Clan Fight.wmv

It might seem odd that the Highland Charge is depicted as being used against another Highlander, but this was actually fairly common at one point in history- the MacDonalds and their allies performed a Highland Charge against the Campbells at Inverlochy, and again against the Mackintoshes at Mulroy four decades later.

The tactics of this style require the defender to avoid committing to his technique until the last possible moment, when the attackers momentum has become too great for him to easily change what hes doing. (The successful counters also come up from underneath or knock the weapon off-line, so that it will not matter if the attacker tries to change his cut as in the lessons.) At this crucial moment, the defender is likely to suddenly change his guard position in order to counter the attack in an unanticipated way. If he misjudges the timing, all the advantage is with the attacker. This is not shown in the lessons because it would detract from their clarity, but it seems to be a crucial aspect of bouting in this style.

To bout in the Penicuik Style, stage a series of ten charges- five with one fencer as the attacker and five with the other. You can think of this as a small melee between two clans, involving ten warriors on each side. Each charge lasts only until one fencer runs past the other, whether one of them is hit or both of them or neither of them. Doubles count against both fencers, but if both fencers are un-hit then both survive. At the end of the ten charges, the clan with the greatest number of surviving warriors wins the bout.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Highland
• broadsword
• clan
• Scottish

[gilbride100]

Oh no, I've started a feud!

[ticeetal]

Aye, it a fight yous want ah??? Clan Matt might not of faired in the fray here, but know you we are many, and will avenge our fallen brethren.

To arms Clan Matt, to arms!!! Show no mercy and give no quarter when next we meet on the field to do battle. Well done on the videos.

Yorrs aye,

M@, of the West Coast Clann Matts