has always beaten the sh*t of me ;). Nice video. Thumbs Up
I have some questions. Removing from the discussion the Scherma vs Destreza use of a rapier, and the optimal length and weight for each. And I know that there are masters that recommand this arm length or navel height that as the optimal length. Why would you use a shorter rapier if you are shorter in stature? You are penalized twice. Which is the technique that you cannot do with a longer rapier than the one deemed optimal for your height? And is that particular technique so important that you cannot adapt it for the use of a longer rapier so that you wouldn't suffer against a taller opponent? Because I know there are 52" (132cm) blades on rapiers, and I doubt these were used by drastically tall people, so someone must have shared my scepticism about matching a rapier's length with your height.
So this actually requires a lengthier reply. But it mostly stems down from one very important point you mentioned. Fencing masters often specified either a length or a proportion to your body, which in the end give you a better manoeuvrability and a better harmony between body and sword even if it is disadvantageous for the shorter person. It's not really a matter of techniques per se moreso as what you can do with one that can't do with the other PLUS your height. A shorter person with a longer rapier can have either arm strength issues trying to be quick or the sword may prove itself unwieldy. A shorter rapier of course will force the shorter person into closing the distance and getting past the point, but it's also a bit of a natural advantage, lower centre of mass and also often quicker. (if I'm able to showcase my videos against David Pascal you'll be getting a better picture of what I'm going for.) Another advantage of a shorter rapier is of course weight and point of balance which can manoeuvre a lot quicker around the heavier taller person's rapier. Those examples you mentioned, they would've been used by taller people rather than shorter people and also almost exclusively partnered with something else, dagger, shield, cloak, etc. mostly because the longer they are the more unwieldy they become, because even if light the longer blade can be a nightmare to work around a shorter one. Hope this helps shed some light on the subject.
@@EspadaNegra Yes, I understand a few things better. One, that the balance matters, both in the sense of the point of balance for a rapier and in the sense of achieving harmony, as you put it, between the rapier/body as a system. I also now think that it's not just enough to think of the best rapier for the person, or even for the particular tradition, but also how you use the rapier inside a given tradition. So single sword systems vs sword and offhand weapon may need different considerations. Put all these things together and there are a lot of variables for determining "the best" length and all that. Btw, I have a 114cm blade rapier with a CoB of about 16cm at a weight of around 1200g (I'm tall enough for the length to work for me). It has a phenomenal blade presence, but I feel slow with it (incidently, I got the chance to handle an original mid 1600s rapiers with basically the same stats, maybe 30g lighter, and it felt faster). I'll try to use other trainers and compare more how I fell during use. I guess a lot of the finer realisations will come with experience.
16cm pob is a little too extreme, you would want to bring that down to 10 or under as otherwise it's going to be very tip heavy making your cavaziones or disengages a hell of a lot harder. Distal taper helps a lot in bringin down the weight closer to the hilt.
@@EspadaNegra Yea, the 16cm pob is too much, and you're right about cavaziones and disengages. It's the result of a bit of a miscommunication with the maker (which I like, and you also know him, he made Rui's Cuirassier Sword ;) ). I wanted closer to 12cm, and now I think 14 would be good. It's a good piece with a beautiful hilt otherwise. I did some math, and if I would file 1mmX1cmX50cm off the last part of the 114cm long blade, I would bring the pob down to 14cm. I would need to add 130g to the pommel to achieve the same goal. At least these are the numbers I remember. But I do have a stiff blade at 9gk flex and would like to keep it on this 114cm long blade, so I am a bit afraid to mess around with it. Since my focus is sidesword and Capoferro is secondary, I am also finding myself getting more used to the rapier as well (but probably at the expense of proper rapier technique; so I need to be careful). Btw, for Destreza, 10cm pob sounds good. But for Scherma, I would think 12cm would be a minimum. Most museum pieces that list this stat (I looked for it) give between 12-14cm, with few 15-16cm and only one monster at 17cm (also 1.6kg total weight, so something is not right there). I may just keep this as is and use it as an exponent of a tip heavy outlier, and get another rapier with a pob closer to 12cm. Thanks for sharing your opinion on this, it helps, since I am afraid that my opinion is coloured too much by still being green with a rapier.
A really great guy Ion, I've fenced a couple of times againts him and I've really enjoyed my combats againts him though he has always beaten the sh*t of me ;).
Nice video. Thumbs Up
Couldn't agree more, love this guy to bits and it was awesome to have finally been able to cross swords with him. :D
I have some questions. Removing from the discussion the Scherma vs Destreza use of a rapier, and the optimal length and weight for each. And I know that there are masters that recommand this arm length or navel height that as the optimal length. Why would you use a shorter rapier if you are shorter in stature? You are penalized twice. Which is the technique that you cannot do with a longer rapier than the one deemed optimal for your height? And is that particular technique so important that you cannot adapt it for the use of a longer rapier so that you wouldn't suffer against a taller opponent? Because I know there are 52" (132cm) blades on rapiers, and I doubt these were used by drastically tall people, so someone must have shared my scepticism about matching a rapier's length with your height.
So this actually requires a lengthier reply. But it mostly stems down from one very important point you mentioned. Fencing masters often specified either a length or a proportion to your body, which in the end give you a better manoeuvrability and a better harmony between body and sword even if it is disadvantageous for the shorter person. It's not really a matter of techniques per se moreso as what you can do with one that can't do with the other PLUS your height. A shorter person with a longer rapier can have either arm strength issues trying to be quick or the sword may prove itself unwieldy. A shorter rapier of course will force the shorter person into closing the distance and getting past the point, but it's also a bit of a natural advantage, lower centre of mass and also often quicker. (if I'm able to showcase my videos against David Pascal you'll be getting a better picture of what I'm going for.) Another advantage of a shorter rapier is of course weight and point of balance which can manoeuvre a lot quicker around the heavier taller person's rapier.
Those examples you mentioned, they would've been used by taller people rather than shorter people and also almost exclusively partnered with something else, dagger, shield, cloak, etc. mostly because the longer they are the more unwieldy they become, because even if light the longer blade can be a nightmare to work around a shorter one. Hope this helps shed some light on the subject.
@@EspadaNegra Yes, I understand a few things better. One, that the balance matters, both in the sense of the point of balance for a rapier and in the sense of achieving harmony, as you put it, between the rapier/body as a system. I also now think that it's not just enough to think of the best rapier for the person, or even for the particular tradition, but also how you use the rapier inside a given tradition. So single sword systems vs sword and offhand weapon may need different considerations. Put all these things together and there are a lot of variables for determining "the best" length and all that.
Btw, I have a 114cm blade rapier with a CoB of about 16cm at a weight of around 1200g (I'm tall enough for the length to work for me). It has a phenomenal blade presence, but I feel slow with it (incidently, I got the chance to handle an original mid 1600s rapiers with basically the same stats, maybe 30g lighter, and it felt faster). I'll try to use other trainers and compare more how I fell during use. I guess a lot of the finer realisations will come with experience.
16cm pob is a little too extreme, you would want to bring that down to 10 or under as otherwise it's going to be very tip heavy making your cavaziones or disengages a hell of a lot harder. Distal taper helps a lot in bringin down the weight closer to the hilt.
@@EspadaNegra Yea, the 16cm pob is too much, and you're right about cavaziones and disengages. It's the result of a bit of a miscommunication with the maker (which I like, and you also know him, he made Rui's Cuirassier Sword ;) ). I wanted closer to 12cm, and now I think 14 would be good. It's a good piece with a beautiful hilt otherwise. I did some math, and if I would file 1mmX1cmX50cm off the last part of the 114cm long blade, I would bring the pob down to 14cm. I would need to add 130g to the pommel to achieve the same goal. At least these are the numbers I remember. But I do have a stiff blade at 9gk flex and would like to keep it on this 114cm long blade, so I am a bit afraid to mess around with it. Since my focus is sidesword and Capoferro is secondary, I am also finding myself getting more used to the rapier as well (but probably at the expense of proper rapier technique; so I need to be careful).
Btw, for Destreza, 10cm pob sounds good. But for Scherma, I would think 12cm would be a minimum. Most museum pieces that list this stat (I looked for it) give between 12-14cm, with few 15-16cm and only one monster at 17cm (also 1.6kg total weight, so something is not right there).
I may just keep this as is and use it as an exponent of a tip heavy outlier, and get another rapier with a pob closer to 12cm. Thanks for sharing your opinion on this, it helps, since I am afraid that my opinion is coloured too much by still being green with a rapier.
Superior Italian style, works best vs shorter spaniards with inferior blades ;)
How incivilized, truly in italian style :)