Destreza Nova - Iberian Rapier Swordsmanship

Today we meet at Kateri school, Remember https://maps.app.goo.gl/FyicXdT25v5Ggo6u9

Kahnawà:ke Combat Academy presents: Montante / Quarterstaff and secret Weapon, by André Hajjar

Kateri School · Kahnawake, Quebec Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Destreza Nova is now ™️ !!
It all started as an idea, to push the knowledge of my teachers and myself, to give it to the world and have people learn from it. Destreza is more than just a bunch of old books talking about maths and philosophy. Manuel de Brea's treatise taught me that mixing Destreza with other arts can have successful results and pandemic times helped me put the base of it. Jacinto de Garay inspired the symbol and the artist Dave Bergamoth made it possible.
Thank you everybody who supports daily this project. I will keep fighting to make it beneficial to everybody.
Andre Hajjar

On Dec 28th, we are invited by the Glengarry Broadsword Academy to do a 6h seminar on cloak and sword. Cloak and Dagger!
We find pertinent to retrieve this article about bullfighting by André Hajjar from our website. Because as we know the Matador "handles" the bull using a capote (from cape) and a sword. It is shown also that the steps have some similarity to the footwork of our art in Destreza.
FULL ARTICLE IN COMMENTS SECTION

Meditation post by André Hajjar, hopefully it can be a message of self-evaluation for all my peers.
It's been 16 years since I picked up the sword, when I felt a je ne sais quoi that I understood after the years. Historical fencing will give your reasons to train, sparr, read and/or belong to the community as much as you want and need. Mine were very clear for the very beginning: I enjoy this. I feel joy and I have fun and I will keep sacrificing energy, time and money as long as I feel the same joy as I felt when in that 2008 I arrived to the club lead by Sendo and Aleix and I had my first sparring session, with jeans and mountain boots. I met many good humans on the way, so many that it would take an eternity to name them all... the pictures do not make justice, so don't mind if you don't appear on them. I also encountered other humans that, even if they don't deserve mention they also teach valuable lessons, daily and we must learn from those experiences.
At the end, we are obliged to share space, time and emotions with other people that may or may not share our values, goals or feelings. Time will discriminate between wolves and sheep and it's up to you to approach to some, and run from others.
Remember, we are here to pick up the sword and enjoy, to socialize as much as we want or need, but for sure to love and feel loved, regardless how much you win or lose. What one considers "results" should not be the guide that would rule our feelings. Instead, we should examine the emotions that brought us here, evaluate the positive aspects and keep pushing what put a smile on us. Taking HEMA seriously means working on that ALWAYS. Every-single-second. That is why we need self-reflection many times.
Take care of the community, of your peers, and work hard to make your environment better, so when you look back you can see the good harvested path and have a tear of pride and another one of nostalgia.
Cheers!

Parrying daggers.
They used to have them in the, belt, at their backs... but in this position the quillons could bother the user, also they were only available to the left hand. Thus, in this portrait of a Maltese Knight we see him carrying the dagger at his right side. That way in a rush it can be drawn by either right or left hand.
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Leonid Tarassuk - Some Notes on Parrying Daggers and Poniards.

📸 Portrait of a Knight of the Order of Malta, Giovan Paolo Cavagna, 1600. Florence, Bardini Museum

Here you have it! For all, for everyone, for the community... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐜𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝟏𝟔𝟕𝟓. I know many cannot read Spanish, but this will open the door for some translators like Ash Mestizo who are interested in making this masterpiece in English.
I hope you appreciate it. I sacrificed many hours in it, if you type me a simple "thanks" that will do. :)
Link in the comment.

Finished the transcription of the Destreza Treatise from Francisco de Ettenhard 1675 (soon to be uploaded). His book is very clear on the basis of Verdadera Destreza and is a good help for the students. This transcription will help translators like Ash Mestizo to bring to life a translation of these manuscripts.

"If your opponent offers the sword (having it in battle terms).. your attacks should start on it and finish on and through it, seeking the target.
If once you start, the opponent puts away the sword, then your attack starts on the sword and then seeks directly the target.
In a third case, in which the opponent´s sword is too far from the center, (outside of battle terms). Your attack should start aiming at the opponent´s body, and ending up focusing on her sword."

Pacheco de Narvaez´s thoughts
Image: The Prince´s Bride (1987).

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻, (...) 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓮𝓭𝓰𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓷 𝓸𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮.
Ettenhard 1675

With that, Fco de Ettenhard tells us that a fencer must acknowledge the danger so the harm can be prevented. Thus, knowing about all possible attacks, in form and tempo, is knowing about your own defense when the opponent acts as a mirror of that knowledge.