Fencing

The origins of the fencing in our Society - just like those of modern sports fencing - can be traced back to the art of self-defence that developed in the Renaissance era as a necessity as well as a fashion. A sword fight of this style might be fought in a smoky tavern or in the leafy alleys of a country manor and young nobles flocked to the practice halls or "schools" to learn from a master with a distinct style.

The earliest fencing style in the SCA is close to modern rapier fighting both in weapons and protection, except that one's movements are not limited to a long and narrow carpet; instead a list field or similar round or square area is used. The first set of rules concerning this style, light fencing, were approved in 1978. This discipline is the easiest to start with, because all the equipment except for the concealing outer clothes is available at a domestic sports store. This is probably also the easiest starting point if one has modern fencing in the background.

However, when historical fencing started to grow in popularity about in 1990's and appropriate weapons - more like Renaissance sports rapiers - became commercially available, also SCA fencers became interested in this style of fighting, called heavy fencing. The rapier used is heavier and the face mask has to be augmented with gorget, a stiff neck protection piece. If one is attracted by the beauty of historical fencing but doesn't want to deal with direct strike of a metal sword, this is a good fencing discipline to start with.

The newest way of fencing in our Society is cut-and-thrust (formerly known also as sidesword fencing/fighting). In this discipline we try to simulate as well as possible all aspects of renaissance fencing. As the name says, both cuts and thrusts are allowed and the need for protective clothing is higher, so in addition to the usual padding and mask and the gorget also elbows and the back of the head have to be protected with some stiff material and the wrists have to be protected with a guard or padding or by a basket in the sword hilt. Knee and shin pads are also recommended.

Drachenwald fencing rules, newest version:
http://www.loughdevnaree.org/KingdomFencing/

The Drachenwald Academy of Defence, open to all fencers in the kingdom:
http://www.drachenwald.sca.org/files/marshal/fencing/academy.htm

Mailing list for fencers in the kingdom, general:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drachenrapier/

Mailing list for cut-and-thrust fencers in the kingdom:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drachensidesword/

Everything about cut-and-thrust style: http://www.cutandthrust.org/

Elizabethan fencing page, historical fencing in our Society and beyond, by William E. Wilson:
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/fencing.html