"We really do need to know our body mechanics, no matter what we do: in the extreme situation it will work only what our body knows"
"Knowing ourselves and our own Nature and Potential is the main thing we need, far before techniques or styles." - ALS

FENCING DEFENCE

"Fencing" today means the sport or the art of the sword. It can be Sport Fencing, Historical Fencing, Classical Fencing, etc. and it is mostly related to swords or to the use of weapons.

However, the original meaning of "Schermo/Scrima/Scherma" (Italian for "Fencing") was for "Art of Defence" as a complete knowledge of the use of body and mind, based upon a deep philosophy and very versatile technical principles, applying with or without weapons.
The original "Schermo" can be really defined as a complete Martial Art, both armed and unarmed.

Although we no longer live as the people of the past, the legacy of this Art is a very valuable heritage of different systems, knowledge, awareness, body mechanics and education that it is worthing to know and practice.

Therefore, the "Fencing Defence" system that I created as a development of the weapons method I taught in FISAS, incorporates all my researches and experiences of a 25 years-long studies in all kind of Fencing and several different Martial Arts, from the psychology of a fight to the body mechanical research, inspired to the spirit of the Free Masters of the past to create a personal system and style to develop and improve our personal and unique potentials both in body and mind.

- All the various systems of this Art can be practiced with free sparring (Skirmishing, Schermire). A pleasant, very efficient and effective system to learn and apply;
- Its unique didactical and philosophical background is a great experience of self knowledge; it develops senses and awareness, timing, reflexes, analysys and decisional skills;
- Its body mechanics are a valid physical training also for other Martial Arts, disciplines and practices, to attain energy, health and body efficiency.

In the ALS Academy we mainly train on:

- Rapier Sword & Dagger : The "Old School" Italian fencing systems of the Renaissance, mainly based upon the Sidesword/Early Rapier - as the "queen" of all weapons - used together with a Dagger or a Gauntlet; a system that is the resume' of all the earlier schools and the foundation of all the later systems.
It applies in its body mechanical basics to every weapon - such as Longsword, Sword & Buckler, Broadsword or Polearms - and unarmed styles.
It is the Fencing as an exclusive and unique Art, including also all the aspects of geometry (the "Walking on The Edges" of the Circle Theory) philosophy, psychology and education (the "School of Sprezzatura") typical of this ancient aristocratical system.

- Stick Fighting : walking stick and two handed stick from the XIX-XX century street defence styles.
The use of the stick and the knife was typical of the lower classes until the XIX century, that the high was carring a sword.
In the early '800, to carry a sword was no longer allowed to anybody, regardless of the social class, thus the walking stick became part of the dress of the gentleman and was adapted to street defence and incorporated in period interstyle systems such as the Bartitsu.
It applies in its principles also to barehand methods such as Boxing and Pugilism.
Stick/Knife fighting is a very flexible and adaptative system that can be applied in different contests and situations.

- "Scherma da Terreno" : The Classical/Duelling Italian Fencing, the "New School" as it has been traditionally taught and practiced until the first decades of the XX Century and that is the foundation of the modern Sport, although differing from it.
It is based upon the Late Italian Rapier ("Spada all'Italiana"), the Sabre - both the military and the civilian one ("Sciabola da Terreno") - and the Duelling Epée ("Spada da Terreno") with "pointe d'arrét".
It is the Fencing as a Science, quick, practical and effective, very connected to the specifical characters of the weapons.

- Research on Body Mechanics, Psychology, Mindset : "defence" in its more extensive meaning, also to protect the body and mind not only from an attacker but also from the injuries of a wrong practice.
A proper study on body mechanics is a foundation of a healthy practice to attain efficiency regardless of our body complexion, and to learn how to deal with stress and danger of the body and the mind.
From the Personal Defence system "RIS" to a complete and unique study on the Chinese Butterfly Sword-Knives (Wu Dip Dao) as those used in the Wing Tsun, to study of "occasional weapons" - the usual all-day common objects turned into possible defensive weapons - to "tensional" energy drills and stress tests, it is a system tailored to the person, to learn how to use all our resources, both physical and psychical.

------------------------------------------

"Timing - Distance (Measure) - Way - Judgement - Nature "

These are the Five Keypoints of the Fencing as Defence: to understand your Nature and to apply all your resources in the right Way, Time and Distance, according to your Judgement, and we apply them in our three levels of practice:
- Defence: the knowledge of our body mechanics and of the most useful and natural motions to protect ourselves in a kind of "no rule" situation under heavy stress;
- Duel: with "duel" we mean all kinds of free sparring, from the full martial applications of a fight to the training for a codified competition, to develop stamina and energy;
- Academy: as it is proper of every research in a Martial Art, the attaining of the highest personal possible level of knowledge, technical skill and virtuosism, self control and phylosophical awareness.

Andrea Lupo Sinclair