Pollaxe freeplay

[tomcat2222]

Great example of pure use of poleaxes.

[elgostine]

what i find amusing about this freplay is that despite all the sophisticated techniqus being employed, it appears that the childhood instint to grab the shaft of your opponents weapon and try to hit him with your own doesnt go away.

reinds me of 'swordfights as a kid,

also, i note that most poleaxes are usually axehead and fluke, or hammer and fluke, why double axe heads?

[chantakzee]

@elgostine Uh , because grabbing opponents weapon and hit them with yours is a valid technique when in a fight? You know , you win when your opponent is dead and you lived .

[elgostine]

@chantakzee well duh, but its still amusing.

[TheKekelol]

@elgostine yea I do agree that its funny. And no amount of fancy poses and forms will change the primal reality that they are hitting each other with pointy sticks :p

[elgostine]

@TheKekelol yes and that almost childish tug of war that occurs is what brings it into perspective.

[LutefiskSavage]

IDK guys I prefer the que down and hammer high opening with the left leg leading, from there all defenses can be executed as well as all offenses. the quicker thrust with the que to the face is also availiable without abandoning your defense. This is what La Jeu talks a lot about extensively. the other opening to exploit is the dague forward technique presenting the flat of the head to the potential angles of attack of the enemy. "Or whatever seems to be a good idea"

[LoneIndividual]

block/parry the first strike, close in, punch/elbow/headbutt face, draw knife/tomahawk, stab/hack away at an overwhelmed enemy.

high skill is necessary to pull all of that off.

be well practiced in transitioning to different weapons, because any transition is ripe for interruption. Be strong, be swift, and be sure.

Difficult to pull off if attempted by a novice. You really need to know what you're doing when pulling off rogue tactics.

[madaxe606]

Very cool. The guy in the white is obviously very, very skilled.

[TheDarkAngel830]

I have to ask because trolling the internet failed to yield results. but is that a special kind of pollaxe they are using? I was always under the impression that a pollaxe had axe head, a spear tip and a hammer opposite the axe.

[stwjester]

@TheDarkAngel830 What you are thinking of is a Halberd(or Swiss Voulge) Which is a big freaking axe with a spike on the end alot like a dagger and a gouche/hook/hammer opposite the axe.

Pole Axes come in many different forms, but in general, the head of these axes(unlike the halberd) is usually smaller, and made of multiple pieces, where the Halberds(which are also known as a Swiss Voulge and are still used by the Swiss guard at places such as The Vatican.) and a single casted piece. =)

[Kelvarra]

weapon specs and materials please :D

[DeeZiner]

I love the control you have, it's so smooth yet steady. Hope to be in the same league one day!

[Blademasta989]

why are both combatants swinging at each other's weapon? no attempt, even fake, is being made to hit the other person.

[jacobite80]

@Blademasta989

i see many attempts being made to hit the person, as well as the attacks to weapons. attacks to the weapon such as binds help create an opening for an attack to the person, or maybe what you are seeing is called defence

[Blademasta989]

@jacobite80 i see many instances where both people swing high and out, towards the top end of the halt, when closing another foot and swinging towards the actual body would yeild more interesting results. if you take the video apart and count the number of seconds where the players are actually within range to strike one another, this could be much shorter. the lack of armor means they couldnt contact with any real force, as even blunted steel weapons hurt like a mother F'r, but still...

[Kelvarra]

@Blademasta989 its called grappiling your opponents weapon in which turn you can slay him/her

[vampsith]

you guys would wreck house in a barfight...grab a pool cue...

[bourquechris]

As I've said before hotspur, as a martial artist, I see so many instances where I would be able to rush my opponent, and grapple for control of their weapon.

In this kind of combat, it would've been so important to make attack and counter attack really count....after that (if not successful), it would become a nasty wresting and stabbing event with daggers....

[Priest105]

Great techniques! I'm amazed :D

I'm kinda worried about the safety though,

both have great control but the pollaxe already look sharp and pointy as it is.

[Priest105]

Great techniques! I'm amazed :D

I'm kinda worried about the safety though,

both have great control but the pollaxe all ready look sharp and pointy as it is.

[CmndrFalKen]

I am quite impressed! The combat flows well and looks awesome, and I would love to take a stab at it some time. What kind of weapons are being wielded here? Steel?

I've done SCA polaxe fighting, which is pretty interesting too, and one fun technique we put in was to put a pointy bit on the back end of the polaxe. Can be a real game-changer.

[Danhelll]

They obviously know what they are doing and are good at it, they just need some more confidence and absolute familiarity to make it 100% beautiful and entertaining :)

[Quillons1]

Really smooth transitions. I've never studied the poleax but these guys seem to know it pretty well but it looks almost (I said almost so don't panic) like quarterstaff technique with a twist. I think I need to agree with Blademasta that the weapon pictured would need to swung with such gusto that a person fighting back would be able to defeat the blows. Almost as if that "Axe" shot would be the coup de grace. I would pick a fight with these guys though if I had to face then axe to axe

[KWolf93Gauru]

This is very cool, but I have to ask. cause it looks like both the fighters have the same ax head. Do you guys ever use variations of the ax heads, or are they all like that one. Sorry if Im being confusing.

[VegaEtereo]

Sweet!

[Ranziel1]

I've read a translated description of battle between two nobles with polaxes. It was told that sparkles shoot and pieces of armor were falling away. Seems that armor was sturdy enough to protect from a lethal blow with a polaxe, but couldn't fully withstand the power of this weapon.

[Locker344]

omg i would so enjoy doin this stuff...!

[OdolWAAAAGH]

is it true these weapons can cleave through shields and plate armour?

[Locker344]

yup

[Darinor]

Blunt weapons are usually used in live steel fights now a days since sharp weapons would mean to many deaths ;)

[OdolWAAAAGH]

well i figured that, i meant historically

[blurfist]

yes we don't want too many.

[Boomerang910]

yup. Quite good at it too.

[Blademasta989]

its a very heavy haft and a relatively light axehead. you would have to swing this weapon incredibly hard to get through the crown of a steel helmet or breastplate. im not saying the force couldnt be generated, but its very unlikely to get a hit direct enough on a moving, thinking person.

[Thrawn369]

@Blademasta989

I think that when fighting an enemy in armour you'd use a pollaxe with a spike or hammer, like the ref's Bec de Corbin.

[14Jester88]

Me 'n my friends used to go into the woods (because the military police are notorious for harassing people) and beat each other with wooden swords when I was in highschool. We had teams and everything. I was a god... except against people that could effectively use a weapon with two ends! You guys would be my demise. Awesome match, hope to see more :D

[DerSpartaner]

Not bad, though I´m a Spear Fighter.

I expect this to be a demonstration of the pollaxe.

For Real Contact I would like to see more In-Fight action, because I think there were a lots of possibilities to get into wrestling or clinch. Pollaxe is too heavy to counter on very short distance, I think. And through my experience, at the moment someone grabs the shaft of the pollaxe/spear, a good wrestling-technique can be very usefull.

Want to see more of you guys. :-)

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Nice technique and control.

[memphadon]

so....you're PAID to play around with medieval weapons?

i admit, i'm jealous

[tmsods]

@memphadon

that's nothing, in cold steel they're paid to cut shit with swords and when they cut meat they have a barbecue...

[Jordanationalismtion]

@memphadon I'd pay for it. XD Hell, if I had a place within driving distance to actually enjoy stuff like this, I'd pay out the ass.

[tiamat9989]

sweet stuff!

[zkyggen]

WATCH OUT FOR THE BANANA PEEL

[fsbritney]

I can't believe that "defrisselle" says that the action is slowed. Superb fighting gentlemen.

[johnnyveevee]

You can tell these are well-trained individuals who know what they're doing. Very good job.

[InsanityIndes]

wow...

[JoeCarling]

ausome! Most places i see pollaxes for sale them they apear to be display only or you cant tell. where can i get a quality full contact weapon such as those you are using? many thanks. Joe

[tiddlestidd]

What pole axes are you guys using?

[defrisselle]

Why are they not wearing real armour? Looks too staged.

[hotspurschool]

It's not staged in any way whatsoever. It's complete free-play, using proper timing, distance and judgement and, above all, control.

If you check historical fighting manuals of the C15th, such as Talhoffer, you will find unarmoured pollaxe depicted.

[defrisselle]

Looking at it again. It might just be that the action is slowed and they are not really trying to hit each other.

[hotspurschool]

I'm not sure I understand - the action is slowed? No, it's full speed and they are trying to land the blows, albeit in control.

[stwjester]

@hotspurschool They are "Sparing" which means the motions are there to perfect the technique and the timing of those techniques WITHOUT trying to actually HURT your Partner/Competitor.

It's not that you aren't trying to hit the other person, you just aren't trying to kill them/you are giving them an oppurtunity to learn from small mistakes in technique.

[hotspurschool]

@stwjester I know. That's me in the video!

[stwjester]

@hotspurschool Sorry Hotspur, That comment was meant for other person, Defrisselle I believe, but saw question marks by your name and must have clicked on you instead. Sorry for the confusion, Keep up the great work.

[hotspurschool]

@stwjester Hey, we're only human! More videos should be posted in the New Year.

[reddragonace]

@defrisselle

My impression was that they were really concentrating. A good fighter doesn't flail around like a moron, but make every motion count and to try to measure the opponent. That's real life, not the movies.

[defrisselle]

@reddragonace aka a choreograph fight for the most part. They are obviously trying not to hit with much it any force. Thus slow.... Not the fast quick and precise movements of the well trained.

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle ABSOLUTELY NO BLOODY CHOREOGRAPHY. FOR THE LAST TIME!!!!!

[defrisselle]

@hotspurschool Looks to be just kata after kata of each technique and counter in a slow steady and precise manner.

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle I'll tell you what. I've just googled you and see that your background is SCA. You seem to be in New York. Hopefully I'm going to be there at some point this year. If and when that happens, I'll let you know and then you can have first hand experience of how much bloody "kata" we do over here.

[defrisselle]

@hotspurschool I hope you do alot. This stuff is or rather can be deadly. Practice makes perfect.

Yup, SCA. Means squat. Somewhat good at stick fighting with rattan. Though some period techniques can be applied and are very effective. I've found Le Jeu de la Hache most effective.

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle Of course period techniques were effective. They meant the difference between life and death in many cases. If it's pollaxe you like, I'm a big fan of Vadi (c.1480) and most of the 15th century German works. Look forward to testing them out with you.

[defrisselle]

@hotspurschool Is that Ars Gladiatoria? I'm not much up on the period fighting manuals. My area of study is the Normans of Sicily and the First Crusade. Hard to find much on combat techniques that far back.

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle Cool! The Normans were a serious lot. The manual sources for "how to" tend to only go back as far as the late 13th century (Ms.I.33), but I think Eastern Europe may be the untapped resource for as yet unseen works.

[Kingonads]

@hotspurschool

And in the middle east, another group that took fighting VERY seriously, and had several manuscripts on it. 

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle Wait a minute. Are you suggesting that Paul Macdonald, who has taught internationally for the best part of the last 16 years, is not "well trained"? Or am I reading you wrong? Of course they're not trying to hit with force - firstly, they're fighting out of armour. This was a public demonstration at a museum - the Royal Museum of Scotland, to be precise. It's not supposed to be an armoured slam-fest. Christ almighty.

[defrisselle]

@hotspurschool On a three year old comment? really! I'm sure he's "well trained". It is a nice demonstration of technique and form, not of actual combat.

[hotspurschool]

@defrisselle No, your comment was a month ago. If you have doubts that we do "actual combat", I'll be glad to prove you wrong. I suspect that by "actual combat" you're using your SCA background as a benchmark.

[Weinglasarien]

Found that link via the international swordforum. A truly impressive fight in a prestigous venue. Respect to you. Especially the footwork! *stare*

[reallohengrin]

awesome!!! thanks for uploading...

[jacobite80]

many thanks for uploading this Bob :)