to win in a real swordfight without getting wounded u have to be far, far better swordsman then your opponent, if opponents are almost equal there is a great chance that they will kill each other, that is why swordfighting sucked, you train all your life and then some mediocre swordsman cuts off your foot
Great display of skill and training! and it does look like real combat steel.but i trust that is was not sharp :p.and it shows how frekin dangerous swords are..and long hair just makes it so much more awesome xD great vid.
These are katas, strike and counter, used in training. Practicing them builds the warrior's skill in many ways. In combat you'd see much more improvisation. These techniques are strikingly similar to Asian arts. It's a matter of form following function, based on the specific and limited ways any weapon can be used, no matter the tradition. What you don't see here is a lot of clashing of swords, but movement that uses the opponent's force against him, as in Iaido, Aikido, and Tai Chi Jian.
Plate armor is hardened steel. It will make you safe against normal sword fighting. If you have a sword aganist plate you need to do other techniques like these:
watch?v=G4k-vjdeZO4
You would however not be completely safe from other weapons like pollaxes.
Though I enjoy seeing these kinds of techniques it seems like they only work in demos where the other guy isn't resisting. A lot is rendered ineffective simply by an opponent who takes a step back. Still more rely on the other guy to leave his sword extended. Even in this persons sparring videos these techniques are abandoned in favor of basic stabs and slashes. Still more applicable than a lot of oriental techniques. If anyone has links to sparring vids where these work I'd be interested.
Yes, it's hard to make techniques work in sparring. But this is true for all martial arts as I understand it. And when they do work in sparring they are never as /clean/ as in a demonstration. Basic stabs and cuts are necessary to find a time where you can try to use a technique, somewhat like jabs in boxing. You don't expect to knock someone out with a jab but you don't expect to hit with a nice uppercut if you havn't trown a jab first.
@gurkfisk89 Certainly the basic jabs and cuts make up 90% of a fight. That's exactly my point. A lot of demos make it seem like it's the other way around by only showing fancy parries and throws. I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to see more videos where they mix these into the normal flow of a fight. Not to say that this poster has to do that. He may just want to show the cool stuff, as is understandable. I'm just saying it seems like a lot of these only focus on the special moves.
@GreatestEnemy32 I may of miss-read your comment but, from what I have watched of this video the first 1 min at least is some pretty basic technique that is pretty common amongst swordsmanship, especaily amongst simular styles of weapons.
For sparring vids here are some I found, if I find more/better I can post them later. There are at least some fine techniques that works in these videos but as expected there also a lot that don't work (this time):
watch?v=FeJ88c5ecLU
watch?v=r9pW5xOiO9E
watch?v=bmP1MgfEUmY
watch?v=T0H5IrGHfMA
If someone else can find a video of a really clean technique used in sparring I would like to see more of that too.
@GreatestEnemy32 "Still more applicable than a lot of oriental techniques." You been watching hong kong kung fu or actual oriental techniques of swordsmanship ?
Japan counts as oriental right ? You would be surprised by the simularities between them, besides a demo is only ment to show a technique in the most perfect condition for that technique to be applied.
Demos like these are showing basic training to train a person's mind into using it in their own way.
@HUGELoneW0LF Never said all oriental techniques. I was talking about Chinese and Korean martial arts that rely on fancy spins and steps and have a lot of wasted movement. I get that it's trying to show the technique at "the most perfect condition." What I'm saying is that it shouldn't require the other guy to stand there sword extended and unmoving like a ye olde WWE wrestler. The first half is pretty practical but the second half requires some major incompetence on the part of the other man.
@GreatestEnemy32 By Korean I asume you refering to the use of the sword gerneraly demonstrated by tae kwon do, and hapkido, which is usualy joke waving a sword about rather then Kumdo and Gumdo that finds its origins or influence in Japanese Kendo and Iaido.
Anyway, I didn't not get your point, and do understand where you are coming from, but most schools of swordsmanship will start people in a simular manner as demonstrated.
It is done for a reason, and is a practise used by most if not all School of martail arts, even boxing will first teach some stuff in a simular manner or on bag at first before adding verriables into the mix.
Moving straight to sparring can and does often resault in serious injury. Obviously your opponent won't stand still in a real fight.
Though the techniques are demonstrated in manner that wouldn't be used in a fight, they are still sound techniques.
@HUGELoneW0LF I completely understand that. My point was and still is that these techniques don't work the way they do in a demo as they would in a real fight. My comment was that I would like to see some of this stuff work in a sparring session or tournament or the like. As it is now I only ever see them work in demos and movies.
It has some of the techniques in it. For example, the techniques around 0.44 to 0.50 of this clip is in the segment of 0.43 to 1.02 in the video. The cut around 0.43 in this demonstration is preformed at 1.05.
I think it's because they do more techniques than just absetzen. When they do, like around 30 s into the video they indeed "block" on the flat with the strong part.
@SirKickz Nah. It was a playful way to sugest they should mind theyr swords' edges. And at the same time giving someone a chance to either clarify me or play along =)
Yea, they probably trust each other, as they are moth instructors at "Zornhau" I think they have done this a couple of times before. But I think that if both you and your best friend did some swordfighting, then you would be able to do this with blunted swords without freaking out after just a couple of months.
Hmm... I can see stabs being effective most of the time, but how would a swing fare after a parry when there's not actually much swing left?
As in 0:46,1:09 - you'd have to have a really sharp sword or a bigger swing to be able to damage like that, right? I'm not sure how sharp they made 2-handers, I always thought they were pointy but not razor sharp down both sides so you could hold the blade for some manoeuvres without slicing your fingers off... though I see gloves here, so I don't know.
I think there would not be enough force to do damage but perhaps not enough to cut someone from shoulder to hip. About the sharpness, I've heard that they where rather sharp, perhaps not rasor sharp because that would maket your edge brittle. Some swords was also a bit less sharp at some points to allow easy blade grapping. To grab your blade without cutting yourself is also rather simple, aslong as you don't slip you will be safe.Also watch this and enjoy:
@simplynotfact No worries. :) Just to be clear, I recommend using fencing masks and gloves for this kind of thing. There are some techniques that don't REALLY need it. In this vid the demonstrators are very experienced and have been training together a long time, AND have worked out ahead of time how things would happen, so they're safe. Sparring with steel and no gear is rather dangerous, something that I won't do myself. I've seen a few people do it safely, but to me it's not worth the risk.
I cant believe you re saying such nonsense.Wood is still safer than steel.steel sword is sharper than wood sword.when your steel sword broke,opponent can be hurt seriously.if you want more safety,you can use plastic sword.there some hema guys using it and doing fine for their art.
@simplynotfact I use nylon and wood for beginners and some sparring. However, you simply cannot get the full picture without steel. Plastic and wood do NOT suffice. I know of no serious HEMA group that doesn't use steel whenever possible for paired drills. Some even use SHARPS from time to time, just like in the video I provided below. Most HEMA tournaments have steel divisions now as well. Those groups that don't use steel as a general rule simply don't have the resources to purchase them.
Steel is perfectly safe? you kidding? i heard theres lots of injury from arma guys.imo kendoka or not,swordsmanship practicer should not use steel for paired kata.watch the video i linked.he doesnt use steel sword for paired kata,but he moves faster and has better control than anyone who practice with steel.
@simplynotfact Not kidding. It's safe if you use control. Wood can be far more dangerous in fact. I've seen sharp bits of wood go flying across the training hall from a broken trainer. Had they impacted a person, the results would have been less than pleasant. When steel breaks, it drops on the spot. I use steel whenever possible. Since you're a kendoka, here is some footage from before WW: Kendo kata with sharp swords: /watch?v=KSAP5rp6cxw&feature=player_embedded Two 10th dans. :)
This video is terrible.they should not use steel blade for practice.its too dangerous.you can practice with wooden sword. watch this /watch?v=P-5IA7VRin8&feature=related
@simplynotfact Nonsense. With control, steel is perfectly safe. There are also kenjutsu ryuhau that use steel for drilling and embu, though not many. And I've seen clips of early kendoka (pre-WW II-ish) doing their paired kata with SHARPS. At any rate, for learning the feel of blade on blade pressure, there is no substitute for steel. Wood simply does not suffice for this art.
@simplynotfact It is NOT a practice, it is a DEMONSTRATION of techniques from several medieval fencing manuals - which has already been stated. Safety is of course a valid point, but only when safety is concerned in the first place = for a freeplay/sparring or advanced technical training. Not the case here. Some of the moves shown are outdated as the interpretation has changed over the years, but there's still no need to call it "terrible".
@slorta idk every time they tried to make a highlander movie after the first it was terrible heck thew second one is often considered the worst movie ever made(truth be told the last movie was even worse than that but nearly no one actually saw that one) but you are right starting over with a reboot(and completely restarting cannon) could create an alright movie or 2 if handled properly
Excellent vid. Can you recommend any good books on the subject of proper sword fighting technique? Who do you recommend for authentic fighting swords?
Is a lot like Kendo, but not Japanese. Good Europe had martial arts too. Bad we didn't keep them alive. Japanese have an unbelievable honor for tradition. That's why we have things like Ju Jutsu and that's why it is so hard to master them.
@Obiwan198 Historically, Europeans were the masters of grappling as far as unarmed martial arts are concerned. Many Japanese traveled to Europe specifically to study grappling, as Europeans were unmatched in their skill. It had a direct influence on the modern implementations of Judo and Jujitsu. I'd encourage you to check out Catch Wresting. For lack of a better term it's "European Jujitsu", but its historic roots are firmly embedded in Europe, being as old if not older than Jujitsu.
@namayake Sorry for replying so long after you posted your comment. I didn't know europe was known for grappling. But then again it's true that we've had many martial arts based on grappling, and almost every country has a different style of wrestling. It's realy a shame that these techniques were lost. I only know of them being reproduced thanks to codices with few pictures and short descriptions.
I quickly grew tired of all the bollocks about Asian swordfighting being superior to European swordfighting.
Just because of some idiosyncratic fascination with Jappo culture (excellence in swordmaking notwithstanding), everybody I know thinks that Asia was the one with winning techniques.
After learning about the hundreds of wars Europe went through, ranging from familial to global, I'd think that their techiniques would be on par or better...
@MerlinsJester Yep, and truth is that the Asians' excellence in sword making came out of necessity. They only had low quality iron to work with and needed these smithing techniques so their blades gained some durability.
How do u hold the sword by the blade? Wouldn't it be sharp in a real life fight. Is it because of gauntlets or is it the way u hold the blade? This is something I've always wondered
@44SCB You can certainly grip a sharp blade as long as it doesn't slip. It's not a lightsaber after all. :) There's a clip on youtube called "sword tug of war" where you can see me pull my instructor around with a longsword while he holds the blade.
I am very impressed. Its good to see that there are some people that can actually use a sword. All I ever see is people slamming their swords together, and damaging the blades. Do you have any experience with the Scottish claymore. If you do I would be thrilled to know were to get information on the style of fighting that the highlanders used. I am a proud Scottish descendant. And would love to learn about it.
@GunsmithMMG There are no extant treatises on Scottish claymore technique. A claymore is more or less a longsword, and were often made using normal longsword blades from Germany. There are some few sources on English longsword which may have been similar. Given that sword arts the world over are very similar, any serious study of European longsword would garner you the techniques that would have been used by your ancestors
Well the gun pretty much ended the feudal system. That system wasn't really a good thing for the common man. I would say that the invention of the gun was one of the first step for equal rights.
The battlefields of medieval time wasn't any more fun than battlefields today.
@Verithiell It's a series of forms. Not unlike the forms that you would do in any other martial art. The idea is that you practice them repeatedly until they are engrained in your muscle memory and then when it really matters in a fight you can tie them together fluidly as the situation dictates. The idea is that from a given guard or stance there are X number of ways that you can move, both on attack and defense.
I really wish MMORPG's that favor the medieval theme could just have even 10% of the detail of long sword techniques... a lot of them are just simple swings with colourful light effects attached to them.
Same goes for some movies, some of them kinda magically cut to a close-up in split seconds. All you see is some quick shadow moving, I mean, WTF just happened? Zoom out a bit. A 3rd person isometric view couldn't hurt from time to time...
Hahaha, I started to laugh at 1:07 those techniques are amazing...
So, I can't join the group at the moment (age :( ), but is there anything I can do (I am already building strenght-hope that goes well :p) that I will start from nill?
@justaguy08 As far as martial arts go, to prepare yourself for swordsmanship your best bets are going to be Judo or Wrestling, though any well-taught art will help.
@Kunstdesfechtens Um... Judo isn't the best choise, from what I know they tell you to be very light on your feet and if you are somebody could just plow you over... I know this because in my group the guy who used to do Judo always ends up on his back from Ring 1...
@acephantom903 Probably a result of bad Judo training. Good Judoka are monsters, and not easy to put on their backs. :) You have to be light on your feet with swords as well... just not TOO light. The standup grappling you learn from Judo is very applicable to swords.
@sewagedweller The earliest manuscript in the Liechtenauer tradition states "all fencing comes from wrestling". By wrestling they mean all grappling, both standing and ground. The reason is twofold: the sensitivity you learn in grappling (balance, pressure, leverage, etc) is very similar to working from the bind in swordsmanship. Secondly, very often in a sword fight the combatants will get really close, at which point the best option is to throw the opponent or apply joint leverage... (con't)
@sewagedweller (con't)... Also, the ground work is important for armoured duelling, which was often decided on the ground with daggers. That's apparently why modern wrestling requires a "pin"... it's a holdover from the positional work you have to do to deploy a dagger against an armoured opponent. Lastly, it develops great core strength, which is a decided advantage in swordsmanship. :)
@Kunstdesfechtens ok , but i should point out that modern wrestling is probably different what old manuscripts had it mind . Closest thing to what you describe is jujitsu (jap , not brazillian one ) .
@sewagedweller True enough, but even modern wrestlers who do HEMA become excellent swordsmen, my teacher being case in point. It's not necessarily standing vs. ground, but the principles of controlling another person's body transfers well to controlling another person's sword in the bind, or sword and body together, like during Ringen am Schwert. :)
@Kunstdesfechtens fair enough . I just have little bias against wresting , during judo training we had a new , massive guy from wresting and he did little sumo run at me . Send me flying in the air . Sounds like any martial art that teaches you balance and control over opponent is good .
Doesn't differ much from other sword techniques used worldwide. I'm trained in Chinese sword (jian), and this is similar in many ways, notably in the fact that there's not a lot of "clashing" of the kind you see in movies, but a lot of "sticking" and pivoting around the point of contact, finding a way to the opponent that gets you in past the effective reach of his sword. Shows how technique is necessarily defined by the nature of the tool: similar tools will be used in similar ways.
@0000UnDead0000 A claymore (I'm assuming you mean the two-handed variety rather than the later basket-hilted type) is just a variety of longsword, so the techniques will work just fine with one. The steeply angled crossguard might have some effect, but nothing a few hours of practice won't get you used to.
@Kunstdesfechtens Two-handed "claymore" is a greatsword. Claymore has never referred to the greatsword, in scottish language anyway. As far as i can guess it comes from "claidheamh mor" (i cannot type the symbols, so if i am missing them dont tell me) which means broadsword, ie. a short and fat sword.
@Pawnbroker00 Claymore has been used by hopologists to refer to both the two handed variety and the later basket hilted braodsword. This has led to considerable confusion in terminology. :)
You can just see why the old proverb went "to send an untrained man to war is to throw him away".
Some random idiot who thinks he's awesome just because he has a sword in his hand and knows how to swing it around without hitting himself (like, say, myself) would go up against one of these guys and be all like "man I don't need those fancy bullshit techniques" and then I'd get dead in like 2 seconds because my opponent would've trained for counters to all my obvious and predictable attacks.
@MrCattlehunter Too true. If you are a little trained, you limit your moovement a lot more and while the other guy is all over the place you just shift your sword a little and move your body a little. This way you are allways faster and you make kicking his ass look effortless.
@gurkfisk89 I know that is the man and not the weapon that give chances of victory, but i prefer a lot european martial arts for their aesthetics, moves ecc... However I am a taekwondo fighter...
There is no realism within the fight seqence. No one stands there waiting to be hit, even an apprentice jumps away from situations. Show me live combat......
They show some techniques used with the longsword in this video. If they would do a sparring video they can't show these techniques in a good way, so that we can se what happens. Because like you say, people don't stand still.
@nagualshadow The point of this is not to demonstrate realistic live combat -- just the techniques that might be used. Of course in a real fight it doesn't usually come out as cleanly as this, but in doing it slowly (with an unresisting partner) you obtain the muscle memory for the maneuver, later being able to apply it to active combat. As I was told, at least, form and technique need to be mastered first -- then you can speed it up.
@AliveEyes I don't think that there's a way to fight dirty :]
Combat was deadly business and a man needed to use any technique at his disposal in order to win and survive. (Although I think that would be illegal in combat sports) THAT is the true nature of combat in my opinion. :]
I have a reprint 15th century German sword master manuscript with many of these techniques illustrated. It is very instructive to actually see them executed with such precision. I wish fight science would do some stuff with medieval martial arts.
@agt334 It depends on how hard you train! A reasonable level of proficiency can be attained within a year if you're diligent. The thing is, you'll never stop learning if you train hard and often. You can practice for 20 years and stll find things to learn! Since you're in Germany, check out groups like Ochs and go for a class and see how you like it!
Very entertaining indeed!!! For the swordplay featured above was quite brilliant, very impressive, superbly executed, poetic in its grace & no doubt extremely effective! Also, the swordmasters who devised such sword fighting techniques were very innovative & clever, for such methods & styles could be invaluable when going up against this more savage, bigger & stronger foe (such as an Irish or Scottish Gallowglass!), for it's all based on parry, then expert, quick exploitation! I love it!!!
I meant to write down this late Medieval Irish Gallowglass mercenary of mostly Scottish descent. My bad!!! For that would be quite the matchup, this late 15th-early 16th century, quintessential German Landsknechte vs this late 14th century Scottish/Irish Gallowglass. For that would no doubt prove to be quite the awesome & fascinating matchup!!!
Very, very, very impressive indeed!!! I wonder, how would such Brilliant, mid 15th century, central European sword fighting techniques actually measure up to such late Medieval, Gaelic/Gallowglass sword fighting methods, along with such old-school, traditional Samurai tactics/techniques??? For I would love to witness such a showdown--this late Medieval Irish Gallowglass (of Scottish mostly descent!) vs this early 16th century German Landsknechte! That would be awesome!!!
Really good study, but I think you misunterpreted some close combat techniques at around 1:26. Close combat is usually engaged starting from a parry, when the opponent is going towards you and you take the right time to parry-block his sword in one time.
If you start with an attack the opponent will likely block/dodge with a pace backwards and it is really really difficult to reach him.
good stuff guys, Im a member of a school here in Australia called Marxbruder which does the same type techniques (very much Lichtenhaur/Talhoffer) I was very impressed with the half sword movements, though your schwerts look very light, how much do they weigh ???
Not at all, actually the one that leads the strike has an advantage. These are just the ways to screw up his plan and regain the advantage, but it's not just "block, retaliate, win". There are as many techniques to countering defense as are there to defend.
Just look up the SCA. They're pretty good, but it would be better if you could actually get a group of friends together to practice and spar. That's what I did, and we've been doing it for years now.
SCA can be iffy, though some of their best guys are pretty darn good. One's best bet in the US is to contact the HEMA Alliance or the WMA Coalition who can put you in touch with the right people.
Not at all, actually! I mean yes, Europe certainly has more resources available, but where do you live? I go out to the States for the summer, and you might want to check out Western Martial Arts schools run by people such as Dr. Holland and Stephen Ficke. :]
we should make up our own swordfighin tecnique based on the greater aspects of the european and asian fighting styles. lol. getting the best of both worlds.
Well some of the techniques would work and other would not. I think the techniques 1 minute in (the halfswording) would work rather good and of course also the throws at the end.
Most of these techniques are for unarmoured combat. The half-swording videos near the end are more appropriate for armoured fighting, and are also applicable unarmoured.
For Battle in Armor there are special techniques from a position Halbschwert. You can recognize them easily , because in halbschwert stance one hand is at the Blade. ( the guys from zornhau eV showed some techniques from that Hut ( term for Stances)
Yep! The sword can be used as three weapons: a sword held by the actual handle, a dagger when held with one hand on the pommel and one on the blade as seen here, and a kind of hammer when two hands are on the blade and the pommel is the weapon. :]
Hmm...I wish I knew more of the technicalities here, but I can definitely see a solid style here. I wonder how it differs from being fully armored and such. Nice video.
The techniques near the end are more for armoured combat, where the blade is gripped with the left hand and used like a short spear. It was also done unarmoured though. The techniques at the beginning of the video are for unarmoured combat.:)
I just read about 1/4 of the way down the whole list...you are very wise on this subject, Kunstdesfechtens. I agree very much with your philosophies, and thank you for the good "points."
ok by watching the video slowly there are more small mistakes done in the hurry in the following techniques it's far to much to cmnt every one, especially because a lot of the techniques are interpretaionable and it difficult to say how its preform right like mutieren or Meyers famous Rose. And One more time respect for your skills you showed in part ringen am Schwert , i always have hudge Problems with getting close enough to grap
Zornhau: I haven't seen a Mutieren action while your first Zornhau technique further more the first time you did the technique your arms are to trechted to much so you not able to Stab him and you should push his sword more from his line to prevent a strike.But the time you did zornhau with Einwinden was perfekt.
Nachreißen: IMO the strike should more be like an Oberhau or an oberhau Zwerch not a zwerch hau because to perform a such hudge swing cost time. The Nachreißen Right is the same thing you titeled Abnehmen from Hangeort. at not a Nachreißen
Your Abnehmen from Hangeort reminds me more of Untere Versatzung Oben, nur in this case you go far to much from the line. I Practice this technique with a front movement towards my opponent to get on the same line with his hand, while i am protecting my body with the Hangeort. With in this movement the ort points in direction of the untere Blöße of my opponent.
Abnehmen from Hangeort: the big swing with the sword ,like you performed it, take to much time, if he is weich ( weak ) he is able to perform Nachreisen at hit your arm especialy because you in close mensure.
I was teached that Abnehmen is used if my opponent want to prevent a Duplieren with changing position to Hut der Frau, then you can change the site over the ort in a short fast move and perform a Oberhau or a Scheitler
to win in a real swordfight without getting wounded u have to be far, far better swordsman then your opponent, if opponents are almost equal there is a great chance that they will kill each other, that is why swordfighting sucked, you train all your life and then some mediocre swordsman cuts off your foot
sototajeri 1 week ago
good dude....good....
the "pure german style" tecnics ere very complicated in a real fight but very beauty to see like a demomostration...
good one...
torre11275 1 week ago
Poor tiny shorts dude. Always getting murdered...
Kia044 2 weeks ago
You need to do some videos SLOWED DOWN and up closer showing exactly how you were doing this.
Great upload still!!!
Arelak 2 weeks ago
shouldn't they be wearing shoes?
lebeauluke1 1 month ago
fags
Hobbykicker50 1 month ago
So what do we learn: Never START a fight. ;)
7Anubisss 1 month ago
Great display of skill and training! and it does look like real combat steel.but i trust that is was not sharp :p.and it shows how frekin dangerous swords are..and long hair just makes it so much more awesome xD great vid.
FlemishWarrior 1 month ago
These are katas, strike and counter, used in training. Practicing them builds the warrior's skill in many ways. In combat you'd see much more improvisation. These techniques are strikingly similar to Asian arts. It's a matter of form following function, based on the specific and limited ways any weapon can be used, no matter the tradition. What you don't see here is a lot of clashing of swords, but movement that uses the opponent's force against him, as in Iaido, Aikido, and Tai Chi Jian.
ShenSpirit 2 months ago
Ah yes, the power of the ponytail.
GydoKamst 2 months ago 4
Interesting to see the wide range of techniques. They all look good and useful.
Priest105 4 months ago
you'd thinking wearing plate would keep you completely safe but if i recall plate is basically tin metal. Isn't it?
fastitslol 5 months ago
@fastitslol
Plate armor is hardened steel. It will make you safe against normal sword fighting. If you have a sword aganist plate you need to do other techniques like these:
watch?v=G4k-vjdeZO4
You would however not be completely safe from other weapons like pollaxes.
gurkfisk89 5 months ago
Though I enjoy seeing these kinds of techniques it seems like they only work in demos where the other guy isn't resisting. A lot is rendered ineffective simply by an opponent who takes a step back. Still more rely on the other guy to leave his sword extended. Even in this persons sparring videos these techniques are abandoned in favor of basic stabs and slashes. Still more applicable than a lot of oriental techniques. If anyone has links to sparring vids where these work I'd be interested.
GreatestEnemy32 5 months ago
@GreatestEnemy32
Yes, it's hard to make techniques work in sparring. But this is true for all martial arts as I understand it. And when they do work in sparring they are never as /clean/ as in a demonstration. Basic stabs and cuts are necessary to find a time where you can try to use a technique, somewhat like jabs in boxing. You don't expect to knock someone out with a jab but you don't expect to hit with a nice uppercut if you havn't trown a jab first.
gurkfisk89 5 months ago
@gurkfisk89 Certainly the basic jabs and cuts make up 90% of a fight. That's exactly my point. A lot of demos make it seem like it's the other way around by only showing fancy parries and throws. I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to see more videos where they mix these into the normal flow of a fight. Not to say that this poster has to do that. He may just want to show the cool stuff, as is understandable. I'm just saying it seems like a lot of these only focus on the special moves.
GreatestEnemy32 5 months ago
@GreatestEnemy32 I may of miss-read your comment but, from what I have watched of this video the first 1 min at least is some pretty basic technique that is pretty common amongst swordsmanship, especaily amongst simular styles of weapons.
HUGELoneW0LF 5 months ago in playlist European Sword Fighting
@GreatestEnemy32 forgot to add, any martail artist knows, advanced techniques is just basic technique done in an advanced manner.
HUGELoneW0LF 5 months ago in playlist European Sword Fighting
@GreatestEnemy32
For sparring vids here are some I found, if I find more/better I can post them later. There are at least some fine techniques that works in these videos but as expected there also a lot that don't work (this time):
watch?v=FeJ88c5ecLU
watch?v=r9pW5xOiO9E
watch?v=bmP1MgfEUmY
watch?v=T0H5IrGHfMA
If someone else can find a video of a really clean technique used in sparring I would like to see more of that too.
gurkfisk89 5 months ago
@gurkfisk89 Those are nice. Especially the tournament, because you get to see them fight with something at stake.
GreatestEnemy32 5 months ago
@GreatestEnemy32 "Still more applicable than a lot of oriental techniques." You been watching hong kong kung fu or actual oriental techniques of swordsmanship ?
Japan counts as oriental right ? You would be surprised by the simularities between them, besides a demo is only ment to show a technique in the most perfect condition for that technique to be applied.
Demos like these are showing basic training to train a person's mind into using it in their own way.
HUGELoneW0LF 5 months ago in playlist European Sword Fighting
@HUGELoneW0LF Never said all oriental techniques. I was talking about Chinese and Korean martial arts that rely on fancy spins and steps and have a lot of wasted movement. I get that it's trying to show the technique at "the most perfect condition." What I'm saying is that it shouldn't require the other guy to stand there sword extended and unmoving like a ye olde WWE wrestler. The first half is pretty practical but the second half requires some major incompetence on the part of the other man.
GreatestEnemy32 5 months ago
@GreatestEnemy32 By Korean I asume you refering to the use of the sword gerneraly demonstrated by tae kwon do, and hapkido, which is usualy joke waving a sword about rather then Kumdo and Gumdo that finds its origins or influence in Japanese Kendo and Iaido.
Anyway, I didn't not get your point, and do understand where you are coming from, but most schools of swordsmanship will start people in a simular manner as demonstrated.
HUGELoneW0LF 5 months ago
It is done for a reason, and is a practise used by most if not all School of martail arts, even boxing will first teach some stuff in a simular manner or on bag at first before adding verriables into the mix.
Moving straight to sparring can and does often resault in serious injury. Obviously your opponent won't stand still in a real fight.
Though the techniques are demonstrated in manner that wouldn't be used in a fight, they are still sound techniques.
HUGELoneW0LF 5 months ago
@HUGELoneW0LF I completely understand that. My point was and still is that these techniques don't work the way they do in a demo as they would in a real fight. My comment was that I would like to see some of this stuff work in a sparring session or tournament or the like. As it is now I only ever see them work in demos and movies.
GreatestEnemy32 5 months ago
@GreatestEnemy32
i found an other video now.
watch?v=T4QHvxjQxXQ
It has some of the techniques in it. For example, the techniques around 0.44 to 0.50 of this clip is in the segment of 0.43 to 1.02 in the video. The cut around 0.43 in this demonstration is preformed at 1.05.
I will keep an eye out for more =)
gurkfisk89 5 months ago
ZornhauEV
Y U NO FLAT ON MY STRONG?
galenlynore 6 months ago
@galenlynore
I think it's because they do more techniques than just absetzen. When they do, like around 30 s into the video they indeed "block" on the flat with the strong part.
gurkfisk89 6 months ago
@galenlynore
I'd be really happy if you were making fun of John Clements in your comment XD.
SirKickz 6 months ago
@SirKickz Nah. It was a playful way to sugest they should mind theyr swords' edges. And at the same time giving someone a chance to either clarify me or play along =)
galenlynore 6 months ago
That guy sure has to lose a lot
Chrisocalypse 6 months ago
Honestly, The Guy on the Right must have some serious Trust in the other guys abilities, I would totaly freak if even my closest friend tried this xD
josephnicolella 6 months ago
@josephnicolella
Yea, they probably trust each other, as they are moth instructors at "Zornhau" I think they have done this a couple of times before. But I think that if both you and your best friend did some swordfighting, then you would be able to do this with blunted swords without freaking out after just a couple of months.
Have a nice day.
gurkfisk89 6 months ago
i kinda want to see him larp; it would be funny because all of these techniques are practically useless in larping
TheMindRobber42 7 months ago
@TheMindRobber42 Can't see anything useless in killing a larper :P
mennoace 6 months ago
Hmm... I can see stabs being effective most of the time, but how would a swing fare after a parry when there's not actually much swing left?
As in 0:46,1:09 - you'd have to have a really sharp sword or a bigger swing to be able to damage like that, right? I'm not sure how sharp they made 2-handers, I always thought they were pointy but not razor sharp down both sides so you could hold the blade for some manoeuvres without slicing your fingers off... though I see gloves here, so I don't know.
ChainsawGutsFuck 7 months ago
@ChainsawGutsFuck
I think there would not be enough force to do damage but perhaps not enough to cut someone from shoulder to hip. About the sharpness, I've heard that they where rather sharp, perhaps not rasor sharp because that would maket your edge brittle. Some swords was also a bit less sharp at some points to allow easy blade grapping. To grab your blade without cutting yourself is also rather simple, aslong as you don't slip you will be safe.Also watch this and enjoy:
watch?v=uMkGF3EqUjU
gurkfisk89 7 months ago
Awesome stuff
majesticapeman 7 months ago
Thank god we invented firearms ;)
nicolasnagy 8 months ago
sure looks dangerous.
FlankerVT 9 months ago 11
@FlankerVT Yeah, you could put someone's eye out with those things!
aseeker2010 2 months ago
btw,i'm not kendoka.sorry for my bad english.
simplynotfact 9 months ago
@simplynotfact No worries. :) Just to be clear, I recommend using fencing masks and gloves for this kind of thing. There are some techniques that don't REALLY need it. In this vid the demonstrators are very experienced and have been training together a long time, AND have worked out ahead of time how things would happen, so they're safe. Sparring with steel and no gear is rather dangerous, something that I won't do myself. I've seen a few people do it safely, but to me it's not worth the risk.
Kunstdesfechtens 8 months ago
I cant believe you re saying such nonsense.Wood is still safer than steel.steel sword is sharper than wood sword.when your steel sword broke,opponent can be hurt seriously.if you want more safety,you can use plastic sword.there some hema guys using it and doing fine for their art.
simplynotfact 9 months ago
@simplynotfact I use nylon and wood for beginners and some sparring. However, you simply cannot get the full picture without steel. Plastic and wood do NOT suffice. I know of no serious HEMA group that doesn't use steel whenever possible for paired drills. Some even use SHARPS from time to time, just like in the video I provided below. Most HEMA tournaments have steel divisions now as well. Those groups that don't use steel as a general rule simply don't have the resources to purchase them.
Kunstdesfechtens 9 months ago
Steel is perfectly safe? you kidding? i heard theres lots of injury from arma guys.imo kendoka or not,swordsmanship practicer should not use steel for paired kata.watch the video i linked.he doesnt use steel sword for paired kata,but he moves faster and has better control than anyone who practice with steel.
simplynotfact 9 months ago
@simplynotfact Not kidding. It's safe if you use control. Wood can be far more dangerous in fact. I've seen sharp bits of wood go flying across the training hall from a broken trainer. Had they impacted a person, the results would have been less than pleasant. When steel breaks, it drops on the spot. I use steel whenever possible. Since you're a kendoka, here is some footage from before WW: Kendo kata with sharp swords: /watch?v=KSAP5rp6cxw&feature=player_embedded Two 10th dans. :)
Kunstdesfechtens 9 months ago
This video is terrible.they should not use steel blade for practice.its too dangerous.you can practice with wooden sword. watch this /watch?v=P-5IA7VRin8&feature=related
simplynotfact 9 months ago
@simplynotfact Nonsense. With control, steel is perfectly safe. There are also kenjutsu ryuhau that use steel for drilling and embu, though not many. And I've seen clips of early kendoka (pre-WW II-ish) doing their paired kata with SHARPS. At any rate, for learning the feel of blade on blade pressure, there is no substitute for steel. Wood simply does not suffice for this art.
Kunstdesfechtens 9 months ago
@simplynotfact It is NOT a practice, it is a DEMONSTRATION of techniques from several medieval fencing manuals - which has already been stated. Safety is of course a valid point, but only when safety is concerned in the first place = for a freeplay/sparring or advanced technical training. Not the case here. Some of the moves shown are outdated as the interpretation has changed over the years, but there's still no need to call it "terrible".
Schwertgosch 8 months ago
Unlike in the films,these fights would have lasted 15? seconds at most.Very brave men to fight like this.
jonnyy40 9 months ago
@jonnyy40 How long you think modern fights last with automatic weapons? You think these men are not brave to face Lead death instead of Steel death?
Chudakov77 9 months ago
@Chudakov77 You can't see a bullet.
jonnyy40 9 months ago
@jonnyy40 But you will feel the bullets just the same.
Chudakov77 9 months ago
Big guy would make a great Kurgan of highlander fame. A remake anyone?
slorta 10 months ago
@slorta idk every time they tried to make a highlander movie after the first it was terrible heck thew second one is often considered the worst movie ever made(truth be told the last movie was even worse than that but nearly no one actually saw that one) but you are right starting over with a reboot(and completely restarting cannon) could create an alright movie or 2 if handled properly
lockbreak12 10 months ago
good stuff
upashurpa 10 months ago
You guys are amazing. Your historical research is superb. Congratulations!
lebarosky 11 months ago
sehr schän ! habtr ihr mir ein Fechtbuch zur Empfehlung für 1 1/2 Händer ?
ThorgalsWalhalla 11 months ago
Excellent vid. Can you recommend any good books on the subject of proper sword fighting technique? Who do you recommend for authentic fighting swords?
sorryociffer 1 year ago
@sorryociffer
David Lindholm and Peter Svärd's book "Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword" is a good one.
For swords, take a look at Albion Swords for example.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
Is a lot like Kendo, but not Japanese. Good Europe had martial arts too. Bad we didn't keep them alive. Japanese have an unbelievable honor for tradition. That's why we have things like Ju Jutsu and that's why it is so hard to master them.
Obiwan198 1 year ago
@Obiwan198 Historically, Europeans were the masters of grappling as far as unarmed martial arts are concerned. Many Japanese traveled to Europe specifically to study grappling, as Europeans were unmatched in their skill. It had a direct influence on the modern implementations of Judo and Jujitsu. I'd encourage you to check out Catch Wresting. For lack of a better term it's "European Jujitsu", but its historic roots are firmly embedded in Europe, being as old if not older than Jujitsu.
namayake 1 year ago
@namayake Sorry for replying so long after you posted your comment. I didn't know europe was known for grappling. But then again it's true that we've had many martial arts based on grappling, and almost every country has a different style of wrestling. It's realy a shame that these techniques were lost. I only know of them being reproduced thanks to codices with few pictures and short descriptions.
walatalalaw 8 months ago
This... this is brilliant. Excellent vid.
I quickly grew tired of all the bollocks about Asian swordfighting being superior to European swordfighting.
Just because of some idiosyncratic fascination with Jappo culture (excellence in swordmaking notwithstanding), everybody I know thinks that Asia was the one with winning techniques.
After learning about the hundreds of wars Europe went through, ranging from familial to global, I'd think that their techiniques would be on par or better...
MerlinsJester 1 year ago 2
@MerlinsJester Yep, and truth is that the Asians' excellence in sword making came out of necessity. They only had low quality iron to work with and needed these smithing techniques so their blades gained some durability.
xordae 1 year ago
This is Thrand !!!!! excellent European Swordsmanship techniques :P
Please check out my videos on youtube
Keep up the good work.
ThegnThrand 1 year ago
Comment removed
44SCB 1 year ago
You don't hold the edge, just the flat bit...
SamuelLazarEriksson 1 year ago
How do u hold the sword by the blade? Wouldn't it be sharp in a real life fight. Is it because of gauntlets or is it the way u hold the blade? This is something I've always wondered
44SCB 1 year ago
@44SCB You can certainly grip a sharp blade as long as it doesn't slip. It's not a lightsaber after all. :) There's a clip on youtube called "sword tug of war" where you can see me pull my instructor around with a longsword while he holds the blade.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
I am very impressed. Its good to see that there are some people that can actually use a sword. All I ever see is people slamming their swords together, and damaging the blades. Do you have any experience with the Scottish claymore. If you do I would be thrilled to know were to get information on the style of fighting that the highlanders used. I am a proud Scottish descendant. And would love to learn about it.
GunsmithMMG 1 year ago
@GunsmithMMG There are no extant treatises on Scottish claymore technique. A claymore is more or less a longsword, and were often made using normal longsword blades from Germany. There are some few sources on English longsword which may have been similar. Given that sword arts the world over are very similar, any serious study of European longsword would garner you the techniques that would have been used by your ancestors
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens Thanks alot. I didn't know. I will look into this.
GunsmithMMG 1 year ago
Hello! How can i make contact with that guy in video, Predrag Nikolic? Thank you!
Protospatiaros 1 year ago
@Protospatiaros
Go to
w w w . zornhau . de
Klick on "Kontakt"
I think they can help you get in touch with him.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
too bad guns screwed everything up
AltonJB1984 1 year ago
@AltonJB1984
Well the gun pretty much ended the feudal system. That system wasn't really a good thing for the common man. I would say that the invention of the gun was one of the first step for equal rights.
The battlefields of medieval time wasn't any more fun than battlefields today.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
@gurkfisk89
I can see how you come come to that conclusion, in a twisted sort of way, but the gun no longer provides the service you herald it for.
I say, now that the gun has fulfilled it's purpose we destroy them all and reclaim the sword.
VashDr460n 1 year ago
Comment removed
VashDr460n 1 year ago
those techniques seem more german in nature than i had expected
atjnAdfhhjea 1 year ago
I would love to train with these guys.
arcanemuses 1 year ago
@arcanemuses
Too bad you live in the US and these guys in Germany.
A good thing is that there are some really good clubs in the US that also train with the longsword. Some of the clubs are marked on this map:
w w w . communitywalk. c o m / THE-HEMA-ALLIANCE-Training-Partner-Finder
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
@gurkfisk89 Thanks. I'll check this out.
arcanemuses 1 year ago
The first few forms look incredibly similiar to Kendo katas.
They must be truly effective if two independent culturs came to the same conclusion.
IntelGore 1 year ago
1 good and 1 bad:
Everything excellent but no music :(
daviddipan 1 year ago
it looks so artificial.....
Verithiell 1 year ago
@Verithiell It's a series of forms. Not unlike the forms that you would do in any other martial art. The idea is that you practice them repeatedly until they are engrained in your muscle memory and then when it really matters in a fight you can tie them together fluidly as the situation dictates. The idea is that from a given guard or stance there are X number of ways that you can move, both on attack and defense.
imperialus 1 year ago
@Verithiell And that by tying them together with the different guards you and move from one to another naturally.
imperialus 1 year ago
I really wish MMORPG's that favor the medieval theme could just have even 10% of the detail of long sword techniques... a lot of them are just simple swings with colourful light effects attached to them.
Same goes for some movies, some of them kinda magically cut to a close-up in split seconds. All you see is some quick shadow moving, I mean, WTF just happened? Zoom out a bit. A 3rd person isometric view couldn't hurt from time to time...
Confuzedd 1 year ago
@Confuzedd Mount & Blade: Wardband has maybe 20% of these techniques :) Really nice game! You can buy it on steam!
TheVerinen2 1 year ago
Very impressed.
harrisonaard1 1 year ago
Hahaha, I started to laugh at 1:07 those techniques are amazing...
So, I can't join the group at the moment (age :( ), but is there anything I can do (I am already building strenght-hope that goes well :p) that I will start from nill?
justaguy08 1 year ago
@justaguy08
If you can train any other martial art it will help you a lot. Otherwise your strenht training is a good choise.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
@justaguy08 As far as martial arts go, to prepare yourself for swordsmanship your best bets are going to be Judo or Wrestling, though any well-taught art will help.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens Um... Judo isn't the best choise, from what I know they tell you to be very light on your feet and if you are somebody could just plow you over... I know this because in my group the guy who used to do Judo always ends up on his back from Ring 1...
acephantom903 1 year ago
@acephantom903 Probably a result of bad Judo training. Good Judoka are monsters, and not easy to put on their backs. :) You have to be light on your feet with swords as well... just not TOO light. The standup grappling you learn from Judo is very applicable to swords.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens kung fu got similar stances to what they use in sword fighting , and they do teach scimitar , and short blades .
How in hell wresting prepares you , most of it is ground work ? At least jet juitsu incorporates some katana training .
sewagedweller 1 year ago
@sewagedweller The earliest manuscript in the Liechtenauer tradition states "all fencing comes from wrestling". By wrestling they mean all grappling, both standing and ground. The reason is twofold: the sensitivity you learn in grappling (balance, pressure, leverage, etc) is very similar to working from the bind in swordsmanship. Secondly, very often in a sword fight the combatants will get really close, at which point the best option is to throw the opponent or apply joint leverage... (con't)
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@sewagedweller (con't)... Also, the ground work is important for armoured duelling, which was often decided on the ground with daggers. That's apparently why modern wrestling requires a "pin"... it's a holdover from the positional work you have to do to deploy a dagger against an armoured opponent. Lastly, it develops great core strength, which is a decided advantage in swordsmanship. :)
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens ok , but i should point out that modern wrestling is probably different what old manuscripts had it mind . Closest thing to what you describe is jujitsu (jap , not brazillian one ) .
sewagedweller 1 year ago
@sewagedweller True enough, but even modern wrestlers who do HEMA become excellent swordsmen, my teacher being case in point. It's not necessarily standing vs. ground, but the principles of controlling another person's body transfers well to controlling another person's sword in the bind, or sword and body together, like during Ringen am Schwert. :)
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens fair enough . I just have little bias against wresting , during judo training we had a new , massive guy from wresting and he did little sumo run at me . Send me flying in the air . Sounds like any martial art that teaches you balance and control over opponent is good .
sewagedweller 1 year ago
Kudos for posting the real deal. I've been dueling for years and I know this stuff really works. *like*
kevilinsky 1 year ago
the other guy got owned
ww2Komandant 1 year ago
Excellent video; techniques are very visible, not too fast for the viewer, and the moves themselves look very realistic and to the point.
Wodenhelm 1 year ago
Loving the grapples!
fsbritney 1 year ago
Girl pants..
DoubleH42 1 year ago
Doesn't differ much from other sword techniques used worldwide. I'm trained in Chinese sword (jian), and this is similar in many ways, notably in the fact that there's not a lot of "clashing" of the kind you see in movies, but a lot of "sticking" and pivoting around the point of contact, finding a way to the opponent that gets you in past the effective reach of his sword. Shows how technique is necessarily defined by the nature of the tool: similar tools will be used in similar ways.
ShenSpirit 1 year ago
do you think these moves will also work with a scotish claymore??
0000UnDead0000 1 year ago
@0000UnDead0000 A claymore (I'm assuming you mean the two-handed variety rather than the later basket-hilted type) is just a variety of longsword, so the techniques will work just fine with one. The steeply angled crossguard might have some effect, but nothing a few hours of practice won't get you used to.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@Kunstdesfechtens Two-handed "claymore" is a greatsword. Claymore has never referred to the greatsword, in scottish language anyway. As far as i can guess it comes from "claidheamh mor" (i cannot type the symbols, so if i am missing them dont tell me) which means broadsword, ie. a short and fat sword.
Pawnbroker00 1 year ago
@Pawnbroker00 Claymore has been used by hopologists to refer to both the two handed variety and the later basket hilted braodsword. This has led to considerable confusion in terminology. :)
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
wait a minute - something is wrong here...
...they are not blocking with the flats of their swords! =O
bsapaka 1 year ago
Fascinating. A few of them seem unwieldy, with sudden changes in direction, but a lot of them are quite unexpected and interesting.
larsrc 1 year ago
You can just see why the old proverb went "to send an untrained man to war is to throw him away".
Some random idiot who thinks he's awesome just because he has a sword in his hand and knows how to swing it around without hitting himself (like, say, myself) would go up against one of these guys and be all like "man I don't need those fancy bullshit techniques" and then I'd get dead in like 2 seconds because my opponent would've trained for counters to all my obvious and predictable attacks.
MrCattlehunter 1 year ago
@MrCattlehunter Too true. If you are a little trained, you limit your moovement a lot more and while the other guy is all over the place you just shift your sword a little and move your body a little. This way you are allways faster and you make kicking his ass look effortless.
BadMartini 1 year ago
those sunday joggers r soooooo awsomeeee.....o and the longsword guys r too i guess lol jk awsome job
rbscatter98 1 year ago
European martial arts are the best
Porfinnr 1 year ago
@Porfinnr
No.
There is no best martial art. You're no better than a katana plonker if you go around and say things like that.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
@gurkfisk89 I know that is the man and not the weapon that give chances of victory, but i prefer a lot european martial arts for their aesthetics, moves ecc... However I am a taekwondo fighter...
Porfinnr 1 year ago
@Porfinnr
Well that's different and I agree, I also prefer european MA but it's probably because I'm a practitioner of it.
Have a nice day and good luck with your taekwondo.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
@gurkfisk89 unfortunatly my english is not good enough to express in a clear way what I think...
Porfinnr 1 year ago
@Porfinnr
I know how you feel, it would be easier if everyone spoke Swedish or in your case, Italian I suppose. =)
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
in 70% of thsoe cases even if A would strike B then B would strike A -.-
a typical /win /win situation XD
Shetyre 1 year ago
lol aikido
Cat2uinCyberspace 1 year ago
There is no realism within the fight seqence. No one stands there waiting to be hit, even an apprentice jumps away from situations. Show me live combat......
nagualshadow 1 year ago
@nagualshadow
They show some techniques used with the longsword in this video. If they would do a sparring video they can't show these techniques in a good way, so that we can se what happens. Because like you say, people don't stand still.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago 2
@nagualshadow The point of this is not to demonstrate realistic live combat -- just the techniques that might be used. Of course in a real fight it doesn't usually come out as cleanly as this, but in doing it slowly (with an unresisting partner) you obtain the muscle memory for the maneuver, later being able to apply it to active combat. As I was told, at least, form and technique need to be mastered first -- then you can speed it up.
AndPious 1 year ago 6
Woah, Knights Fought DIRTY.
AliveEyes 1 year ago
@AliveEyes I don't think that there's a way to fight dirty :]
Combat was deadly business and a man needed to use any technique at his disposal in order to win and survive. (Although I think that would be illegal in combat sports) THAT is the true nature of combat in my opinion. :]
TryForceTriforce 1 year ago
Damn...this really kicks ass.
hoosieryank1967 1 year ago
I have a reprint 15th century German sword master manuscript with many of these techniques illustrated. It is very instructive to actually see them executed with such precision. I wish fight science would do some stuff with medieval martial arts.
kd7fkd 1 year ago
Very well done!
mjdjoy 1 year ago
WOO QQ amazing :X:X:X like the templars from the movies but a lot beter
SpeedeyFreaks 1 year ago
I don't know much about swordfight but this looks great. How long did you train to achieve this level ?
agt334 1 year ago
@agt334 It depends on how hard you train! A reasonable level of proficiency can be attained within a year if you're diligent. The thing is, you'll never stop learning if you train hard and often. You can practice for 20 years and stll find things to learn! Since you're in Germany, check out groups like Ochs and go for a class and see how you like it!
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
Very entertaining indeed!!! For the swordplay featured above was quite brilliant, very impressive, superbly executed, poetic in its grace & no doubt extremely effective! Also, the swordmasters who devised such sword fighting techniques were very innovative & clever, for such methods & styles could be invaluable when going up against this more savage, bigger & stronger foe (such as an Irish or Scottish Gallowglass!), for it's all based on parry, then expert, quick exploitation! I love it!!!
sxlfkta 1 year ago
Wow... that was really fun to watch. Good job!
AmunRa1 1 year ago
I meant to write down this late Medieval Irish Gallowglass mercenary of mostly Scottish descent. My bad!!! For that would be quite the matchup, this late 15th-early 16th century, quintessential German Landsknechte vs this late 14th century Scottish/Irish Gallowglass. For that would no doubt prove to be quite the awesome & fascinating matchup!!!
sxlfkta 1 year ago
Very, very, very impressive indeed!!! I wonder, how would such Brilliant, mid 15th century, central European sword fighting techniques actually measure up to such late Medieval, Gaelic/Gallowglass sword fighting methods, along with such old-school, traditional Samurai tactics/techniques??? For I would love to witness such a showdown--this late Medieval Irish Gallowglass (of Scottish mostly descent!) vs this early 16th century German Landsknechte! That would be awesome!!!
sxlfkta 1 year ago
Really good study, but I think you misunterpreted some close combat techniques at around 1:26. Close combat is usually engaged starting from a parry, when the opponent is going towards you and you take the right time to parry-block his sword in one time.
If you start with an attack the opponent will likely block/dodge with a pace backwards and it is really really difficult to reach him.
Paull1978 1 year ago
good stuff guys, Im a member of a school here in Australia called Marxbruder which does the same type techniques (very much Lichtenhaur/Talhoffer) I was very impressed with the half sword movements, though your schwerts look very light, how much do they weigh ???
Arkapok81 1 year ago
sucks for the light hair dude, he died a good 40 some odd times in 2 minutes.
it's like Rex-Kwon-Do
AndyCarnage 1 year ago
awesome video :)
jettarulz 1 year ago
moral of the story: they guy who takes a second strike instead of just standing there waiting to die wins
bretlynn 1 year ago
Not at all, actually the one that leads the strike has an advantage. These are just the ways to screw up his plan and regain the advantage, but it's not just "block, retaliate, win". There are as many techniques to countering defense as are there to defend.
Ranziel1 1 year ago
yeah since this is obviously a real fight and not just them showing one technique each time that the other guy isnt supposed to defend against
boothesquirrel 1 year ago
@bretlynn That would be true if it wasn't for such techniques as the "Fehler" or "Sturzhau" or "Hutenbrecher".
BadMartini 1 year ago
I wish this was taught where I live in the US. Here, it's about football and football only. Ugh.
wingedhamham 1 year ago 11
Just look up the SCA. They're pretty good, but it would be better if you could actually get a group of friends together to practice and spar. That's what I did, and we've been doing it for years now.
SpecOpCellBorn 1 year ago
SCA can be iffy, though some of their best guys are pretty darn good. One's best bet in the US is to contact the HEMA Alliance or the WMA Coalition who can put you in touch with the right people.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago
@wingedhamham
Not at all, actually! I mean yes, Europe certainly has more resources available, but where do you live? I go out to the States for the summer, and you might want to check out Western Martial Arts schools run by people such as Dr. Holland and Stephen Ficke. :]
LeannanStair 1 year ago
@wingedhamham agree'd
we should make up our own swordfighin tecnique based on the greater aspects of the european and asian fighting styles. lol. getting the best of both worlds.
PUNKROCKINTHISSHIT 1 year ago
awsome vid
Knightofthetruehorne 1 year ago
How would this be in a full suit of armor?
Edoric85 1 year ago
Well some of the techniques would work and other would not. I think the techniques 1 minute in (the halfswording) would work rather good and of course also the throws at the end.
gurkfisk89 1 year ago
Most of these techniques are for unarmoured combat. The half-swording videos near the end are more appropriate for armoured fighting, and are also applicable unarmoured.
Kunstdesfechtens 1 year ago 2
Thats "Bloßfechten" fencing without an armor, if you fence in an armor you usually do "Harnischfechten"...
TestGrave 1 year ago
Okay I didnt see the whole thing, there re also techniques for that, Im sorry ^^
TestGrave 1 year ago
it's called Bloßfechten, that means without amor!
For Battle in Armor there are special techniques from a position Halbschwert. You can recognize them easily , because in halbschwert stance one hand is at the Blade. ( the guys from zornhau eV showed some techniques from that Hut ( term for Stances)
Akmon87 1 year ago
bery good!!!
tank you
revepunky 1 year ago
Bravo! A wonderful demonstration of some of my favorite sword schools.
fossegrimen13 1 year ago
I like how they grab the blade, you usually don't think that that would be a viable option.
7heTexanRebel 2 years ago
@7heTexanRebel
Yep! The sword can be used as three weapons: a sword held by the actual handle, a dagger when held with one hand on the pommel and one on the blade as seen here, and a kind of hammer when two hands are on the blade and the pommel is the weapon. :]
LeannanStair 1 year ago
Hmm...I wish I knew more of the technicalities here, but I can definitely see a solid style here. I wonder how it differs from being fully armored and such. Nice video.
Lachdenan 2 years ago
The techniques near the end are more for armoured combat, where the blade is gripped with the left hand and used like a short spear. It was also done unarmoured though. The techniques at the beginning of the video are for unarmoured combat.:)
Kunstdesfechtens 2 years ago
I just read about 1/4 of the way down the whole list...you are very wise on this subject, Kunstdesfechtens. I agree very much with your philosophies, and thank you for the good "points."
Lachdenan 2 years ago
ok by watching the video slowly there are more small mistakes done in the hurry in the following techniques it's far to much to cmnt every one, especially because a lot of the techniques are interpretaionable and it difficult to say how its preform right like mutieren or Meyers famous Rose. And One more time respect for your skills you showed in part ringen am Schwert , i always have hudge Problems with getting close enough to grap
Akmon87 2 years ago
Zornhau: I haven't seen a Mutieren action while your first Zornhau technique further more the first time you did the technique your arms are to trechted to much so you not able to Stab him and you should push his sword more from his line to prevent a strike.But the time you did zornhau with Einwinden was perfekt.
Akmon87 2 years ago
Nachreißen: IMO the strike should more be like an Oberhau or an oberhau Zwerch not a zwerch hau because to perform a such hudge swing cost time. The Nachreißen Right is the same thing you titeled Abnehmen from Hangeort. at not a Nachreißen
Akmon87 2 years ago
Your Abnehmen from Hangeort reminds me more of Untere Versatzung Oben, nur in this case you go far to much from the line. I Practice this technique with a front movement towards my opponent to get on the same line with his hand, while i am protecting my body with the Hangeort. With in this movement the ort points in direction of the untere Blöße of my opponent.
Akmon87 2 years ago
Abnehmen from Hangeort: the big swing with the sword ,like you performed it, take to much time, if he is weich ( weak ) he is able to perform Nachreisen at hit your arm especialy because you in close mensure.
I was teached that Abnehmen is used if my opponent want to prevent a Duplieren with changing position to Hut der Frau, then you can change the site over the ort in a short fast move and perform a Oberhau or a Scheitler
Akmon87 2 years ago
Comment removed
Akmon87 2 years ago
lol at 1:46
Great vid
SteffanClentDavies