Iberian Swordplay Seminar
with Puck Curtis and Eric Myers

During the 1500s the Spanish knight, Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza, sought to rebuild swordplay from scientific principles.  His groundbreaking work triggered a cultural revolution in Spain that rippled out through the rest of the world.  The swordplay from the Iberian Peninsula is part science and part martial tradition. 

Saturday – The Spanish Sword Art, La Verdadera Destreza

The first day of the Iberian seminar will cover both the science and the tradition of La Verdadera Destreza as presented by Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza (1569), Luis Pacheco de Narváez (1600), and Francisco Antonio de Ettenhard (1675) with the single-handed sword.  Bring your favorite practice sword and learn the Spanish martial tradition.  While the tradition is intended for use with a single-handed weapon such as a side sword or rapier, the instructors will also demonstrate some of the techniques with a longsword.

For the Attending Swordsman

The Spanish tradition presents a simple martial system composed of 12 fencing actions.  Once the basic actions techniques are learned, the student can apply this core technique in a variety of different contexts.  In this sense, La Verdadera Destreza is easy to learn but can take a lifetime to fully explore.  It is a conservative practice of swordplay intended to protect both your own honor and your life without ever forsaking the principle that the primary purpose of training is to improve the swordsman on every level.  Learn the rules of the tradition, practice the techniques, and you can become effective very quickly with a variety of different weapons.

For the Attending Sword Instructor

The Spanish science of fencing provides not only a curriculum but a method for testing the validity of fencing technique.  In his 1569 text Carranza asked the readers the question, "How do I know that this fencing is good or bad?"  He peels away layers of fantasy and bad practice to allow the reader to find the true martial core of fencing theory and good teaching.  The science of La Verdadera Destreza can be used to by an instructor of any sword system and this seminar will help put these tools and methods in your hands whether you teach longsword, rapier, or other weapons.

Sunday – The Iberian Two-Handed Sword

The second day of the Iberian seminar will be dedicated to the practice of the Iberian greatsword called the montante.  At times beautifully flowing, the montante can also be terrifyingly destructive as it cleaves through multiple enemies without pausing. 

Written as a series of "rules" by authors like Pietro Monte (1509), Luis Godinho (1599), and Diogo Gomes de Figueiredo (1651), the montante material is a series of martial forms used to teach the weapon similar to the katas used in Eastern martial arts.  Early Montante rules introduce technical skills essential to handling the large weapon.  Later rules are contextualized for warfare, crowd control, and fighting in cramped conditions. 

For the Attending Swordsman

The instructors will emphasize the different biomechanics required by the greatsword when compared to the lighter longsword.  The student of the montante will develop the skills needed to face down multiple attackers, crush a shield-wall, attack a spearman, protect a woman behind a wall of steel, or separate two angry fencers. 

For the Attending Sword Instructor

Teachers of the greatsword will find a ready and accessible curriculum suitable for historical reenactment or SCA armored combat.  If you have ever wanted access to the lesson plans written by historical greatsword masters, this seminar presents an instructor the opportunity to practice material in the freely available Figueiredo translation and techniques from other masters never before published in English.

Gear List

Basic protection: Fencing mask, gorget, fencing jacket/doublet/light gambeson or heavy long sleeved sweatshirt, and gloves.  Gallowglass Academy requires groin protection for men and recommends it for women.

Destreza: rapier, cut-and-thrust or longsword trainer

Montante: Montante or greatsword traine.  Per Maestro Myers, New Stirling Arms (www.newstirlingarms.com) two-handed claymore waster also works; as fall-back, a 60-to-62" closet pole (shaved, taped, or marked to note edges).

Some Loaner Gear is available, including masks and default-level Montante poles.

About the Instructors

All of this material is presented as faithfully as possible by two board-certified fencing masters specializing in Iberian sword arts.

Puck Curtis

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 maintains the Theory and Practice section of the website.  He has been a member of the SCA's Order of the White Scarf since 2001, and sits on the board of the Tattershall School of Defense.

Currently living in Sacramento, California, Maestro Curtis has been the primary historical fencing instructor for the Davis Fencing Academy and currently teaches Destreza as a martial art for the Sacramento Sword School with a special focus on the work of Pacheco and Ettenhard.  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 which is a branch of the Italian school of fencing.  His current project is uniting the rigorous training and pedagogy of the classical Italian school with the theory and practice of the canonical Pachequista form of Destreza to preserve the tradition and share it with today’s Western martial arts community.

Eric Myers

Eric Myers is a Master at Arms in classical Italian fencing, certified by the San Jose State University Fencing Masters Program in 2008.  He teaches classical and historical fencing at the Sacramento Sword School, and at the Sonoma State University Fencing Masters Certificate Program.  He is a co-founder of the Sacramento Sword School, and also sits on the board of the Tattershall School of Defense.

Maestro Myers began fencing in 1984, and researching Historical European Martial Arts in 1997. Since 2005 his historical research has focused on the martial arts of Spain and Portugal, and in 2010 he co-authored (with Steve Hick) a monograph and translation of the 17th century “Memorial of the Practice of the Montante” by Diogo Gomes de Figueiredo. He has taught from this work at several large, international WMA events.