Scholar syllabus
Overview: The first student rank signifies an understanding of the fundamental precepts of the system and apply the entirety of their learning to a limited freeplay environment in a defensive…
Lesson Planning and Theory
Introduction A recent article by penned by Christian Cameron on lesson planning has me considering a follow-up article, building on the excellent foundations delivered in said article, focusing on different facets of lesson planning…
How to write a lesson plan for Fiore
Creating lesson plans can be quite terrifying, and the sad fact is that many instructors are thrust into the position of leading a group with less than encyclopedic knowledge, and…
Free Scholar Syllabus
Good news! Following close on the heels of our updated website, we posted the updated scholar syllabus, and now we're letting you know that the Free Scholar syllabus is available.…
WMAW 2019 – Sword in Armour: Using Standard Grip and Transitioning to Half-Sword Grip
Some video from my 2019 WMAW class on sword in armour - specifically, the use of the sword in a standard grip (both hands on the hilt) as opposed to…
Understanding the Punta Falsa
Ending the largo section of MS Ludwig XV13 (a.k.a. “the Getty Manuscript”) is a play known as the Punta Falsa or Punta Curta - the False Point or Short Point,…
Break, Capture & Dominate the Center: Understanding Il Primo Remedio Di Daga In Context, Part Three: Using the Right Hand, Piu Forteza & Training
The single largest section in three of the four known copies of The Flower of Battle is dagger defense ((Dagger defense and wrestling do not appear in the Morgan Ms.,…
Break, Capture and Dominate The Center: Understanding Il Primo Remedio Di Daga in Context, Part Two: Execution of the Cover
In the first part of this series, we looked briefly at the overall organization of the dagger material, as well as the larger, tactical and pedagogical framework it presents, specifically:…
Break, Capture and Dominate the Center: Understanding Il Primo Remedio di Daga in Context, Part One — Organization
Dagger defense -- both with and without a blade of one's own -- is the largest and most detailed section of the various copies of The Flower of Battle. It…
Understanding the Florius Manuscript
Part One: A Beautiful Mess; the Florius as a Martial Arts Treatise The Flower of Battle (Flos Duellatorum in Latin or Fior di Battaglia in Italian) of Fiore dei Liberi…
New IAS Dagger Training Manual!
The International Armizare Society’s mission is to maintain and pass down canonical Armizare as recorded and left to posterity by the Founder, Fiore dei Liberi, as a complete, traditional, but living and…
Sette Colpi: Understanding the Seven Blows of the Sword in Armizare
Fig 1: What's old is new. The Segno della Spada of FIore dei Lbieri, and the 8 lines of attack taught in modern military combatives. (Image composition by Roger Norling…
The IAS Core Curriculum: How it Works
The International Armizare Society is a confraternal association concerned with the restoration, preservation and transmission of canonical Armizare as a complete, traditional, but living and functional martial art. To this end, we have…
The International Armizare Society’s First Provost Exam, Part Three: Combative Ability and Conclusions
One of the most important steps in the progression from the grade of scholar to master is the concept of prize playing. This is the western equivalent to the promotion…
The International Armizare Society’s First Provost Exam, Part Two: Board Examination
Students enter the „Natio Germanica Bononiae“, the german nation at the university of Bologna, image from the 15th century
Once a student has cleared their school’s internal provost requirements, it falls to their instructor to arrange for an IAS Examiners Board. The board always comprises the testee’s instructor/sponsor, and…
The International Armizare Society’s First Provost Exam! Part 1: Testing Process & Internal Skills Examination
Introduction On the weekend of 9 – 10 February, the Society held its first Board of Examiners and Prize Play for the rank of Rettore d’Armizare, or Provost. A Provost…
The Teaching Circle
The teaching circle
The Teaching Circle in Martial Arts Much of what I'm going to put down in writing below is likely in the "obvious" category for many of you reading this. Much…
Metaphysiks of Armizare
The Metaphysiks of Armizare; Theory to Doctrine, Doctrine to Practice By Christian Cameron, IAS This article is not founded on my belief that I am a particularly gifted swordsperson. Rather,…
Spada Instructional Video: First Master of Zhogo Largo
Instructional video showing the execution of the First Remedy of Largo and the binary choice that results from this particular crossing. Here begins the play of two-handed sword, in wide…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS, PART 6: ORDERING THE PLAYS OF ZOGHO LARGO
We now turn to a more in-depth analysis of the technical curriculum Maestro Fiore has left us for how to remedy, or defend, against blows launched from the various guards…
An Interview with Fiore dei Liberi’s stunt double….
he Akademia Szermierzy is a Polish HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) academy in Warsaw. While I knew of the Akademia and its members via Facebook, I wasn't really aware of…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS, PART FOUR: STABLE, STRIKING AND MUTABLE, REVISITED. THE TWELVE GUARDS OF THE SWORD
[NB: Part Four of this series is a revision and clarification of an early article, which can be found on the Chivalric Fighting Arts blog.] Introduction he various copies of…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS, PART THREE: SWORD IN ONE HAND
aving looked at Fiore dei Liber's pedagogical system, system of blows, and six methods of using the sword, we now turn to those individual sub-systems itself. Swordsmanship proper first appears…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS, PART TWO: The Seven Blows of the Sword
iore's art is a holistic one, adaptable to a variety of situations and circumstances (in armis, sine armis...). Why then, is so little said of the mechanics of cuts and the…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS, PART ONE: THE SIX MASTERS OF SWORD COMBAT
he lessons on the two-handed sword begin with two variations of the guard Posta di Donna opposing one another, followed by six unnamed masters. These masters are not so much…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS: INTRODUCTION
am the sword and I am lethal against any weapon; lances, axes and dagger are worthless against me. I can become extended or withdrawn; when I get near the opponent I…
Writing Fiore: Fiction as a Window to the Master’s Mind
‘I, Fiore, am of the opinion that few in the world are Masters of this art, an art for which I want to be remembered’ [N.B. -- IAS is pleased to…
Fiore dei Liberi and the Gladiatoria Tradition — A Comparative Analysis
[Nota Bene: IAS is pleased to present our first article from a Society Affiliate -- Mr. Mauro Carapacchi of of Rieti, Italy. A founder of the group Mos Ferri, Mr.…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 9th Master
Video 9 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 8th Master
Video 8 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
SWORDSMANSHIP IN THE ART OF ARMS: SERIES INTRODUCTION
I am the sword and I am lethal against any weapon; lances, axes and dagger are worthless against me. I can become extended or withdrawn; when I get near the…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 7th Master
Video 7 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 6th Master
Video 6 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 5th Master
Video 5 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 4th Master
Video 4 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 3rd Master
Video 3 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger Remedy…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 2nd Master
Video 2 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
The Nine Dagger Remedy Masters: 1st Master
Video 1 of 9 in a short series. Dagger Remedy Master 1Dagger Remedy Master 1 Addendum - Getting a GripDagger Remedy Master 2Dagger Remedy Master 3Dagger Remedy Master 4Dagger Remedy Master 5Dagger…
Evaluating physical skills
This article continues our pedagogical series by focusing on evaluation methods for physical skills. These evaluation schemes can be either formal or informal as previous articles have detailed, with their primary…
Actions with Intent
In-Class Video - March 2016 Sean Hayes Isaac Prier When practicing technique, or specific tactical applications of technique, it's critical for both partners in a drill to maintain realistic intent.…
Announcement: Declaration of Fraternity with the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts!
The International Armizare Society is extremely pleased to announce a Declaration of Fraternity with the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts, which can be seen IAS-AEMMA-Smith-Hayes-Mele-Signature_signed_mar18_2016. About AEMMAWith chapters throughout…
Fundamental Mechanics: Executing a Correct Fendente
From time to time IAS will release Member's Area content (normally only available to affiliates) to the general public, in the interests of promoting L'Arte dell'Armizare and the Academy's approach…
Measuring Success: the Role of Freeplay & Competition in Training
Author (right) fighting at the Borealis 2014 tournament.
Freeplay IAS Schools employs a variety of models for freeplay (sparring). The bridge between strict drills and complete freeplay is in the form of exercises with certain parameters in which actions…
Ranks, curricula, and pedagogy, Part III
This last article in our three part series will focus on attaining long term goals through short term planning, i.e.: lesson plans and pedagogy. If you're arriving at this article…
Ranks, curricula, and pedagogy, Part II
This second article in our three post series will focus on ranking systems and student evaluation. You can find part I here. Ranking Systems - good or bad? There is…
Ranks, curricula, and pedagogy, Part I
This article is the first in a series of three articles that will cover curriculum building and its importance in the continued advancement and improvement of your students. I will…
Applied Armizare – Fiore’s Five Throws
Introduction Fiore dei Liberi is known as the founder of a fully-functional, holistic system of combat, used with and without weapons, that he named l’arte dell’armizare -- the Art of Arms.…
The Mystery of Ioannes Suuenus and Nicholai de Toblem
(c) Gregory Mele, 2014 Today's researchers into the martial arts of Europe come upon a strange paradox: our first known source, Ms. I.33, now found in the Royal Armouries in…
Captains of Fortune: the Rise of the Condottieri in the 14th Century
The unique culture of the Italian city-states produced a unique military structure. Initially, each city gathered a local militia under the command of its aristocracy, in which the lower classes…
The Friulian Civil War
(c) Gregory D. Mele, 2014 Fiore dei Liberi's homeland of Friuli was not spared the constant military engagements that plagued Italy in the last decades of the 14th century, and…