A second status report on my fencing manual

As I’ve written about previously, I have been convinced by a friend (who knows well what he’s talking about) to write a fencing manual encompassing my approach and interpretation of the northern Italian tradition. I have been studying and successfully applying the lessons from several 16th and early 17th century sword manuals for almost 30 years, and have along the way trained a number of skilled historical fencers along the way. Guy pointed out that my approach is unique, even if he and I (and several others) effectively end up in the same place, generally, in the end.

And of course I’ve written that the money I make here on Substack goes to paying for professionals to help in this endeavor - an experienced editor, a layout artist, etc. So here I’m also hoping to show those of you who have so generously supported this newsletter what it is you’re supporting.

Therefore, as promised, I’ll give you all a little update of where things stand.

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A User’s Guide for the Rapier

To recap - what I am creating, and what I think is missing from the literature, is a clear, graphics-heavy user guide or technical manual similar to what I helped produce for IT and energy companies as a tech writer and illustrator.

I believe that a good user guide must fulfill the following goals to be effective:

• Users can get all the essential information in an easy to read and access format

• The manual should be brief and clear, and heavy on illustrations where possible

• The users can get information for reference - e.g. they can easily open the book and find that one thing they need to remember or reinforce

So I’m creating a manual about the northern Italian tradition that serves as a graphics-heavy user’s guide to this system of swordplay for all types of fencers. You will be able to go from beginning to end and learn, incrementally, the “how to’s” of the system. To facilitate this, I’m avoiding referencing specialty terms or techniques until after they’ve been introduced and explained, much like I would in a classroom or a good technical manual.

You will also, though, be able to use the manual as a reference tool, and go directly to the section you need that addresses the issue you’re working on. And I’ve backed up my assertions and interpretations with quotes from and references to translations of original manuals that make up the core of this system, so those who are interested in such things can go look at the source texts and check my interpretation.

I’m planning my manual to actually be a series of books. I will first introduce and document the foundational mechanics and actions that you find across the northern Italian manuals. This will introduce, explain, and illustrate the details of how to hold the sword, the postures, the lunge, and how to move while maintaining your protective postures. I will then instruct and illustrate how to perform the cavazione and the gain, among other things that require a target, partner, or additional sword to play off of. So for those who prefer, you will be able learn the system from the very beginning using this first book (or books - still working on how to release the first two parts).

Then I plan to put out a book that shows how those techniques are applied in action by introducing and deconstructing step-by-step what’s happening in the single sword plays described in Capoferro’s manual.

If that’s moderately well received, I’ll put out another one on Capoferro’s sword and dagger plays.

If those two applied manuals go over well, I can then partner with fellow instructors and put out a book on Fabris’ plays, on Giganti’s, and on Alfieri’s. But that’s well down the road and depends on a lot of things falling into place.

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The Update

To jump right in - the User’s Guide has been written. Part one (or book one?) is with a professional editor with whom I worked for several years when I was a technical writer.

Part two is written, but in need of more illustrations. That one’s on me. Once I’ve finished those, it will go out for editing as well.

One illustration update that makes me happy is that I found a digital rendering of one of my favorite extant antique swords that I can use in my 3D images. This sword was digitized by the Oakeshott Institute.

I also found a few other digital renderings of antique rapiers held in museums.

Huh - the gold one kinda looks like a lightsaber…

So I’m planning to replace the very basic rapiers I built…

…with real examples from collections. Though I will need to manipulate the color in order to clearly show actions, as I’ve done in the images above. So far a grey or black sword and a gold sword seem to be the most clear in test images.

So I ask you all now - Should I stick with my simplistic rapiers? Go with the more realistic ones? Change the colors to something more garish? Let me know in the comments what you think!

Finally, once the editing is done I’m planning to work with a layout artist and a cover artist to polish the book and make it even more accessible and presentable. But then I’ll need to figure out how I want to publish it/them…

A Look at the Contents

Below I’ll show you the framework of what I have written. This is the table of contents as it stands. I’m sure there will be revisions, but this should demonstrate where we’re at.

The Italian Renaissance Rapier: A User’s Guide

1. About this Guide

   1. What is the Northern Italian system?

   2. How to use this book

2. Part 1 - Individual practice: the core knowledge and actions

   1. Chapter 1: The sword

      1. The rapier

         1. Defining the rapier

         2. The parts of the rapier

         3. Divisions of the blade

         4. Customizing your rapier

   2. Chapter 2: Holding the rapier

      1. Orienting your hand to the rapier hilt

         1. A variety of hilt options

         2. Knuckle guard

         3. Side rings

         4. Sweeps and crosses

         5. Posts

      2. How to grip the rapier

   3. Chapter 3: The 4 (+3) hand positions

      1. The four primary hand positions

      2. The three bastard hand positions

   4. Chapter 4: Guards and postures

      1. The four principle postures

   5. Chapter 5: Movement

      1. Moving the postures around

   6. Chapter 6: The lunge

      1. The lunge in three parts

      2. The recovery

   7. Chapter 7: Thrusting and cutting

      1. Good technique in thrusting

      2. Cutting with a rapier

3. Part 2 - Paired practice: building on the core knowledge and actions

   1. Chapter 8: Measure

      1. Four measures

   2. Chapter 9: Gaining the opponent’s sword

      1. Defining the gain

         1. What does it mean?

         2. How to gain

         3. Three types of gain

   3. Chapter 10: Cavazione

      1. Defining cavazione

      2. How to perform a cavazione

   4. Chapter 11: The ideal fight

      1. What is the ideal fight?

      2. How and why to do it

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The Follow-on Books

As I wrote above, if I’m happy with how the User Manual turns out, and there’s enough interest, I’ll then put out an instruction guide on how Capoferro’s plays employ the skills and actions I laid out in the manual. Something like:

• The Italian Renaissance Rapier: Capoferro’s plays with the sword alone

Then I may continue by introducing the use of the dagger and showing how the techniques are applied in the sword and dagger section of Capoferro’s manual:

• The Italian Renaissance Rapier: Capoferro’s plays with sword and dagger

If there’s enough interest, I might then work with a couple co-authors on:

• The Italian Renaissance Rapier: Fabris’ plays with the sword alone

• The Italian Renaissance Rapier: Giganti’s plays with the sword alone

• The Italian Renaissance Rapier: Alfieri’s plays with the sword alone

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Conclusion

So there we are! If you’ve stayed with me this far, and you have experience with and opinions on how such a book (or series) should be published, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. I could self-publish through one of those services. I could find a niche publisher that would work with me to put it out. All informed ideas are welcome!

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Next up:

• Skill progression - Making a plan to improve part 2, the activities (Paid subscribers)

• Blowcalling in historical martial arts (All subscribers)