Spanish Swordplay: An Immersion Weekend
When: 5/25/25 – 5/27/25
Where: Forteza Fitness & Martial Arts
Cost: $175.00 Inclusive. Register here.
La Verdadera Destreza is the conventional term for the Spanish tradition of fencing of the early modern period. The word destreza literally translates to ‘dexterity’ or ‘skill, ability’, and thus la verdadera destreza to ‘the true skill’ or ‘the true art’. While destreza is primarily a system of swordsmanship, it is intended to be a universal method of fighting, applicable to all weapons in principle. Its precepts are based on reason, geometry, and tied to intellectual, philosophical, and moral ideals, incorporating various aspects of a well-rounded Renaissance humanist education, with a special focus on the writings of classical authors such as Aristotle, Euclid, and Plato. The tradition is documented in scores of fencing manuals, but centers on the works of two primary authors, Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza (Hieronimo de Carança, died c. 1608) and his student Luis Pacheco de Narváez (1570–1640).
Forteza is pleased to host an immersive weekend into La Verdadera Destreza, with an overview of the Esgrima Comun (Common Fencing) that preceded and existed parallel to it.
SCHEDULE
FRI 5/25
6:30 – 8:30 UNDERSTANDING DESTREZA COMUN (Tim Rivera)
The “Common Fencing” of soldier and duelist in Renaissance Spain, Destreza Comun or Esgrima Comun was an easily learned versatile system taught through “rules” and “plays” much like the contemporary systems of Italy, and like those traditions, taught the use of the sword, alone or with a wide variety of secondary arms, the two-handed sword, and polearms (including the mangual, a two-handed flail with three balls connected to the haft by chains!). In this short course, Tim Rivera will teach a course on Godinho’s system of fencing (Destreza Comun) beginning with the basics and ending with Godinho’s rules on the use of two swords and the montante.
8:30 – 10:00 Free-Fencing/Sparring
SAT 5/26
10:00 – 5:00 PACHECO’s THREE CONSIDERATIONS: PROPRIO, APROPRIADO and TRANSFERIDO (Puck Curtis)
These terms define a sophisticated system of martial opportunity which functions like a toolkit for understanding tempo, opportunity, and streamlining responses. None of them require reading the opponent’s mind or pretending that you did after the fact when you tell the story to your friends. How do we use these tools practically and include them in our teaching? Why is it important to include this understanding of opportunity and timing? We will explore Spanish Timing theory and Pacheco’s treatment of opportunity. How does this compare to the Italian timing system, why is it important for True School fencers to embrace this system, and what can we gain from it.
We will explore Destreza technique together with a focus on facilitating teachers of the tradition. How do we teach the system, how do we help students understand the interlocking parts, and how can we continue to improve our understanding and execution as we empower the next generation of Destreza practitioners?
SUN 5/27
10:00 – Noon USING DESTREZA AGAINST NON DESTREZA FENCERS (Jim Lai)
12:30 – 2:30 FIGUEREYDO’s RAPIER & DAGGER (Kaden Wang)
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Puck Curtis began studying historical fencing in 1992 and researching Spanish swordplay in 1994. He is the cofounder of the Destreza Translation and Research Project and the primary author of From the Page to the Practice – Fundamentals of Spanish Swordplay. Currently living in Folsom, California, he has taught historical fencing for over 20 years with a special focus on the Spanish traditions. He tested and received his certification as a Master at Arms before a traditional board of fencing masters with the San Jose Fencing Master’s program in 2008 and has expanded the tradition by examining a number of instructors, provosts, and fencing masters. In addition, he has presented seminars at major HEMA events, fought in numerous public exhibitions, and has served as a guest examiner for schools certifying historical fencing instructors. His current project is uniting the rigorous training and pedagogy of the classical Italian school with the theory and practice of the Spanish True School to preserve the tradition, develop new leadership, and share the art with today’s western martial arts community.
Jim Lai started practicing La Verdadera Destreza as described in From the Page to the Practice in the mid 2000’s as a way to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries. Since then he has been recognized as a Master of Defense by the Society for Creative Anachronism and led seminars on the use of LVD techniques in competition. Jim will conduct a workshop on using Destrezs techniques against non-Destreza practitioners.
Tim Rivera has been researching, studying, and translating texts on Spanish swordplay since 2008. In addition, he has practiced and researched various styles of Filipino martial arts since 1995.
Kaden Wang started practicing Destreza in 2015 with Sacramento Sword School and became a Provost at Arms in 2022 under a traditional board examination. He has medaled in open competitions and taught Destreza seminars at Socal Sword Fight and Texas Sword Retreat. Currently he teaches Destreza at Sacramento Historic Fencing Academy. Kaden will be teaching Figuerydo’s rapier and dagger system and how other Destreza authors’ rapier and dagger techniques fit into his framework.
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Da’Mon the president of the Historical African Martial Arts Association and is a leader in the movement to study Historical African Martial Arts. He is the Chief Instructor and Founder of Guild of the Silent Sword in Austin Texas. His martial arts training began at the age of 6 when his father gave him his first sword. He was fascinated with martial arts and warrior culture. He began his formal training at the age of 9 in Asian martial arts and progressed into African and Middle Eastern martial arts by the age of 17. He’s both a scholar and a warrior, and he devotes just as much effort to meticulous research on African martial arts as he does teaching and training in them. Undaunted by the lack of surviving martial arts manuals from the continent, Da’Mon examines secondary sources and closely studies Africa’s living traditions, including sword dances and ritualized sword fighting, that trace their lineage back to weapons such as the Ethiopian shotel. In his instruction, Da’Mon always clarifies what survives through living lineage versus what is speculative – and if it’s the latter, he will share his sound reasoning on reaching those conclusions.
Roger started out as a member of 