Back in 1999, Guro Preston Boyd brought some fencing gear with him to one of our training sessions at Guro Daniels house and convinced us to "play" a bit. The increased tempo and speed, as well as being able to track the blade were quite difficult at first. Also, it was immediately apparent where you took a hit because of the welts that were raised. We realized very quickly the effect that training in this manner had in developing our speed, offensive, and counter-offensive reflexes, footwork and blade awareness. These attributes are developed at a much faster rate then what we had experienced before. We immediately went to the much heavier and less flexible training Saber/Rapiers and daggers. We started training Espada Y Daga, but quickly branched into single sword, double sword, Daga, and double Daga. We even did some experimenting with sword and shield. We also match up different pairs of weapons against each other to test effectiveness and our abilities. We also started researching what we could on Western/European (WMA) bladed arts and begun to test principles and techniques that we found in WMA manuals. We found that we could effectively work a lot of the WMA techniques from our FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) base.
Through our consistent training we also re-discovered the importance and effectiveness of thrusting techniques. Yes, thrusting techniques are in the FMA's. but very much underutilized today. Slashing/caveman type movements are more natural where as thrusting is more of a learned technique. Once the ability to thrust effectively has been acquired, slashing movements are harder to pull off consistently ( if you play it realistically). Especially if your playing Espada Y Daga where the incoming slash can be jammed/deflected with the Daga and a thrust delivered simultaneously. With developed timing, thrusting behind the slashes can also be quite effective. The thrust is quicker and has less distance to travel to the target. It also cuts down on the willingness of an opponent to try and crash in (if they spar looking at this from a realistic stand point of using bladed weapons). Now, with that being said, in order to counter effective thrusting techniques, you have to develop your footwork, angling, and timing as well as parrying and deflecting techniques to effectively counter with slashing movements. Basically, in sparring in this manner, developing effective offensive and counter-offensive thrusting techniques, timing and footwork force you (and you opponent) to improve your offensive and counter-offensive slashing techniques, timing and footwork. Which in order to counter, will force you to further improve your thrusting abilities, which in turn will force you to improve your slashing....on so on. This is why I feel that training in this way improves your development at an accelerated rate. Our speed, offensive, and counter-offensive reflexes , footwork and blade awareness were markedly improved in a short period of time. These skills immediately transfer over to knife, stick work and open hand as well. As I stated before, If you train it this way, and realistically (and you'll know if you've been hit) consider the hits and what they would have done to the body (arm/hand lopped off, thrust to the face, to the biceps, the midsection, groin, or hamstringed....) you come away with a whole new view of, and appreciation for the effectiveness of the FMA/WMA bladed arts.
Some folks in the FMA community were a little skeptical until they tried it. After their legs are taken out, or they take a thrust to the face/neck, or they get their weapon hand/arm lopped off (figuratively speaking of course), the mask comes off and their eyes look like saucers. Either the adrenaline is pumping and they want more, or they leave and don't come back. We once had a former Green Beret come play a while back who took a Saber/Rapier hit across the face, took his gear off and said he didn't want anything to do with it. But he came back a week later and has been training ever since. He considered the hit seriously and realized that would have probably been it for him if it were for real. And that's the whole point of doing this. In the FMA's, the stick is supposed to represent the blade (many people don't make the connection). But sparring this way, with blades, you realize real fast that the sticksare slower and less maneuverable. Don't get me wrong here, I love to stick fight, but it just doesn't develop the speed, offensive, and counter-offensive reflexes and blade awareness like sparring in this manner. Another key element is footwork. When dealing with weapons, you can't afford to stand there and trade blows with someone, you have to train to hit without being hit. And you will know real quickly if you are, instant feedback. I look at this the same way the Dog Brother's look at wearing heavy armor and how it causes some people to take shots to get into close range. We use as little armor as possible: mainly a fencing mask and street hockey gloves. You will get bruised. You will get welts. But those represent where you took a thrust, or a slash. That is your feedback and you warning to change your tactics and improve your skills.
As stated above, I believe that adding this type of training to your program is VERY effective at developing, footwork, speed, offensive, counter-offensive reflexes and blade awareness to a very high degree. Also, the ability to track the blade becomes very acute as well. This is so very important in dealing with a blade from an offensive and counter-offensive standpoint. Kali Fencing is an off-shoot of our regular training, but we have found it to be highly effective...and, it's also quite a challenge from an aerobic stand point as well.
Guro William Schultz
As I stated above, If you train it this way, and realistically (and you'll know if you've been hit) consider the hits and what they would have done to the body (arm/hand lopped off, thrust to the face, to the biceps, the midsection, groin, or hamstringed....) you come away with a whole new view of, and appreciation for the effectiveness of the FMA/WMA bladed arts. You will get bruised. You will get welts. But those represent where you took a thrust, or a slash. That is your feedback and you warning to change your tactics and improve your skills.
Back in 1999, Guro Preston Boyd brought some fencing gear with him to one of our training sessions at Guro Daniels house and convinced us to "play" a bit. The increased tempo and speed, as well as being able to track the blade were quite difficult at first. Also, it was immediately apparent where you took a hit because of the welts that were raised. We realized very quickly the effect that training in this manner had in developing our speed, offensive, and counter-offensive reflexes, footwork and blade awareness. These attributes are developed at a much faster rate then what we had experienced before. We immediately went to the much heavier and less flexible training Saber/Rapiers and daggers. We started training Espada Y Daga, but quickly branched into single sword, double sword, Daga, and double Daga. We even did some experimenting with sword and shield. We also match up different pairs of weapons against each other to test effectiveness and our abilities. We also started researching what we could on Western/European (WMA) bladed arts and begun to test principles and techniques that we found in WMA manuals. We found that we could effectively work a lot of the WMA techniques from our FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) base.
Through our consistent training we also re-discovered the importance and effectiveness of thrusting techniques. Yes, thrusting techniques are in the FMA's. but very much underutilized today. Slashing/caveman type movements are more natural where as thrusting is more of a learned technique. Once the ability to thrust effectively has been acquired, slashing movements are harder to pull off consistently ( if you play it realistically). Especially if your playing Espada Y Daga where the incoming slash can be jammed/deflected with the Daga and a thrust delivered simultaneously. With developed timing, thrusting behind the slashes can also be quite effective. The thrust is quicker and has less distance to travel to the target. It also cuts down on the willingness of an opponent to try and crash in (if they spar looking at this from a realistic stand point of using bladed weapons). Now, with that being said, in order to counter effective thrusting techniques, you have to develop your footwork, angling, and timing as well as parrying and deflecting techniques to effectively counter with slashing movements. Basically, in sparring in this manner, developing effective offensive and counter-offensive thrusting techniques, timing and footwork force you (and you opponent) to improve your offensive and counter-offensive slashing techniques, timing and footwork. Which in order to counter, will force you to further improve your thrusting abilities, which in turn will force you to improve your slashing....on so on. This is why I feel that training in this way improves your development at an accelerated rate. Our speed, offensive, and counter-offensive reflexes , footwork and blade awareness were markedly improved in a short period of time. These skills immediately transfer over to knife, stick work and open hand as well. As I stated before, If you train it this way, and realistically (and you'll know if you've been hit) consider the hits and what they would have done to the body (arm/hand lopped off, thrust to the face, to the biceps, the midsection, groin, or hamstringed....) you come away with a whole new view of, and appreciation for the effectiveness of the FMA/WMA bladed arts.
Some folks in the FMA community were a little skeptical until they tried it. After their legs are taken out, or they take a thrust to the face/neck, or they get their weapon hand/arm lopped off (figuratively speaking of course), the mask comes off and their eyes look like saucers. Either the adrenaline is pumping and they want more, or they leave and don't come back. We once had a former Green Beret come play a while back who took a Saber/Rapier hit across the face, took his gear off and said he didn't want anything to do with it. But he came back a week later and has been training ever since. He considered the hit seriously and realized that would have probably been it for him if it were for real. And that's the whole point of doing this. In the FMA's, the stick is supposed to represent the blade (many people don't make the connection). But sparring this way, with blades, you realize real fast that the sticks
As stated above, I believe that adding this type of training to your program is 
