Well thank you for referring to our choreography as nonsense :P. Ultimately the aim was to create something interesting to watch, not necessarily to have the fight end in two or three moves, otherwise what be the point of trying to grade it as a fight-test? Either way, I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
I can't criticise the choreography particularly. The spins, while presenting openings, are mostly well executed so that the enemy cannot hit them in time, and the shields are used well enough to cover the agile and acrobatic movements. The only two real things I'd nitpick would be moving the shield back in the first counterattack because it severely opens the guard, and the cartwheel backwards to pick up the spear. However, the cartwheel can be excused since he was going with the momentum and his opponent was off-balance and recovering at the time. The running straight at the enemy bit with the shield to the side bit was actually a wonderful addition! It shows that while sometimes the mistake of moving your shield away from guard can be forgiven since nothing happens, it can lead to your death also. All in all, I'm impressed!
This is absolutely awesome! I was in a production of Romeo and Juliet where I doubled as Lady Capulet and as Sampson in the beginning scene. I was so excited for fight choreo, but my director made most of our fighting spoof fighting. It looked ridiculous. I really wish we could have done something like this...
I practice historical spear and shield sparring and i approve this. Do not hear the assholes, they think they're being "smart and cool" by pointing the innacuracies but if you had to recreate a realistic fight there wouldn't be much to show. Also i want to add that whatever weapons you might use, knowing a "dance" or a routine of some sort is always a nice demonstration of hability and control over the weapon
foroparapente Yeah, I posted this four years ago and it has always had the same title…. Sorry you felt a bit mislead but if you'd read the title of the vid properly then maybe this issue wouldn't have arisen. Hope you enjoyed the choreography :)
Beautiful acrobatic theatrical exchange :) I admire spear fighting, not many people really use spear these days.. its all swords and stuff.. People cant imagine how spear can be used well when you really give it a shot..
Well, the are not really fighting with spear and shield, more like dancing a with a stick, the opponent know exactly what his opponent will do, there for just a dance.
The Oni Yeah that is what I meant by theatrical... But many of the moves would be used in fight and it shows you can really move with spear and that spear is a good weapon in combination with shield... Of course many moves like going on your opponent with spear behind your neck is a bit too much nonsense.. but since there is no spear+shield fighting on youtube much (mostly just spear as a two-handed weapon) it has my thumbs up...
Jakub Tyl I do agree, i could only bare to watch the first part, and there was a lot of jumping, and spinning, and just showing your back to the opponent, in a real battle you would NEVER show your back because it would end in certain death. An actual sparr with shield and spear would be most interesting to see.
The Oni Yeah I would love to see some ancient shield and spear real fight with a lot of shield covering and piercing the enemy like a sting behind the shield protection trying to keep the enemy in distance.. I would like to see the variety of moves that are really practical and would be used in Ancient times... and then maybe finish it with nice one on one shield on shield with short sword.. trying to pierce enemy from around the shield like ancient Greeks or Romans... I find that more interesting then chivalry or jumping around...
People should understand that this is a class exercise, and in fact probably the first time they have actually performed after being taught in class. Obviously, if you are doing a play, and you perform this eight times a week, you do increase the speed and believability. Unfortunately, if you really were to do real fighting, as in fencing, it is not very interesting to look at. It happens too fast and in real life you don't have long fights. Usually these stage fights are linked to character; i.e. these people are not anonymous warriors, they are characters whose animosity has been building throughout a drama. That is what was missing here: no real characters or interpersonal conflict and for my taste too may tricks which don't dramatize the actual combat But they're students and they are just learning the weapons, techniques, and how to execute choreography. Stage fights are choreographed - however they can be very compelling and believable. Seeing something like this done at the National Theater by mature performers would have much different impact.
So many people who fight with spears forget the benefits of using the pole portion of it as a bludgeon to stun or unbalance opponents. So good to see someone remember that fact, even if in a dramatic stage fight.
I am indeed a Historical European Martial Artist. The twirling of the spears, the spinning around, the behind the neck nonsense, that sort of nonsense would give the enemy a wide opening to shove something into you.
I did, but the other fellow was trying to pass this off as historical. Spear and shield is a very hard combo to really fight with, since thrusting around a shield with a spear is very difficult and it is hard to make openings to jab into. The Hollywood moves make it more interesting to watch. Hollywood tends to avoid spear and shield fights though, only case I can remember is in Troy but they didn't maintain those for long. Nice job making something Hollywood has trouble with good.
I don't get why everybody is so mad at the acrobatics of the whole fighting sequence as it's being enacted in a theatre school, have you lots ever been to a theatre? You think the public in the back would be able to see the details of the battle if the actors were not this pompous? Anyways, rant over, I'd like to thank you guys, I was actually looking for a theatrical enactment of a spear and shield fighting sequence for a project and you guys provided extensive inspiration :D
***** I am training medieval martial arts. My specialization is longsword, but I know something about other styles, and even if I had never trained this I would still saw that it is not realistic.
well yea a real fight would be at least twice as fast and 5 times shorter depending on how skilled the opponents are because they capitalize on enemy mistakes.
Your choreography really helps me to understand the movements and style of this most ancient combination of weapons. 2 handed Spear is seen often during wushu and in japanese exhibitions. I rarely see any decent sparring with spear and shield together, even though this was VERY common if not ubiquitous throughout Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It seems the 6 foot spear used by Canaanites, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Persians would be more effective than the 9 foot spear used by Greeks (with due exceptions at Marathon and Thermopylae). 6 feet is long enough to form a phalanx/shield wall but is short enough to easily wield in a melee. I think a 9 foot spear would tire your wrist quicker than a 6 foot spear. I wouldn't know for sure however, as I don't own a shield and only practice with staves. . . . . . . Small staves though, I'm only 36 inches tall.
Not bad, real hollywood esque. Normally Hollywood style fights annoy me (tis the downside of studying ancient combat), but this one was well done enough to not bother me much. Thought the scream when the fellow was stabbed was a tad annoying.
It's for theatre, and if everything were to go at a faster (or even regular) speed then a lot of elements to the fight might be missed. I know that film and television promote this sped up, uber quick martial arts stuff but do you really think that passes for a real fight either? Regardless of what you thought of the choreography (and you're very entitled to your opinion) I would like to see you do better with the time-frame and materials we were given to create this fight. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. :)
theweesmell You either speed up to make a Hollywood-style fight, or you stop the fancy spins to make it look like a real fight, which really isn't as fancy as the movies make it look... but this coreography acomplishes neither.
Well, like I said, you're entitled to your opinion. We made this video 5 years ago so it'd be kinda hard to go back and change the choreography now :).
Fairly good choreography, but my critique for y'all is that you're being too static during many moves, even though y'all become dynamic in others. Note: watch your legs and feet when watching this again, and learn to move as fighters would in those situations. The spins and cartwheel is contrived and not necessary. It breaks the illusion.
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This 1 minute fight is better than half of the ancient fight scenes I see in movies. That was awesome.
Reminds me a lot of Troy.
It was pretty darn good. Drop the spinning moves and it would've been even better!
Gladiators like the retiarus are well skilled in combat tactics.
Well thank you for referring to our choreography as nonsense :P. Ultimately the aim was to create something interesting to watch, not necessarily to have the fight end in two or three moves, otherwise what be the point of trying to grade it as a fight-test? Either way, I hope you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
I can't criticise the choreography particularly. The spins, while presenting openings, are mostly well executed so that the enemy cannot hit them in time, and the shields are used well enough to cover the agile and acrobatic movements. The only two real things I'd nitpick would be moving the shield back in the first counterattack because it severely opens the guard, and the cartwheel backwards to pick up the spear. However, the cartwheel can be excused since he was going with the momentum and his opponent was off-balance and recovering at the time. The running straight at the enemy bit with the shield to the side bit was actually a wonderful addition! It shows that while sometimes the mistake of moving your shield away from guard can be forgiven since nothing happens, it can lead to your death also. All in all, I'm impressed!
This is absolutely awesome! I was in a production of Romeo and Juliet where I doubled as Lady Capulet and as Sampson in the beginning scene. I was so excited for fight choreo, but my director made most of our fighting spoof fighting. It looked ridiculous. I really wish we could have done something like this...
Achilles and Hector approve this
I practice historical spear and shield sparring and i approve this.
Do not hear the assholes, they think they're being "smart and cool" by pointing the innacuracies but if you had to recreate a realistic fight there wouldn't be much to show.
Also i want to add that whatever weapons you might use, knowing a "dance" or a routine of some sort is always a nice demonstration of hability and control over the weapon
This is not fighting, its choreography. Nice but misleading title.
foroparapente to be fair, I think the fact that it mentions that it's for a theatre school kind of explains what it's going to be….
theweesmell
Well I was looking for spear and shield techniques and ended up watching a play rehearsal...but I see your point.
*****
The title changed.
*****
What I mean is that it didn't say theatre when I first saw the video.
foroparapente Yeah, I posted this four years ago and it has always had the same title…. Sorry you felt a bit mislead but if you'd read the title of the vid properly then maybe this issue wouldn't have arisen. Hope you enjoyed the choreography :)
Beautiful acrobatic theatrical exchange :) I admire spear fighting, not many people really use spear these days.. its all swords and stuff.. People cant imagine how spear can be used well when you really give it a shot..
Well, the are not really fighting with spear and shield, more like dancing a with a stick, the opponent know exactly what his opponent will do, there for just a dance.
The Oni Yeah that is what I meant by theatrical... But many of the moves would be used in fight and it shows you can really move with spear and that spear is a good weapon in combination with shield... Of course many moves like going on your opponent with spear behind your neck is a bit too much nonsense.. but since there is no spear+shield fighting on youtube much (mostly just spear as a two-handed weapon) it has my thumbs up...
Jakub Tyl I do agree, i could only bare to watch the first part, and there was a lot of jumping, and spinning, and just showing your back to the opponent, in a real battle you would NEVER show your back because it would end in certain death. An actual sparr with shield and spear would be most interesting to see.
The Oni Yeah I would love to see some ancient shield and spear real fight with a lot of shield covering and piercing the enemy like a sting behind the shield protection trying to keep the enemy in distance.. I would like to see the variety of moves that are really practical and would be used in Ancient times... and then maybe finish it with nice one on one shield on shield with short sword.. trying to pierce enemy from around the shield like ancient Greeks or Romans... I find that more interesting then chivalry or jumping around...
I can not agree more, have a nice day my friend!
People should understand that this is a class exercise, and in fact probably the first time they have actually performed after being taught in class. Obviously, if you are doing a play, and you perform this eight times a week, you do increase the speed and believability. Unfortunately, if you really were to do real fighting, as in fencing, it is not very interesting to look at. It happens too fast and in real life you don't have long fights. Usually these stage fights are linked to character; i.e. these people are not anonymous warriors, they are characters whose animosity has been building throughout a drama. That is what was missing here: no real characters or interpersonal conflict and for my taste too may tricks which don't dramatize the actual combat But they're students and they are just learning the weapons, techniques, and how to execute choreography. Stage fights are choreographed - however they can be very compelling and believable. Seeing something like this done at the National Theater by mature performers would have much different impact.
"Say it! Say her name!"
"No, you say her name!"
"What?"
"I said say her name!"
"I thought I was..."
"Hrrraaaaaaahhhhh!!"
*plunges*
the whole time I was screaming "WHO GAVE YOU THE ORDER!!"
"Impressive, Mortal!"
Lol i get your gow ascension quote
A theatre school fighting~ So many spins, acrobatics. Always a good spectral.
Great choreography, guys!
thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it!
So many people who fight with spears forget the benefits of using the pole portion of it as a bludgeon to stun or unbalance opponents. So good to see someone remember that fact, even if in a dramatic stage fight.
I am indeed a Historical European Martial Artist.
The twirling of the spears, the spinning around, the behind the neck nonsense, that sort of nonsense would give the enemy a wide opening to shove something into you.
wow! great choreography!
this is boss! i wish there were places in australia to learn this kind of stuff , the majority of stunt type of places are pretty bodge around here
Absolutely stunning
There are some similar moves to those from fighting scene between Ahile and Hector from the movie Troia.
this is so cool. like john wick but with spears
Hell yeah! That was really convincing! And thrilling to watch. :)
I did, but the other fellow was trying to pass this off as historical. Spear and shield is a very hard combo to really fight with, since thrusting around a shield with a spear is very difficult and it is hard to make openings to jab into. The Hollywood moves make it more interesting to watch. Hollywood tends to avoid spear and shield fights though, only case I can remember is in Troy but they didn't maintain those for long. Nice job making something Hollywood has trouble with good.
Ok that was fucking awesome
those guys should play in a movie, that was great
Nice choregraphy for sure
I don't get why everybody is so mad at the acrobatics of the whole fighting sequence as it's being enacted in a theatre school, have you lots ever been to a theatre? You think the public in the back would be able to see the details of the battle if the actors were not this pompous?
Anyways, rant over, I'd like to thank you guys, I was actually looking for a theatrical enactment of a spear and shield fighting sequence for a project and you guys provided extensive inspiration :D
It is more dance than fight. Looks good but totally not realistic.
***** I am training medieval martial arts. My specialization is longsword, but I know something about other styles, and even if I had never trained this I would still saw that it is not realistic.
well yea a real fight would be at least twice as fast and 5 times shorter depending on how skilled the opponents are because they capitalize on enemy mistakes.
Your choreography really helps me to understand the movements and style of this most ancient combination of weapons. 2 handed Spear is seen often during wushu and in japanese exhibitions. I rarely see any decent sparring with spear and shield together, even though this was VERY common if not ubiquitous throughout Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It seems the 6 foot spear used by Canaanites, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Persians would be more effective than the 9 foot spear used by Greeks (with due exceptions at Marathon and Thermopylae). 6 feet is long enough to form a phalanx/shield wall but is short enough to easily wield in a melee. I think a 9 foot spear would tire your wrist quicker than a 6 foot spear. I wouldn't know for sure however, as I don't own a shield and only practice with staves.
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Small staves though, I'm only 36 inches tall.
Long spears were used against calvary
looks real epic if you put the speed to 1.5X
Thanks for making my understand how my Cleric fights with a Crook and a Shield
Awesome guys!
Why was this so badass??
AH that was cool choreography!
Very intriguing fighting methods. I've only practiced with Chinese style spear fighting, but this method seems interesting as well.
Not bad, real hollywood esque. Normally Hollywood style fights annoy me (tis the downside of studying ancient combat), but this one was well done enough to not bother me much.
Thought the scream when the fellow was stabbed was a tad annoying.
DRAMATIC! haha i really liked it guys well done. i need to make myself shield.
i expect oberyn to fight like you guys do in the next pisode of GOT
Just like Paris and Achilles in Troy movie
Not scripted what so ever, legit.
Excellent
73 Trojans disliked this video. It must bring back some unhappy memories.
But it was very well rehearsed lol
Great choreography guys
pretty awesome!
Well, he's no Victarian Black.
watching this at 1.5x speed is sick
that was very nice
Gran coreografía, mejor persona
damn that was cool!
LOOLOLOL this reminds me of the fight in troy Achilles vs Hector but that was pretty damn good
Brilliant
Jesus that's brutal
perfection
almost flawless for non-actors!
That was awesome.
where can i get one of those shields?
How did u made that shield??is that wood
I'd go to battle with you guys any day.
im gonna guess this was choreographed
This Is Sparta!
Nice
is it me or is spear fight better than a sword fight?
Bad choreography, we can tell it's too slow to pass for a real fight (and why do you do those spins, specially if they are sooo slow)???
It's for theatre, and if everything were to go at a faster (or even regular) speed then a lot of elements to the fight might be missed. I know that film and television promote this sped up, uber quick martial arts stuff but do you really think that passes for a real fight either? Regardless of what you thought of the choreography (and you're very entitled to your opinion) I would like to see you do better with the time-frame and materials we were given to create this fight. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. :)
theweesmell You either speed up to make a Hollywood-style fight, or you stop the fancy spins to make it look like a real fight, which really isn't as fancy as the movies make it look... but this coreography acomplishes neither.
Well, like I said, you're entitled to your opinion. We made this video 5 years ago so it'd be kinda hard to go back and change the choreography now :).
Dude its for theatre... real fights are too fast and plain to be entertaining for people. This actually look great for the training
there not toys there tool s to kill with take out the dance moves it not all bad
Just get rid of the acrobatics and twirls; and you'l have a great realistic intense fight scene!
bravo
Epic
Talk about a boss
Badass
I wonder if that hert
That was cool as shit
awesome :D
smacking his shield with the spear would break the pole in half...
ok, wow😯
Hi
Buda say good
Killer 😆
Most unrealistic fight I've ever seen but fun nevertheless
true
painful
The loser won acting points 👌
Fairly good choreography, but my critique for y'all is that you're being too static during many moves, even though y'all become dynamic in others.
Note: watch your legs and feet when watching this again, and learn to move as fighters would in those situations. The spins and cartwheel is contrived and not necessary. It breaks the illusion.
Rekt
Wtf is going on in Britain
Omar سلوم I’m not really sure what relevance that comment has to a stage fight with spear and shield......
Wwe
🐒👎
Gay
fake
I'd go to battle with you guys any day.
bravo