Talk:Singlestick
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From what I understand, the foil is actually a sporting representation of the smallsword, not the rapier. It is true, though, that the smallsword evolved from the rapier, so it probably isn't too incorrect to say it the other way. Does anyeone have any documented history on this? Also, "broadsword" is commonly used to refer to a very wide variety of sword types. In this context it might be good to include that here, "broadsword" refers to a specific type of sword, the basket-hilted broadsword of the roughly 17th-19th centuries, most popular in Scotland. And, to get really picky, the singlestick also corresponds to the very similar basket-hilted backsword, the single-edged version of the double-edged broadsword.
I have been told that wasters were used for teaching swordsmanship from the 14c. I have no sources, but I'm sure they didn't 'appear in the 16c'.
The notion that the English thought hitting below the waist unfair during any time period is a myth, most likely perpetuated by Sabre fencers, who do not hit below the waist. George Silver (16th & 17th Centuries) frequently cites the leg as a valid target area, as does Joseph Swetnam (17th Century), and Zachary Wylde (18th Century). Three different masters spanning three centuries, all of them striking the leg. The line "The old idea, prevalent in 16th century England, that hits below the girdle were unfair, disappeared in the 18th century, and all parts of the person were attacked" should probably be removed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.191.229.170 (talk) 07:26, 23 November 2008 (UTC)
- Silver himself mentions the old rule about not hitting below the waist, and it is mentioned in other old sources too. We don't know how widely the rule was used, and obviously it wouldn't apply in serious duels, but it was quite possibly the norm in sporting matches. Megalophias (talk) 03:54, 6 April 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes was "an expert singlestick player, boxer and swordsman" (Ref: A Study in Scarlet by Doyle) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.92.129.101 (talk) 16:34, 14 August 2010 (UTC)
