I like how in the historical pictures you showed, the opponents aren't merely stabbed, they are literally impaled through the skull with the rapier sticking out half a meter the other side
These guys were both really good to learn from. Different styles and personalities but I really enjoyed interacting with them both as teachers and as people. Would go to any future seminars either of them host in the future. Also really glad I was able to get all these extra demonstrations in person after the seminar. Great stuff, great people.
***** and of course it goes without saying, hangin out with Skall was great too! Thanks to him and Cara for putting me up for a night. Stayed up WAY too late talking and comparing our sword collections. Cant wait to do it again!
I'm starting to work at getting rapier practices at my college (we have SCA heavy, but only myself and 1 other rapier), and this was really helpful in seeing how the images and the descriptions in some of the manuals I've looked at can be explained in a useful manner. Thanks for the explanation!
My first thought was "Bleh not much Skall in this one", but by the end I found myself just wanting more. You're a good content creator and your passions usually result in more good content. More of whatever you feel like making.
It's really helpful to see those maneuvers shown in life from the books. You can read and read and even fight but it's very hard to figure out what the hell they were doing back in the day. Thanks a lot.. i'm taking a few tricks to my my next practice :)
Really cool seeing those last two techniques in particular. The first was a down and dirty unexpected strike, and the other was a prim and proper flourish. I like the fact that we got to see both back to back.
It's really nice to get some insight into the flashy side of sword fighting, the showman stuff, the arrogance of these historical fighters. Loved hearing the opinions of these two guys they made a good pair, there knowledge bounced off each of them, great talk .
Veltins Pilz I love to surprise an opponent. With a bastard sword (with or without a shield) if I go to hanging guard in a back (weighted) stance, my opponent sometimes thinks I'm totally on the defensive and vulnerable. (( evil grin ))
Veltins Pilz surprise is pretty effective strategy even if the technique is considered to be stupid. A point I learned in Sparring: The jumping roundhouse kick in the basic variant. When you raise our knee to gain momentum for the jump it looks exactly like the beginning of a normal front or roundhouse kick and at the moment when your opponent counteracts against a potential kick with this leg you do a roundhouse kick with the other leg. And no it was no taekwondo typed sparring, it was more similar to MMA. For itself the jumping roundhouse kick looks stupid, especially in the basic variant. A jumping kick to the head? In context with an resisting opponent it is a solid thing.
Benjamin Brohmer As the 4th Doctor put it, "Make mistakes- it confuses the enemy." I always liked to throw a roundhouse kick (real, not a feint) and if my opponent went into a back stance to dodge it, step forward and turn it into a spinning back kick. Another technique to movement is using the environment. I was doing boffer swords (foam insulation over PVC pipe) with my nephew, and he was giving me a hard time. So I made a couple of lunges, he moved back each time, I circled him, and lunged again- except he was "tunnel visioned" on me, and didn't realize I'd maneuvered his back to a tree. (( evil grin ))
Nice video as always Skal, Lee Smith and Richard Marsden :) By the way, it would be nice to see a Bloodborne weapon video when you have time to do that. Fictional weapons like "Threaded Cane" would be very interesting to talk about :)
He talked about a weapon like that before I believe but it was not with connection to bloodborne but he should still comment on those weapons I think something like the hunters axe in thr game wiyld be effective in battle.
Amazing Komaru I would like for him to specifically talk about the Holy Moonlight Sword in its normal form, not the pretty blue. I love everything about the design personally, but wonder how he would feel.
This was great. Demonstration of a practical spin. Though it's more twisting forward while keeping the blade on target. I actually learned that move when I was doing fail fencing.
That was a really cool video! I appreciate you taking the time to edit in the historical pictures. I don't know how many minutes you spent, but I appreciate every one of them :D
Captain Shoutyface. Alas, not as much. I know the 'basics' of Destreza, but do not read Spanish and rely on others to impart information. Steps are circular and angular. There is not 'lunge' as with the Italians, though there are Gran Passo (Big steps) The cut is still used, there are three types, mandoble (wrist powered) media tajo (elbow) arrabatar (shoulder). The Movement of conclusion is a pass around the circle followed by a seizure and cut. And other things I can't recall nor am learn-ed enough to impart. Thibault is not Destreza, but similar in some ways and Blood and Iron's Sean Franklin has been getting into that!
Richard Marsden I've looked more into the Spanish and Italian side of rapier, what I know is in the DVDs from Martinez School Of Arms. Very good instructional pieces and not too expensive. Other than that, though, I don't know a lot from the treaties and historical texts but I do know about how they cut mostly with the very tip, have a very upright stance, the "Mysterious Circle" and how their footwork and drills work. I've not yet progressed onto dagger work, yet. I'm self-taught so I really want to feel competent before I attempt anything fancy and, as you probably know very well, obtaining a solid level of consistency and mastery over the fundamentals takes some hard work and a lot of practice.
Yeah, I have the same videos and have talked with Martinez, a bit, but not much. There are gobs of material, it just isn't translated as far as I know. We dabble, but I'd defer to experts on that one!
I stopped by the Phoenix Society and took a lesson on Fiore longsword last year--good people, and lots of similarities to old-school Okinawan karate, which I practice :)
I was taught the pasata soto (4:00) from my original instructor... really freaked out my next club with it who considered it illegal with electric equipment. Recovery is possible when done with surprise and a strong rear arm counterbalance.
so interesting to hear about rapier fencing!I'm definitely seeing those differences you were mentioning Skallagrim.I'm still definitely interested in possibly learning more
There's so many times I'll be watching a video not even realising that it's Skallagrim until I hear him or see him. It's nice that he lets the subjects be the stars.
Would love to see a vid deconstructing all the things you can do in D&D and see if you COULD drink a potion, cast a spell, tumble, etc, without getting your face sliced off. Keep up the good work.
Really nice video and good job on the sound quality. Most of these "seminar videos" on YT have really bad sound and are therefore hard to watch, but this is very nice. Moar! ;-)
oh how wonderful. i simply love rapier my thoughts on the maneauvers starting 4:30 : i think there are actually 2 variants. both have in common, that the rapier is held in quarta or turned from terza to quarta during execution. the difference imho: a) the quicker version leaves the left backfoot in place, simply straightens the left leg and sets the right frontfoot out of the attacking line. (i know this as "scanzo della vita") b) the slower version moves the left backleg, pivoting it in a circle around the right frontleg, which is left in place. (i know it as "volta" or "inquartata" [because it often starts from a terza-guard])
I am contemplating taking up this style of swordsmanship due to the mobility it would offer me during group engagements. We have annual battles here with around 150 fighters using steel weapons, the interesting thing is you'll have re-enactors representing various type of warrior. Last year I fought with heavily armoured footknights, vikings, roman legionnaires, highlanders and crusaders.
You guys are so elegant in your technique it makes me wonder have you ever taken hand to hand martial arts if you applied the skill you have here to hand to hand it would be a lovely thing to behold
FVeim Fiore has plays with the pole-axe. Sparring correctly with it does require armor. For those who want to see axe, as in (not a pole axe, but an axe!), I'm not aware of any historical treaties though some people are trying to re-create axe combat with hooks, thrusts and cuts!
There is a video by Guy Windsor regarding Capoferro you might be interessted in "Rapier Seminar 31032012pt1.mov" on you tube. A good hour and very detailed. The technique with stepping out backwards is described there in detail. He provokes it by doing a stringere on the outside, provoking a cavazione to the inside and a thrust. When he gets is he will step out to the rear and thrust.
Looks like variations of Kokutsu-dachi (Back stance) I think it is cool to see how certain ways of carrying yourself are universal among cultural fighting styles.
Beautiful. I love the more elegant and mobile rapier... unfortunately, in the heat of things I can never seem to pull anything nearly as impressive as a volte myself without suffering perforations. All that aside, wonderful demonstration and grasp of the art.
one thing i have noticed about the instructors is that they are putting presure on the knees of their back leg, this can still get the power but it does mean then can damage their own knees, all they need to do is to make their foot follow the direction of the strike
that was really interesting... thanks for posting this. I am really interested in the period from renaissance to the end of the 18th century and the shift from rapier to short sword and basket hilt broadsword. Would love to see a demonstration of sword and dagger fighting like in one of the manual shots in the video.
I had the privilege to spar with some top-level rapier fencers from the SCA a few years ago. It was a truly remarkable experience, and they were very nice guys, but the personas and historical garb get to be a little over the top for me sometimes, so it was very nice to see some experienced fencers discussing techniques without all the flair. I do love cloak techniques though. What is your opinion, Skall, in regards to the fencing side of the SCA, of that sort of historical garb and dramatic flair?
Interesting interpretation. I have someone who uses the "live" old form for in FMA which is passed down from these sources as the philippines were invaded several times by various parties who left certain traits that surived trial by combat, namely piracy at sea.
Looks pretty close but he could elucidate on their interpretation. Trial by combat still happens this day in my part of the continent, just that its not that well known if you are not in these circles.
Thanks! Most folks don't realize that combat with blades is a martial art. This got me thinking- how awesome it would have been if Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Munenori had produced illustrated manuals.
Mark Stockman god, if there was, it would solve every problem with that book, namely that for the life of me I cannot figure out how the hell those moves are supposed to be executed
Musashi was known to be able to draw, but it doesn't appear that any copies of his book have drawings in them. (his original manuscript has been lost, so we'll never know) There are modern kenjutsu books adapted from it that have illustrations, if those would help.
That last technique was really interesting. I wonder if it could work with a shorter sword, like a backsword or sabre, provided your opponent has a smallsword or a cut-and-thrust sword of a similar length (28-30 inches/71-76 cm).
Ryan Cauffman Possibly. We work from historical manuals and the backsword/saber manuals I have read don't use the inquartata. Someone else may have come across it. Small-sword yes - i0.wp.com/madamepickwickartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/grand12.jpg (Note how the weapon is so thrust-orientated that he's voided it entirely and not sought opposition) When asking about mixed-weapons (saber vs rapier, backsword vs cut-and-thrust, or backsword vs shovel), it gets tricky. Treatises often cover these only in passing with a few exemplars.There are plenty of exceptions, but you have to go hunting for them. If asking about using it in a practical sense, I'd say 'yes' if the opponent thrusts deep enough that you can rotate away, AND thrust them, and recover before they can do anything about it. You can make almost 'anything' work in the right circumstances, but that doesn't mean it was A- historical B- you should do it, it may not be historical for a reason!
isn't the thing at around 3:50 just simple Passata-sotto, where you attack in tempo by "lundging backwards", he lundges and you drop down while extending your arm?
Passata-sotto is Italian for pass underneath or below. Passing in Italian rapier is forward, stepping back and dropping down to go underneath was a later technique in the 18th century I believe. Italian systems often emphasize attacking into an attack.
Thanks Jöhännes Sigiward Fechter helped with the rolled edge thing, but will this work with a katana? I think it might be different for one. If it does can I use a steel file to do that
I have thought a while regarding those two stances. Thing is that I am used to both due them being two out of three standard stances in shotokan karate. From my understanding it is largely a matter of preferences. Personally I strongly prefer having my weight on my hind leg as I feel it gives me more mobility and thus a longer range and controlled area. Not wasting needless energy is something I have ingrained from the karate so I like having an open/defensive stance for explosive counterattackers when the opponent strikes.
Neo Henry Good on you! I don't dislike Fabris, I just am not flexible enough to make it look good. Some of my students use it and they are much better at it! My children surpass me :)
Richard Marsden Every parents love it when their children become better versions of the parents. Sometime. Three SCA rapier instructors (I do SCA rapier because San Francisco doesn't have HEMA clubs around) say that Fabris fits for me. Being short, 5' 5", is advantageous through Fabris, they note from experience. For one second, because of your profile picture I thought Mordor wanted to have a little bargain for my soul.
He said as much in his book! These drawings come from life! As if even back then people looked at it and said, "really?" I'm a big fan of working on Fabris 2nd, the real low one, arms retracted to lure the opponent in. Do I get it to work? Well... sometimes. Does it make people sense a trap? Yes! Fabris on my friend!
Neo Henry In SCA heavy combat, I met a guy who uses the "funky fighting style." Never got around to finding out the proper name or origin. Instead of standing vertical with your shield arm elbow at 90 degrees, you keep your shield arm straight, with your shield low and leaning back about 45 degrees from vertical. Doesn't work too well with a "barn door" but perfect for a heater, small roundshield, or buckler. I find that move useful even with a "barn door" if I see something weird coming- lets me drop into a back stance and cover my leg. Downside is dropping a heavy shield into a lower energy state. :-(
VeeEmEcs Tezt I strongly suggest Darkwood armory and Del Tin. I am using in this video a Hanwei guard, but I think a Del Tin blade, it felt too 'good' to be the standard Hanwei blade. Lee would know for sure, it's his stuff!
VeeEmEcs Tezt If you're anywhere on the West Coast of the United States, I would also give Castille Armory a glance. He's only really known in the context of the SCA so far, but I by far prefer his pieces to the Darkwood blades I've handled (note: the reason there is I find the Darkwood blades to flop too much, making them difficult to cut or strike with. Castille blades are tend to be stiffer. This is a personal thing, and Darkwood beginner blades will end up being cheaper than even the Castille economy line). On the off chance that RUclips will let me plug it here (facebook.com/pages/Castille-Armory/203061436404066), that's his showing-off page.
Modern fencing is also a good tool to learn how to use these types of blade, as the foil. Which is the main weapon used was designed as a training weapon for the raiper and you learn a lot of these things though that as well
***** Not really. The rapier weighs a little over 2lbs on average. If you were to use modern fencing techniques with that, it just won't work. The game changes completely. (Plus intent. Modern Fencing is to the first touch with right of way. Historical fencing is to kill while not be killed in a realistic setting)
The Tattletale Strangler The tradition of cross source trash talk is super strong in rapier. All of the renaissance masters showed their wit in their treatises with sardonic digs against the Italians, the French, the Spanish, the English. Basically, it's traditional to badmouth other styles in a friendly way.
Hey Skalla. Because you, like myself, are a knife enthusiast (perhaps the term fanatic would be more appropriate?), I recommend you look into the Miller Brothers Blades company out of Fremont Ohio. If all of their products match the quality of those in their test videos, they work absolute miracles with steel. Godspeed
These guys are great! I can't help but wonder their thoughts on Destreza. There's no HEMA place near where I live and I haven't been able to find much of a second opinion on it aside from tiny tidbits. What little I have been able to glean seems like something I'd definitely want to incorporate into a fencing style.
***** Alas, not as much. I know the 'basics' of Destreza, but do not read Spanish and rely on others to impart information. Steps are circular and angular. There is not 'lunge' as with the Italians, though there are Gran Passo (Big steps) The cut is still used, there are three types, mandoble (wrist powered) media tajo (elbow) arrabatar (shoulder). The Movement of conclusion is a pass around the circle followed by a seizure and cut. And other things I can't recall nor am learn-ed enough to impart. Thibault is not Destreza, but similar in some ways and Blood and Iron's Sean Franklin has been getting into that!
Richard Marsden Oh wow, I didn't actually expect a reply from one of you! Since I don't speak spanish either, and there isn't much in the way of translation for the manuals, I think I'll try looking into Thibault. Thanks for the reply!
I think they may have missed the point with a back weighted stance. The idea is the refusal of the body which comes in very handy when facing an opponent with a more effective cutting tool (broad sword, side sword, longsword). They did hit on the point which is that you don't want a ton of weight on your front foot otherwise you have switch weight in you feet before you lunge which causes you to be off tempo. The move of rushing in or parrying the balde with your hand in the video, while they do happen, are examples of bad fencing becuase if he can reach your blade with his opposite hand you can very eaisly hit him. You let him get too close. Though a lot of the vido they are really close to eachother when they don't need to be to strike. If someone charges in on you, it is very easy to break measure and free your sword to get it back in his face. Fabris uses a front leaning stance in his book to have a faster tempo lunge, however he does say that if you can't stand in than position for a certain reason lean back. If it wasn't affective then he wouldn't have told people to do it. He even states that you should have your weight on one foot so the other is ready to move otherwise you end up with a two tempo attack even if it doesn't seem like it. Interesting video that opens a discussion but I don't think their opinons of the moves are very accurate.
I think they never trained under a master that teaches the italian rapier (or french, or destreza). They bring up a lot of interesting points about measure, posture, and tempo, but my opinion is that they are not knowledgeable enough about the rapier to teach it to others. I especially don't like Lee Smith's posture, which makes him look like a guy that practices longsword and carries that training to other weapons. Not to say he's a bad martial artist (probably better than many others out there), it's just not italian rapier.
Thibault actually has Lee's stance in his book. He basically says that if someone is in that stance, then they are either tired, or lack training. Then Thibault goes on describing the one thing to beat a guy in that stance.
Hey skall think you could do an analysis of dark souls 1 & 2's murakumo? I was wondering how possible/viable the weapon itself is, and how realistic the in-game move set is. If it is plausible, that'd be awesome since it's incredibly badass.
Are these useful or even applicable to modern fencing (epee, foil specifically)? I'm just wondering as using something obscure or less common could have the potential to surprise certain opponents.
HEMA focuses on HISTORICAL martial arts. Modern fencing (especially olympic fencing) is centered around "Hit him before he hits you". HEMA on the other hand, focuses on "Hit him, but don't get hit yourself" Although both forms have the same roots, I doubt that HEMA techniques could be applicable to modern fencing. I mean in SOME situations it might, but not always.
Epee would be the most applicable, due to the scoring rules epee fencers train a great deal to set up actions were they are the only fencer who lands a touche, it doesn't always happen, but they have the most similar mindset. And epee has actions/techniques similar to what was shown here, it tends to happen much faster and with smaller movements. For instance at 2:20 is a simple distance parry, reposite, still used to today, epee fencers will be sure take their opponents blade often even if they land a touch in the process of opening the distance because they still want to defend against a redoublement scoring a cheap point. At 3:20 level changes to avoid attacks and land counters are still a common, if desperate tactic, in modern epee. And while the size of the piste limits dramatic side steps as at 4:45, Epee fencers will move slightly off line, turn their shoulders to allow their opponent's point to slide by, and land a touche in the process. The context is different but conceptually and technically so aspects of the original art have been well persevered and even refined, while others have been lost.
It's interesting to see the similarity and the difference between rapier fighting and fencing. It always annoyed me that lateral movement was forbidden in fencing, although my height benefits me in lunges.
AnonEyeMouse Keep in mind most of the differences lie in intent and weight of the weapon. Intent in modern fencing is to touch the person first, intent in historical fencing with rapier is to be defended and attack at the exact same time. (Generally speaking, there are exceptions of course.) Rapiers also weigh considerably more, so that naturally alters the game involved.
Julian Schuetze The intent of a sport fencer is to get points. According to the rules that is not the case, if he just hits first. The rules themselves are the result of conflicting interests like realism, safety, enjoyment, honor and watch ability. HEMA got the same kind of problems with their regulations. Just consider that the often mentioned "right-of-way" is actually a rule that prohibits Kamikaze attacks and forces you to defend if you see that you are being attacked. You can seen the same underlying problem in about every single video concerning HEMA tournaments rules.
Probably not your most favorite weapon, but how feasible is the usage of a scythe in combat? As in like, Grim-reaper scythes with the long handles and such?
Justin Leung wiktenauer.com/images/thumb/6/69/Mair_scythe_01.jpg/698px-Mair_scythe_01.jpgz Yes! Well, we do have a treatises on it by Paulus Hector Mair, who was later hanged for embezzling money to have his debts and books paid for. Mair wanted to create an opus on martial combat and includes long scythe. If you'd like to know more, go here. wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Hector_Mair And look up scythe in the drop=down list below.
this is just a part of sword fighting that i'm completely unfamiliar with. i can make sense of it, but still, it's the first time that i've felt out of my depth on this subject. very interesting though, even if fighting with one hand permanently free seems counter-intuitive to me. would be cool to see more of this type of video.
spamhonx56 Skal has more! Rapier fencing is very interesting because it is a weapon you can easily kill one another with, so many of the techniques (I'd say all) are about how to do it, while at the same time covering in some fashion.Other systems look wayyyy different!
AuraSight Alas, not really. The rapiers are heavier, the goals are also very different. In sport you have right of way, and you need to hit, and hit first. In HEMA you need to hit and not be hit, and you can move laterally, and use your off-hand. There is no right of way. The sport fencing world has really dialed down how to win at the sport, the HEMA world is trying to re-create a martial art.
It's interesting to see how some of the moves still used in modern fencing (epee in particular) are illustrated in manuals and this video. That being said, I wonder if the men in the video are completely accurate about the way some of these moves are executed. They seem to be using moves that if used in modern fencing would be highly discouraged as they are not easily recovered from. Against a quick fencer, and even E ranked epeeists are extremely fast, I would think that an opponent would easily be able to parry and touch an opponent before they could remise, or attack and remise again before they could recover. That said, while it holds true in modern Olympic epee, I'm not sure the same can be said for traditional fencing.
The goal of modern fencing (olympic fencing comes to mind) and traditional fencing are different, so the moves alter. The main difference being that modern fencing is for sport (no serious bodily harm), while traditional fencing in a combat scenario would be trying to kill your opponent with seriously harming yourself (if you kill your opponent, but you're seriously injured, its a lose-lose situation)
EasternCTFencing Bear in mind that rapiers are heavier swords than modern fencing ones. According to Wikipedia, 1kg in average for a rapier and 350-770g for an épée. I suppose one cannot be as quick with a 2-3 times heavier sword.
EasternCTFencing As others noted, the rapiers are much heavier. Try epee fencing with something that weights 2lbs or so and you'll see why they did what they did back in 'the day'.
EasternCTFencing What i find the most interesting is the range in space that you can aply in historical fencing. there you can circle your oponement, you are not limited in a close corridor like in modern fencing, that can give some very different moves that would useless in modern fencing.
When actually fencing they wear appropriate fencing masks and other protective gear. When practicing more dangerous techniques and/or with inexperienced students they wear appropriate fencing masks and other protective gear. When it's two, I'm not going to be that guy and call them masters, but when two very experienced and skilled competitors are simply showing techniques and differences in mechanics they can get away without masks. That said, injuries do sometimes occur.
So, Skall, recently i've gotten in a discussion with a friend regarding the usage of the sword "Ice" (From the "Song of Ice & Fire" series, written by George R. R. Martin). It's is portrayed as a great long sword (1.48 to 1.52 meters long, it's not precisely discribed, in the books it just say that it's as big as a 14/15 Y.O. boy), but it is also broad. It doesn't have the narrow blade that I see on the swords of the same length you've shown here. Which led me to believe that Ice was probably never used in a battle, but instead, Ice is more of a ceremonial sword, to carry executions, for example. I'd like to know your take on the matter. Thank you for the attention, and have a nice day.
bozox22 Skall can perhaps better answer this, forgive my jumping in. I can't recall that sword in the book, but giant non-battle swords did exist. Execution swords and something called a bearing sword which was for parades and meant to look big and impressive.
bozox22 Ice is similar to a claymore in size and would be usable in battle / duels if shaped properly by a competent blacksmith. The balance is actually more important than the size.
bozox22 I know you've gotten replies from both Richard and Skall, but ill throw my two cents in anyway. If you're talking about the book version of Ice (which I'm assuming you are), then it can definitely be used for battle, as George states so in The World of Ice and Fire companion guide. The TV show does a pretty good job of showing us what Ice would look like, but there is one problem; it ways 12 pounds. From my readings, the heaviest two-handed sword confirmed to be used in combat was 7.5 pounds, but most combat oriented two-handed swords were 5-6 pounds. So, in order for Ice to be usable, the need to taper the blade a lot more, or taper it a little bit and add more fullers or deepen the one it already has. However, all this could be null and void when considering that Ice is made of valyrian steel, which is supposed to be lighter than normal steel.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I like how in the historical pictures you showed, the opponents aren't merely stabbed, they are literally impaled through the skull with the rapier sticking out half a meter the other side
That's Marozzo for you. A sadistic person who say to thrust all the way to the hilt and to turn the blade out to cause maximum discomfort.
Patrick Prejean “discomfort” is a pretty big understatement here, isn’t it?
these guys are really cool, really interesting and really good speakers. let's hear more from them!
Devil's Advocate Thanks! Lee is a natural leader, and I'm a History High School teacher, so I do public speaking, all day, every day!
They sounds like ruthless dictators
"I see you have ahh studied Capo Ferro" -Inigo Montoya.
I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.
Unless the enemy has astudy his Agripa... which I have!
These guys were both really good to learn from. Different styles and personalities but I really enjoyed interacting with them both as teachers and as people. Would go to any future seminars either of them host in the future. Also really glad I was able to get all these extra demonstrations in person after the seminar. Great stuff, great people.
kriegschwert
Yeah, absolutely. And it was good to have you down here, bro. :)
***** and of course it goes without saying, hangin out with Skall was great too! Thanks to him and Cara for putting me up for a night. Stayed up WAY too late talking and comparing our sword collections. Cant wait to do it again!
Is it bad that I'm mostly just admiring their *glorious* beards?
Emnuzuse Alor It's the burden Lee and I carry.
SarcasticHam Sandwich no
Skall looks better then both of them
I'm starting to work at getting rapier practices at my college (we have SCA heavy, but only myself and 1 other rapier), and this was really helpful in seeing how the images and the descriptions in some of the manuals I've looked at can be explained in a useful manner. Thanks for the explanation!
My first thought was "Bleh not much Skall in this one", but by the end I found myself just wanting more. You're a good content creator and your passions usually result in more good content. More of whatever you feel like making.
This was one of the most interesting videos on your channel for a while, in my opinion.
I don't agree. A lot of good videos are interesting
It's really helpful to see those maneuvers shown in life from the books. You can read and read and even fight but it's very hard to figure out what the hell they were doing back in the day. Thanks a lot.. i'm taking a few tricks to my my next practice :)
Really cool seeing those last two techniques in particular. The first was a down and dirty unexpected strike, and the other was a prim and proper flourish. I like the fact that we got to see both back to back.
Is there a particular reason so many stances look like something the Ministry of Silly Walks came up with?
gso619 I honestly didn't think anyone could get a 'Python reference into _this_ video!
gso619 I'm a paying member, so....
gso619 Swordplay is sort of like sex. If you're doing it for real instead of for an audience, it looks totally different. :-)
Mark Stockman I always wondered why they had mirrors on the dojo ceiling
Mark Stockman Thanks, I'm stealing that. :)
I really really liked this. Would love to see more demos like this. Thanks Skall and team!
It's really nice to get some insight into the flashy side of sword fighting, the showman stuff, the arrogance of these historical fighters.
Loved hearing the opinions of these two guys they made a good pair, there knowledge bounced off each of them, great talk .
these guys rock!
A FMB Why thank you!
This is really cool, great experts in the field showing off the flashier techniques. I really enjoyed this!
the amount of swag in realistic/ practical sword fighting/ hema/ sparring is just incredible
At 3:40, this is a nasty suprise attack. Before i saw this , i wouldn´t expect it.
Veltins Pilz I love to surprise an opponent. With a bastard sword (with or without a shield) if I go to hanging guard in a back (weighted) stance, my opponent sometimes thinks I'm totally on the defensive and vulnerable. (( evil grin ))
:)
Veltins Pilz surprise is pretty effective strategy even if the technique is considered to be stupid.
A point I learned in Sparring: The jumping roundhouse kick in the basic variant. When you raise our knee to gain momentum for the jump it looks exactly like the beginning of a normal front or roundhouse kick and at the moment when your opponent counteracts against a potential kick with this leg you do a roundhouse kick with the other leg. And no it was no taekwondo typed sparring, it was more similar to MMA.
For itself the jumping roundhouse kick looks stupid, especially in the basic variant. A jumping kick to the head?
In context with an resisting opponent it is a solid thing.
Benjamin Brohmer As the 4th Doctor put it, "Make mistakes- it confuses the enemy."
I always liked to throw a roundhouse kick (real, not a feint) and if my opponent went into a back stance to dodge it, step forward and turn it into a spinning back kick.
Another technique to movement is using the environment. I was doing boffer swords (foam insulation over PVC pipe) with my nephew, and he was giving me a hard time. So I made a couple of lunges, he moved back each time, I circled him, and lunged again- except he was "tunnel visioned" on me, and didn't realize I'd maneuvered his back to a tree. (( evil grin ))
I don't understand why he parried 6 instead of 4. It seems like both the easier and more effective disengage for a head or chest thrust.
This was fascinating and I would love to see more!
Nice video as always Skal, Lee Smith and Richard Marsden :)
By the way, it would be nice to see a Bloodborne weapon video when you have time to do that. Fictional weapons like "Threaded Cane" would be very interesting to talk about :)
He talked about a weapon like that before I believe but it was not with connection to bloodborne but he should still comment on those weapons I think something like the hunters axe in thr game wiyld be effective in battle.
Amazing Komaru Thanks!
Amazing Komaru I would like for him to specifically talk about the Holy Moonlight Sword in its normal form, not the pretty blue. I love everything about the design personally, but wonder how he would feel.
This was great. Demonstration of a practical spin. Though it's more twisting forward while keeping the blade on target. I actually learned that move when I was doing fail fencing.
I had never thought about some movements being so subtle in fencing. Interesting stuff.
This HD is awesome. Thanks for that care, Skall, it's not necessaryn but it gives an effect in swords moves quite satisfaying for the eyes.
Yay! Glad to see Marsden in your videos.
That was a really cool video! I appreciate you taking the time to edit in the historical pictures. I don't know how many minutes you spent, but I appreciate every one of them :D
Very nice discussion on the stances and steps. Thanks for sharing that.
Great to see more rapier stuff on your channel. If those guys have anything on Destreza I'd love to hear it.
Captain Shoutyface. Alas, not as much. I know the 'basics' of Destreza, but do not read Spanish and rely on others to impart information.
Steps are circular and angular.
There is not 'lunge' as with the Italians, though there are Gran Passo (Big steps)
The cut is still used, there are three types, mandoble (wrist powered) media tajo (elbow) arrabatar (shoulder).
The Movement of conclusion is a pass around the circle followed by a seizure and cut.
And other things I can't recall nor am learn-ed enough to impart.
Thibault is not Destreza, but similar in some ways and Blood and Iron's Sean Franklin has been getting into that!
Richard Marsden I've looked more into the Spanish and Italian side of rapier, what I know is in the DVDs from Martinez School Of Arms. Very good instructional pieces and not too expensive. Other than that, though, I don't know a lot from the treaties and historical texts but I do know about how they cut mostly with the very tip, have a very upright stance, the "Mysterious Circle" and how their footwork and drills work. I've not yet progressed onto dagger work, yet. I'm self-taught so I really want to feel competent before I attempt anything fancy and, as you probably know very well, obtaining a solid level of consistency and mastery over the fundamentals takes some hard work and a lot of practice.
Yeah, I have the same videos and have talked with Martinez, a bit, but not much. There are gobs of material, it just isn't translated as far as I know. We dabble, but I'd defer to experts on that one!
Thank you Skall, and the Meisters. Much War Knowledge learned.
This was fantastic! hope to see more with these guys/more technique demonstration soon! Keep up the great work skall
I stopped by the Phoenix Society and took a lesson on Fiore longsword last year--good people, and lots of similarities to old-school Okinawan karate, which I practice :)
I was taught the pasata soto (4:00) from my original instructor... really freaked out my next club with it who considered it illegal with electric equipment. Recovery is possible when done with surprise and a strong rear arm counterbalance.
please record more of these :) its so interesting to watch I swear ive watched this video like 8 times
so interesting to hear about rapier fencing!I'm definitely seeing those differences you were mentioning Skallagrim.I'm still definitely interested in possibly learning more
Always happy to see a video from you :)
That thrust at around 1:55 was awesome!
There's so many times I'll be watching a video not even realising that it's Skallagrim until I hear him or see him. It's nice that he lets the subjects be the stars.
Would love to see a vid deconstructing all the things you can do in D&D and see if you COULD drink a potion, cast a spell, tumble, etc, without getting your face sliced off.
Keep up the good work.
i would love to see more of them! these guys rock
Izal Veevee Why thank you!
Richard Marsden why? because you speak great and make everything fun and therefore interesting.
lovin these videos, especially the HEMA stuff. very knowledgeable.
Really nice video and good job on the sound quality. Most of these "seminar videos" on YT have really bad sound and are therefore hard to watch, but this is very nice. Moar! ;-)
had a lot of fun taking Rapier classes.
oh how wonderful. i simply love rapier
my thoughts on the maneauvers starting 4:30 :
i think there are actually 2 variants. both have in common, that the rapier is held in quarta or turned from terza to quarta during execution. the difference imho:
a) the quicker version leaves the left backfoot in place, simply straightens the left leg and sets the right frontfoot out of the attacking line. (i know this as "scanzo della vita")
b) the slower version moves the left backleg, pivoting it in a circle around the right frontleg, which is left in place. (i know it as "volta" or "inquartata" [because it often starts from a terza-guard])
MrSven3000 Correct!
Then you have giratas as well. Of the inquartata, Giganti says there are many varieties, but he shows a few.
I am contemplating taking up this style of swordsmanship due to the mobility it would offer me during group engagements. We have annual battles here with around 150 fighters using steel weapons, the interesting thing is you'll have re-enactors representing various type of warrior. Last year I fought with heavily armoured footknights, vikings, roman legionnaires, highlanders and crusaders.
awesome video and the guys in the video explane very well!
You guys are so elegant in your technique it makes me wonder have you ever taken hand to hand martial arts if you applied the skill you have here to hand to hand it would be a lovely thing to behold
hey skall wil you be doing any axe fencing in the future?
FVeim He has said before that he does not believe it is possible to make a safe practice axe, so probably not
Well with full plate it should be okay but yeah it's really hard to make a realistic and safe axe head
i know it isnt safe, but it's hella fun
FVeim Fiore has plays with the pole-axe. Sparring correctly with it does require armor. For those who want to see axe, as in (not a pole axe, but an axe!), I'm not aware of any historical treaties though some people are trying to re-create axe combat with hooks, thrusts and cuts!
Richard Marsden im really intersted inn seeing the vikings style axe fighting, but i see the saftey limitations
Man do i love these videos. Skalla keep it up!
There is a video by Guy Windsor regarding Capoferro you might be interessted in "Rapier Seminar 31032012pt1.mov" on you tube. A good hour and very detailed.
The technique with stepping out backwards is described there in detail. He provokes it by doing a stringere on the outside, provoking a cavazione to the inside and a thrust. When he gets is he will step out to the rear and thrust.
Looks like variations of Kokutsu-dachi (Back stance) I think it is cool to see how certain ways of carrying yourself are universal among cultural fighting styles.
Beautiful. I love the more elegant and mobile rapier... unfortunately, in the heat of things I can never seem to pull anything nearly as impressive as a volte myself without suffering perforations. All that aside, wonderful demonstration and grasp of the art.
one thing i have noticed about the instructors is that they are putting presure on the knees of their back leg, this can still get the power but it does mean then can damage their own knees, all they need to do is to make their foot follow the direction of the strike
Very nice demo
that was really interesting... thanks for posting this. I am really interested in the period from renaissance to the end of the 18th century and the shift from rapier to short sword and basket hilt broadsword. Would love to see a demonstration of sword and dagger fighting like in one of the manual shots in the video.
Damn that was cool
Utherix Why thank you!
Richard Marsden Rapier fencing is my favorite and you guys did a very pretty job of educating people thank you very much!
Thanks! We always worry when posting videos we'll forget something, or not do enough justice to something, but that's how it goes! Thanks again!
I had the privilege to spar with some top-level rapier fencers from the SCA a few years ago. It was a truly remarkable experience, and they were very nice guys, but the personas and historical garb get to be a little over the top for me sometimes, so it was very nice to see some experienced fencers discussing techniques without all the flair. I do love cloak techniques though. What is your opinion, Skall, in regards to the fencing side of the SCA, of that sort of historical garb and dramatic flair?
Interesting interpretation. I have someone who uses the "live" old form for in FMA which is passed down from these sources as the philippines were invaded several times by various parties who left certain traits that surived trial by combat, namely piracy at sea.
Looks pretty close but he could elucidate on their interpretation. Trial by combat still happens this day in my part of the continent, just that its not that well known if you are not in these circles.
Thanks! Most folks don't realize that combat with blades is a martial art.
This got me thinking- how awesome it would have been if Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Munenori had produced illustrated manuals.
Book of five rings?
Noah Weisbrod There's an illustrated/illuminated version???
Mark Stockman god, if there was, it would solve every problem with that book, namely that for the life of me I cannot figure out how the hell those moves are supposed to be executed
Musashi was known to be able to draw, but it doesn't appear that any copies of his book have drawings in them. (his original manuscript has been lost, so we'll never know)
There are modern kenjutsu books adapted from it that have illustrations, if those would help.
That last technique was really interesting. I wonder if it could work with a shorter sword, like a backsword or sabre, provided your opponent has a smallsword or a cut-and-thrust sword of a similar length (28-30 inches/71-76 cm).
Ryan Cauffman Possibly. We work from historical manuals and the backsword/saber manuals I have read don't use the inquartata. Someone else may have come across it.
Small-sword yes - i0.wp.com/madamepickwickartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/grand12.jpg
(Note how the weapon is so thrust-orientated that he's voided it entirely and not sought opposition)
When asking about mixed-weapons (saber vs rapier, backsword vs cut-and-thrust, or backsword vs shovel), it gets tricky. Treatises often cover these only in passing with a few exemplars.There are plenty of exceptions, but you have to go hunting for them.
If asking about using it in a practical sense, I'd say 'yes' if the opponent thrusts deep enough that you can rotate away, AND thrust them, and recover before they can do anything about it. You can make almost 'anything' work in the right circumstances, but that doesn't mean it was A- historical B- you should do it, it may not be historical for a reason!
Richard Marsden Thanks. That helps a lot.
LOL, I thought you grew your hair out! Then I realized it wasn't you. But these information are really clear and good for stances and movements!
What are the pros and cons between a single edged bladde and a double edged blade?
Fascinating, the first minute or two of the video is very similar to boxing. You would give the same advice to someone throwing a jab.
isn't the thing at around 3:50 just simple Passata-sotto, where you attack in tempo by "lundging backwards", he lundges and you drop down while extending your arm?
Passata-sotto is Italian for pass underneath or below. Passing in Italian rapier is forward, stepping back and dropping down to go underneath was a later technique in the 18th century I believe. Italian systems often emphasize attacking into an attack.
4:43 the guy in the right of the image looks FABULOUS!!
Qazmax Inquartata at its finest!
Thanks Jöhännes Sigiward Fechter helped with the rolled edge thing, but will this work with a katana? I think it might be different for one. If it does can I use a steel file to do that
Cargo pants are very similar to early C17 pants.
Hey I have a question about muskets and flintlocks what would a left handed person do when all they can find is right handed muskets?
I have thought a while regarding those two stances. Thing is that I am used to both due them being two out of three standard stances in shotokan karate. From my understanding it is largely a matter of preferences.
Personally I strongly prefer having my weight on my hind leg as I feel it gives me more mobility and thus a longer range and controlled area. Not wasting needless energy is something I have ingrained from the karate so I like having an open/defensive stance for explosive counterattackers when the opponent strikes.
Hey! Don't insult my Fabris! :(
Got to admit, though, Fabris is a bit crazy. That's why I do his stances. :)
Neo Henry Good on you! I don't dislike Fabris, I just am not flexible enough to make it look good. Some of my students use it and they are much better at it! My children surpass me :)
Richard Marsden Every parents love it when their children become better versions of the parents.
Sometime.
Three SCA rapier instructors (I do SCA rapier because San Francisco doesn't have HEMA clubs around) say that Fabris fits for me. Being short, 5' 5", is advantageous through Fabris, they note from experience.
For one second, because of your profile picture I thought Mordor wanted to have a little bargain for my soul.
+Neo Henry hehe.
imho the reason, why so few people do fabris today, is, because they are simply not fit enough. ;)
He said as much in his book! These drawings come from life! As if even back then people looked at it and said, "really?"
I'm a big fan of working on Fabris 2nd, the real low one, arms retracted to lure the opponent in. Do I get it to work? Well... sometimes. Does it make people sense a trap? Yes!
Fabris on my friend!
Neo Henry In SCA heavy combat, I met a guy who uses the "funky fighting style." Never got around to finding out the proper name or origin. Instead of standing vertical with your shield arm elbow at 90 degrees, you keep your shield arm straight, with your shield low and leaning back about 45 degrees from vertical. Doesn't work too well with a "barn door" but perfect for a heater, small roundshield, or buckler. I find that move useful even with a "barn door" if I see something weird coming- lets me drop into a back stance and cover my leg. Downside is dropping a heavy shield into a lower energy state. :-(
Rapier looks interesting, I am thinking about picking up a pair of rapiers. What rapiers are Lee and Richard using - Darkwood Armory or ?
VeeEmEcs Tezt I strongly suggest Darkwood armory and Del Tin. I am using in this video a Hanwei guard, but I think a Del Tin blade, it felt too 'good' to be the standard Hanwei blade. Lee would know for sure, it's his stuff!
VeeEmEcs Tezt If you're anywhere on the West Coast of the United States, I would also give Castille Armory a glance. He's only really known in the context of the SCA so far, but I by far prefer his pieces to the Darkwood blades I've handled (note: the reason there is I find the Darkwood blades to flop too much, making them difficult to cut or strike with. Castille blades are tend to be stiffer. This is a personal thing, and Darkwood beginner blades will end up being cheaper than even the Castille economy line). On the off chance that RUclips will let me plug it here (facebook.com/pages/Castille-Armory/203061436404066), that's his showing-off page.
Modern fencing is also a good tool to learn how to use these types of blade, as the foil. Which is the main weapon used was designed as a training weapon for the raiper and you learn a lot of these things though that as well
***** Not really. The rapier weighs a little over 2lbs on average. If you were to use modern fencing techniques with that, it just won't work. The game changes completely. (Plus intent. Modern Fencing is to the first touch with right of way. Historical fencing is to kill while not be killed in a realistic setting)
I wonder what these instructors have against Fabris? What I've seen of Fabris from Martin Fabian's channel seems excellent
The Tattletale Strangler The tradition of cross source trash talk is super strong in rapier. All of the renaissance masters showed their wit in their treatises with sardonic digs against the Italians, the French, the Spanish, the English. Basically, it's traditional to badmouth other styles in a friendly way.
What makers of rapiers would you recommend for a practice rapier? Money is not an issue.
hey. Have you ever done stuff onto short swords? I would love to see you do training with weapons as such
Love your channel Skulagrim-grim-grim. Yes I repeated that last syllable of your name. Its what I do. LOVE YOUR VIDS
Hey Skalla. Because you, like myself, are a knife enthusiast (perhaps the term fanatic would be more appropriate?), I recommend you look into the Miller Brothers Blades company out of Fremont Ohio. If all of their products match the quality of those in their test videos, they work absolute miracles with steel.
Godspeed
Can you do a video on the Jagdkommander Tri-Dagger?
These guys are great! I can't help but wonder their thoughts on Destreza. There's no HEMA place near where I live and I haven't been able to find much of a second opinion on it aside from tiny tidbits. What little I have been able to glean seems like something I'd definitely want to incorporate into a fencing style.
***** Alas, not as much. I know the 'basics' of Destreza, but do not read Spanish and rely on others to impart information.
Steps are circular and angular.
There is not 'lunge' as with the Italians, though there are Gran Passo (Big steps)
The cut is still used, there are three types, mandoble (wrist powered) media tajo (elbow) arrabatar (shoulder).
The Movement of conclusion is a pass around the circle followed by a seizure and cut.
And other things I can't recall nor am learn-ed enough to impart.
Thibault is not Destreza, but similar in some ways and Blood and Iron's Sean Franklin has been getting into that!
Richard Marsden
Oh wow, I didn't actually expect a reply from one of you! Since I don't speak spanish either, and there isn't much in the way of translation for the manuals, I think I'll try looking into Thibault. Thanks for the reply!
Great! There are Destreza clubs/schools in the USA, but I'm not close with them. The Martinez Academy comes to mind.
Richard Marsden
Thanks, I'll look into that.
Very interesting video Skallagrim, more of this please! and some full action montage mabye? :)
I think they may have missed the point with a back weighted stance. The idea is the refusal of the body which comes in very handy when facing an opponent with a more effective cutting tool (broad sword, side sword, longsword). They did hit on the point which is that you don't want a ton of weight on your front foot otherwise you have switch weight in you feet before you lunge which causes you to be off tempo. The move of rushing in or parrying the balde with your hand in the video, while they do happen, are examples of bad fencing becuase if he can reach your blade with his opposite hand you can very eaisly hit him. You let him get too close. Though a lot of the vido they are really close to eachother when they don't need to be to strike. If someone charges in on you, it is very easy to break measure and free your sword to get it back in his face. Fabris uses a front leaning stance in his book to have a faster tempo lunge, however he does say that if you can't stand in than position for a certain reason lean back. If it wasn't affective then he wouldn't have told people to do it. He even states that you should have your weight on one foot so the other is ready to move otherwise you end up with a two tempo attack even if it doesn't seem like it. Interesting video that opens a discussion but I don't think their opinons of the moves are very accurate.
I think they never trained under a master that teaches the italian rapier (or french, or destreza).
They bring up a lot of interesting points about measure, posture, and tempo, but my opinion is that they are not knowledgeable enough about the rapier to teach it to others.
I especially don't like Lee Smith's posture, which makes him look like a guy that practices longsword and carries that training to other weapons. Not to say he's a bad martial artist (probably better than many others out there), it's just not italian rapier.
Thibault actually has Lee's stance in his book. He basically says that if someone is in that stance, then they are either tired, or lack training. Then Thibault goes on describing the one thing to beat a guy in that stance.
***** Very nice video, if you could, do more of this! i love your videos, keep making this good work, Hugs from spain!
Skall, could you do a review on how realistic Mount&Blade : Warband is?
more of this, please
Hey skall think you could do an analysis of dark souls 1 & 2's murakumo? I was wondering how possible/viable the weapon itself is, and how realistic the in-game move set is. If it is plausible, that'd be awesome since it's incredibly badass.
Are these useful or even applicable to modern fencing (epee, foil specifically)? I'm just wondering as using something obscure or less common could have the potential to surprise certain opponents.
HEMA focuses on HISTORICAL martial arts. Modern fencing (especially olympic fencing) is centered around "Hit him before he hits you". HEMA on the other hand, focuses on "Hit him, but don't get hit yourself"
Although both forms have the same roots, I doubt that HEMA techniques could be applicable to modern fencing. I mean in SOME situations it might, but not always.
Epee would be the most applicable, due to the scoring rules epee fencers train a great deal to set up actions were they are the only fencer who lands a touche, it doesn't always happen, but they have the most similar mindset. And epee has actions/techniques similar to what was shown here, it tends to happen much faster and with smaller movements.
For instance at 2:20 is a simple distance parry, reposite, still used to today, epee fencers will be sure take their opponents blade often even if they land a touch in the process of opening the distance because they still want to defend against a redoublement scoring a cheap point.
At 3:20 level changes to avoid attacks and land counters are still a common, if desperate tactic, in modern epee.
And while the size of the piste limits dramatic side steps as at 4:45, Epee fencers will move slightly off line, turn their shoulders to allow their opponent's point to slide by, and land a touche in the process.
The context is different but conceptually and technically so aspects of the original art have been well persevered and even refined, while others have been lost.
Rapier duels are so elegant
It's interesting to see the similarity and the difference between rapier fighting and fencing. It always annoyed me that lateral movement was forbidden in fencing, although my height benefits me in lunges.
AnonEyeMouse Keep in mind most of the differences lie in intent and weight of the weapon. Intent in modern fencing is to touch the person first, intent in historical fencing with rapier is to be defended and attack at the exact same time. (Generally speaking, there are exceptions of course.)
Rapiers also weigh considerably more, so that naturally alters the game involved.
Julian Schuetze
The intent of a sport fencer is to get points. According to the rules that is not the case, if he just hits first. The rules themselves are the result of conflicting interests like realism, safety, enjoyment, honor and watch ability.
HEMA got the same kind of problems with their regulations. Just consider that the often mentioned "right-of-way" is actually a rule that prohibits Kamikaze attacks and forces you to defend if you see that you are being attacked. You can seen the same underlying problem in about every single video concerning HEMA tournaments rules.
Probably not your most favorite weapon, but how feasible is the usage of a scythe in combat? As in like, Grim-reaper scythes with the long handles and such?
Justin Leung wiktenauer.com/images/thumb/6/69/Mair_scythe_01.jpg/698px-Mair_scythe_01.jpgz
Yes! Well, we do have a treatises on it by Paulus Hector Mair, who was later hanged for embezzling money to have his debts and books paid for. Mair wanted to create an opus on martial combat and includes long scythe. If you'd like to know more, go here.
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Hector_Mair
And look up scythe in the drop=down list below.
this is just a part of sword fighting that i'm completely unfamiliar with. i can make sense of it, but still, it's the first time that i've felt out of my depth on this subject.
very interesting though, even if fighting with one hand permanently free seems counter-intuitive to me. would be cool to see more of this type of video.
spamhonx56 Skal has more! Rapier fencing is very interesting because it is a weapon you can easily kill one another with, so many of the techniques (I'd say all) are about how to do it, while at the same time covering in some fashion.Other systems look wayyyy different!
Could these techniques translate to standard sport fencing in Foil or Epee, since they are in essence rapiers?
AuraSight Alas, not really. The rapiers are heavier, the goals are also very different. In sport you have right of way, and you need to hit, and hit first. In HEMA you need to hit and not be hit, and you can move laterally, and use your off-hand. There is no right of way.
The sport fencing world has really dialed down how to win at the sport, the HEMA world is trying to re-create a martial art.
It's interesting to see how some of the moves still used in modern fencing (epee in particular) are illustrated in manuals and this video. That being said, I wonder if the men in the video are completely accurate about the way some of these moves are executed. They seem to be using moves that if used in modern fencing would be highly discouraged as they are not easily recovered from. Against a quick fencer, and even E ranked epeeists are extremely fast, I would think that an opponent would easily be able to parry and touch an opponent before they could remise, or attack and remise again before they could recover. That said, while it holds true in modern Olympic epee, I'm not sure the same can be said for traditional fencing.
The goal of modern fencing (olympic fencing comes to mind) and traditional fencing are different, so the moves alter. The main difference being that modern fencing is for sport (no serious bodily harm), while traditional fencing in a combat scenario would be trying to kill your opponent with seriously harming yourself (if you kill your opponent, but you're seriously injured, its a lose-lose situation)
EasternCTFencing Bear in mind that rapiers are heavier swords than modern fencing ones. According to Wikipedia, 1kg in average for a rapier and 350-770g for an épée. I suppose one cannot be as quick with a 2-3 times heavier sword.
EasternCTFencing As others noted, the rapiers are much heavier. Try epee fencing with something that weights 2lbs or so and you'll see why they did what they did back in 'the day'.
EasternCTFencing What i find the most interesting is the range in space that you can aply in historical fencing. there you can circle your oponement, you are not limited in a close corridor like in modern fencing, that can give some very different moves that would useless in modern fencing.
Very true! Also, your off hand can be used. See mine up by my chest? That's so I can swat away blades.
I really like the 60fps videos. What camera are you using?
Demon of the Desert Sun Covered in an earlier video on this channel. Just search the uploads for "camera".
interesting, thanks for this Skall!
How many focus points do these attacks cost
1:59 How do these guys still have both eyes?
When actually fencing they wear appropriate fencing masks and other protective gear. When practicing more dangerous techniques and/or with inexperienced students they wear appropriate fencing masks and other protective gear. When it's two, I'm not going to be that guy and call them masters, but when two very experienced and skilled competitors are simply showing techniques and differences in mechanics they can get away without masks.
That said, injuries do sometimes occur.
Hey guys. Anyone know what the correct term is for the action of canceling a bow shot when the bow has been drawn to fire? Resting the bow?
Greg Greg Can't clarify for certain but Resting the Bow sounds about right.
Skall, what do you think about wooden armor?
A elegant weapon of a more civilized time quite honestly actually.
5:23 was pretty funny. Just throws his hair back like 'Oh-h-h.....' XD
So, Skall, recently i've gotten in a discussion with a friend regarding the usage of the sword "Ice" (From the "Song of Ice & Fire" series, written by George R. R. Martin). It's is portrayed as a great long sword (1.48 to 1.52 meters long, it's not precisely discribed, in the books it just say that it's as big as a 14/15 Y.O. boy), but it is also broad. It doesn't have the narrow blade that I see on the swords of the same length you've shown here.
Which led me to believe that Ice was probably never used in a battle, but instead, Ice is more of a ceremonial sword, to carry executions, for example.
I'd like to know your take on the matter.
Thank you for the attention, and have a nice day.
bozox22 Skall can perhaps better answer this, forgive my jumping in. I can't recall that sword in the book, but giant non-battle swords did exist. Execution swords and something called a bearing sword which was for parades and meant to look big and impressive.
bozox22
Ice is similar to a claymore in size and would be usable in battle / duels if shaped properly by a competent blacksmith. The balance is actually more important than the size.
bozox22 I know you've gotten replies from both Richard and Skall, but ill throw my two cents in anyway. If you're talking about the book version of Ice (which I'm assuming you are), then it can definitely be used for battle, as George states so in The World of Ice and Fire companion guide. The TV show does a pretty good job of showing us what Ice would look like, but there is one problem; it ways 12 pounds. From my readings, the heaviest two-handed sword confirmed to be used in combat was 7.5 pounds, but most combat oriented two-handed swords were 5-6 pounds. So, in order for Ice to be usable, the need to taper the blade a lot more, or taper it a little bit and add more fullers or deepen the one it already has. However, all this could be null and void when considering that Ice is made of valyrian steel, which is supposed to be lighter than normal steel.
this isn't related to the vid but is there a way to fix a rolled edge? I can't seem to find a way :P
Harvey Chestbreach Hammer it out, then grind it again.
4:44 Ultimate humiliation kill pose. "Oh, what's that? Ooooohhhh, you missed. *stab*