One of the best demonstrations in this series, in my opinion. Although the back-cut is an exceptional technique, for some reason it seems that it is seldom taught. Yet this lesson displays the technique with its perfection and simplicity and economy of motion.
As a fellow student of the blade, I think I would be hard pressed to say one technique is the most important or deadly, (I would probably say that the winner of any outcome would be the person with better timing or treachery over any technique) but what I love about the back cut is the incredible speed of its action, which is one of the fastest motions a human body can make (thumbs up to thumbs down)its ability to quickly change direction and as Maestro pointed out the sustained ability to guard. But I too was under the impression that the back cut came about much earlier, The Maestro references Santelli, who was "the father of modern fencing" as he is known from around the turn of the last century, but be aware that modern fencing in my mind means sport fencing, olympic style, on a mat with judges, and not on the greens where steel meets blood.
(con't) Also shown are false edge strikes that rotate the other way, typically striking downward diagonally or vertically (The Schielhau, or Squinting strike) used most offten to counter the threat of a thrust from below, and horizontally (Zwerchhau, the Thwart Strike), used to defend against strikes from above. In messer they were called the Zwingerhau (Constrainer) and Entrusthau (Disarming Strike). Good video, love it.
Very interesting Sir! I learned the back cut as a bowie technique from Jim Keating, and he always said it was based on saber fencing. The lineage is very clear. Thanks for posting this!
Very instructional video, excellent explanation. I would search more videos from this master of saber. One thought came to mind though, that I want to share. This back edge cut technique probably was not invented by mentioned Santelli, but rather adopted for a new "thumb" action technique. Why you ask? Few reasons. Santelli went to Budapest , capital of Hungary,. Now we know that Hungarian saber system was quite well developed at the time and in Russian references (of mid 19 century) to Hungarian fencing with sabers it had been compared to a Georgian way of saber fencing. Now Georgian sabers had the back edge of the upper part of the saber sharpened and used for somehow similar actions, though not with "thumb" technique. Also really similar to movement demonstrated in video is trick that was in arcenal of Persians armed with very curved saber shamshir. It was executed in a very similar manner, starting cut and than upon reaching a point of parry , they would do pronation action of the wrist striking with sharp tip to puncture or cut on withdrawal.
Work best with a curved blade which can beat a blade offline and curve around to the arm. Biomechanically the strongest arm move is the palm up to palm down spiral - sidearm throwing motion - tennis serve. The opposite - palm down to palm up backhand cut is also available and as well as a rising cut.
Fascinating info, I want to ask you however-The back cut you speak of, do you consider this the "modern" technique? I ask because as a student of Bowie knives and technique, I learned that Bowie knife combat is based somewhat on saber technique. Perhaps THE MOST important and deadly move in Bowie fighting is the Back Cut. Now I have always read and there is considerable-undeniable in fact- evidence of not only the Bowie fighters of the early 1800's using the back cut, but the saber users of the day too. Pirates, for example were known to use the technique with a cutlass, they must have learned it somewhere themselves, so it was definitely a known technique by the 1830's at least. I don't want to put down anything you say or teach, I just want to know your view of the back cut, as I don't know any fencing technique, but I do know a little bowie knife history. I learned the right way to hold a saber, and a lot of interesting info, thank you very much! I wish you a great day!
Interesting... universal principles at work. You see the same false edge cut in the old medieval European fencing manuals, called the Sturtzhau (plunging strike) for German longsword and the Winckerhau (wave strike) for messer (long knife). The difference being the Sturtzhau is used to bypass a parry and complete the attack on the same side head, and the Winckerhau is used to bypass the parry to follow up with a false edge strike on the other side. (con't)
May I ask you sir, how well do you think this technique would apply to historical saber? I myself started as a sport fencer and later switched to historical fencing and I am curious as to how well this technique may translate to a heavier weapon.
Seofthwa I think it translates well, as similar movements are found in Scottish Backsword and (modified with a grip change) in longsword. Though the technique is roughly identical with a light sabre, via the grip, as shown in single stick and broadsword treatises, a Calvary Sabre might require a more falso dritto/falso manco upward movement for fear of straining the thumb or wrist. hope that helps.
Actually it does, I had thought that it would only work well with the lighter weapons rather than the heavier ones, but I guess it depends on how lively the weapon feels in the hand.
Seofthwa Glad to hear it works for you. my calvary sabre is a little to heavy for such movements, and even my single stick stresses my wrist doing it but if it works for you, great.
Imo, he keeps saying if he misses, in reality, you DO cut, but your opponent doesn't stop fighting. In fact, since they're injured, most will fight harder.
cchgn that’s the principle in hema sabre also known military sabre which was the one practice before modern fencing, although this techniques and tactics he’s demonstrating are meant for the modern sabre sport where you go by rule of right, meaning that if you missed you have to adopt a defensive position, and regain the right to score point, are nonetheless quite beneficial for the practice of the lather, if you happen to miss or score in the old fashion military sabre you still want to be protect, to get out of the attack zone. As you said the enemy will still try to hit you back so it’s always good to have a sound defense after each blow. Torso attacks are rear in military saber precisely to avoid being exposed, but learning this way of attacking opens new ways to improve.
+a661992 Then there was the old Scottish Seax... Maybe the grandfather of the Bowie? Front and back cuts in Highlanders' "arguments." Just a thought...
+Goo59ber nice! Yes most likely. Talking to the granddaddy of modern Bowie Jim Keating, the Bowie was just a modified sabre. At least in technique. Great input though. The sax is an awesome weapon!
One of the best demonstrations in this series, in my opinion. Although the back-cut is an exceptional technique, for some reason it seems that it is seldom taught. Yet this lesson displays the technique with its perfection and simplicity and economy of motion.
As a fellow student of the blade, I think I would be hard pressed to say one technique is the most important or deadly, (I would probably say that the winner of any outcome would be the person with better timing or treachery over any technique) but what I love about the back cut is the incredible speed of its action, which is one of the fastest motions a human body can make (thumbs up to thumbs down)its ability to quickly change direction and as Maestro pointed out the sustained ability to guard. But I too was under the impression that the back cut came about much earlier, The Maestro references Santelli, who was "the father of modern fencing" as he is known from around the turn of the last century, but be aware that modern fencing in my mind means sport fencing, olympic style, on a mat with judges, and not on the greens where steel meets blood.
(con't) Also shown are false edge strikes that rotate the other way, typically striking downward diagonally or vertically (The Schielhau, or Squinting strike) used most offten to counter the threat of a thrust from below, and horizontally (Zwerchhau, the Thwart Strike), used to defend against strikes from above. In messer they were called the Zwingerhau (Constrainer) and Entrusthau (Disarming Strike). Good video, love it.
Very interesting Sir! I learned the back cut as a bowie technique from Jim Keating, and he always said it was based on saber fencing. The lineage is very clear. Thanks for posting this!
Very instructional video, excellent explanation. I would search more videos from this master of saber. One thought came to mind though, that I want to share. This back edge cut technique probably was not invented by mentioned Santelli, but rather adopted for a new "thumb" action technique. Why you ask? Few reasons. Santelli went to Budapest , capital of Hungary,. Now we know that Hungarian saber system was quite well developed at the time and in Russian references (of mid 19 century) to Hungarian fencing with sabers it had been compared to a Georgian way of saber fencing. Now Georgian sabers had the back edge of the upper part of the saber sharpened and used for somehow similar actions, though not with "thumb" technique. Also really similar to movement demonstrated in video is trick that was in arcenal of Persians armed with very curved saber shamshir. It was executed in a very similar manner, starting cut and than upon reaching a point of parry , they would do pronation action of the wrist striking with sharp tip to puncture or cut on withdrawal.
Wow, super smooth with that cut!!
Living and loving your work and advice! Thanks for the vids! Looking forward to more!
Jesus 12 years ago? Ha I just learned a bunch , thank you sir for making this and amazing descriptions
Bravo! A very informational and comprehensible lesson.
Awesome explanation
thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. respect to you.
Work best with a curved blade which can beat a blade offline and curve around to the arm. Biomechanically the strongest arm move is the palm up to palm down spiral - sidearm throwing motion - tennis serve. The opposite - palm down to palm up backhand cut is also available and as well as a rising cut.
Thank you Maestro!
Very , very well done.
That has great combat application on various body parts.
Still R.I.P. to Maestro Selberg.
Fascinating info, I want to ask you however-The back cut you speak of, do you consider this the "modern" technique? I ask because as a student of Bowie knives and technique, I learned that Bowie knife combat is based somewhat on saber technique. Perhaps THE MOST important and deadly move in Bowie fighting is the Back Cut. Now I have always read and there is considerable-undeniable in fact- evidence of not only the Bowie fighters of the early 1800's using the back cut, but the saber users of the day too. Pirates, for example were known to use the technique with a cutlass, they must have learned it somewhere themselves, so it was definitely a known technique by the 1830's at least. I don't want to put down anything you say or teach, I just want to know your view of the back cut, as I don't know any fencing technique, but I do know a little bowie knife history. I learned the right way to hold a saber, and a lot of interesting info, thank you very much! I wish you a great day!
Interesting... universal principles at work. You see the same false edge cut in the old medieval European fencing manuals, called the Sturtzhau (plunging strike) for German longsword and the Winckerhau (wave strike) for messer (long knife). The difference being the Sturtzhau is used to bypass a parry and complete the attack on the same side head, and the Winckerhau is used to bypass the parry to follow up with a false edge strike on the other side. (con't)
Nice, thank you.
May I ask you sir, how well do you think this technique would apply to historical saber? I myself started as a sport fencer and later switched to historical fencing and I am curious as to how well this technique may translate to a heavier weapon.
Seofthwa I think it translates well, as similar movements are found in Scottish Backsword and (modified with a grip change) in longsword. Though the technique is roughly identical with a light sabre, via the grip, as shown in single stick and broadsword treatises, a Calvary Sabre might require a more falso dritto/falso manco upward movement for fear of straining the thumb or wrist. hope that helps.
Actually it does, I had thought that it would only work well with the lighter weapons rather than the heavier ones, but I guess it depends on how lively the weapon feels in the hand.
Seofthwa
Glad to hear it works for you. my calvary sabre is a little to heavy for such movements, and even my single stick stresses my wrist doing it but if it works for you, great.
very good demonstration video (y) thanks
Imo, he keeps saying if he misses, in reality, you DO cut, but your opponent doesn't stop fighting. In fact, since they're injured, most will fight harder.
cchgn that’s the principle in hema sabre also known military sabre which was the one practice before modern fencing, although this techniques and tactics he’s demonstrating are meant for the modern sabre sport where you go by rule of right, meaning that if you missed you have to adopt a defensive position, and regain the right to score point, are nonetheless quite beneficial for the practice of the lather, if you happen to miss or score in the old fashion military sabre you still want to be protect, to get out of the attack zone. As you said the enemy will still try to hit you back so it’s always good to have a sound defense after each blow. Torso attacks are rear in military saber precisely to avoid being exposed, but learning this way of attacking opens new ways to improve.
How the Bowie was born
+a661992 Then there was the old Scottish Seax... Maybe the grandfather of the Bowie? Front and back cuts in Highlanders' "arguments." Just a thought...
+Goo59ber nice! Yes most likely. Talking to the granddaddy of modern Bowie Jim Keating, the Bowie was just a modified sabre. At least in technique.
Great input though. The sax is an awesome weapon!
+a661992 "Seax"
mdr truc de merde lol