It was an absolute honor to get 6-0ed by the legend himself his class was amazing and if you ever get a chance to meet and talk with him, you should definitely take it
@@levifontaine8186 more of verdadera destreza ("true skill", usual name of Spanish-style rapier fencing), a.k.a. "stay in the center, be sure to have your sword pointed at him whenever he is, and let him be skewered whenever range closes, no matter who closed the range" vs the much more common Italian style of rapier fencing, a.k.a. "do a lot of movements and lunges and try to close range" _(obviously_ a gross simplification for example purposes).
1 second in: "Oh cool you really can tell the difference in power level just from someone's stance and footsteps. wild." later: "He's not even moving that fast, he's just THERE, exactly where he wants to be, exactly when he wants to be there. The economy of movement is incredible."
That was my big takeaway; his efficiency of movement was impeccable. And, yea, it was super obvious by stance and how calm he was who was absolutely dominant, and who was moving around way, way too much.
Ton is one of the most incredible swordsmen alive. Our fencing group had the opportunity to do a montante seminar with him. He is very generous and humble and has a great sense of humor.
I agree with this comment. I don't practice destreza, but have been practicing rapier for more than 13 years now, and Ton is the most brillant, well rounded fencer I know. He can defend against whole range of different styles, can be both very technical but also powerful when needed, and is incredibly humble. Also I can get beind the title of the video. Getting clowned by Ton... been there too !
I did this sort of fencing for about 5 years. One of my instructors was this 72 year old guy who had fenced for 55 years and who once won an Olympic bronze medal. My best matches against him probably looked a bit like this. He clowned me without even trying. I also trained combative pentjak silat for 25 years. Another of my instructors, a 6th dan cop who also headed the non-firearm combat training division at a big city police academy, could clown me with similar ease fighting unarmed or with batons. This guy's shtick was was to immobilize and then apply [sometimes imaginary] handcuffs. Every time I fought him he would defeat me within 3 seconds, which always ended with him going 'Click' PAUSE 'Click' as he applied [sometimes imaginary & sometimes real] handcuffs. Even at my peak, when I could match some 3rd dan fighters and some amateur MMA fighters, he always crushed me instantly. Was humbling. Great video! Beautiful!
His awareness is really good. It's like he knows the distance from his opponents point down to the millimeter, and know just when to deflect. It's really cool.
🤣 I love watchin Ton fencing - in his style you can see the pure spanish arrogance - "dont bother me with your worthless presence - I will kill you anyway - dont waste my time, puny nonspainard." even so, Ton is one of the niciest guys (when he has no rapier in his hand) I have ever met. Ton if you read it.... I miss you buddy - maybe will see us at the Armata in Bilbao 2023 and maybe we can have a small discussion with daggers 🙂 stay well buddy. Harry
One of my training buddies had a seminar not long ago with him. He said "it's like he's walking a dog" when he fights (meaning, it's the most casual , relaxing activity for him, or he makes it look so). A while back, they would have praised him with plenty of "sprezzatura"
If you were looking for the song like i was; its Almoraima by Paco de Lucia, first time listening to francisco for me and im glad my enjoyment of hema led me to his music lol
@@charlesdeiliberi I do wonder why we have not seen a Thibault rapierist remotely close to this level. I’ve seen great interpretations of Pacheco, Fabris, Marcelli, etc. I wonder if there is something inherently wrong with the system?
I might be overinterpreting this but at 0:39 it looks like he leaves his sword high to draw them attacks there (like a distraction). I used to fall for a similar deception back in my broken days.
@@charlesdeiliberi Greetings charles turner From what I read this type of comment about the ability used by black in the video, it is La Verdadera Destreza, or, for an English speaker like you, The True Dexterity. You can find it on the Internet or through this Spanish video with English subtitles:ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ep1JKYmOC_E.html
Yeeaaah, I'mma just stick with guns. Sword fighting is wildly dangerous and it doesn't seem like there are many winners in a real life and death sword fight, Kinda just feels like everybody loses in a sword fight 😂
You were lucky enough that the storm sunk the Armada ships... if the Spaniards would have set foot on dry land, you would be the ones speaking Spanish instead of us speaking English for your convenience.
1st note, Why isn't he attacking the legs? i do sword fencing and is completely legal, that man is just standing straight, that pose is really easy to break 2nd note, the foot stomps to provocate are an cowardly unhonorable technique
I am going to be horrifically mean here. The only video you have of you, is reverse gripping a katana. One of the most maligned grips in a backyard water bottle cut. Of which the only comment you have is yourself. You are watching two grand fencers at work here and the only thing you have to show yourself. Is a clip that belongs on Reddit.
