MA Resource: Digrassi's His True Art of Defense The Sword & Buckler Part 2

Foreword by Dwight

Protect yourself from 16th century fencers a-holes! Part 1 focused of the sword and buckler's stance and use against the gun. Part 2 of this section focuses on handling the buckler. An aspect I really enjoyed is making the buckler part of your body. If you listened to the interview with Sifu Azeem, he mentioned weapons are used as an extension of your martial arts skills. So regardless of the item used in combat or self defense, your martial arts skills should be used in collaboration. In this case the buckler is used primarily for defensive purposes, yet you have to be mindful  of the trade off for the defensive capabilities of the buckler. Such trade offs might be speed. attack range, etc.

(Corresponding podcast)

Part 2 Handling the Buckler

The Manner How to Handle the Buckler

If a man would, that the Buckler work the said effect, to wit: that it may be able with his smallness to cover the whole body, he must hold and bear it in his fist, as far off from the body as the arm may possibly stretch forth, moving always the arm and buckler together, as one entire solid thing, having no bending, or as if the arm were united to the buckler, turning continually all the flat thereof towards the enemy. From which kind of holding proceed all these commodities following. 

The first is, that the arm (standing directly behind the buckler) is wholly covered, neither may be stroken by any manner of thing which is before it. The second, that all edgeblows are of force encountered in the first and second part thereof, where they carry least force: neither can it fall out otherwise, if the enemy would (in manner as he ought) strike either at the head or body. For if the enemy would strike them, it is necessary, that his sword come within the buckler so much as the arm is long: For otherwise it shall never hit home. And in this case he may well ward each great blow, and there with all easily strike, and that in short time.

The third commodity is, that all thrusts are most easily warded: for the buckler being round, with the directly flat opposite against the enemy, and warding all the body, the enemy will not resolve himself to give a thrust but only against those parts which are so well covered by the buckler, as the head, the thighs, or some part of the body, being found discovered by ill bearing of the buckler. And seeing that these thrusts, having to hit home, ought to enter so far in, as is from the buckler to the body and more (and that it is the length of an arm) they may easily and without doubt (making less motion, and therefore in little time) be driven outwards by the buckler before they come to the body.

There are many other commodities to be gathered by so holding of the buckler, which at this present are not to be recited. Wherefore being to finish this Chapter, I say, that the buckler ought not to defend, by only down to the knee and less. And reason would that it should defend no farther than the arm can stretch it self, that is to the middle thigh. In the art of fighting, a man standeth always somewhat bowing, therefor a little more is allowed. The rest of the body downwards must be warded with the sword only.

Of the hurt of the High Ward at Sword & Buckler

Because it is very easily matter to ward both the right and reversed blows of the edge: And for that a man easily strike under them, I will, not lay down either for the one or the other their strikings or defendings, but only talk of the thrust. I say, the thrust above maybe delivered in two sorts, the one with the right foot behind, the other with the right foot before. 

When the thrust is discharged that carrieth the right foot behind, there must (in delivery there of) be increased a straight pace of the right foot. And it must be driven and forced with all that strength which it requireth, and that is very great, then settling in the low ward. When one would deliver a thrust with the right foot before, he must remember in any case, first (unawares of the enemy) to steal a half pace, that is to say: to drive the hinder foot near the forefoot, and then to cast a thrust with the increase of a half pace forwards, settling himself after the delivery thereof in the low ward.

Of the defense of the High Ward at Sword & Buckler

As a man standeth at the low ward he may easily defend both those lofty thrusts. When they come, he standing at the said ward, it shall be best to drive them outwards, with the increase of a left pace, and with his sword and buckler to say the enemy's sword. And because this left pace is a great increase: and likewise the enemy, driving his thrusts, commeth with great force, it may easily come to pass that both may approach so near one to the other, that he may with his buckler give the enemy, the Muflachia, in the face, but that must be done when fit occasion is offered, and then further recovering his own sword to discharge a thrust underneath with the increase of a pace of the right foot.