Spear vs Sword and Shield, Nick vs Jake Sparring

A sparring clip from our first spear training session. The spear is a revival rubber tipped oak shaft. The sword and shield are a custom hanwei sidesword and rotella (riot shield).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Spear
• vs
• Sword

[TallSilhouette]

A significant weakness I think the spearman could have exploited is that shield's lack of reach to protect the leg. All but the largest shields have this drawback and a spear would be well suited to attacking that lead leg and making his opponent a much easier target. If he brings a tower shield, then at least he's slow and easy to run away from. :)

Good job by the sword and boarder regardless.

[Nikos3000]

@TallSilhouette The leg is certainly a major target zone as we have found from battlefield injuries. The spear user in his video was using the spear for the first time and been condirtioned to the dangers of striking at legs in longsword. Saying that it can still be a risk here as it makes it easiest for the swordsman to beat down. Still well worth striking against the legs in such a situation though.

[Knightstruth]

Shield guy needs to keep a cool head and a steady shield. His shield wildly jumps out at every little feint leaving many openings. What was that at 2:30 when the spear guy seems to be trying to hit him with the shaft? lol. Keep your spear infront of you where it can be of use. If I was fencing against a spearman who raised his spear like that I'd cut him to peces before he had a chance to bring it down for any competent defense.

[Nikos3000]

@Knightstruth A spear when used in two hands re-directs so fast that you have to respond quickly to movements. In those feints is the spears advantage though this is true. As for using the shaft, completely legit when spear is used in two hands, a strike like that will crush the skull, beat a weapon down or incapacitate with a strike to the arm or shoulder.

[moOswe]

I think it would be even more interesting adding the element of armor parts into these sessions! Im not talking about full plate armor, just parts. A harness for Jake the spearman for instance?

And yes Im fully aware that it could restrain some movement etc. It would just be so interesting to see how Nick would have to adapt to the fact that hes not being able to either trust or slash to the abdomen.

Just a crazy idea I got out of nowhere I guess. Last but not least thx for another good vid!

[Nikos3000]

@moOswe Its ot that crazy an idea. We can't use metal armour in the leisure centre due to the damage it would do during falls/grapples. However, we do sometimes use police riot armour suits when doing things like poleaxe, it gives a similar effect.

[ssviator]

@Knightstruth

It's an invitation, the spearman want's you to attack.

[GeneralAdvance]

this making me understand a little why the bill/billhook was so popular in england so long, a short polearm is so crazy flexible in a duel like this!

[Antioxidantt]

@KNIGHT12 o/c that works its what the french where famous for their throwing axes they would always lead charges with a throwing axe that would disrupt the other sides spear wall

[KNIGHT12]

awesome video man ive always been a fan of the sword and from what i just saw i know the spear has a huge advantage so i was wondering how bout combing a range weapon along with your sword and sheild such as a throwing axe then throwing it and using the distraction to close the gap that is if it dont kill him

could that work?

[muresug]

@Nikos3000 Interesting work. Im a sport fencer who is currently doing some historical research on a particular type of medieval italian weapon called a 'virga sardesca', which is a kind of short spear/javelin that was primarily used as a throwing weapon, but had secondary uses in close combat (a bit like the norse or vikings used or a Roman Spiculum). Are there any old manuals that deal with short spear work or is there anyone in the UK with good knowledge of applications?

[demomanchaos]

How much better would the spearman do if he had a dagger as well?

Also, his slashes would have been better if he held the spear with his left arm forward and attacked the swordsman's right. Blocking attacks from the shield side is much easier than sword side blocks, especially with a shield strapped to your arm.