spear and shield

Trying my hand at the spear and shield with a little light sparring. I prefer the boarspear over this, though it does have the advantage of a shield in front. Yet, one handed makes even a light spear a bit unwieldy.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• spear
• sword
• combat
• live
• steel
• Vikings
• history
• reenactment

[ValerioVersace]

Can you parry with a spear held in one hand? I'm having this discussion with a friend.

[skallagrimm]

@ValerioVersace well of course you can, though it is difficult. With a one handed spear, you need to hold it in a specific way to counteract the force on your wrist. There is no way you can hold it out and parry without it getting knocked around and twisting in your grip... but you hold it in close to your body and it allows you to brace the back end of the shaft with your body or your lower arm/elbow... there is also a technique using the shield as a counterbrace against the shaft...

[MrRomesdefender]

is there any around northern wv or pa

[skallagrimm]

Not really @MrRomesdefender, but we have a few friends in Ohio and MIchegan... we've never gotten further east than Ohio.

[MoscowMadness]

Love the vids skallagrimm! Wish there was more in Indiana do you know of any groups in the Midwest close to Indianapolis?

[skallagrimm]

@MoscowMadness As a matter of fact, I have a good friend in Indiana who would probably love the chance to train someone again. I'll pass your info on to him this weekend and let him know to contact you.

[AelfricofCedde]

I'll have to agree to differ on that one after seeing what some of the lads have been doing with single handed spear over the last few years, totally agree about losing effectiveness due to safety though.

I have unfortunatly only seen a couple of your clips so apologies if I've got the wrong impression!

[AelfricofCedde]

The single handed spear is actually very useful at close range and in the hands of a skilled fighter every bit as good as a sword in single combat. Do you lads ever use the shield as a weapon in its own right to hook or press your opponents shield out of the way?

[MoscowMadness]

@skallagrimm That would be pretty great. I got alot of stuff put into the viking thing already. But all my weapons are more for show, and "props" and such. They are not made for live combat, if the other person wants to continue to live that is. But yes, I would love to learn how to do it properly. :) Danke

[AelfricofCedde]

The comment was ment for Oddthetall as I know him (a bit) and am fairly sure I know who showed him the trick as he is annoyingly good at it!

[skallagrimm]

No, I'd have to disagree. The single handed spear has enough disadvantages when used with a shield to make it far less effective than a sword in combat. It was, however, a very cheap form of weapon that everyone had so it was widely used. And using it with safety in mind takes away even more of it's effectiveness

I know we have a lot of vids, but have you watched more than a few? We use the shield as a weapon more than nearly anyone else... at least those trying to do steel combat safely.