Added: 2 years ago
From: TheRealGladiatores
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  • Excellent! Any schools like this in Texas?

  • @Charlizard777

    Yes there are some schools. Try to google /hema alliance club finder/ and you will be taken to a map where you can find some of the groups. If there aren't any club near you I think that some of the nearest would love to help you start your own group.

  • Nice tools! I must know who made the broadswords? I must have one :)

  • You guys ruined every sword duel in every movie and video game I see now. The weird thing is I'm grateful for showing sword fighting isn't hacking away at your opponent until one of you gives in to a lucky strike. Keep the vids coming ^o^

  • @EnsisCruentus Called larp

  • @TheRealGladiatores why are you making all those ninja noises?

  • @therealgrizzla which doesnt exist, swords do :p

  • Fuck all that... It's about a lightsaber :)

  • I really like this video especially the dagger part in the beginning, though I don`t understand much of fancing.

  • 0:30 that escape and counter was pure joy.

  • saubere arbeit leute gefällt mir euch zu sehen, bitte sagt mir mal die musik will nach dem schwert treneing meditieren ...:D

  • You guys rock :D

  • Por los dioses, qué gente más mala!

  • First off, great video, good demonstration. Second, I realize that these guys practice ALOT and that these fights are choreographed for demonstration, but a little protection seems like a good idea. Maybe at least some gloves. Even in practice things can go wrong ;) Just a recommendation.

  • @EdwrdElric2

    especially since the swords were apperently sharp 3:14

  • @Irmasterlol its slowed down versions of the plays, or forms they slow it down so its easier to follow for people like youtubers

  • @Irmasterlol good luck with that, consodering this was the most advanced martial arts in europe for centuries

  • This really starts to look choreographed after a bit.

  • the woman with the dagger is standing way too far away to stab.

    0:35 what are those swords called?

  • @heartlessjerk 1. The first stab is an attack to the hand, which is in reach. The hand is put intentionally in front to provoke this attack, and is then pulled back. Maybe this is why you got the impression that she is too far away.

    2. We call those swords Langes Messer in reference to the fencing book of Johannes Lecküchner.

  • @TheRealGladiatores how are those small shields called?

  • @Verithiell They're called bucklers

  • @JTWilliams74 well, since they are so small, I thought they have different name, since bucklers also refers to normal size round shields.

  • Nice video but noobish moves

  • I love it when wow players get real weapons in their hands.

    Jokes aside, it is very beautiful when done at full speed and very skilful

  • das sieht alles so megaeasy aus bei euch...

  • Will more videos be made?

  • @Phalgrin Yes :)

  • @TheRealGladiatores Excellent, really looking forward to them!!! It was yoru "Fechten mit dem langen Schwert" that got me interested in WMA to begin with.

  • Why does he bother to attack at 01:02? Isn't she well out of his reach? :O

  • @Venethor If he was using, as our group interprets, a "great step" his goal would have been to close the last few inches. If she was caught off guard, and they were not concerned for safety during filming probably, his strike would have connected. Watch her and she actually leans back to create enough distance to avoid his cut, allowing her to take advantage of his overextending. In my opinion that's how I process it at least

  • seriously, whose retarded idea was it to give up on these traditional martial arts when the gun was invented? how come they couldnt have done the same thing the eastern countries did? the fucking asshole! @_@

  • @superdruid999 Swords were employed massively in Europe as late as the Napoleonic Wars. What happened is that the design of swords changed massively from generation to generation in order to keep up with new technology and fashions, and by the time swords finally were obsolete nobody remembered how to do anything but sissified foil fencing. The Japanese were very conservative and made only very small changes to their sword designs for many centuries, so their martial arts are more intact today.

  • @deathbyazure Actually, I'm sorry if I offend any modern fencers with that last comment. It's a very athletic sport and I respect it a lot, all I'm saying is that you can't use it to kill people.

  • @deathbyazure None taken. :)

  • @Venethor darn i live in america and i was hoping for a new swordsman in the area :p you may want to look into arma sorry i cant help more :(

  • @Venethor longsword while in armor is almost completely dofferent look up harnesfechten also google hema partner locator. where do you live?

  • @volarion I live in Denmark :) I considered living in England for a few years after school 'cause I came across something called the Academy of historical fencing. I also found a lot of German clubs and groups but I don't speak German :(

  • @Venethor

    There are at least groups in Århus, Helsingör and Köpenhamn (sorry for swedish spelling).

    For the armor part. If you are armored against unarmored the techniques would probably look something like this. Against armored opponents it would be very different because you can't cut through steel armor.

  • I'm just being curious, please don't take this for mocking or anything that it is not, but would you be able to fight like that with armor as well? The longsword part looked extremely complicated and as if it would require a lot more freedom of movement. This is epic, I'd very much like to try something like this some day, but I've been unable to find any clubs or groups near where I live :(

  • @Venethor actually, after seeing more vids like this im suspecting these were techniques used in an era where street scirmishes and duels to death for honor were common place. like street self defense styles of old. techniques used while wearing armour looked a bit different, even though you are more manufrable in them then you might think

  • @Venethor A lot of these techniques and fighting styles, relative to each Masters area, were taught to persons of noble standing. At the time that was part of raising your sons. These youth's had a large portion of each day devoted to practicing, they were not responsible for making money or owning land. They could afford the time to train. Also armor, both individual and sets, were made to fit for flex ability. Keep up the search, try HEMA and ARMA sources for US groups. Drei Wunder PDX

  • @FencingChicago its not olympic fencing its fencing from medieval manuals the real fencing, as in fighting with swords sport fencing has more in commen with kendo than real fencing. as both are sports far removed from actual killing arts.

  • @volarion That's funny, because I'm fairly certain if someone tried to use any of this to attack me, I could kill them with the nearest car antenna.

  • Great little video - I loved the first demonstration.

  • I don't know what this shit is, but it's not fencing

  • @FencingChicago This "shit" is indeed fencing. It's just not modern electric sport fencing. Not better, just different. These are techniques that were used in late medieval and renaissance duelling culled from the manuals written by the fencing masters of the time. There is quite a substantial body of work from the period, detailing both armed and unarmed combat, both in and out of armour, on horseback and on foot.

  • Do you guys come out to California by chance. I mimic a lot of your moves through just watching some of your clips, especially Double Cutting Edge Longsword.

  • @SamoanSap

    Idk if Gladiatores will cross the atlantic to visit California anytime soon, maybe they will. But there are a lot of other similar schools in California that I think would be very happy if you visited them.

  • on the poleaxe, exactly how effective would be axe part be? I know this sounds silly to ask, but it just seems that the spear end would prevent the axe part from hacking as effectively as would a regular axe.

  • @2bjjones

    I think that even if the spear will prevent a little it will do so much to late in the strike. You will inbed the whole blade into your opponent before the spear end will have any effect. And having the axe head inside your body is almost as painful as having it go through your body =)

    But even if it does hinder by much more than i think, having a spear on top of the axe will give you such advantage in the thrust over a regular axe that it's still worth it, in most cases.

  • A pitty there is hardly any historical Fencing for 18th C. Smallsword. :(

  • @LutzDerLurch

    Thats not true, there are several schools (at least in the US) that are working with smallswords. The good thing is that there is lots of source materials to work with when it comes to the later smallsword arts.

  • Pfft.. None of those were epics with enchants.

  • even though the swords are what people usually fall in love with, i gotta say that your work with the rondell daggers was magnificent. bravo.

  • @zdkezios Check out "Selected Dagger Plays" by MEMAG. They show just how wily the dagger can be; I'm a swordsman to the core, but watching them work made me want to learn the dagger.

  • great. I love the realistic sounds in the swords part.

  • Great video. Great drills. And great control.

  • wow  its actually hard not to get caught up in it when you guys go at it

  • Just want to say the videos you guys made are awesome. Makes me wish I was there now.

  • very cool O.O

  • 0+0

  • You guys are amazing, you ever come to California? Mainly in the Northern side?

  • Comment removed

  • Beautiful, I really hope to start studying this. It is far more elegant than the brain bashing reenactments I'm doing.

  • @ASaxonAtHeart Since you're in the UK, you shouldn't have much trouble finding a group. Contact HEMAC and see if they can hook you up.

  • with the first bit, there was no need to even block it because she was way too far away for knife fighting.

  • @insolvancy Are you referring to the bit at the 25 second mark? If so he gentleman shortened his distance to make his opponent block and have more space to sidestep her block and grapple her other arm. The same is done in longsword to go under the opponents blade very slightly and once the immediate threat of that person's blade has passed do a quick thrust to the face before the person has time to recover and block.

  • @jdwason1 I see what your saying in the first few seconds. From looking at the video again I think they were just trying to show was that if he had tried to put his hand out and she tried to stab it he would have to do it to continue with the follow up move that I had mentioned previously. At that distance I agree if it was just to block the gentlemen could have easily give some distance and not necessarily needed to expend the effort.

  • @jdwason1 I was actually referring to the 9 second mark but I can see now that she was striking at her opponents hand.  My bad. Great videos by the way :)

  • OMG, they are like some kids... pretty retarded. Real Fencing is the deal...

  • Sure, it was sparring, but where is the intent behind each blow? To me it looked like a carefully planned dance. Not two men combating for their lives in mortal combat.

    Worse yet is the shirts and shorts. Even fencers will wear padded clothing and helm to be able to strike swiftly without fear of harming their opponent. All said, they just look like your average LARPER pretending to swordfight. Yes they know the move and techniques but it didn't appear as if they were even trying to strike blow

  • @trevieandchris

    No this isn't sparring. This is demonstrations of techniques. Of course it's carefully planed it's a demonstration. You don't need padded clothing in a demonstration. They don't try to strike swiftly, they try to strike in a way so that we that watch can see the strikes.

    They weren't even trying to strike a blow.

    However, if it would have been sparring I would totally agree with you.

  • I don't find these static drills too interesting. They look really flashy, but how will they work during sparring? Not very well, I'm guessing.

  • @tokyojesusfist

    I can't agree more. No technique will work as well in sparring as in controlled forms. I mostly fight with the longsword, I'm not that good but I have been able to get some of these techniques to work (and even more times work against me by better fencers).

    Sparring videos are good but not to if you want to show people that don't know what's going on.

    Like this clip 31 s in:

    watch?v=qthCkt6Jolk&t=31s

    Is it bad balance or is he awsome and avoid a thrust by throwing himself back?

  • @gurkfisk89 The "throwing himself back" is one of the master strikes. It gets the defender out of the way while still being able to come down at the head. Its what the germans call "indes" and deals with timing. Its a simultaneous defence and attack.

  • @gurkfisk89 It was my mistake on the timing issue. There are three different phases with timing. Vor, Nach, indes. Vor dictates his opponents actions while Nach is a response to his opponents actions. Indes means meanwhile or interim. So in the videos case the "indes" would be the attackers swing at 2:50 and "vor" would be the defender throwing him back and hitting the attackers head

  • @jdwason1

    By the "throwing himself back" I was talking about an other video:

    watch?v=qthCkt6Jolk&t=31s

    31 seconds in where he does a backward somersault. =) I havn't seen any master strike involving a sommersault.

    I was talking about that videos like this one that shows techniques are better than sparring videos to people that don't know what's going on. It's easier to understand what's going on in a demonstration video than in a sparring video.

  • After watching this video I will probably think that all deaf people are master swordsmen.

  • Sehr schönes Video, aber meine Güte... ihr seid doch keine Tennis-Damen. Dieses "Whooeeeooop" "Alleeeheeeooop" macht das Video echt kaputt.

  • @ albelcrowley

    Yeh they're called bucklers. They were used in accompaniment with swords in civilian duels.

  • Haha, those are some really used small shields! :D

    Great techniques :)

    And I loved the poleaxes, they're bloody well made, man! :)

  • As an epeeist, I can say that medieval fencing is better than modern fencing.

  • those who talks about katana in this comments definitly don't know what they are talking about...

  • its beautiful you people keep this art alive. so many people just assume asians and bruce lee are martial artists. european martial arts have been around since the greeks until the renaissance and further

    excellent job

  • what do you guys have as 'general practice fo blaocking? wit the flat? or is (as ive heard) the forte of the longsword dull and strong enough to allow blocking with the edges?

  • @elgostine With these kinds of weapons, one avoids blocking. Counter-cutting is a better option so that you hit him and defend yourself in one movement, or nearly so. If you do have to parry, then intercept his edge with your flat on the strong of the blade. A counter-cut uses your edge to HIS flat. One tries to avoid direct 90 degree edge to edge parries, though admittedly, it's better to ruin your sword than die. :)

  • @Kunstdesfechtens and this is with the messer or this applies to most euopean swords?

  • @elgostine Medieval European swords, yes. Other time periods have different approaches.

  • @Kunstdesfechtens hmm, reason i ask is that its been suggested to me that the poicy of ARMA in terms of using the flat is incorrect at least historically., at least for longsword, the proper method being to use the reletively dull forte, but not on the flat

  • @elgostine Well, the fact of the matter is that 90 degree edge to edge will destroy your sword. When doing the techniques properly, edge to edge contact is mitigated to a large degree. You can stifle with the forte as well. There are a few techniques that are often very damaging to the edges (the VonDanzig counter to the unterzwerch from the bind for example), but it seems to be the exception, not the rule. Even displacing a Scheitelhau in Kron works better with the flat IMO.

  • ok u can beat the woman, good for u... just joking ;) I am actually amazed, would kill to have lessons at med fencing here in Bulgaria, unfortunately we dont...Would love to buy a book though if u can recomend one with techniques

    Best regards

    Grigor

  • @immortaliserwow

    There are at least one group in eastern Bulgaria (Varna) that train medieval fencing:

    chigot . c o m

    For books, I only own a copy of "Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword" by David Lindholm and Peter Svärd. I think that's a good book to learn some techniques about the longsword. But I recomend you to watch many clips on youtube. ForteJeff has for example some really good videos about the four most common guards.

  • @gurkfisk89 Your response is well appreciated, thank you. I will check the book out as well as the videos and ...if i get the chanse i will pay the Varna group a visit. I am actually training normal (saber) fencing but it's kinda sissy compared to the longsword med one :)

  • to structured too regimented for real combat practise, you need to have full protection and then actually propperly fight in order to learn, you need to take some bruises otherwise it's pretend

  • Hallo zusammen,

    Wieder mal eine wunderschöne Arbeit von euch. Eure Videos sind immer die reine Freude.

    Über die Techniken würde ich mich gerne mal in Natura unterhalten.

    Herbert

  • damn!!! the guy with glasses at 2:24 i annoying

  • Very authentic!!!

  • Great work guys!

  • great techniques,do you also use flail?it would be nice to see how you handle it.

  • Hey guys, really nice fencing. If I may ask, from where did you get those war hammers? I am thinking of buying one, but I somehow can't find a smith. Could you help, please? :)

  • @KissakiSan i shall troll!!! ragglefraggledaggle!!! i guess it's just preference. i have both weapons and like the katana better cuz it's easier to weild and i can sliceafy things easier with it

  • @KissakiSan No but they did beat Russia and China in a war by themselves. Other than Russia (kinda) has europeeverdonethat

  • @143rdShadowARCunit Well finland beat the shit out of russia in the winter war, and they were outnumbered by a far greater margain. also Britain totally beat china, not to mention almost everyone else in the world... sure that was in a different era than medieval but so were Japan's victories.

  • nerds hehe

  • I heard that katana are so sharp sometime u can cut yourself without even knowing u cut yourself.

  • What is the name of the sword being used with the buckler?

  • @xtcarnage15586

    It's a messer.

  • @xtcarnage15586 I believe it's called a sax, though it may be a variation of a gross messer (lit. Big knife).

  • Nice but I think that the best white weapon ever is Polish cavalry hussar sabre from 1600’s!!! It is the best fencing weapon ever!!! sabre is too quick, look below how many cuts fencer can give to his opponent during fight in such short time, any other white weapon: long sword or katana can’t do the same.

    look here:

    /watch?v=pHP4pSQvbxk

    /watch?v=oo0z_R59P8M

    /watch?v=n6IcZnx1flI

    /watch?v=voxErBJyFuw

  • this is very good technique used for the longswords and dagger. i enjoyed the poleaxe fighting i dont feel like there was much actual fighting more than counters and dodging. though i love it five stars

  • whats the name of the first weapon?

  • @efra098

    It's rondel daggers.

  • werent long swords ment for stabbing not slicing?

  • @143rdShadowARCunit

    They were meant to do both but is more stab oriented than other swords such as for example sabers.

    It also depends on what type of longsword you use, some are more stab oriented than others.

  • @143rdShadowARCunit With those sword, you got three ways of wounding your opponent: the direct blow (Hieb), a cut (Schneiden) and a thrust or stab (Stich/Stoß). Even though the cut can be disregarded once your opponent wears chainmail or other forms of armour, the sword is still meant for that sort of use ;-)

  • @BwZTheTouch to be honest I'd rather use a Katana or Ninja (Short Katana used by ninjas...it's actually called Ninja I believe). If I heard correctly it could slice through armor...Chain mail at least.

  • @143rdShadowARCunit Nah, not really. Back then japanese steel and smithing was not hardly the apex of sword-production. Europeans, on the other hand, had years more of experience in forging weapons (since they had one war after another). Maybe a Katana was able to slice though leather armour, but definetly not chainmail. The Katanas got better later on, but only after rich japanese people could afford european steel. I'm afraid it's just a (very popular) sword with lots of myths around it.

  • @143rdShadowARCunit Plus, the european longsword got a lot advantages: two cutting edges instead of one, longer reach, better steel (like I just described) and a guard which is very versatile in combat. Note that I'm not comparing fencing styles, but if you compare the weapons only, the european sword is definetly the better one

  • @BwZTheTouch I just looked up a video comparing the 2. Katana can cut through leather while a european longsword can't. A Katana has more stabbing power and doesn't flex as much since it's a shorter blade, since it can pierce metal armor deeper than a longsword, and it has more slashing power but less cutting power whatever the difference is. THe video (With that drill instructor from Full Metal Jacket) said the Katana is more powerful if less practical

  • @143rdShadowARCunit Oh yeah... was it Lock'n'load? Don't trust those videos. Everything that claims to be scientific while making sweeping claims based on a single experiment shouldn't be taken seriously.

  • @Ranziel1 Well Katana's ARE sharper than european broadswords. Not as good for stabbing maybe since thats what broadswords were made for.

  • @143rdShadowARCunit Broadsword is not a correct term, it's a basket hilt sword. Curve doesn't add sharpness, the degree of cutting bevel does. You can sharpen a longsword to be as sharp as anything, but it was seldomly done, because it wasn't needed in this class of weapons. A straight sword might have a duller, but more acute point, meaning it will punch through harder materials better, but not thrust through soft and flexible armor...

  • @143rdShadowARCunit The european sword they used for that video was actually a wall hanger, it was quite amusing when they found out.

  • @BwZTheTouch that's true, on the battlefield, the bigger guys with bigger weapons always have an advantage.

  • @BwZTheTouch I think it is very hard to tell what Weapon is better, when it comes to the "high End" Weapons. But I thinks the European Swords are a bit more versatile.

  • @143rdShadowARCunit

    I’m not going to get into the whole "Katana vs *insert European sword here* debate," but the ninja sword you’re referencing (referred to today mostly as a "Ninjato") is actually not, to the best of my knowledge, historically accurate. They most likely used Wakizashi (the intermediately lengthed sword between the Katana and the Tanto, which only samurai were allowed to carry), but would put it into a Katana sheath so as to give the illusion to opponents of super-human speed.

  • I love people who are still training the true art, not just sportslike. Admirable skills, love watching this clip :) I wish you the best!

  • what maker of swords are those?

  • fencing with medieval weapons looks amazing, wish I had an occasion to do it

  • cool

  • Another excellent clip that I think is guaranteed to generate even more interest in the fighting arts of Europe. My warmest congratulations to you all!

  • This looks like an interesting couples retreat. Can you send me a brochure?

  • Love the video, the dagger and messer section so reminds me of the kali I have studied. Now training in ringeck with the School of Tradional Medieval Fencing. The bit at 2:30 looks like he is using the true times of hand, body and foot to me.

  • The Guy on defense's Footwork at about 2:30 looks a bit sloppy. It looks like you'd be able to throw him off balance really easy. He tends to move into an attack, THEN move his feet, rather than move together.

  • @Lanceleoghauni

    I think he may be employing what george silver called True Time. The idea is that the hand is faster than the foot, so any action that ties the speed of the hand to the speed of the foot will be slower and more telegraphic.

  • @temmy9 Basically yes. It's about presenting the threat (sword) before the target (one's own body). Reversing the order makes it easier for the other guy to hit you as you enter range.

  • Got this music for download anywhere?

  • Hi Sven,

    wieder ein schöner Clip. Zentrierende Bucklerarbeit gefällt mir sehr gut. Welche Quellen habt Ihr verwendet? Talhoffer?

    Gruß von Hammaborg,

    Roland

  • @warzechas

    Hallo Roland, die Quelle für das Bucklerstück ist Liegnitzer.

    Grüße, Johannes

  • @TheRealGladiatores

    Aah, das Stück mit dem Sturzhau! Hatte ich seinerzeit ein wenig anders interpretiert. Muss ich mir mal wieder angucken.

    Grüße nach Karlsruhe,

    Roland

  • Cutting with the blunt edge of the messer at 1.15!

  • serh schönes video. Ihr beweist , dass europäische Fechtkünste den Asiaten um nichts nachstehen . wo habt ihr den eure Mordäxte her?

  • immer noch das Beste was ich im Mittelalter Schaukampf gesehen habe.

  • Very cool, liked the sword and buckler, first time i see a vid of such techniques, too awesome!. Those polaxes must have been hellish when really trying to kill an enemy, you can see the effort taken not to let them hurt the sparring partner. Longsword techs were very nice, we should see more western martial arts its well worth it!!

  • Man versteht so besser, warum Blankwaffen sich so lange gegenüber den Feuerwaffen halten konnten.

  • @OnanTheBavarian

    Man muß nur mal dran denken, das für sehr lange Zeit eine Schußwaffe relativ wertlos war direkt nachdem sie abgefeuert wurde, da sie erst relativ umständlich wiederbeladen werden mußte. Auch sehr empfindlich gegen Nässe usw.

    ----

    I missed the poleaxe technique where they are used to pull someones leg or other bodypart to bring him to the ground or to another defenseless position, like to see in this video:

    /watch?v=gTVC25hYJaY

  • That girl looks like she's sick of being the sword dummy.

  • Great video as usual, never seen messers with bucklers before. Bravo...

  • höopp, höpp, höopp, höpp, höppp....  häüapp, häääuapp, hääapp.... lol

  • Those are beautiful poleaxes. Where did you get them?

  • @calgacus34 They're from Pavel Moc. You can see the manufacturers in the description.

  • @beefstewisevil do you know what brand of swords those are? they look like albion swords but im not sure

  • @mouthforwar17 The (long) swords in this Video are from Pavel Moc.

  • Comment removed

  • Sehr gut!

  • Mal wieder ein super Video, sehr dynamisch!

  • People, why you don`t think, when you do these techniques ?

    Can`t you see they NOT work ?

  • @Canis1969Lupus These are techniques taken from fighting manuals written by professional men-at-arms who fought for a living. Of course they work. The question is, whether the interpretations are correct.

  • @Kunstdesfechtens I know very well ho writing these manuals.

    Bud, when you reading you must think what is real ...

    Do not forget that the drawings do not always reflect reality.

    Of some lack of perspective is obvious ...

  • @Canis1969Lupus True, but sometimes they reflect reality as seen by the artist. For example, many people discount the images from the Von Danzig fechtbuch, particularly Pflug. However, when viewed from 45 degrees to the line of engagement, it becomes apparent that the Von Danzig image is showing exactly what Ringeck describes with the hands over the rear knee, charging and straightening the left arm. This makes a big difference in how the guard functions. :)

  • @Canis1969Lupus You might be able to find some of the manuals published by men at arms on the internet, fragments atleast. This is the only knowledge we really have of how a man fought individually with these weapons. There are manuals on even the weirdest of weapons such as the fighting shield that had blades attached to the edges.

  • gefällt mir ziemlich gut, was Sie da machen...werde ich mir auch malive anschauen....ist das training ohne entsprechende schutzausrüstung nicht gefährlich, insbesondere, wenns mal ein bißchen schneller wird??

  • @scientistMUC79

    die jungs wissen ganz genau was sie da machen

    das ist studiert und geprobt bis sie es blind können :-)

  • damn, the halberd part was the most intense.