German longsword master cuts demo

A highlight of the 5 master cuts from German Longsword system applied in full contact free sparring.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• WMA
• master
• cuts
• zornhau
• zwerchau
• schielhau
• scheitelhau
• krumphau
• german
• longsword
• sparring
• full
• contact
• realistic
• weapon

[Battleangelx]

In a contact armored sport those blows wouldn't count, and if you were using real swords I don't think much damage would be done by some of those too. Curious though, if it was full contact why are you all wearing such little armor?

[LancelotChan]

Because the moves used in this demonstration was traditionally unarmored longsword techniques. There were three wounders in German longsword system, which were thrust, slice and cut. The slices were explicitly used against exposed flesh. So we try to wear as little armors as possible to simulate the historical situation.

In armor combat, it would be mainly done with half-swording, grappling and thrusts.

[LancelotChan]

Another note is that in our sparring simulation, we take the weapons as sharp blades, so how much damage the padded weapons do to the body is not 100% relevant to how much damage the sharp blade will do. For example, slicing someone with the padded sword's edge would result in no actual damage at all (thus being safe), but doing the same motion with a live blade will do serious lacerations. A thrust with the sharp tip will penetrate the bone without any difficulty.

[LancelotChan]

Some of my videos were sharp sword test on various targets, including flesh and bones. So we have some idea about what a real sword would do and how much force was needed to inflict certain degree of damage.

[bonzai300]

most of the hits are the result of poor technique by the defenders rather than good technique by the "master"

[LancelotChan]

Choosing the right timing to execute a particular technique is considered an art. None of the techniques shown were invincible. There were many cases that the techniques were defeated by a proper counter measure. This demo shows only the cases where these techniques would work. Each has its design and aim. So when executed in the appropriate timing and situation, it would look like the defender was performing poorly.

After all, it's a "highlight". Not the full picture.

[Ranziel1]

Master strikes doesn't mean that strikes are done masterfully by the way, it's the name of 5 basic strikes in old German sword fencing.

[TheEidolon7]

very nice.

[gurkfisk89]

@Wishmaster616

What? I would say that the one at around 18s was a near perfekt zorn-ort. The footwork may not be the best, but still the cut was good.

Sure, some of them wasn't that good but this is sparring. If you explain what it is that sucks he could learn more but this is a old video so I think his zornhau today /sucks/ a lot less than the ones in the video.

[Wishmaster616]

Your Zornhau sucks.

[darkfiete]

nice compilation of the "meisterhäue" in freeplay

[iwhisperwolf]

I love how people see this, assume these guys are masters, and then they instantly become history majors/martial experts capable of judging the performance, lol.

Great work you guys. I'd say the judgement calls on choosing technique need work, but that can happen on a bad day.

The fighting on the roof shows GREAT commitment to footwork. I may show that portion to my own students.

[koloblican11763]

Cool little demo, but those guys in the beginning need to learn how to keep decent balance.

[Mistwraith99]

... not quite certain what you mean, d0su, but there's no ambiguity in what Djemps said. He's right, these are a demonstration of the master strikes of the German system. It's the technique itself that is the 'master strike', not the fighter's execution of it - which, in this video, wasn't particularly great quality, but it's somewhere to start.

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Those are full-weighted weapons. I have some myself, and they weigh the same as real weapons. Look for RSW (Realistic Sparring Weapons) for the stats. The guy in the video makes them himself. Best padded sparring weapons out there. :)

[Arkapok81]

not bad technique, but you really need to feel a full weighted longsword to get a true respect for these moves, it really makes a difference and isnt as easy as it looks