A glimpse into self-defence from the past. The Fior di Battaglia is a guidebook from the 15th century that details various fighting styles, including armed, unarmed, and mounted combat. Its author and illustrator was Fiore Furlan dei Liberi da Premariacco, a fencing master from the Holy Roman Empire. His skill was near unmatched, drawing both envy of his skills and anger at his refusal to spar or teach other Masters of Arms. This led to five duels where he emerged victorious and uninjured each time. Fantastic images included. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
