I was watching one of my favorite movies, The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), in the background this evening while doing some charting. I love this movie and I love the book even more. I read this book as a young boy and have never forgotten many of the lessons taught within its pages.
As I was listening this evening, I was struck by the sword fighting skills taught by Abbe Faria. For some reason, I never really paid close attention to the concepts he was teaching until now. This is likely because I haven’t watch this film since I started sword fighting, and these concepts now resonate deeply with me.
Richard Harris, who plays Abbe Faria, is the imprisoned priest who meets Edmond Dantes, played by Jim Caviezel, and becomes his teacher, confidant and mentor. Abbe Faria gives Edmond three very important and profound lessons in sword fighting and in life.
- The stronger swordsman is not necessarily the winner.
- Speed of hand and speed of mind are the key to good sword fighting and to life.
- For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction in physics AND in man.
- That reaction is often a mirroring of the opponents motion, speed and force, until a weak point is identified and exploited.
See if you can spot the similarities. I found this fascinating to watch, contemplate & edit.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you to Greg, Russell, Tiffini, Lucas and all of the other students I have spared and trained with.
#SwordFighting #HEMA #Rapier #Dagger #Saber #Fencing #DocMuscles #Men #Manhood #Honor #Mastery #MartialArt #Martial
The Loyal Order of the Sword
Swordmaster – Greg Hinchcliff
FMA Swordmaster – Russell Mackler
Students: Tiffini, Adam & Lucas
Weapons:
- Rapier & Daggers courtesy of DarkWood Armory (http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/)
- Sabers courtesy of Jeff Lord @Kvetun Armoury (https://kvetun-armoury.com/saber/)
Video Scenes from: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) – Buena Vista Pay Television
Video & Editing – Adam Nally, D.O.
The Doc, The Horse & The Sword 