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WABUKAN Arsenal · Training tools · Europe

Espada preta (black sword)

The "black sword" of Portuguese and Spanish fencing: a blunt practice sword, unlike the sharp "white" sword. Thomaz Luiz wrote a treatise on its lessons in 1685.

Also known as

espada preta · espada negra; black sword

Origin and history

In the Iberian Peninsula, black swords (espadas negras) were blunt iron practice swords, as opposed to sharp white swords. They were used in fencing schools and in the examinations of masters in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Martial arts that use it

HEMA

Construction

An iron or steel blade without edge, with a rounded or thickened tip and often a wider base, similar in purpose to the German feder.

Basic techniques

Training

Training tools are used in short, regular sessions: correct technique first, then gradual increases in load or contact so that joints, skin and tendons adapt.

Safety

Increase load and contact gradually, stop if joints hurt (as opposed to normal muscle fatigue), and check the equipment and its fixings before each use.

Legality (general information)

This is training or traditional equipment, not a weapon, and is generally free to buy and own. Clubs and federations may still set rules on approved models and condition. General information, not legal advice.

Did you know?

The name refers to the dark colour of unpolished iron, in contrast with bright, sharp blades.

More weapons

Punching bag Meel Dussack Bokken Shinai Makiwara

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Feder (fencing)
  2. Wikipedia — Destreza