Weaponized Medieval Wrestling: the Dagger

Instructed medieval fighting, or modern self-defence for that matter, is in my opinion a holistic compendium of a few techniques and principles which are then extrapolated into various and innumerable situations which at first might seem different but are in reality quite similar once one gets past surface appearances.

Here we see some examples of how I teach the medieval martial arts and modern self-defence, in that more simple situations—unarmed techniques in this example—are then extrapolated into more complex situations through a change of circumstance or additional elements. In this video we see specifically how unarmed medieval wrestling techniques can be extrapolated into armed medieval dagger work.

This kind of work is not only loads of fun, but also very helpful in increasing one's creativity in self-defence situations and creating more well-rounded abilities. Also, it is also quite necessary due to the sketchy or filled-with-holes nature of medieval fighting manuals, as we all know that they didn't show all there was to know.

This kind of extrapolatory work is not only great for our modern practice but also completely historical. One need look no further than the Flos Duellatorum, or the German school of fencing itself, to see that.

I should add that we were also practising how to draw the dagger while being attacked—another and significant added level of difficulty—and moving the initial position of the dagger from the left hip to the right (and at the back and down the boot) in order to vary the parameters of the act of drawing itself. Also, the attack was not pre-arranged.

Enjoy!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Arme
• Antica
• medieval
• wrestling
• dagger
• knife
• fighting
• ringen
• lotta
• medievale
• scrima
• self-defence

[shulom1]

Hey is there instructional DVDs, or books for this? I'd rather learn European arts( being I am of European descent) than Asian arts( though no disrespect but we need to keep our martial arts alive too). thanx and nice work!

[ArmeAntica]

@amritatva, yeah, I felt the same way when I first picked up a copy of the Flos Duellatorum, the most famous Italian fight book (I studied in the Bujinkan, medieval samurai styles mostly, for years at the time). I was blown away when I recognized technique after technique, page after page.

These Keys, upper, middle, and lower, are specifically in the Flos but you find them everywhere in medieval fighting manuals. What I did here were freeform knife-holding variations upon those themes.

[DahrvichKnighT]

That's the kind of music medieval folk listened to the most.

[Abraleo]

Muy buen video, me gustó / Very good video, I like it.

[amritatva]

In my experience, these techniques are best done after applying some kind of quick inital attack to open the way. The opening parry is always used together with an attack to the upper body or the limb, allowing you to flow into the joint manipulation if things are going well, and back out of it if things aren't going smoothly. Sensitiviety counts, and strategy in entering.

[ArmeAntica]

@worldworks, I never said he was stupid. Mine was only a play on words because he was overly-confident and a little too arrogant about it, that's all. That's what fighting is about. ; ) He pushes, you let him fall down.

Also, there are certainly examples of martial systems that came from weapon fighting but to say that every unarmed style developed from weapon fighting seems an exaggeration. I think we likely pushed each other around before we grabbed a rock and bashed someone's head in.

[ArmeAntica]

@MacUladh, Glad you like the video, but I am using the word in the correct way.

Not only do I use it with the general sense behind its creation (which was 1957, in biological warfare, i.e. turning something deadly into something even deadlier), as these levers can rip your shoulder out by themselves and now you can do it while cutting and killing as the adversary is incapacitated;

but I also use it in the literal sense: taking something that didn't have a weapon and putting one on it.

[worldworks]

@ArmeAntica

He's not stupid it's just that people do not realize that empty hand martial arts techniques of every style and origin were developed from weapon's techniques.

[MacUladh]

@ArmeAntica You got me there. It is a word. YOu just used it improperly. Still a good video.

[bidibum]

@ArmeAntica ok, I'm searching for in your channel; there's interesting vids, great job! Thanks for answers, tunr a blind about my donkey english xD

[ArmeAntica]

@bidibum, my arm isn't in line with the dagger, so he would not get me. If he gets you 9/10, then your entire approach to what you are doing is wrong. I practice full-speed fighting with free attacks with my advanced students, so I know. They don't get me. ; )

Grabbing a punch isn't a good idea, generally. You can take his arm easily after you make forearm to forearm or wrist to wrist contact, but it is best to follow and synchronize with him instead of "grabbing" and resisting/fighting him.

[bidibum]

@ArmeAntica I've asked you 'cause I think that if you partner had continued the stabs you'll lose the arm 9/10, the first step, grab the wirst, is really, reeeeeally difficult already with the punch, I don't mind with a knife!