What is a "system?"
You sometimes hear about "Meyers System" or "Foire's System." But what does that mean, what is a system? A system is a series of general principles, rules or a framework that acts as instructions for an optimal way of fighting. An exceptional HEMA sourcebook will layout this system reasonably clearly and explicitly. This is why, on the whole, I prefer sources like Meyer, Di Grassi or Silver. Systems are different from fundamental fencing concepts (time, measure, body mechanics) which are the language used to describe all systems. A good HEMA sourcebook will have a good understanding, more or less, of these fundamental concepts and will be able to describe them in these terms. There are also techniques and combinations of techniques (plays), but these are not the "system" - they are examples of what could happen if specific circumstances are put through the system. I feel like plays are useful to determine if you have understood the system co