@MoinManMM Its a tough fight for the shorter katana in an open field. If you can get in close at least you can neutralize the advantage of the longer polearm. Of course the hard part is getting close without getting hit. It would be to the advantage of the shorter katana to draw the polearm into a closed area with a lot of obstetricals so the polearm can not swing freely.
@MoinManMM The longer polearm has the natural advantage. You have to close the distance fast so you even the odds. A shorter sword is faster then then a polearm if you can get close enough. Getting close is the difficult part.
@tsafa1 how does a spear get a advantage against a sword, besides the range and stuff. how would counter against a sword with a spear if he closes in too you? i mean people say the spear has the advantage, but the way i see it, they only have an advantage in range!
@copypacercopypacer Look for a video I have posted called Full Grappleing- Tu Chux Tornament- Mixed Weapons. You will see a few occasions where a spear matched up against a short weapon. One of the fighters does a good job or controlling his opponent with his spear.
i would charge on him with my polearm on my shoulder holding it with both hands and then when in right place swing it with all my force then drop the axe and grab a dagger and stab him like hell
@Demiyqxzurge Yeah, that is because each weapon has a different optimal range. Each fighter is trying to stay in his own optimal range. The shield wants to be right on top of the pole arm so it can't be swung freely. The polearm wants to keep a few feet of distance.
@tsafa1 be more interesting if it was realistic, for instance if the shield/sword guy comes in close and the polearm becomes useless have a dagger on hand to neck stab or somwhere vital or just drop the polearm and take his weapons lol or strangle him. so many ways to win and lose Mind is the greatest weapon. deception is the deadliest and every other attributes are secondary and so on.
@TAKEMARU666 The polearm is allowed to have second weapon on his person and use it. Very few people are able to make that change without getting killed. They usually find themselves having discarded their weapon getting hit before the dagger is even drawn. That is what I found in non-sca fighting were no gauntlets were used.... add gauntlets and armor to the equation and weapon changes are just not possible... although many people have tried. A good shieldman will not let up once he get in.
@tsafa1 personally i would carry a overly sized weapon and when a duel starts throw it at them, and if they manage to dodge it would not matter because having a dagger in the waist or shortsword hiddin on the back, and just charge them lol. im a big weightlifter/powerlifter type of guy and i still know brains before brawns, but it helps to be strong ha, nice vid by the way tho.
@TAKEMARU666 glad you liked the video. Shields are designed to protect against projective weapons. Thrown axes and spears are easy to defend against. Arrows are more of a risk, but shield can protect against those too.
As the weapons forms change the fight changes. Against a polearm the shield wants to get real close... against a dagger he will try to fight further back. Sword and Dagger together is a good combo. I have a vid posted of that.
changes the game, doesn't it? when you don't have a heavy axe head on the end of the staff. (i know, SCA rules ;)) Facing a genuine axe is much more threatening, and the shield player can no longer parry with impunity. With the added weight the axe player pushes the shieldman around, not the other way.
The polearm being simulated here is a Glaive (sword on a pole). We do use polearms with big axe heads on them make out of hard rubber. The heads weight about 2 lbs when taped on and they hit like a ton of bricks. They give a little better reach behind the shield but are slower too. There is a Cost - Benefit with any weapon choice.
agreed! It's always a balance. I was just sharing my experience - not denigrating what you guys do. My experience fencing against axe with sword and shield is that they are damn scary weapons. Even a blunt one can go THROUGH your shield.
Those rubber heads sound great - are they the revival ones? Mwahahah!
There are a few companies (and individuals) that make and sell both rubber and hard foam axe heads. I use the ones from By My Hand Design. No website, just phone number. There are a lot of Revival ones on the field too.
The is a video I have uploaded called "Weapons that Made Britain - Shield Tests". They test a two handed ax on a historically built shield. You will find it very interesting.
Yes - thanks for that vid. I'm impressed again by the ingenuity of an era we think were 'backward'. Noticed however that the axe was not sharp, but neither was the shield rawhide covered.
Just because someone can make something look easy, does not mean that it is easy. If you look through some of the other videos I have posted of shieldman vs polearm, you will see that.
Perhaps you should Stab an Thrus and not Jab with that Weapon. A Pike or Spear is intendet to be a thrusting Weapon. Even the Halbread is intended to Thrust and pull open in the backwards motion.
A more effective way to use a is to attack first and constnatly aim for your oponants face,also slinging a shield across your back helps alot by covering your weak flank if a swords man closes in all you have to do is spin away. Timed well your shield can adsorb the blow while alowing you to regain your distance and make a split second counter
Classic depiction of sword/shield closing the distance on a polearm.
Indeed, indoor/limited space makes it harder for us polearm people to keep those charing shield guys off of us. You have to take a lot of those charges to get an idea where to go. :)
Is there a reason why the polearm guy drops to his knees so often? Given the aggression of his opponent would it make sense for him to hold the polearm more in the middle to shorten his reach?
When you see the polearm drop to his knees it is because I have struck one of the legs and he has lost the use of his legs. Same applies if I strike him in an arm, he must fight with one arm. In real life the fight would be over, but this adds a different element to the fight that is fun. A body or headshot is a kill.
Polearms are not intended for this type of combat. I wouldn't expect a pole fighter to have a good match against a swordsman under any one on one situation.
Some guys swear by their polearms that they are the best weapons from. I have posted other fights where the polearm gives me a much tougher fight. It thought this video was worth posting because it shows clearly what a shieldman should try to do (close the distance). The other video is a better demonstration of what a polearm should do(keep distance and fight from there).
It's a personal opinion, but the only effective use of a polearm is for piercing at a distance, or as a fancy way to hang tapestries. The poleman is doing his best, but without several in rank and flank, he doesn't have much of a chance. There is a video showing the (mis)use of a poleaxe, but most long-haft weapons of this type were adaptations of peasant tools and gave way to either pike and musket, or sword formations as technology improved.
it is called the king of weapon for emporers often weilded spears as a dragoon, it is more of a relation of weapons then a ranking, like a sabre is the general of weapon, staff is the father of weapon and thin sword is the gentlemen of weapons(think rapiers)
One on One sword and shield seems to be generally accepted as the best however in a 10 v 10 melee you would be best off with a mix of weapons. In a group like that a poleaxe could almost be king because you could reach over your allies and disable an opponents shield.
I don't believe anoyone has ever won SCA Crown Tourney without using sword and shield but Icould be wrong.
I agree with you Manysounds that the polearm works best when supported by other weapons in melee.
I do believe that people have won torneys with polearms, but basicaly those are Duke level fighters. I do believe that their is at least one Duke that has been a polearm man all his all through his fighting career. Its doable, just that yu have to be realy good and there is no margin for error.
As a pole fighter I hate winter, being stuck inside with limited space! You just have to fight a little more aggressive, charge the shield men, make them think twice before they try and rush in :)
interestign video. The polearm guy didnt do so well.. They are a lot more effective in a hedgehog or phalanx formation. Also, the enclosed small area also put the polearm at a disadvantage.
Indeed that is my whole game in this video. I want to close the distance fast and get my shield on his hands so he can't even swing the polearm. The polearm-man must do a good job of fighting while running backwards to maintain distance and try to redirect my forward momentum.
What must be remembered in terms of this video is that a polearm's extra range becomes a defect as soon as the opponent gets past the tip and to the shaft.
Comment removed
Aserox 4 months ago
you could have done a hard sweep
MangaChocobo 5 months ago
hey liked your vid. Me and my friends do this, but we beat the crap out of each other untill some one surrenders.
I use a wooden katana and was wondering how i could win a fight against someone with a pole arm.
MoinManMM 11 months ago
@MoinManMM Its a tough fight for the shorter katana in an open field. If you can get in close at least you can neutralize the advantage of the longer polearm. Of course the hard part is getting close without getting hit. It would be to the advantage of the shorter katana to draw the polearm into a closed area with a lot of obstetricals so the polearm can not swing freely.
tsafa1 11 months ago
@MoinManMM The longer polearm has the natural advantage. You have to close the distance fast so you even the odds. A shorter sword is faster then then a polearm if you can get close enough. Getting close is the difficult part.
tsafa1 5 months ago
@tsafa1 how does a spear get a advantage against a sword, besides the range and stuff. how would counter against a sword with a spear if he closes in too you? i mean people say the spear has the advantage, but the way i see it, they only have an advantage in range!
copypacercopypacer 5 months ago
@copypacercopypacer Look for a video I have posted called Full Grappleing- Tu Chux Tornament- Mixed Weapons. You will see a few occasions where a spear matched up against a short weapon. One of the fighters does a good job or controlling his opponent with his spear.
tsafa1 5 months ago
i would charge on him with my polearm on my shoulder holding it with both hands and then when in right place swing it with all my force then drop the axe and grab a dagger and stab him like hell
H4xorBoy 1 year ago
This is more exciting than a 1v1 sword and shield. Much more action.
Demiyqxzurge 1 year ago
@Demiyqxzurge Yeah, that is because each weapon has a different optimal range. Each fighter is trying to stay in his own optimal range. The shield wants to be right on top of the pole arm so it can't be swung freely. The polearm wants to keep a few feet of distance.
tsafa1 1 year ago
@tsafa1 be more interesting if it was realistic, for instance if the shield/sword guy comes in close and the polearm becomes useless have a dagger on hand to neck stab or somwhere vital or just drop the polearm and take his weapons lol or strangle him. so many ways to win and lose Mind is the greatest weapon. deception is the deadliest and every other attributes are secondary and so on.
TAKEMARU666 1 year ago
@TAKEMARU666 The polearm is allowed to have second weapon on his person and use it. Very few people are able to make that change without getting killed. They usually find themselves having discarded their weapon getting hit before the dagger is even drawn. That is what I found in non-sca fighting were no gauntlets were used.... add gauntlets and armor to the equation and weapon changes are just not possible... although many people have tried. A good shieldman will not let up once he get in.
tsafa1 1 year ago
@tsafa1 personally i would carry a overly sized weapon and when a duel starts throw it at them, and if they manage to dodge it would not matter because having a dagger in the waist or shortsword hiddin on the back, and just charge them lol. im a big weightlifter/powerlifter type of guy and i still know brains before brawns, but it helps to be strong ha, nice vid by the way tho.
TAKEMARU666 1 year ago
@TAKEMARU666 glad you liked the video. Shields are designed to protect against projective weapons. Thrown axes and spears are easy to defend against. Arrows are more of a risk, but shield can protect against those too.
As the weapons forms change the fight changes. Against a polearm the shield wants to get real close... against a dagger he will try to fight further back. Sword and Dagger together is a good combo. I have a vid posted of that.
tsafa1 1 year ago
Ya 1 on 1 shield and sword is king.
Gratch2222 1 year ago
changes the game, doesn't it? when you don't have a heavy axe head on the end of the staff. (i know, SCA rules ;)) Facing a genuine axe is much more threatening, and the shield player can no longer parry with impunity. With the added weight the axe player pushes the shieldman around, not the other way.
MarkHolgate 2 years ago
The polearm being simulated here is a Glaive (sword on a pole). We do use polearms with big axe heads on them make out of hard rubber. The heads weight about 2 lbs when taped on and they hit like a ton of bricks. They give a little better reach behind the shield but are slower too. There is a Cost - Benefit with any weapon choice.
tsafa1 2 years ago
agreed! It's always a balance. I was just sharing my experience - not denigrating what you guys do. My experience fencing against axe with sword and shield is that they are damn scary weapons. Even a blunt one can go THROUGH your shield.
Those rubber heads sound great - are they the revival ones? Mwahahah!
MarkHolgate 2 years ago
There are a few companies (and individuals) that make and sell both rubber and hard foam axe heads. I use the ones from By My Hand Design. No website, just phone number. There are a lot of Revival ones on the field too.
The is a video I have uploaded called "Weapons that Made Britain - Shield Tests". They test a two handed ax on a historically built shield. You will find it very interesting.
tsafa1 2 years ago
Yes - thanks for that vid. I'm impressed again by the ingenuity of an era we think were 'backward'. Noticed however that the axe was not sharp, but neither was the shield rawhide covered.
MarkHolgate 2 years ago
The sword guy is just rushing the guy with the glaive. There is no technique to their fighting.
Ekibyogami66 2 years ago
Just because someone can make something look easy, does not mean that it is easy. If you look through some of the other videos I have posted of shieldman vs polearm, you will see that.
tsafa1 2 years ago
I'm not saying it was easy, I was noticing something that I saw over and over again.
Ekibyogami66 2 years ago
Perhaps you should Stab an Thrus and not Jab with that Weapon. A Pike or Spear is intendet to be a thrusting Weapon. Even the Halbread is intended to Thrust and pull open in the backwards motion.
Lorgarn 3 years ago
A more effective way to use a is to attack first and constnatly aim for your oponants face,also slinging a shield across your back helps alot by covering your weak flank if a swords man closes in all you have to do is spin away. Timed well your shield can adsorb the blow while alowing you to regain your distance and make a split second counter
tullyDT 3 years ago
Classic depiction of sword/shield closing the distance on a polearm.
Indeed, indoor/limited space makes it harder for us polearm people to keep those charing shield guys off of us. You have to take a lot of those charges to get an idea where to go. :)
wcanne 3 years ago
Is there a reason why the polearm guy drops to his knees so often? Given the aggression of his opponent would it make sense for him to hold the polearm more in the middle to shorten his reach?
PissedFechtmeister 4 years ago
When you see the polearm drop to his knees it is because I have struck one of the legs and he has lost the use of his legs. Same applies if I strike him in an arm, he must fight with one arm. In real life the fight would be over, but this adds a different element to the fight that is fun. A body or headshot is a kill.
tsafa1 4 years ago
I see. Thanks.
PissedFechtmeister 4 years ago
Polearms are not intended for this type of combat. I wouldn't expect a pole fighter to have a good match against a swordsman under any one on one situation.
Lordboogar 4 years ago
Some guys swear by their polearms that they are the best weapons from. I have posted other fights where the polearm gives me a much tougher fight. It thought this video was worth posting because it shows clearly what a shieldman should try to do (close the distance). The other video is a better demonstration of what a polearm should do(keep distance and fight from there).
tsafa1 4 years ago
It's a personal opinion, but the only effective use of a polearm is for piercing at a distance, or as a fancy way to hang tapestries. The poleman is doing his best, but without several in rank and flank, he doesn't have much of a chance. There is a video showing the (mis)use of a poleaxe, but most long-haft weapons of this type were adaptations of peasant tools and gave way to either pike and musket, or sword formations as technology improved.
Lordboogar 4 years ago
in fact, the chinese call the spear the king of all weapons, and polearms are indeed decent in the duel situation.
this may or not be related: watch my videos!
poopwadmcgee 4 years ago
it is called the king of weapon for emporers often weilded spears as a dragoon, it is more of a relation of weapons then a ranking, like a sabre is the general of weapon, staff is the father of weapon and thin sword is the gentlemen of weapons(think rapiers)
twilightfoxkin 3 years ago
One on One sword and shield seems to be generally accepted as the best however in a 10 v 10 melee you would be best off with a mix of weapons. In a group like that a poleaxe could almost be king because you could reach over your allies and disable an opponents shield.
I don't believe anoyone has ever won SCA Crown Tourney without using sword and shield but Icould be wrong.
manysounds 2 years ago
I agree with you Manysounds that the polearm works best when supported by other weapons in melee.
I do believe that people have won torneys with polearms, but basicaly those are Duke level fighters. I do believe that their is at least one Duke that has been a polearm man all his all through his fighting career. Its doable, just that yu have to be realy good and there is no margin for error.
tsafa1 2 years ago
As a pole fighter I hate winter, being stuck inside with limited space! You just have to fight a little more aggressive, charge the shield men, make them think twice before they try and rush in :)
HammerHeavy 4 years ago
interestign video. The polearm guy didnt do so well.. They are a lot more effective in a hedgehog or phalanx formation. Also, the enclosed small area also put the polearm at a disadvantage.
animematt 4 years ago
Yeah it looks like you owned the poel-arm dude.
TwilightStrike 4 years ago
I try :)
I have anther video posted against a tougher polearm. In the other one, my opponent does a much better job of backpedaling and fighting on the run.
tsafa1 4 years ago
Indeed that is my whole game in this video. I want to close the distance fast and get my shield on his hands so he can't even swing the polearm. The polearm-man must do a good job of fighting while running backwards to maintain distance and try to redirect my forward momentum.
tsafa1 4 years ago
What must be remembered in terms of this video is that a polearm's extra range becomes a defect as soon as the opponent gets past the tip and to the shaft.
heresjonny666 4 years ago 2