Fencing: How to Use a Broadsword
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Fencing Maestro Charles Selberg answers the following question from fencer, Blake F (So Cal), "Maestro, can you please say something about how to use a broadsword?"
More fencing content, including videos, and DVDs can be found at www.selbergfencing.com
With all due respect, most of the information in this video is not historically accurate. None of these weapons are true broadswords (a term that correctly refers only to military cut and thrust weapons of the 17th-19th centuries). Furthermore, it is not the case that the medieval longsword was too heavy to use on foot, nor that it could cut through arrmor, nor that armored knights were helpless on foot. These are all old myths that have been debunked.
True. That first so called broadsword he held upp looked like a Marto wall hanger.
This info is complete fantasy.
Zachary Wylde's "English Master of Defence" of 1711 refers to it as a "Broad-Sword." Thomas Page in 1746 calls it a "Broad Sword." The term "broadsword" comes in with Henry Angelo in 1798 and refers specifically to the Scottish basket-hilted sword. Throughout the nineteenth century any fencing manual using the term "broadsword" is referring to either a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword or a heavy cavalry sabre. This is true even in the early Twentieth century.
Yeah, I think specific terminology only came in later. It's the same with the Gaelic sources, before a certain date they just say "sword." I hated disagreeing with you in the first place because you seemed like a true gentleman. Thanks for confirming my good impression...
It's only after the decline of broadsword fencing that you start to see the term misused to apply to Viking swords, arming swords and other weapons. Sorry for the three replies, they were too long to fit in one. They should be read in reverse order.
Viewers may find this list of historical treatises interesting, in view of the original question. www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=25&sid=1420dda3dac2f60becaf6fa681df3523
You will see a variety of manuals for some of the very skilled European martial arts from medieval and renaissance to the present day, as practiced, written and drawn by the people of the time.
For a good idea of actual medieval swords, look at the fine reproductions by Albion Swords, and to see how they were used try ' longsword fencing' in RUclips.
I understand Mr Selberg passed away since posting this video.
Not exactly what I expected from the title but *really* interesting - lot of information packed into a short video.
Thanks mate.
Thanks for your reply. The Viking sword was never called a "broadsword" by the Vikings, that's a Twentieth-century use of the term popularized by fantasy novels. Before that, the term always referred to cut-and-thrust weapons with basket-hilts, like the Highland broadsword. Scottish and Irish masters prior to the 1790s generally used the term "back sword" as the name of the weapon, although some did call it a "broad sword."
As I understand it gilbride broadsword and backsword are mostly similar, the main difference being that the broadsword is edged on both sides whereas the backsword is blunt backed (tho I suspect some enterprising folk would have had the whit to sharpen the tip-end of the back to make a stab thrust more effective).
What I have yet to discover is *why* the single-sided backsword developed from the two-sided broadsword.
They weren't idiots (when it came to swords at least) so they must have figured there was an advantage.
With modern metallurgy both seem similar weight and strength.
Was it always so?
Did they develop a technique which involved placing the hand on the blunt back-face of their own sword?
Seems as likely to help the opponent grab your blade as for you to whack him tho.
Does anyone knows what the driver for that development was?
A single edged sword will generally be stiffer, which makes it better for thrusting. Comparing broadswords and backswords, generally brodsword blades are very thin and extremely good cutters, but may have some trouble thrusting into resistive material. Backswords will give up a small amount of cutting efficiency for stiffness, making them less likely to buckle in a thrust. This is why cavalry swords are almost universally single edged - the forces behind a thrust from horseback pretty much require a good stiff blade.
The sword Mr Selberg has there has more relationship to a Roman Gladius than what is commonly know today as a Broadsword.
hey he has a nice broad sword in the discripition its green with a little red blade
Does he mean longsword? Even then this info is not as accurate as his modern fencing videos.
never put a sword in the seath without drawing blood