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Martinez Academy of Arms and its guest Raven Arts Institute are pleased to host a 3 day Spanish Martial Arts Weekend. Maestros Ramón Martínez, Jeannette Acosta- Martínez, and James Loregia will be teaching classes on rapier, smallsword, sabre, walking stick, and navaja.
Spanish bladed martial arts are unique cultural artifacts that incorporate social, philosophical, and aesthetic values of Spanish culture. Beginning with the Golden Age and proceeding through to the beginning of the 20th century we will follow a progression that will demonstrate how these weapons were used in methods that are unique to Spain.
At the end of the 16th century, Don Jerónimo de Carranza created a system of fencing that was to influence the Spanish martial arts through his lifetime and well into the 19th century. This series of classes will demonstrate a continuum of the theory created by Carranza and how it was applied or incorporated into the use of other types of weapons.
The weekend will begin with Carranza's unique system, La Verdadera Destreza and its application with single rapier. Students will learn the movimientos, compases, and llave y gobierno, which are the hallmarks of the system.
The Spanish smallsword (espadín) unlike its French counterpart is a rapier of reduced size in that it retained and utilized all of the elements of the rapier hilt and blade. The blade length was greatly diminished yet still retained the typical geometry of a Spanish rapier blade; being double edged as the diestros continued to use cutting techniques. The system for the use of this weapon incorporated many French and Italian techniques upon the foundation that was laid down by Carranza at the end of the 16th century.
The Spanish fencing masters of the 19th century saw the sabre as a direct descendant of what they termed the espada antigua (older sword). The use of the sabre retains some of the circular elements, ángulos, movimientos, and cuts as used by Carranza.
This weekend will also include a comprehensive class on the use of the walking stick or bastón de paseo. Two distinctive approaches to the use of the walking stick will be taught. One style is completely founded upon sabre fencing that includes Spanish, French and Italian methods. The other style is based entirely upon Spanish systems of stick combat.
The weekend will conclude with an introduction to the Navaja, the Spanish folding clasp knife, which was used in Spain and the Mediterranean from the 16th century to the present day. Covering not only the technical aspects of its use, it will also introduce the students to several of the various regional styles.
Schedule
Friday August 12th 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Spanish Rapier: taught by Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martínez
Saturday August 13th 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Spanish Small sword: 10 a.m. - 12 noon taught by Maestro Ramón Martínez
Spanish Sabre: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. taught by Maestro Ramón Martínez
Spanish Walking stick: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. taught by Maestros James Loriega and Ramón Martínez
Sunday August 14th from 1 p.m. - 5p.m.
Navaja: taught by Maestro James Loriega
Fee
Pre-registration: $125.00 and must be received by August 8th 2005
Registration at the door: $150.00
Please use our registration form to pre-register.
Saint George's Episcopal Church
550 Ridgewood Road
Maplewood, NJ 07040
http://www.stgeorges-maplewood.dioceseofnewark.org/
New Jersey Transit trains run from Penn Station in Manhattan to Maplewood. The Church is only several blocks from the train station. Take the Gladstone Line. If you plan to drive there is plenty of parking behind the Church.
Spanish Rapier, La Verdadera Destreza
In this class Maestro Acosta- Martinez will cover the practical application of the movimientos and compases utilized to form tretas (techniques). Using the concept of llave y gobierno the students will learn how to apply the movimientos and compases in the proper measure and time. The class will concentrate on the single rapier as the student's progress step by step learning footwork, movimientos, and how to manipulate the adversary's blade. This class will provide a comprehension of the basic theory and principles that will be utilized in the classes that will follow in this workshop.
Spanish Smallsword
The principles laid down in La Verdadera Destreza continue to be applied with the Spanish smallsword (espadín). The students will be introduced to the French and Italian elements that were incorporated into the Spanish structure to create a mixed school of fencing during the late 18th century. In this class the students will learn the technical application of this lighter and shorter weapon as a direct continuum of Spanish rapier theory.
Spanish Sabre
The Spanish fencing masters of the 19th century saw the sabre as a weapon that is perfectly suited to the Spanish character and temperament. As a cut and thrust weapon the technical nature of the Spanish sabre is based on that of the espada antigua. The weapon is versatile as it can be used on foot, horseback, in the duel or on the battlefield. The class will cover the use of the sabre and its application to single combat on foot within the context of the duel. The students will see how principles set down in the Spanish rapier were still in use with the sabre in the 19th century.
Walking Stick
This three-hour class will be divided into two 1.5 hrs sections. Maestro Loriega will teach the first section. The bastón de paseo, or walking cane, like the navaja folding knife, was an item common to both the masses and upper classes in Spain. Like the navaja, the bastón became a substitute for the sword when possession of such edged weapons became restricted to certain members of society. And like the navaja, the humble cane inspired the development of personal protection systems to replace the security previously afforded by the noble sword. Although the teachings of bastón can be comprehensive in scope, their collective body is nonetheless regarded as an informal system and is likewise taught in an informal manner. The class will cover:
Maestro Martínez will teach the second section. Built upon a solid foundation of sabre fencing the students will learn how sabre fencing can be applied directly to a stick with little change to the technique. Guard position, parries, molinetes (circular cuts), and evasive body actions will be covered. The foundation of this system of cane self defense is based on that of Spanish, French and Italian methods of sabre fencing.
The Navaja and Its Use in Spain
The educational objective of the Navaja class is to expose participants to the cultural and historical role of armas blancas cortas in Spain, with a particular emphasis on the navaja folding knife. The methods for using these weapons emerged not only from the shunned gitanerias of Seville, but also from the waterfront dives of Barcelona, the cosmopolitan promenades of Madrid, and the teeming bazaars of Tangier, once the capital of Spanish Morocco. Regardless of their original venue, these weapons were among the most familiar ones used for centuries throughout the length and breadth of the Mediterranean.
Equipment required for the classes:
The classes are structured to accommodate both beginners and advance students. Students who have their own equipment are advised to bring a pair of gloves for both hands, masks, jackets, breast protectors for women, and rigid groin cups for men. Students that do not have their own equipment are asked to wear comfortable work out clothing. If you do not have a Spanish type rapier an Italian type will do. If you have no rapier at all then we advise you to bring a wooden dowel of 3/4 inch in thickness. They can be purchased at any Home Depot or neighborhood lumberyard. To measure the appropriate length, stand square and extend your sword arm out horizontally to the side. The total length of the dowel should be taken from the opposite shoulder to the tip of the middle finger of the hand of the extended arm. If you do not have a Spanish smallsword, bring a foil. An Italian foil would be preferable but a French foil will be permitted. It is important that you have a sabre, as it is essential to understand the distinction between the sabre and stick. We will provide walking sticks and navaja trainers. Although we are making allowance for those who do not have all the proper equipment and weapons it is exceedingly important to be properly equipped to achieve the best results.
If you have any questions please contact Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez at: email
Hotel Information
The following hotels are in the Secaucus or North Bergen area. They are all within minutes of the Secaucus Train station. Look for rates and availability through one of the travel search engines on the bottom of this list.
Red Roof Inn Secaucus Meadowlands
15 Meadowlands Parkway
Secaucus, NJ 07094 US
Amerisuites Secaucus Meadowlands
575 Park Plaza Dr.
Secaucus, NJ 07094 US
Homestead Secaucusg
One Plaza Drive
Secaucus, NJ 07094-3688 US
Holiday Inn Harmon Meadow Sportplex
300 Plaza Dr.
Secaucus, NJ 07094 US
Super 8 Motel North Bergen NJ
2800 Columbia Ave.
North Bergen, NJ 07047 US
Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus
875 Route 3
Secaucus, NJ 07094 US
Meadowlands Plaza Hotel Secaucus
40 Wood Avenue
Secaucus NJ 07094 US
Extendedstay Secaucus
1 Meadowland Parkway
Secaucus NJ 07094 US
Hampton Inn Secaucus-Meadowlands
250 Harmon Meadow Blvd
Secaucus NJ 07094 US
Coutyard By Marriott Meadowlands Secaucus
455 Harmon Meadow Boulevard
Secaucus NJ 07094 US
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