Month: April 2016

Being the die-hard classical fencer that I am (er….was) I always turned up my nose at the historical fencers in college who were all avid D&Ders with a lot of enthusiasm and no finesse. SO I HAVE MY BIASES but obviously there are more and less authentic ways of going about recreating historical combat. 

Not having the convenient circle of SCA buddies on hand that I used to, I have turned to the blessed font of Youtube to get me familiar with long swords. 

I always need to have visual references for my art and writing. I need to see a thing in action before I can describe it or imagine its use, so this stuff is basically priceless to me. 

Anyway, here’s some good fodder for imagining your favorite first-age elves beating the holy living snot out of each other. 

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Intermediate SCA Greatsword Technique – The first one shows some of the basic parries and thrusts for longsword, which was a great refresher for my fencer’s brain. All the same basic principles of parrying and getting inside the opponent’s guard are there, just adapted for a wide swinging, heavier weapon. It’s surprisingly precise!
Also the instruction is very slow and clear so it’s easy to follow. 

Claymore vs. Longsword  – The second one shows the same moves in action, with the additional bonus of hotties in black body armor. 

Bastard Swords vs Hand-and-a-Half Swords – This fellow breaks down the differences between types of longswords for your edification and enlightenment.

Longsword Techniques– Another great longsword parry and thrust video, slightly more advanced than the first one. 

Two-Handers / Blade “Horns”/ Sword Guard Proportions– The history and development of your big fuckoff two-handed great swords, followed by an explanation and theory about those iconic “horns” on the blades of great swords, and an explanation about the proportions of these swords. 

Two-hander vs Six Rapiers– In the above videos, a technique was mentioned of using the momentum of the two-handed sword to achieve a defensive windmill effect. Here’s that in action against six opponents. Rad as heck. 

Monante vs… – In a similar vein, an interesting playlist of a great sword user whittling down a group of opponents. This one is quicker paced.

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I’m pretty in love with half-swording. The idea behind half-swording is basically that, when faced with an opponent in full armor, it’s useful to use Every Part of The Sword; including the pommel and cross-guard. With half-swording you grab the blade mid-way in order to get better leverage and precision in a stab. The technique’s purpose is basically to dent armor, stun your opponent, and then deliver precision stabs to weak points in their armor with extra leverage– essentially turning your sword into a makeshift percussive weapon like a war-hammer or mace. 

Unfortunately I’m having trouble finding good videos of this technique in use. Most of them are a bit…. flail-y? 

Half-swording demo – Same fellow as before, giving a thorough demonstration of how one can effectively use half-sword techniques without hurting one’s self. –He does not mention that many swords were only sharpened at the tip specifically to facilitate this technique, sometimes adding a ricasso or sub-hilt for the same purpose. (Though to really get the right leverage on a stabbing blow, you’d have to hold your sword a lot closer to tip). 

Armor and Halfswording Lessons– This is part of a series of parrying and grappling half-sword technique instruction. Slow and easy to follow; shiny armor; sexy accent. 

Bashing vs. Halfswording – This is the best demo I can find of this technique in use. Doesn’t this look fucking vicious? I love this. Kudos to these guys!!

Armored Longsword Demo– Another great demo, this time in full armor with live steel. These guys go in and out of half-swording throughout the duel. 

Armor Mobility and Grappling– A quick series of demonstrations concerning maneuverability in full plate, with some bonus take-down methods for messing up other people in full plate.