This page contains videos that are of particular interest to SSW students. Additional videos will be added as time permits.

Maestro Giorgio Santelli – Foil Fundamentals

Below is a the first of a three part video on foil fundamentals by Maestro Giorgio Santelli. We don’t do everything exactly the same, but it is quite close. Maestro Hootman did not like the centered rear foot and raised heel while on guard that Maestro Santelli shows in this video, so we don’t do that. Instead, we keep the heels on the same line, and keep the rear heel on the ground. Also, we do not insist on the very stiff rear hand that Santelli apparently liked. It is something of an affectation, and causes stiffness in the rear forearm, and ultimately tires and tightens the rear arm and shoulder.  Finally, in the lunge, while we allow the body to lean forward, we tend to maintain the rear arm in such a way that it forms a straight  (or parallel) line with the front arm.  These things aside, this is a really lovely look at foil fundamentals from one of the best fencing masters of the 20th century.  The video should auto-play into the next part.

Maestro Italo Santelli and Attila Petschauer

Here is a lesson video from 1930, where Maestro Italo Santelli (Giorgio’s father) gives a lesson to Attila Petschauer, a great Hungarian fencer, and unfortunately, later a concentration camp victim during WWII.  The method of sabre is clearly Radaelli derived, despite the modern 6-8mm sport sabre blade having been in use for 10-15 years at this point. Note the slight chambering of the initial direct cuts, the movement of the sabre from the elbow rather than the wrist, and the use of parry patterns 1/2/5 and 3/4/5, but without seeming to favor one over the other.  Also the very extended and high guard of 3rd favored.  On the other hand, we see very few molinelli.  Regardless, this is an amazing piece of video. 

Maestro Giorgio Santelli – 1955 from “Omnibus”

A short video clip of Maestro Giorgio, students, and some history. 

Flashing Steel – A British Pathé short

This short film, from 1926, compares two methods of sabre fencing, an ‘old’ method, and the then-new Italian method. Unfortunately the video fails to specify that the ‘old’ method is also Italian. The ‘old’ method shown is a Masiello based variant of Radaelli’s method of sabre fencing, which became popular in England for a time when it was adopted as the 1895 Infantry Sword Exercise. The two sabres used in the ‘old’ portion of the video are 1st and 2nd model Masiello sabres.

SSW Videos

In March of 2021, SSW Instructor Christopher Holzman gave a guest lecture for Sala della Spada‘s lecture series. The topic is Radaellian sabre cutting mechanics.  One of our students was able to record it, and we have made the recording available on youtube: 

A clip from a sword and dagger lesson. Student beats in 4th, performs a feint of a direct thrust between the weapons, and a half-cavazione below the dagger: