Welcome to Verdadera Destreza Ottawa, where we study the Spanish Christian swordfighting style ("la verdadera Destreza") used in Spain during the renaissance and early modern period.

INFORMATION
Price and size: $15/class - classes are ~1 hour long, maximum four people per class.
Classes are either outside in the neighbouring park or in my apartment unit, depending on weather and season.
For class times, we pick a specific, constant hour during the week and set that as our training block. Available times are: 9am - 8pm Mondays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays, or 9am - 12:30pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays.

If you're interested (or just wish to ask me any questions), send an email at: contact@destreza.ca

TEACHING STYLE
I use my own "everything first" teaching style, wherein after an initial summary class, we will spend the first few classes speeding through the curriculum, making you perform every technique once, not to learn them so much as learn OF them. This lasts around three to six classes depending on the student and which curriculum we're on. By experiencing the entire curriculum all at once you will gain a general knowledge of the style, allowing you to view your subsequent training from a much more informed perspective. This first pass also serves as a good jumping-off point for those who were simply curious to know what Spanish swordfighting entails or those who practice other styles and weren't necessarily seeking mastery of this one, just looking to pick up a few techniques.

The second pass is slower, focusing on each individual technique, seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons, conditions and motions of each one. We'll also have semi-regular light sparring sessions.

For the third and subsequent passes, we will be focusing exclusively on any selected techniques, drilling them extensively and working towards being able to execute them with blinding speed. From here, we can move on to the next curriculum or continue to hone techniques, as desired.

CURRICULA - click on the link(s) to view - I recommend printing out a copy to study or take notes during class
PART 1: Carranza and early Pacheco
This is the core of the Spanish swordfighing style. Here we go over all the fundamentals and defining techniques that Luis Pacheco de Narvaez, the practical creator of this fighting style, set down.

(COMING SOON) PART 2: Later Pacheco
This part covers the modifications and additions that Pacheco introduces over the years as well as the use of two-handed swords, pole weapons, off-hand weapons and shields, and how to fight against left-handed enemies.

(COMING SOON) PART 3: Lesser Authors
Various alterations that other Spanish authors made to Pacheco's Spanish swordfighting style.

(COMING SOON) PART 4: Smallswords, Sabers, and Bayonets
Three weapons and their distict uses, but echoes of Pacheco's style remain.

LIBRARY
Spanish swordfighting (what my classes are based on - feel free to send/point me to any historical Spanish swordfighting books I'm missing)
Filosofia de las armas - Carranza 1582
Grandezas de la espada - Pacheco 1599
Compedio de la Filosofia - Pacheco/Carranza 1612
Modo Facil y Nuevo para Examinarse - Pacheco 1625
Nueva Ciencia (scriptus) - Pacheco 1625
Nueva Ciencia (printus) - Pacheco 1625/1672
Engaño y desengaño - Pacheco 1635
Avisos importantes - Carmona 1639/1899
Metodo de Ensenanza - Diaz 1639
Desengaño de la espada - Cala 1642
Advertencias para la Enseñanza - Pacheco 1642
Resumen de la verdadera Destreza - Arias 1667
Aforismos de la Destreza - Garay/Pacheco 1672
Compendio de los fundamentos - Ettenhard 1675
Libro intitulado defensa - Vicente 16XX
Cornucopia Numerosa - Lara 1675
Destreza de las armas - Sicilia 1678
Comprension de Destreza - Vega 1681
Resumen de la verdadera Destreza - Antonio 1688
Cartilla y Luz - Tamariz 1696
Nobleza de la Espada - Rada 1705
Defensa de la Verdadera Destreza - Rada 1711
Repuesta a Rada - Rada 1712
Crisol Especulativo - Noveli 1731
Principios Universales - Brea 1805
Destreza del Sable - Frias 1809
Esgrima de Bayoneta - Sanchez 1853
Esgrima del Fusil - Merelo y Casademunt 1861
Esgrima del Sable - Merelo y Casademunt 1862

Extra reading, not necessarily sword related
[ENG] A letter to the King - Carranza 15XX - (version A) - (version B)
NOTE: This is a letter from Geronimo de Carranza to King Phillip II expressing his views on what constitutes insults/affronts and when it is appropriate to resort to arms over verbal engagements. The first pdf is my English translation, the second (version A) is a hand-written copy from the 1800s and the third (version B) is another hand-written copy with no date and several missing sentences, but has easier-to-read hand-writing than version A.