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​Repost of review of Phil Crawley's translation of Girard.

2/25/2019

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The Art of the Smallsword by P.J.F. Girard
Translated by Philip Crawley with Kevin Côté
Paperback: 211 pages
• Publisher: Wyvern Media (October 13, 2014)
• ISBN-10: 0992991803
• ISBN-13: 978-0992991807

Available from Amazon



There have been in the last ten years only two or three really important republications of historic smallsword manuals in English. The first chronologically was Jared Kirby’s facsimile edition of Domenico Angelo’s School of Fencing. The second was Mark Rector’s Highland Swordsmanship which contained Donald McBanes’s Expert Swords-Man’s Companion and Sir William Hope’s New Method of Fencing. To this one might add the Royal Armories edition of John MacArthur’s Army and Navy Gentleman’s Companion; which sadly does not get the attention that it deserves. To that list we must now add another title, Philip Crawley’s translation of P.J.F. Girard’s The Art of the Smallsword.
Kirby’s Angelo, when it was published set the bar very high. The School of Fencing is a great manual. No one would argue otherwise. The text is clear and concise and the plates are worthy of study in their own right. Angelo rightly deserves, without exception, the attention of every smallsword student. In addition to being the most celebrated text in the English smallsword cannon this edition contained insightful notes by Maestro Jeanette Acosta-Martinez. 
The influence of this edition was so powerful that a sort of organized Angelo orthodoxy arose. Its creed was that there was only one true smallsword master and that smallsword truth could only be accessed through his ordained high priests. Each subsequent publication after however served to chip away ever so slightly at the temple of Angelo. Now thanks to Mr. Crawley, Girard is available in English and the crack in the edifice runs to the core.
Girard presents us with a manual that takes a different point of view from Angelo, one that is enlightened by military and probably battlefield experience. As a result Girard’s emphasis, over all, is one of a more combative bend. He generally advocates very simple and conservative tactics and techniques. Let me give a couple of examples. He talks extensively about use of the off-hand. The unique “thumb-down and by-the-ear” position of the left hand really helps to put the arm in the ideal position to deflect thrusts at the body and more importantly, the head. Feints for Girard are nothing like a succession of nearly full-on attacks that we too often see in the salle but are generally done off of an appel. This is not in an attempt to psyche out the opponent but rather to combat the urge to, or necessity of, withdrawing the blade before the intended final thrust. Girard also covers a variety of “battlefield” or street fight scenarios. These include opposing spadroons, rapiers with and without and dagger; pikes, bayonets pitchforks and even flails.
Girard begins with the usual “How to mount a sword”. But soon after he teaches coming on guard as “Twelve Points to Consider Protecting Your Life”. This is indicative of his view to the primary purpose his tuition. Not “Avoid a touch” in the salle but “Go home alive” from an encounter with sharps. He goes on to describe the parades, attacks and the rest in very clear and concise terms. Typical for more combat oriented texts, like McArthur or even McBane , there is more use by Girard of tierce and low line attacks like seconde. Girard gives us advice on how to counter a variety of other so called “national” schools of sword play viz. Italian, Spanish, German. Also included are how to deal with a variety of other weapons and self defense situations. He finishes up with suggestions on how to teach Smallsword.
Mr. Crawley assisted by Kevin Côté has provided us with a very clear and fairly literal transition. The original was only altered where it was necessary to convey Girard’s meaning. But there is more here than just a translation of an important smallsword text. We also find introductory essays that place Girard in context, and provide background on the art of smallsword for the newcomer. This background serves to introduce some of the concepts that one would need to readily understand Girard’s instruction, and what kind of equipment will be required to begin. Mr. Crawley also provides a nice bit on what constitutes a curriculum and the necessity of having one in mind if one is to seriously study the sword arts. Finally we find several useful appendices which provide a brief “Cliff notes” summary of Girard’s method, and of special interest a table of critical measurements of original smallswords.
If pressed my only suggestions would be to add a table of contents and to make the plates larger, perhaps full page, even if it means printing them perpendicular to the text. To be fair the plates are available online for those who want to look at them in detail. This volume belongs in the collection of every student of smallsword. Mr. Crawley, the force behind the annual SmallSword Symposium in Edinburgh, has once again done us a great service and pushed forward the study of the art more than anyone else in the last few years. 

Victor Markland
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Spread the word!

2/21/2019

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Registration has been brisk space is limited and the early bird rate will not last forever.
And where else can you learn to master the "Pulp Fiction" offhand!
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Our First Sponsor for '19

2/12/2019

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Our first official sponsor for 2019 has come forward. Jesse Belsky has made a generous donation of an object for the prize pool at our tournament. (Not BTW the sword shown below.) Check out his work. He brought some to the event last year and attendees were blown away by his fine work on weapons and accessories. 
http://jesse-belsky-stageswords.squarespace.com
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Schedule Posted

2/1/2019

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A preliminary Schedule has been posted. 

The I realize that Girard, Themes and Variations may seem a bit vague so let me give you a taste of some of the particulars that you can expect. 

Part One will start of with an introduction to Girard and his method. We will consider his perspective and some of the core principles and considerations that form the basis of his text. This would include his key attacks, parries, often assisted by the off hand, ripostes and movement.

Part Two will look at Tempo and Girard's ways of taking Tempo from the opponent. 

Part Three and Four will look at how Girard handles opponents who stand still, rush in or retreat with different tactics. 

Peasants and Germans and Flails OH MY!  will address Girard's advice for opposing mixed weapons. These include rapiers, spadroons/sabers, pikes, bayonets, 
two-handed smallsword and the deadly and often misunderstood flail.

All these classes will be taught by Mr. Crawley with the assistance of many of our usual collection of top rank international instructors. 

Yours truly will offer a warm up suitable for a Sunday morning after a Saturday night focusing on how period dance exercises can improve performance and understanding of smallsword technique. 

The Tournament will as always be structured to test the ability to fence in the style of the featured theme i.e., Girard.

Looking forward to seeing you all there. 

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Special Guest Instructor

1/22/2019

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We are happy to announce that we will have a very special guest instructor this year. Phil has been a force in reviving smallsword for over ten years. He has been a personal  friend for nearly as long. We have worked together in publishing his translations of French fencing works. The proceeds from which he has generously donated to this American sister event of the Edinburgh Symposium.  

​Phil has been involved with historic fencing since 1996 and has studied many weapons with several schools throughout the UK, finally dedicating his studies and teaching to the smallsword as a full instructor with the Black Boar Swordsmanship School in Edinburgh. To increase interest in this much misunderstood weapon he also founded the Smallsword Symposium which has proven a success with ever increasing attendance and a sister event in the USA over the last ten years.
He also runs regular workshops in the self-defence weapons of 19th century France, as detailed in the many manuals and articles he has translated and published, is a BFHS IL1 Instructor and holds instructor certificates in Comtech Bowie knife and Drawpoint method.

When not fencing he is a butler to an ever-increasing number of greyhounds and works in addiction and recovery for substance use.

Please make your plans now for June 1-2, 2019 to take advantage of this singular opportunity to study Girard with the author of it's first English translation.  Online registration and payment is open now. There is a limited number of attendees and this event is sure to sell out. 


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Philip Crawley

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American Smallsword Symposium V

1/2/2019

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 Since there was a very positive response to our dedication of the event to a single subject last year this year the event will be concentrated on P. D. F. Girard's 1740 Smallsword treatise "Traité des armes"   
We are especially excited to announce that joining us as an instructor will be Philip Crawley.  Phil is the translator of Girard  into English, and an internationally recognized instructor in Smallsword and a variety of other martial arts. Phil is also one of the forces behind our sister event the Original Smallsword Symposium held annually in Edinburgh. 
Registration is open and the early discount is in effect. 
We have more exciting plans in the works so keep an eye on this site of on the American Smallsword Symposium FB page for announcements
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Big Announcement!

12/17/2018

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Keep an eye here for BIG ANNOUNCEMENT in the next week regarding AmSS V.  June 1&2 2018. 
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Countdown; 3,2,1,

6/18/2018

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​
Only a couple of days to go till the 4th American Smallsword Symposium!  Just a couple of last minute details.
​
Please come to join us Friday night after 7:30 at Baltimore Fencing Center for a bit of meet and beat freeplay courtesy of Chris Amberger. 
The  Saturday Evening Social will be at An Poitin Stil . 7:30 til?  There are also dozens of other food possibilities in the immediate area so feel free to visit them and join us for drinks after.  
Please arrive promptly on Saturday morning at Towson Dance Studio so we can get everyone signed in and start on time.

 I want to make a suggestion about how I think one should approach this event in particular.  The goal for us is to present you all with an opportunity to learn a very specific fencing style and method that represents the apogee of Smallsword technique This style and the method of teaching it is  really the highest level of refinement before the slow evolution into a more but not exclusively recreational exercise. La Boëssière also represents the genesis of Classical Fencing before pragmatism replaced principles and a sport grew out of the art.

This weekend will provide an immersion in the this style famously practiced by the most celebrated fencer of the era Saint Georges. I am not going to say that at the end you will fence as well as he but you will understand what it means to fence like him.  What principles and reasons guided the development of this style. How were these skills taught and practiced?

The best way to answer these questions this weekend will depend on your commitment to keeping an open mind and learning by teaching.  The ideal approach is to suspend your prior experiences, preconceptions and training and give La Boëssière a chance.
  Give yourself to the exercises and the drills and find the underlying logic, elegance and effectiveness therein.  Be a good and responsible  partner in order to help others to find these qualities too.  You will also be asked to take the role of teacher guiding and critiquing others.  This great and humbling activity is integral to La Boëssière's method. This is not a gimmick or diversion.  Partners will be literally in your hands and you in theirs. Please respect their desire to learn as much as your own .  Be observant and treat them as you would like to be treated.

Please do not be obsessed with competition in or outside of the tournament.  Again the goal of the contest is to put into practice the lessons learned and to fence in the style taught.  You should feel better losing and managing to fence  a La Boëssière than winning and fencing the same polyglot win-at-all-costs style that you use back home.  If you don't want to  progress into new territory and increase your range and options  than why did you come here?

Finally please remember that all of the organizers,  staff and instructors are volunteers and provide this venue, the classes and the event as a whole at their own expense motivated solely by a desire to share their understanding and enjoyment for the art of Smallsword with you all.  They are worthy of your attention and respect while you are here. A word of thanks to them would , I am sure , be gladly received.
​
If we keep these ideas in mind I am certain that we all will gain immeasurably as swordsmen and women from this weekend and have a damn good time as well.

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Three Weeks to go . . .

6/3/2018

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We are giving out some mighty fine prizes.

First Place 
American Smallsword Symposium 2018.
Dominico Angelo print. Artwork by Rui Ferreira.


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One Month and Counting Down

5/23/2018

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Only one month till the American Smallsword Symposium IV. I have a backlog of announcements to post so keep an eye on this spot for updates.
Notice, I will allow the discount to run until the day of the event!
Our theme this year is . . . . .

Introducing Monsieur La Boëssière
Arguably Smallsword had reached its zenith by about 1800.  Most of the influential instruction manuals such as Angelo, Girard and others had been published years before.  By the time "Treatise on the Art of Arms" is published in 1818 daily carry for civilians was passing out of style.  However the memory of those we would think of as icons of the Golden Age of Smallsword lingered. Chief among these would be the legendary Chevalier Saint Georges. 
We are fortunate to have in this text not only a detailed  account of his longtime friend but the full course of  training that Saint Georges undertook at the hands of the elder La Boëssière, the fencing master mostly remembered  only as  the inventor of the mesh fencing mask.  La Boëssière’s  method of teaching and the elegance and effectiveness they create has long deserved more attention as the beginning of Classical Fencing.  He emphasizes adherence to principles, speed and precision, opposition, attacks from distance, and taking advantage of your opponents lost time.  It is that refined and demanding  style and unique interactive method of the elder La Boëssière that we will explore in this class.  I can guarantee that by the end of the class you will know what it means to fence in the style of La Boëssière.   I just cannot guarantee you will fence as well as Saint Georges. 

In order to facilitate a more authentic experience we are requesting if at all possible that attendees wear standard fencing attire and protective gear to cover all exposed skin.   No shorts for example.  Period appropriate  attire is allowed and appreciated.  Please dress modestly.  Doing so avoids undue distraction, demonstrates the seriousness of your intent, respects your fellow students and instructors, and enhances the reputation of the event. 

Again let me remind you that your instructors are all highly skilled volunteers who attend at their own expense.  Please refrain from impolite behavior. Do not converse while the instructor is talking. Please do not dispute with the instructors or their assistant.  Do not  offer alternatives or change the drills.  All of the instructors are happy to debate after their class, especially if it is over a blade or a drink.  

The tournament will emphasize the style taught at the event as found in the manual.  Please make an attempt to follow the spirit of the game and fence in that style.   Rules have been crafted to encourage restrained civilized encounters.  Target will be front torso only. Contact the head of the opponent, forfeit the bout. Grab the opponents blade, loose a point.  More than two thrusts in succession  without returning to guard,  loose a point.  Additional points will be awarded for a successful attack delivered with "Style" as taught in the manual.  (High Hand, Opposition and etc . . .)

Are you ready to get in the spirit?
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