Level 4: Quick Draw with the Highland Broadsword

Level 4 of our curriculum is derived from Gaelic folklore rather than the broadsword manuals. The great swordsman M'Comie Mor was said to be the master of a "graceful and sweeping" quick draw. We have attempted to reconstruct this lost technique.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• broadsword
• Highland
• Scottish
• sword
• swordsmanship
• martial
• arts
• WMA
• HEMA
• swordplay
• fencing

[gilbride100]

Not only will comments by idiots be removed without reply, but all comments written in text-message speak ("u" instead of "you" etc) will be considered idiotic by definition.

[gilbride100]

Just a quick note: on all our videos, comments by idiots will be removed without reply.

[Erdinger2003]

What kind of steel/sword are you using here?

[gilbride100]

It's a semi-custom broadsword by Donnie Shearer, aka the Mad Piper, with an antiqued blade.

[Erdinger2003]

What does that entail? Antiqued. Made recently or years ago?

[gilbride100]

Antiqued means it's recent but made to look old. It's just to make the weapon look cool.

[SeumasColm]

I kinda figured that.

Unfortunately, my other comment didn't get posted--it praised your skill and "grace" within the limitations of the sword, the fact that you manage to draw into a good guard in one quick motion as the Gaelic lore says, and the fact that everything is firmly rooted in sound broadsword principles and techniques.

Using a weapon with authentic skill, and being true to the weapon and its history, is objectively graceful.

[gilbride100]

It's hard to avoid doing that, because everything is being done at full speed. However, we do this same exercise from the scabbard when we get the chance.

[SeumasColm]

It does appear that both of you, but especially the smaller guy, at times let go of the sword with your left hand before the sword completely clears. It's hard to tell though for sure, though.

[korg20000bc]

The bouting also bothers me a little from the quickdraw. You release the sword from your left hand far before you'd be able to get it out of a sheath. To me, this would completely change the body mechanics of the movement. I realise it would take much longer than a video allows to put the sword back in a sheath for every technique, but this is your publicly posted curriculum. Mechanically, high-wristed techniques are weak. Do you find it so?