Techniques with the Pollaxe

www.MEMAG.net CORRECTIONS: The first translation should read "He wants to freely hit - He wants to bind in behind and make him defenseless and help his blow across"

Pollaxe!
Music: "Duke of Death" from Medieval II Total War Soundtrack

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• staff
• liechtenauer
• meyer
• mair
• longsword
• memag
• fechten
• HEMA
• pollaxe
• axe
• halberd
• talhoffer
• poleaxe
• kal

[airnt]

@MEMAG agreed! and IF someone gets back and doesn't take the balance of the opponent, one can relatively easily slide the axe and exende the range considerably, maybe in some cases risky for the attacker if it doesn't work out, but nevertheless a isk for the defender trying to run.

the speed is not irrealistic and it can be done fast with originally weighed steel weapons.

[airnt]

@pappyDApirate and i would make any shaft oval or flat octagonal section so you can feel the edge alignment also tapering thinner to the butt end is very common and makes it feel more balanced (contrary to what you might think)

[airnt]

@pappyDApirate depictions nearly always show it longer than the man, and originals are usually between 200 and 250 cm, although it's is sometimes difficult to determine if the shaft is original

[Djemps]

@airnt Regardless of the total weight or overall balance, the reason for employing the back of the staff is still the same: it is lighter and more maneuverable.

[airnt]

@nicolasnagy that is one tactic... but these are specific techniques mentioned in the manuscripts. I suppose some of the pieces they strung quite a number together...

[airnt]

@Djemps most of these things were fitted with some serious butt spikes, sometimes with large hooks.

original pollaxes I've weighed at the Royal Armouries in Leeds and Legermuseum in Holland tend to only be 2-2,5 kg for this style and maybe up to 3,5 for the bladed axes. the shaft alone weighs about 1 kg out of that weight. thereby it is not actually any heavier than a typical spear, and significantly lighter (on average) than an average halbert or bill. though the ranges overlap

[airnt]

@gearsofwar07 why on earth are any of these moves illegal in the SCA? I thought the whole point of not using steel swords and loads of armour was that you could go all out and full contact?

[airnt]

@FioredieLiberi lichtenauer is quite adamant about it, though. It's definately recommended, even if back hen there were different schools of thought.

in fact, come to think of it, nearly all 'stuck' in the german tradition place an emphsis on attecking first and going forward and the 'defender' being defeated, to the point where it is hard to know who's defending and who's attacking.

it can be done, and by sheer violence of action is very effective.

[andresrojas22]

great videos, greetings from venezuela and keep up the good work

[Svinfylka]

Nice job tying the diagrams into the demonstration. Brought the pages to life!