Guy Windsor

Consulting Swordsman. Writer.

Archives for October 2018

Rapier Beginners Workbook is now in print!

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Right-handed layout. The QR code works, btw.

I received the print proof of the new rapier workbook, and it looks great. The paper quality is much better than at Lulu (the other printing option), and the printing itself is excellent. I have put in the order for a limited print run, which will be distributed by Fallen Rook Press. That's for the Right-Handed version only; there was a slight issue with the Left-Handed cover file, so that will come about a week later, all being well. You can still pre-order the left-handed version, of course.

For my long-distance readers, what makes most sense to you:

  1. Paying the horrid shipping costs to get the ‘proper' version of the book
  2. Sacrificing some print quality for cheaper distribution (eg through Lulu)
  3. Buying the print files to print at home or locally (so you would be able to order whatever kind of paper, binding etc. that you want).

I've put together a Google form so you can tell me… I'm planning to do 3 anyway, but I need to know whether 2 is worth the extra costs to me (Lulu's margins are terrible, and the lower-quality printing might be disappointing to some readers).

Please share the form with anyone you think might want the workbook!

Happy Days

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I'm currently in Helsinki sitting at the dining table in my friend Tina's apartment, and it's a very good day, on several counts:

  1. I spent the weekend at my salle teaching my students. We covered breathing exercises on Friday evening, spent all day Saturday torturing ourselves with rapier footwork, and all day Sunday working on Longsword. I don't miss teaching every evening and most weekends; it's nice to have a normal social life. But teaching seminars is what I'm built to do, I think.
  2. While here I've spent literally every lunch and every dinner catching up with old friends. It's 10 am here and I'll be having sushi for lunch with my godson and his family. I haven't got to see everyone, of course- after 15 years here I have far too many friends to be able to see all of them in a single week. But what a lovely problem to have.
  3. While I've been here I've also managed to shoot a ton of new training video footage, for my various courses and other projects.
  4. I just this minute sent the final print files of my new Rapier Workbook to the printers. I expect to see a jolly fine printed proof *very soon*.

I'm off home tomorrow afternoon… and leaving again on Friday to go to up to London, prior to flying off to Michigan for the Hero Round Table. I have to give a 12 minute speech there, something I've never done before. An hour? easy. Two hours? no problem. Twelve minutes? Dear god, I've got no idea.

So I'm practising…

My basic idea is that heroic behaviour (i.e. doing the right thing despite reasonable fear of the consequences) can be trained for, and the historical duelling arts offer a particularly useful way of doing that.

It will be an excellent opportunity to practise doing the scary thing.

Fortunately I'm also doing two short intro-to-Longsword classes at the event too, which will be much more comfortable.

A load of unarmed people sitting down and listening? Very scary.

A load of armed people standing up and swinging swords? Not scary at all.

The New Rapier Workbook is ready for pre-order!

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The brand-new Rapier Beginners’ workbook is now available for pre-order from my distribution partner Fallen Rook Press. The books are in layout now, and should be shipping within a few weeks. Leaving extra time for hitches, you should get the book by the end of November, but probably earlier.

The key innovation in this new format is the inclusion of QR code links to video clips, in lieu of the more traditional static photographs. There is also plenty of space for notes, and the books are coil bound to lay flat.

With this first volume, “Beginners” you can learn the basics of rapier fencing. The book is illustrated with extracts from historical sources, primarily Capoferro, and supported by over twenty video clips, linked to in the text. All you need is the book, a training partner, a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and a couple of practice rapiers and fencing masks.

The book is organised in four sessions or classes, which covers all this and more:

  • footwork
  • sword handling
  • stringering
  • attack by disengage
  • parry riposte in one tempo
  • feints
  • parry riposte in two tempi
  • thrusts
  • cuts
  • beat attack.

As you can see from the covers, the book comes in two versions, optimised for right-handers or left-handers. Make sure you pick the correct one! It also includes a 50% discount voucher for the Essential Rapier Course, worth about $150.

Volume two (Completing the Basics) is already written, and I’m going to Helsinki next week to shoot more video for volume three. I’m also getting started on a Longsword series too…

I think this new format is the best pedagogical idea I've had in a long time. What do you think?