European Historical Martial Arts: Hutton's Saber Lesson #1

[kadzit]

interesting and nice XD

[Ozzshow]

in proffesional fencing,sabres are less thick,these look like all out war swords,like from the 1800s,no?

[jareth2472]

not exactly an instructive video...

[HappyOsotogari]

What exactly is the point of doing a compliant exercise with sharp swords?

[MrJowee]

This type of exercise exists in almost all martial arts. The Japanese call it "kata". Look it up. I think the idea is muscle memory.

[sigmacombatsystems]

Realism? That'd be my guess, train with what you'd use. Those could be blunt edged as well, I know in every knife fighting system I've studied we used dull metal training blades.

[enlev1540]

who is this Hutton dude ?

[Spatha85]

Alfred Hutton was a Victorian era fencer and military man, (and friend of Egerdon Castle), famous for his books „Old swordplay (dealing mainly with the rapier) and Cold Steel (where he tried to reunite the arts of the dueling saber and of the military saber). The first he deemed well developed, but unfit for use outside the field of the formal duel of honor), while the second had become oversimplified and constrained, in the barracks, to a few mechanical drills.

[dracomundi]

Thanks for your reply, I agree, its really hard to describe these things in writing.. (I must get some vids up!!) you got my drift anyway, using a heavier blade clearly makes the wider movement both more flowing and quicker.. guess it all epends on the weapon used. thanks again and keep on putting your videos on here..

[Spatha85]

The cut xou mention could be achieved, for example, by not raising your blade so much, but staying more horizontal, is that what you mean?

[dracomundi]

Hi, its great to see alfred hutton's saber lessons on here, well done ! I have a question that maybe you could give me your opinion on.. After the parry in high octave, most people give the reposte of cut 1 as a large swinging movement. have you tried it as a more direct and controled movement foreward? Obviously this results in a weaker cut but is much faster. Hutton himself is unclear on how he intends it to be done.

[Spatha85]

I think I know what you mean, although it is difficult to describe in words (maybe you should post a short vid about it ;). I completely agree in that you should try to make the most direct riposte you can. Even though, the type of cut I (the guy in brown) make from high octave is, I think, the most direct you can manage while still gaining the momentum you need with the military saber. With a light saber I think you could make a more direct cut, as the force of your blow is not really an issue.

[hammerstrike]

Really good the movements look spot on for what I understand from Cold Steel. My only suggestion (which I see has been raised a few times already) is to use a pair of blunts then you can still show the drill slowly so we can see the movements and then perhaps speed it up with a bit more intent. Please post some more though.

[Spatha85]

The reason we did this with sharps is that we found that Hutton's exercises are great for getting acquainted with the live blade, and I think that if we want to practice swordplay as a martial art instead of as a sport, getting familiar with a sharp is crucial. Nonetheless you lose much intent when practicing with sharps,so if there is people interested in it,we will try to make some videos with blunts.

[AzelAzure]

I believe I'm trying to find my opponent when he's lunging then quickly parry it to the side and attempt a lunge towards either the neck or torso. Of course what I say is practically the main point of the goal in most duels. Using sharp blades or blunt wouldn't really matter on a video, unless demonstrating the cut and thrust power of the weapon. fingers crossed I'm semi right somewhere in my observation.

[Spatha85]

Yes you are right in that the movement is not visibly modified by executing it with sharps or not. There are only little differences on how you place the blade when parrying, except perhaps in the instant when he (the blue guy) attacks with a 4 to my leg and I parry an octave, instead of a seconde (so I angle the back of the blade to his edge, instead of edge to edge or flat to edge).

[jbujko]

Having worn some masks you could at least show it a bit faster :)

[Spatha85]

Yes you are right, but since the swords are sharp it wouldn't have made a real difference. We could have used blunts though, but the concept was to show the movements, so that they can be copied and understood (and also commented on by others who do not agree with this interpretation). What would you say of the clip from a didactical point of view? (Is it clear what's going on exactly?)

[jbujko]

I think you should use blunts and masks. And of course - some audio commentary or at least write in the description about what you are going to perform.

I do have some reservations about the technique, especially that blue guys.

[fajth1]

very good but some verbal explanation would have been useful