Black Watch Tomahawk.wmv

During the French and Indian War in North America, scouts of the Black Watch were sometimes trained as Rangers and outfitted with tomahawks rather than broadswords. But how were these weapons used? Although we have no direct evidence for the method of broadsword fencing used in the Black Watch in this period, we do have "Anti-Pugilism" by Black Watch Captain G. Sinclair from one generation later. Additional information can be gleaned from the broadsword method of Thomas Mathewson, one of whose instructors was a Sergeant Grant of the Black Watch, and from the backsword material of Andrew Lonnergan, whose manual was published about a decade after the end of the French and Indian War. Our techniques for the tomahawk are based on the broadsword method of Captain Sinclair, with a few additions from Thomas Mathewson, in particular the "whirl." This technique, which appears in both Mathewson and Lonnergan but in few other broadsword manuals, is even more effective with the tomahawk than the broadsword, because the axe-head greatly facilitates its execution. If the Black Watch scouts of the French and Indian War had prior training with the broadsword, it is likely that they would have used their tomahawks much like this.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• black
• watch
• broadsword
• tomahawk
• martial
• arts

[designtoexpire]

Also, where do you get your music from? Who is this? I love it.

[gilbride100]

@designtoexpire It's Gaelic singing, but I can't remember the singer- maybe Donnie Murdo MacLeod?

[designtoexpire]

@gilbride100 Indeed. Also, it seems like a tomahawk might get caught easily when doing those upward and downward slashes. Any thoughts on this? I've obviously never tried it on a person.

[gilbride100]

@designtoexpire Yes, I can see that. Something about the tomahawk just inspires you to go a bit crazy...

[designtoexpire]

I would love to get really familiar with these techniques. Which references do you use for these?

[gilbride100]

@designtoexpire The techniques are mostly drawn from the Black Watch broadsword system in "Anti-Pugilism."

[designtoexpire]

@gilbride100 I wonder if it actually will just slice right through, the tomahawk is fairly devastating any ways. I wonder if maybe touching up the grind would reduce the occurrence of catching. How will I ever know if I don't get to try it on someone? Anyways, thanks for the information. I can;t find anyone that will practice with me, but I will. Thanks.

[Dragonfist12185]

How many of the first u.s. army rangers, do you think used these same techniques?

[LoneIndividual]

A different type of tomahawk would allow for different techniques to be more easily executed.

If the tomahawk had a longer face, you could parry the sword by thrusting the top or side of the axe.

Size matters.

I'd like to see different attacks from the sword being countered by a different axe design .