Excellent choice of book.

Sciomachia et Hoplomachia - Solstices Financement participatif organisé par Solstices - La première édition traduite du latin vers le français du manuscrit d'Heinrich von Gunterrodt

You can download the free e-book on the website of Les éditions #Solstices, or pre-order a physical copy on our crowdfunding page : www.helloasso.com/associations...

For instance #Gunterrodt illustrates his dussack section with fencers in "Turkish" garment. (You guessed it, this was all a setup to talk about Gunterrodt again)

The term "Dussack" probably comes from the czech "tesák"- the fang. It's not impossible that it is the result of cultural influence between the Ottoman Empire and Bohemia during the XVth century, that then expanded to the west of the German territories.

Practice of the dussack popular in the German #Fechtschule - public displays organized by ranked members of the fencing guilds. The practice survived at least until the 18th century (before its study by contemporary HEMA fencers).

In his Gründtliche Beschreibung, the fencing explained by Meyer has become someting of its own - less emphasis on the thrust and bladework, less wrestling (although still present in his earlier treatises - his 1570 instructions present large circular cuts, with a game of parries and counters.

Andres Paurenfeyndt, in his Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst, for instance, writes about Messer, and Dussacks are shown in the illustrative plates.

Dussacks are curved proto-sabers. The training weapons are probably mostly made of wood, sometimes leather. They first appear in Fechtbücher at the beginning of the XVIths century - with techniques and vocabulary close to the Messer.

Spending some time with old #HEMA friends in Nantes last week was very cool - and an opportunity to dust up an introduction workshop on Joachim Meyers' #Dussack.

The French #HEMA federation is putting together a symposium - "Entre sources, gestes et pratiques : comprendre, transmettre et expérimenter les AMHE aujourd’hui" A call to contributions is open until May 15th :
www.ffamhe.fr/colloque-2026

Rather important caveat - the translation is in French. There is also the Medl Fechtbuch published in 2023 in the same collection.

Sciomachia et Hoplomachia - Solstices Financement participatif organisé par Solstices - La première édition traduite du latin vers le français du manuscrit d'Heinrich von Gunterrodt

We're publishing Gunterrodt (and it's available for free as an e-book as well) - www.helloasso.com/associations...

Alors que "le manger" est juste là.

Sciomachia et Hoplomachia - Solstices Financement participatif organisé par Solstices - La première édition traduite du latin vers le français du manuscrit d'Heinrich von Gunterrodt

Gunterrodt's work offers an academic perspective on the question, firmly rooted in his time and intellectual milieu. If you are curious to know more - take a look at the book, it's crowdfunding now : www.helloasso.com/associations...

The relevance of fencing and HEMA exercises applied to so-called "real" combat is a commonly debated question today Threads on this subject are countless - questioning the notions of "drill," "sparring," "slow-sparring," etc., and their relative effectiveness.

Translated as "Umbrae pugna," it is associated with training fencing (exercises at the pell, precision work in a circle) – the fight is then "against a shadow." Sciomachia is the art of training with weapons with precision and controlled risk, a metaphor for methodical preparation for combat.

The term evokes a practice fight, a "preparation for combat without injury". It is a thoughtful, technical, and non-violent training exercise, practiced calmly, in the shade or under a roof, unlike real combat which took place under the sun and in the dust.

Sciomachia embodies intellectual and physical preparation, a refined form of martial art where one hones one's technique safely. By comparison, it is associated with "leisure" medicine, quiet reflection, rather than "emergency" medicine and action under pressure (Giovani Baptista da Monte).

In the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Germanic areas, this dichotomy was common. For example, Michael Hundt distinguishes between Fechten and Balgen . It can also be found in 15th- and 16th-century Fechtbücher in the distinction between "zu schimpf" and "zu ernst".

I'm taking advantage of the publication of gunterrodt to start a short thread on the concept of Sciomachia. From the Greek σκίαμαχία, literally "shadow combat," it refers to a form of weapons training, as opposed to "serious" combat, hoplomachia. #HEMA #HistoricalFencing

Sciomachia et Hoplomachia - Solstices Financement participatif organisé par Solstices - La première édition traduite du latin vers le français du manuscrit d'Heinrich von Gunterrodt

The crowdfunding campaign for the physical edition of the latin transcription and french transcription of the Gunterrodt Manuscript is up - don't hesitate to share the information with your source-addicted clubmates : www.helloasso.com/associations...

A previously unknown collection of 17th century illustrations of #fencers is up for auction (thank M-O Blattlin for the notification). M. Vieillard identified a close similarity with the illustrations from Lovino. Hopefully, the #FFAMHE will be able to get a full digitization;

Si tu soulèves des tractopelles, il y a quand même moyen que tu gagnes des triceps.

The book is UP !
François Siedels Sciomachia & Hoplomachia is available for free on the éditions Solstices website. An exceptional #fencing #manuscript from 1579 by Heinrich Von Gunterrodt, with a peer-reviewed translation and a documented introduction.
solstices-project.com/categorie-pr...

This will be the second entry in the Mars & Sol collection, directed by @heleneleblanc.bsky.social and myself with les éditions Solstices - an endeavour to promote a free access to #HEMA sources as well as physical editions of french translations.

I'm very pleased to announce that the editorial work on "Sciomachia & Hoplomachia" is almost complete, and that preorders will open soon. It contains François Siedel's translation in French from the original latin of the 1579 manuscript by Heinrich von Gunterrodt.

MARQUISATTACK 2026 Vue d'ensemble sur les sources et épées à demain en Europe - MarcOlivier Blattlin YouTube video by F.H.E.M.A Sources

La conférence sur les sources de la grande #épée à deux mains donnée par Marc-Olivier Blattlin de l'association De Taille et d'Estoc lors de #Marquisattack Odyssée est disponible sur FHEMA sources - l'audio est un peu perturbé par les ateliers qui se déroulent dans le gymnase mais c'est audible.

Join the meeting in seconds - Table ronde PALAS Mars 2026 - GoTo Meet whenever you’re ready. Connect on any device, collaborate in real time, and do your best work together, all on GoTo.

Les participant.e.s se sont tout.e.s déjà frotté.e.s à la traduction et l'édition d'ouvrages, mais on ne les a jamais vus tous réunis :
- Joanna Roux Mahieux
- Sébastien Romagnan
- Marc-Olivier Blattlin

Accès à la visio : meet.goto.com/962450549

Suite à la numérisation du manuscrit "Las cien conclusiones" de Pacheco de Navarez, l la FFAMHE enregistre une table ronde autour de la Destreza, dimanche 15 mars de 17h30 à 18h30.
L'enregistrement sera disponible soit en podcast sur spotify, soit en vidéo sur youtube.

We're fortunate the city of #Annecy provides us rent-free with training venues and a place to stock the club gear, but having a private hall is the dream. This format encourages a lot of non-historians to start digging in the sources - It's one of the most important things we do.