{"id":570,"date":"2009-08-31T18:11:02","date_gmt":"2009-08-31T17:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/?p=570"},"modified":"2009-12-23T19:34:14","modified_gmt":"2009-12-23T18:34:14","slug":"spanish-fencing-notation-part-3-fighting-distance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/2009\/08\/spanish-fencing-notation-part-3-fighting-distance\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Fencing Notation Part 3 – Fighting Distance"},"content":{"rendered":"

(8\/31\/2009)<\/em><\/p>\n

LINK TO ARTICLE 1<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

LINK TO ARTICLE 2<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Other Martial Traditions<\/h3>\n

In Aikido the term “Ma-ai<\/em><\/strong>” refers to the distance (or interval) between two adversaries.\u00a0 Distance in Aikido is set by your adversary’s ability to strike you.\u00a0 If the adversary holds a weapon like a knife, Ma-ai<\/em><\/strong> distance is increased to account for the greater range of the threat.<\/p>\n

By contrast, in the Italian fencing tradition distance is typically understood as the distance your attack must travel to strike the adversary.<\/p>\n

Close Distance<\/strong> or Narrow Measure<\/strong>– Without moving the feet the adversary may be struck by extending the weapon arm.<\/p>\n

Correct Distance<\/strong> or Wide Measure<\/strong>– The adversary may be struck with a lunge.<\/p>\n

Out of Distance <\/strong>– The adversary cannot be struck without moving forward.<\/p>\n

The key difference between the Japanese measure and the Italian one is the emphasis it places on the conflict.\u00a0 The practitioner of Aikido evaluates the distance needed to defend oneself and the Italian evaluates his own ability to strike.\u00a0 Each martial artist will evaluate offensive and defensive measure, but the measure which is codified provides us an indication of the focus of the art.<\/p>\n

The Spanish break distance down into two separate categories using both the concepts of defensive distance used in Aikido and offensive distance used in Italian fencing.\u00a0 Like the Aikido practitioner, the first measure of concern to a Spanish fencer will be the defensive distance.<\/p>\n

The Measure of Proportion<\/strong> (Defensive Distance<\/em> or Place<\/em>)<\/h3>\n

(En espa\u00f1ol – Medio de Proporcion<\/em> <\/em>)<\/p>\n

This is the closest distance to the adversary in which you may still effectively observe and react to possible threats.\u00a0 The Measure of Proportion<\/strong> should consider the weapon being used by the adversary and their physical stature.\u00a0 It is very unlikely that two opponents will have exactly the same Measure of Proportion.<\/p>\n

When Pacheco defined the Measure of Proportion<\/strong> he used the relationship between the two weapons as his guide.\u00a0 He advocates setting the distance so that when the adversary extends his arm at full reach, the point of his weapon reaches no further than the cross of your own weapon.\u00a0 If two opponents have equal bodies and equal swords, they will share the same Measure of Proportion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Setting<\/a>

"Measure of proportion when the swords are of equal length - very important" - Pacheco<\/p><\/div>\n

If the opponent has a longer weapon, how you set your own distance should change and your goal becomes to prevent the adversary from closing the distance so that their threat passes the cross of your weapon.\u00a0 The physical size of the adversary is also considered when setting the distance.\u00a0 For example, an opponent with long legs will have a long lunge and the Measure of Proportion<\/strong> will change to compensate.<\/p>\n

\"Setting<\/a>

"Measure of proportion for a shorter sword against a longer sword." - Pacheco<\/p><\/div>\n

When your weapon is longer than the adversary’s your goal in setting distance is to close measure enough to maintain your own Measure of Proportion<\/strong> while violating the defensive distance of your adversary and continually keeping them threatened.<\/p>\n

\""Measure<\/a>

"Measure of proportion for a longer sword versus a shorter sword" - Pacehco<\/p><\/div>\n

Ettenhard, one of Pacheco’s students, later provides a more nuanced description of this distance which is based on a principle rather than setting defensive measure based on the cross of the sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To choose the Measure of Proportion is to determine a proportionate and convenient distance from which the Swordsman can recognize the movements of his opponent, since for whatever determination of his, there should proceed, of body like of arm and Sword: Of body, by means of footwork: and of Sword, by means of the formation of the Technique.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Restated, the Measure of Proportion<\/strong> must be chosen so that the fencer can recognize a threat from the adversary.\u00a0 You can anticipate the adversary’s actions if you provide yourself enough distance (and therefore time) to recognize motions of the sword or body.<\/p>\n

The Measure of Proportion and the Circle<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>It is important to remember that all the aspects of the Spanish Circle are defined by setting the Measure of Proportion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Measure of Proportion defines the Diameter which also defines the Circle, the Square, and the Lines of Infinity.<\/p><\/div>\n

You should also note that when two adversaries have a different Measure of Proportion<\/strong>, they will have different preferred Diameters and the circle each wishes to create will be defined differently.\u00a0 This indicates again that arbitrarily “walking the circle<\/em>” isn’t a reflection of the canonical Spanish tradition.\u00a0 Each fencer will attempt to create a more favorable circle which describes the possible footwork and counter-footwork in a fencing action.<\/p>\n

As a common practice “walking the circle<\/em>” would require not only two identical opponents with identical weapons, but also a choreographed plan in which neither fencer took advantage of the shorter distance gained when the adversary steps along the circle (as shown in Part 2<\/a>). \u00a0 Instead the opponent would need to continually step away from the adversary to artificially preserve the ideal distance in the circle.\u00a0 Walking around a circle while within the striking distance of a non-cooperative adversary would be dangerous.<\/p>\n

In order to close distance by stepping along the circle, the action should either control the adversary’s weapon as you move forward or take advantage of a Movement<\/em> provided by the adversary (such as the thrust into the diagonal reverse shown in Part 1<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Proportionate Measure<\/strong> (Offensive Distance or Place<\/em>)<\/h3>\n

(En espa\u00f1ol – Medio Proporcionado<\/em> <\/em>)<\/p>\n

This is the distance that must be covered to deliver a specific attack.\u00a0 For example the Proportionate Measure<\/strong> of thrusts will be different when using a pike, a sword, and a dagger.\u00a0 By using some of Euclid’s work we can provide a demonstration of which attack and position of the arm has the greatest reach.<\/p>\n

The Right Angle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carranza demonstrates here that the Line from B to A has the greatest reach.\u00a0 This line is called the Right Angle<\/strong> and provides us with effective offense, counteroffense, and defense.<\/p>\n

If the blade is lifted from the Right Angle, as shown in the line from B to G, we have entered the Obtuse Angle <\/strong>and our reach has decreased.<\/p>\n

If the blade is lowered from the Right Angle, as shown in the line from B to F, we have entered the Acute Angle<\/strong> and our reach has decreased again.<\/p>\n

\"Carranza<\/a>

Carranza uses Euclid to demonstrate distance.<\/p><\/div>\n

The thrust<\/strong> typically has the most reach and will have the most favorable Proportionate Measure<\/strong>.\u00a0 In order to reach the correct distance to execute the thrust you may need to gain control of the adversary’s weapon and step along the Square (Transverse Step<\/em>) or along the Circle (Curved Step<\/em>).\u00a0 If the adversary prepares a cut, you can strike with a thrust into his preparation and then quickly retreat.\u00a0 By fencing with an extended arm, the Spanish fencer enjoys an advantage in the number of Movements<\/em> (and therefore Time<\/em>) when working against an adversary that cuts.<\/p>\n

The Spanish cuts<\/strong> (both full circular cuts and the half cuts) are usually actions that occur when the blade has already moved from the Diameter because of a defensive action or because the adversary has deviated your weapon.\u00a0 These typically have less reach than a thrust but correctly executed can be very powerful.\u00a0 Ettenhard indicates that cuts to the head are more common and that horizontal cuts to the body are dangerous and unusual in practice.\u00a0 Because the Proportionate Measure<\/strong> of a cut is larger than that of a thrust, you should never use the cut as your initial action.\u00a0 The greater number of Movements<\/em> in the cut expose you to counterattack by the thrust.\u00a0 (Remember that an advantage in the count of Movements<\/em> is also an advantage in Time.)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Disarm (Movement of Conclusion<\/em>) <\/strong>requires you to be close enough to seize the adversary’s hilt with your left hand.\u00a0 This typically requires passing forward with your rear foot and the distance you must travel to successfully execute a disarm can actually carry you to the opponent’s Line of Infinity.\u00a0 Because the Proportionate Measure<\/strong> is greater for the disarm, there is a greater degree of danger involved for a fencer executing the disarm.<\/p>\n

Final Notes<\/h3>\n

Remembering the Terms – <\/strong>The two terms Measure of Proportion<\/strong><\/em> (Defensive Distance) and Proportionate Measure<\/strong><\/em> (Offensive Distance) can easily be confused.\u00a0 At the risk of being slightly silly, I offer the following mnemonic to help remember the difference between the two.<\/p>\n

“When asked of <\/strong>his defense, the aggressive fencer ate<\/strong> his opponent<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

    \n
  • You can remember defensive measure because it has an ‘of’ <\/strong>in the term – Measure of<\/strong> Proportion<\/em><\/li>\n
  • You can remember offensive measure because it has an ‘ate’<\/strong> in the term – Proportionate<\/strong> Measure<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Angle as Position – <\/strong>The angle of the weapon (Acute<\/em>, Right<\/em>, or Obtuse<\/em>) is a common way of describing the position of the weapon in space.\u00a0 You will see the same anglular terms used to describe position in Destreza texts for different weapons, such as the single sword and even Montante.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    (8\/31\/2009) LINK TO ARTICLE 1 LINK TO ARTICLE 2 Other Martial Traditions In Aikido the term “Ma-ai” refers to the distance (or interval) between two adversaries.\u00a0 Distance in Aikido is set by your adversary’s ability to strike you.\u00a0 If the adversary holds a weapon like a knife, Ma-ai distance is increased to account for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,12,1,13,4,11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570"}],"version-history":[{"count":78,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":713,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions\/713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puckandmary.com\/blog_puck\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}