Secret attacks
A translation of a portion of the Traité d’Escrime Moderne of Jean Joseph-Renaud discussing the concept of “secret attacks”.
A translation of a portion of the Traité d’Escrime Moderne of Jean Joseph-Renaud discussing the concept of “secret attacks”.
Is it always fair to abandon your dagger if your opponent does not have one?
Another account of a duel where the winner was not cautious enough.
The accounts of the famous Duel des Mignons in 1578.
An excerpt of Brantôme’s Discours sur les Duels, tracing the origins of the new duelling habits to Naples.
This post is an introduction for a series of contemporary accounts of late 16th century French duels.
This post looks at the balance between risks and rewards in fighting situations. This balance is important to keep in mind when analyzing and comparing various modern training modes. For example, it explains the different reactions of period duellists and modern swordsmen when facing a sharp blade.