Single sword classes focus on the use of the 16th C cut and thrust sword often called side sword. These swords have additional hand protection than the older style arming sword but not as much as the 17th C rapier.
Our core system for this weapon is the Bolognese or Dardi School of fencing, which flourished through the late 15th until the late 16th centuries. This style of fencing encompasses a wide variety of weapons and contexts, with 6 key texts.
More info about the Bolognese school is available on Gindi’s personal site.
Treatises in the Dardi school discuss combat with: single sword, sword & buckler (small round shield), sword & targa (small square shield), sword & cloak, great sword, spears, daggers, two swords, sword & dagger, sword & rotella (big round shield), plus fencing in armour and other weapons and combinations. The weapons we use the bolognese system for are: Single Sword, Sword & Buckler, and Longsword.
Useful References:
Sidesword exercises on youtube
Our key sidesword source text (dall’Agocchie) in translation