CAS Hanwei - 2010 Blade show - John Clements Historical European Swordsmanship

[thesparitan]

I was there and I didn't even get to see this. Damn that blows.

[mojothemigo]

Say what you want about ARMA or JC, but thearma website is fantastic. Lots of good info on it. It is neededYou have 1)200 years of modern fencers saying Ren. period war swords were 20 pound bricks 2) eastern martial arts espoucing their own thing as well as deep seated resentment (understandable) of past colonialism to put down western martial arts 3) college culture that doesn't like the study of martial history outside of antagonism against the west 4) Hollywood

[vought19]

Why the hell the video skips at around 45second? I damned wanted to know what this guy is talking about!

[IaMaPh1991]

@vought19 Hanwei claimed their camera had technical difficulties.

[dbyammy]

@SethMan91 Books? figure it out? interwebz? schools?

[dbyammy]

Excellent video... I wish I could learn the ways of european swordsmanship that has been lost to us over the years.

[gurkfisk89]

@dbyammy

I see that you live in Canada, there are some groups there at least. I will send you a map with some of the groups. I hope there is a group near you.

[FoolingWithFuhlen]

@SethMan91 your comments have been removed (by who?), but I read them in my inbox. I appreciate the lengthy explanation. Explaining martial arts with words is always tough! It will be nice to see some more complete articles and/or videos showing specifically JC's new krumphau interpretation, as I have not been able to find any. Ironically enough, I have seen some very clear, specific, and detailed articles arguing AGAINST JC's idea.

[Gnostic88]

german longswordsmanship > Kenjutsu

[halfassedfart]

@Gnostic88 Not better. Just different.

[FoolingWithFuhlen]

@SethMan91 hmmm ok. it doesn't sound so new and revolutionary :S

I guess I'd need to see a proper demonstration to understand it better. come on John Clements, release your interpretation!!

[FoolingWithFuhlen]

@SethMan91 yeah that makes sense. It seems like it's basically just a more extended version of the classic "windshield wiper" Krumphau. instead of the blade travelling on a plane parallel to you, it travels more like a cut with the short edge to the upper left opening.

[FoolingWithFuhlen]

I'm still trying to get a clear idea of what John Clements' new krumphau interpretation is. I think this vid shows it at 6:00, but it's not very clear cuz of the camera angle. Is there a video anywhere where JC clearly demonstrates his new interpretation?

[mouthforwar17]

@SethMan91 i would have control of your blade and id have the advantage over you. if you flat parry theres so manymore ways i can counter and defeat an opponent than there would be if you edge parried. the guards are not meant to be excecuted with the flat because i can counter you, my guard can block if you slid your blade down mine, and again id control your blade, i can grapple your blade from your hands, i can forcefully parry your blade away, etc etc, i would control you.

[TownPiligan14]

@mouthforwar17 i just got a cas-hanwei sword and the metal handguard makes a clicking noise if you shake the word a little, it doesnt move so much as it just makes a noise, is this bad?

[mouthforwar17]

@TownPiligan14 what sword is it?? find out where the noise is coming from. shaking isnt good though. if youre going to use the blade for sparring make sure its up to those standards. if the blade has a peened tang and not a rat tail tang you should be okay. but a lot of sword makers weld their blades at certain points in the guard which i dont like and i dont think is a good way of making a blade.

[TownPiligan14]

@mouthforwar17 kultofathena./product.asp?item­=SH2365&name=Hanwei+Hand+and+a­+Half+Sword (add a "com" after kultofathena)

its the hanwei hand and a half sword, the clicking sounds like the hand guard isn't attached tightly to the blade/hilt but it doesnt seem to move enough to be noticeable, it simply clicks

[mouthforwar17]

@TownPiligan14 it says the pommel is peened. but it doesnt clarify i theres any welding on the tang. it should be ok but id be careful with it. i got a hanwei claymore a while back and i didnt have any clicking problems but i found it very unbalanced. it depends on what you want the sword for. i wouldnt do any live steel fighting with it. if you want to cut things with it make sure that theres nothing in danger of getting hurt if the blade comes apart when u swing it.

[gurkfisk89]

@TownPiligan14

I knew I had read an intresting text that perhaps would help you. I found it and it was in swedish =(

But nothing that goggle translate can't handle =) I think the pics are very usefull. If you want help with translation I can help you.

Here is the link

htt p : // bjorn.foxtail.n u/swords.htm (remove spaces)

If your guard is loose due to that the whole grip is a bit loose then this may help. I hope it does.

[mouthforwar17]

@SethMan91 k first of all read all my comments ive said all this stuff twice. secondly i dont have the time to make a video like that. when i get the time i will and ill prove to you that flat parry is not the correct way to do it. if you flat parry im going to counter all day long or bare upon your blade and move yours out of the way like a feather. im a big guy and if someone was dumb enough to flat parry me id show them how wrong it can be.

[elgostine]

theresone thing he does however ge sortof wrong, theres also th techniques developed for military use, more particularly cavalry combat.

[zdkezios]

this guy is so awesome. i love how energetic and excited he is.

[mouthforwar17]

he knows alot of good stuff...only 2 reasons that i dont like this video.. he blocks with the flat. and he wears no gloves

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 whats wrong with the flat?if you block with the edge youll damage the sword

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine read my first comment. theres no point in blocking with the flat if u block with the right part of the blade

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 that is based off what. since that seems to contadict what most people say about swords and blockingtechnique. i was also of the impression parially sharpened blades was a hallmark more of later swords like the rapier for two reasons 1 more optimised for the thurust but still able to do some cutting. and 2 the style would probably require such construction. my guess anyways

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine Viking sagas and Scottish broadsword text all indicate edge-parry. In regard to long sword texts they are generally not specific on the matter.Historical anecdotes and surviving antique long swords generally have edge damage through out the blade. In fact i believe the manuscripts of Talhoffer suggest not parrying with the flat. Also the blade flexes way less when blocking with the edge.

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17

but with viking sword in paticular isnt the edge damage risk a reason NOT to block with the edge, same goes wit the katana,

when reenacting i was told the same thing about blade flex, and theres also another factor , that being your wrist, when i do an overhead block wih my sword like an overhead sabre block in fencing except with viking sword. when i orient the blade to block with the flat, my wrist isnt in line with my arm bones which means it cant be supported as well

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 that said, regarding viking blades, as im reenacting a garrison of the varangian guard, i keep using my sword like chinese and late medieval styles + fencers use mostly the blade to attack and defend, i was told im using the sword too much and that, im supposed to do most of the jostling and deflecting with my shield. and simply use the weapon to deliver the kill

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine well if you have a large viking shield then yes you should use that as much as possible to defend and use your sword to kill. but speaking about longswords blocking with the flat, from what ive studied and what ive been told, isnt the best way to block.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine The Viking Sagas (and other historical anecdotes) clearly describe edge damage occurring during battle, which only happends when A) You block with the edge of your sword, and B) When your opponent blocks your attack using the edge of THEIR sword. ALL of the Scottish Baskethilt Broadsword manuals indicate blocking on the edge. In fact, it's impossible to use the guards in those manuals via flat parry and ACTUALLY still be using those guards.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine Antique longswords from Germany (home of many Fechtbucher/Fight Books) generally have damage on both fort and feeble of blade. In regards to longsword texts Joseph Sweatnam (English Master, early 17th century longsword and rapier master) states to block "on the edge of thy rapier". Fiore dei Liberi does not mention the flat parry, some guards are less effective when using the flat parry (if not downright impossible). Fiore is what i train in.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine ARMA people follow Clements like some kinda messiah. If HE says it, then it MUST be true, regardless of what the historical sources (and surviving antiques) say otherwise. What they don't get is that you don't NEED to preserve the edge of the fort of the blade, as the fort is not the part your are actually cutting with (except when chocking someone to death/cutting their throat in half, as per Fiore). It's the Feeble of the blade you need to worry about.

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 in regards to forte and feeeble, say a german bastard sword has a blade thats 100cm long, say. how many cm of the blade would be the forte and how many the feeble. does the reletively dull forte also explain how one could halfswrd barehanded without cuttig themselves.

i believed clements stuff because A hes the only one to go into it in decent detail before you, 2 it resonated with what i had heard about kenjutsu and the damage tha could be sustained, from edge 2 edge contact.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine It's the Feeble of the blade you need to worry about. Even still...a sword is a tool, no matter HOW ornate and precious it is, it's still a tool, designed to save your life and kill your enemies. If you survive one battle and the sword is now a Sawblade, then count yourself fortunate. John Clements and the ARMA fail to realize this.See More

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 one thing that comes to mind in that case is in a chinese movie where jet li faces a gardsman to save a girl tied to some pylon, they clash with broadswords (dao) if you pay attention you notice a series of large notches in their blades, and at one point jjet lis sword breaks in half from all the damage (maybe)

[devoidchess]

@elgostine Spot on here I remeber the movie because of the damage caused by edge to edge contact(but not the title).

If you recall correctly the blades were also very flexible on the flat-much like some styles of Chinese Dao today

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 but the latefrank reinhart who is apparently a legend in the area of viking era fighting, mentions that you dont normally hit edge to edge, while yes thats true if itll save your life you do it, but almost willy nilly wrecking your sword? i dunno about you but i think that seems abit stupid, swords especially viking ones wernt cheap. the only thiings more expensive was a ship or possibly a shirt of maille. doesnt it make sense to minimise damage by not blocking with the edge?

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine forget kenjutsu and jet li movies.. cuz european sword fighting is a whole different thing..u simply cannot excecute guards and parries correctly by blocking with the flat. the forte of the blade is dull enough to the point where edge blocking with it wont hurt the sword...the sword is a tool..u dont attack with the forte. attacking is meant for the feeble leaving the forte to be used as a tool for blocking.

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 you forgot to answer my other question... how much of the length of the blade is taken up by the forte??? and how much the feeble like, say for example the blade is 100cm long, how many cm would the forte be on average, 25, 33 40, 50?

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine the feeble takes up about the top 1/3 of the blade...the forte is the other 2/3 of the blade from the guard up to the beginning of the feeble.if you have a 100 cm blade take about 1/3 of 100cm and thats how much ur feeble should be..the rest would be the forte

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 so longswords are sharpened like rapiers, YUK to contrast, my practical norman sword's bladeis 76cm, and the COP is roughly a third of the distance from the tip, clearly mines a hacking kind of sword, but in regards to edge n edge parryng, at least with the longsword, what convinces me is that the real gladiatores seem to do a sort of blocw with the edge right near the guard.

but i was watching then using the messer and i saw the guy turn his wrist and use the flat.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine from historical references and experience since i do longsword fighting. and from what ive been taught, the forte of the blade can withstand edge blocking and parrying and was meant to be used in that way

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris ive seen this video...1 its annoying..and 2 its simply wrong...that is not HISTORICALLY ACCURATE according to historical resources. that video shows blocks on the flat obviously but read all my comments and youll see why blocking on the flat is wrong. and youll also see that john clements and ARMA are both wrong. ARMA views clements like he a god but hes wrong. therefore arma is also wrong. to put it simply u cannot correctly excecute blocks and parries with the flat.

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 I'm open for the discussion, but then you should say more than just ''it's not historical accurate'' or ''wrong''. I agree that parrying with the dull, lower part of the forte is a way to do, but how can you say ''u cannot correctly excecute blocks and parries with the flat.'' whereas i've seen videos where it is very much possible and furthermore i'm training this way since some time?? Why should i turn the cutting edge twice instead of keeping it in direction of the opponent?

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris read the conversation between me and elgostine it explains everything. i dont want to have to type it all over again. if i were you id rethink the way u block and the way ur school teaches, if u go to a longsword fencing school. to say it simply, you cannot excecute flat blocks or parries correctly if you were to face a fighter that blocks with the edge in the correct way you may find yourself in a bit of trouble. also the blades are mad to take blocks on the edge not the flat

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris Antique longswords from Germany (home of many Fechtbucher/Fight Books) generally have damage on both fort and feeble of blade. In regards to longsword texts Joseph Sweatnam (English Master, early 17th century longsword and rapier master) states to block "on the edge of thy rapier". Fiore dei Liberi does not mention the flat parry, some guards are less effective when using the flat parry (if not downright impossible). Fiore is what i train in.

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 I read your earlier comments and while i agree to the reason why you say it's POSSIBLE to parry with the lower edge of the sword, you've not given any valid reason WHY i should prefer doing it this way or even avoid to parry with the flat. You say ''it's impossible to parry with the flat'' as if Clement's vid is a fake or as if the sword would go through your blade?? You prefer techniques who favor edge parrying? Well that's no problem but don't say the other way is (cont)

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 (cont) impossible! In the contrary i have reasons why i prefer the flat: If you parry with the edge your sword is in the direction of the enemy's blade, you can't do a thing. If you parry with the flat, you can even while parrying hit the opponent because the edge already is in the correct direction. Furthermore, the damage you're speaking of on antique swords prove you should avoid it, even if it may happen in the heat of battle. And Rapier fencing is renownedly different.

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 In the end i don't think there is one single correct way to do like you seem to think. Like in Kenjutsu where some schools teach to parry with the edge whie the Katana has no blunt blade part, and other schools do not. Your method is absolutely valid but i don't think you should believe you've got the only correct way to do. As a swordfighter you're surely openminded enough to accept that there are many techniques and that not every person has the same preferences than you do.

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris it is impossible because excecuting parries and guards like this is incorrect. its much easier to bare upon your oponents blade and win when the oponent blocks with the flat. old blades with damage on the forte prooves that a sword was a tool and only the feeble edge must remain undamaged. the forte was meant to block on edge. forget kenjustu and eastern martial arts. this is different because the blades and techniques are different. you should study old manuscript(cont)

[mouthforwar17]

@mouthforwar17 old manuscripts will all agree that blocking with the edge is the correct way to do it. if you study the parts of a sword and what they are made for and what old manuscripts say then you will realize that blocking with the edge is the correct way of blocking. if i used my edge to bare upon the flat of your blade id win everytime. also i am able to slide my blade down yours and attack you and you would not be able to parry with the guard of your blade pointing to me

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris for example. if i do a simple attack to your left shoulder and u block with your flat i now have control of your blade if i choose to bare upon it. then i would excecute a simple attack after baring upon your blade. blades do not flex from force on the edge..however they will flex and give way from force applied to the flat

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 Ah, now you speak of real reasons why you prefer the edge. However, stop saying it's IMPOSSIBLE to parry with the flat, because it isn't! You're just mentioning reasons why it would be BETTER to use the edge (That was confusing me all the time!)

Now sadly my bad english doesn't understand what you mean by ''to bare upon it''. What do you mean? But anyway, once your sword hit my flat, my cutting edge has already found you because i hit at the same time. What could you possibly do?

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris to bare upon the blade means yo apply force to your opponents blade and kind of wrestle with your opponents blade away to make him vulnerable. it is much easier to move a blade by baring upon the opponents flat than the edge. in clements video if his opponent was to bare upon the blade while clements attacked or defended clements wouldve lost. and there goes the advatage of having the blade already facing the opponent because hes moved the blade away easily

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 Thanks for the explanation :-) Well, isn't it what Clements made in the vid by intercepting? But this is true for ''grasping'' distance, as long as you are at greater distance, wouldn't it be better to use the advantage of the edge in the correct direction, so that the opponent wouldn't come close in the first place? I see more clearly what you mean now, but i'm still not convinced that using the flat is wrong and should never be done...

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris its just correct technique to edge block. i wouldnt suggest flat blocking at all but judging from manuscripts and practice id say that edge blocking is more advantageous and will offer more options for the defender to counter or parry

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 Thank you for your opinion and interesting thoughts. I still think that for a swordfighter there shouldn't be only one correct way of doing, and personally i still prefer to parry on the flat. But i will keep what you said in mind for my future training. See you :-)

[mouthforwar17]

@Railriderchris see u. by the way your english is very good. i know people that only speak and write in english that dont do it as well as you lol..but if you are going to flat parry keep in mind where the guard of your blade is so you can succesfully parry with your guard if need be

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 Thank you for your kind compliment, i mostly learned my english by discussing with people on Youtube ;-D

I will gladly remember the hints you gave me. I'm happy we could find a honorable agreement and i'm looking forward to encounter you another time on Youtube :-)

[mouthforwar17]

@mouthforwar17 same to you my friend

[Railriderchris]

@mouthforwar17 And: Have you seen Clement's vid of ''receiving on the flat'' until the end? Because there he shows techniques with which he uses the edge because he's not parrying but rather intercetpting the other sword very closely to bind it

watch?v=TtNZQBc4RpE&feature=re­lated#t=4m19

So i think both techniques have their good, why do you keep on saying you know the only truth? ;-P

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 yes, though how clements presents it does seem to make sense, that said youve made a far better point..

and people say you cant learn stuff from youtube *snort*

in regards to the messer though, it seems to me that according to the talhoffer sequences done by 'the real gladiatores' they however seem to block with the flat. do you have any idewhy they might do that?

is it maybe due to a lack of forte/feble?

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine clements talks like what hes demonstrating is really historically accurate just to cover up the fact that its not really historically accurate..i dont know much about the messer i do a lot of longsword re-enacting but not messer..but as far as i can tell the real gladiatores were using the flat along with their bucklers to carry out parrys and blocks but i may be wrong about that. perhaps the difference in the structure of the blade has something to do with it. but im not sure

[elgostine]

@mouthforwar17 not just along with the bucklers.

i get the feeling that theres no hard and fast rule for all sword styles. likefor example, viking swords and the katana dont have a dulled forte like the longsword, and the viking sword often comes with a shield which minimises the need for sword on sword contact. and swords then were expensive and had a releltively low occurence on battlefields. so maybe there wasnt much of a sword on sword rule.

[mouthforwar17]

@elgostine it would seem to make sense not to block with the edge to preserve your blade but the fact still remains that you cannot execute proper guards and parries when blocking with the flat. another fact needs to be taken into consideration, which is that the sword is a tool..the feeble reserved for attacking, the forte for blocking and remains dull for halfswording and for blocking.

[mouthforwar17]

idk why he insists that u use the flat of your sword to block. a lot of manuscripts actuallly say not too...theres no point in blocking with the flat when the cutting edge is on the top 1/3 of the blade.. the body of the blade or the bottom 2/3s is more dull than the top so theres no point in worrying about damaging the edge when theres no edge to begin with

[Schattenninpo]

EXCELLENT!  Great video!!!

[ThegnThrand]

This is Thrand!!!

Excellent video keep teaching the truth and keep up the good work !!!

[Gnostic88]

NICE FUCKING VIDDEOOOOO!!!!! *DIES*

[monkeyboy4746]

How are you able to learn how to use a sword without getting killed or maimed in the process?

[gurkfisk89]

@monkeyboy4746

You simply don't use sharp swords.

[monkeyboy4746]

@gurkfisk89 Yeah, I know, but a dull sword to the elbow, forearm or side of the neck could mess you up real bad. I guess you just have to accept injuries during training and try to minimize them.

[gurkfisk89]

@monkeyboy4746

Yes, like any other sport you have to accept the possibility of injury, but with some safety equipment you can minimize the risks.

[Railstarfish]

@monkeyboy4746 Safety gear like fencing masks and padding help too. Most of the drills done in freeplay/sparring will be in safety gear or use wooden swords called wasters. The rest of the time the cuts are drills in specific technique, where both partners know what the move is so there is less chance of an accident.

[KvltKommando]

why is this guy so mad at everyone, is it because they made fun of his shoes

[gre8]

This guy must be a great teacher. He really loves what he does, he knows what he does, and he is enthusiastic about it. To train under this guy must be great.

[Railriderchris]

This is amazing! Who dares to talk about crude medieval fencing relying on brute force after that??

[ArhkXi]

Having a double edged sword is much better than have a single edged sword no matter the circumstance.

But people still like Katanas because, people like foreign things.

[wyz1]

pretty good, some legit sword fighting, id like to see sword masters duel from around the world

[TwoGunGunnar]

I've been to a few of Clements' classes, & say what you will about him, but the guy really does know his shit. And he can back it up, too.

[TempestDust]

Although it looks like he's on crack, speed and ecstacy at once, he is probably an expert. These moves are 20x faster, more brutal and clever, more "real full contact fighting", than any of the images prejudiced people have towards European sword combat

[mindsmirror]

"We got it!" What an asshole. If you don't want to learn then go jack off in the corner you little bitch. The man is there to teach and quite a few people are actually interested in what he has to say. Why are there fucking douchebags like that everywhere you go? I would have hoped the knife community could represented themselves a little better and stabbed his sorry ass in the throat. :)

[Grimjau]

@SethMan91

John Clements is an arrogant braggart.

In Europe he is regarded as a laughing stock.

It is to be a nerve that it acts as if he were the speaker of historical fencing scene.

[Protherium]

@Grimjau

Yes because he lives in USA not Europe. It's the american way of teaching HEMA. ;)

In the USA european swordplay is strongly associated with movie stage fighting and true swordplay with japanese katana. Most of JMA practs usually comtempt european swords, regarding them as "crude hunks of blunt steel with no martial art attached".

Clements is the one who harshily but quite effective dispel myths and misinformation about european history and weaponry. He has to be this way.

[sublimestyle21]

He is very skilled I have to give him that, and he's knowledgeable as well, but I disagree with his view on martial arts...In my opinion martial art isn't described just by "brutally and efficiently incapacitating your oponent at all costs". One must have a philosophy and his own code of ethics in order to be a martial artist. When one follows the way of the warrior trains both body and mind. Thus origin does not pose a limitation on what is or isn't a martial art.

[11Kralle]

Dieser Mann ist eine Schande für sein Schwert.

This guy is a shame for his sword. Any german swordsman would poke him with the first ingoing step. This watch-and-react-crap shows none understanding of martial arts at all.

[Protherium]

I wonder how it will be in a fight between movie ninjas and Clements. Or movie knights, movie kung-fu fighters or karate tigers/kids also from movies. I think in a real fight with real sharp swords he and his students would slaughter them all, just like any master of japanese Kenjutsu, chinese swordfighting arts or indian Kalarippayattu.

Clements may be harsh and rude, but today you have to be this way - in a world filled up with crazy asian hype!

[Mananandata]

@Protherium I'm sure he already slaughtered them all.. in his mind.

[Giagantus]

@Protherium

So fighting hype with hype is the solution ? How about just being honest, no bullshit, no hype ( be it asian or not) ? I suppose fanboys regardless of camp would find that preposterous

[Protherium]

@Giagantus

You have to tell me now where did you heard bullsh*t from Clements? What he says about european swords and martial arts is true and can be verified via historical sources.

[Giagantus]

@Protherium I was referring to what u said not Clements. The part about crazy asian hype. There are those that think that by bullshiting in the other way the balance shit out. I am all for honesty. No bias

Though he occasionally says some odd things as well. Which I don't agree but as far as fighting (HEMA specifically) he is very impressive

[devoidchess]

what he rejects about martial arts and european swords can also be proved by historical texts,pictures but more importantly by swords with edge damage caused by blocking with the edges.

He is great at what he does but he has a barrow to push about european martial arts and certian techniques.

European sword masters are also wrong about sword being weapons of defence and the use of them as the art of defence-they are offensive weapons that can be used defensively.

[neferiusnexus]

So this is how True martial-arts look like... I AM impressed.

None of those flimsy and useless moves you see in kung-fu, and indeed very Brutal in style.

But I must say, John is quite hard on his trainees. He bellowed his every touche and only halfheartedly acknowledged his sparring-partner's.

I would think one needs Infinite patience to train under such a Master, but his knowledge of the craft seems Genuine.

[ZarlanTheGreen]

@SethMan91 "Wow... thats quite venomous." Not really. Just pointing out the facts. "From personal experience I assume?" Barely. "and honestly he doenst act like what you describe." ...as far as you see the situation. "I have yet to see any of his students display any "cult like" characteristics." I have. Mainly from being on the ARMA forum. Also, the membership agreement alone, makes ARMA a cult. "yet to see any blind faith in everything he does." "Not everything" allows for much.

[ZarlanTheGreen]

I don't know about his Italian or Spanish, but his German is... horrible.

(which reminds me: I should learn how the Italian terms I know, are supposed to be pronounced, so as to make sure I don't sound similarly terrible)

[grailchaser]

6:47 onwards. I just sat back and laughed with glee. I think he's spot on with that interpretation.

[GnPdemon]

You know, John Clements gets a lot of flack from the HEMA community outside of ARMA for his brashness (which is sometimes just plain rudeness), but nobody should ever take away what he has given to the Art of War. Like him or hate him, he has done much for Western Martial Arts. I don't like him, but I will never take away from the fact that he is skilled beyond belief.

[Ranziel1]

@GnPdemon And I must say that his brashness serves so well in dispelling the myths about European swords. He makes them so obviously ridiculous.

[ZarlanTheGreen]

@GnPdemon Oh he's knowledgeable, and very skilled.

He's paranoid, arrogant, rude, irrational and highly unscholarly and has made ARMA into a cult, but he has done much for the HEMA community, mainly in the past, and he is very skilled.

Though nowadays he does more to harm the HEMA community than benefit it, IMO, despite his skill.

...and given the conditions ARMA members must abide by nowadays, how much credit he should be given for any of the latest contributions in his name, is questionable.

[ranpleasant]

@ZarlanTheGreen - Do you actually know Clements? It seems you have copy/pasted the same crap others say. I have know Clements for 10 years as both a friend and his student and my experience is that he is a very nice guy to be around and to study under. If you really knew Clements you would know that he does not take himself very serious, but that he does take the art very seriouse. Clements is not arrogant and rude, he just does not put up with BS.

[ZarlanTheGreen]

@ranpleasant "It seems you have copy/pasted the same crap others say."

Where are statements that are verbatim (or near) what I've said?

"my experience is that he is a very nice guy to be around and to study under."

Well you study under, and defer to, him.

"he does take the art very seriouse"

But not others or scholarship.

"he just does not put up with BS."

Even where that point can be relevant, his behaviour is usually beyond that.

Also:

The ARMA Membership agreement = ARMA is a cult.

[halfassedfart]

Very nice video, though somehow I think most of that was wasted on the crowd. If he'd mutilated a few tatami mats, that might have gotten their attention.

[elgostine]

@halfassedfart for a different reason i agree, the reason is that its the idea that japanese swords are essentially giant scalpels, and that european swords are more like cleavers, a belief nothelped by the look of claymore and other huge weapons.

[bezudo]

Buena clase de un maestro, lástima no estar subtitulado en español.

[CASbp]

@SethMan91 Unfortunately the camera was acting up