Good explanation of how you see it. The step to opponent’s sword side with strike definitely works in full speed combat. However, do not dismiss the step to opponent’s shield side. Going there you get further away from the opponent’s sword, while getting your own sword closer and can exploit the situation to your advantage for example with a low leg strike. Easy to try! By the way, does your sparring system allow striking to ankles and feet?
Thanks for your input! I may have explained it too strictly. Of course steps to the shield side will occur often in combat. Especially after fainting/keeping the opponent busy on his left upper side and then you do a side step to the right and cut to the leg. Or you simply dodge the sword strike. What I meant was, that while it works great to circle the opponent constantly on his left side to outperform him, this is not effective on the shield side. At least in my experience. Yes, it is allowed! Everything is a potential hitzone. However, I rarley had opportunities where it would be a suitable target area.
I find escaping opponent’s counter strike easier when I move to my right. Here’s a short video of two different setups for a leg strike, with stepping to the right. I’m the fighter in the brown suit. This is SCA fighting so we are not allowed to strike to knee or below. Try these if you have the time! ruclips.net/video/alvWihSkvXk/видео.html
That are difficult questions. I have limited insight on how to fight as a left-handed fighter. With the opponent's weapon side on the same as yours, hand coverage becomes even more important. I often stick to binding the enemy's sword instead of striking, since latter often result in double hits. Bind inside his sword and stab from there to the face/chest. But as I said i have not so much experience against left or as a lefty. Cramping is often a sign of being to tensed in general, going hand in hand with short breathing. The causes are often being to stressed/concerned during training/sparring and/or missing fitness in arms and shoulders. It helps to focus mainly on being relaxed during the session instead of on performance. For the latter reason, you will have to exercise more often in solo drills and exercises. I am sorry, if this is not really helpful but its hard to "diagnose" over the internet.
This looks like you've adapted boxing footwork. Have you considered trying wrestling footwork where you would be much closer to the ground? The guard you're using seems to suggest that you would want to be as low to the ground as possible while still being able to maintain adequate mobility, and wrestling footwork would be ideal for this. Who knows whether they fought like this not, since, from my understanding what we know of viking era combat comes from dueling instruction manuals written centuries later, so it's at least possible. Just a thought.
There are very few viking or medieval descriptions of how to step with a round center grip shield. A German manual (cannot remember which now) describes a shield step forward and backward. Have left (shield) leg forward, then advance your right leg in a slinging or slanting motion. That is, right foot is pointing 45 degrees to the right, so your shield side and left shoulder stays forward when you move. For turning steps reference, you might want to look into DiGrassi texts for the step to the opponent's sword side, for example the rapier and the square target section (it is a center grip shield). You can find that on Wiktenauer: www.wiktenauer.com/wiki/Giacomo_di_Grassi#Rapier_and_Square_Shield.
To be honest, I have not read much martial art books despite the historical sources (which seldom describe footwork). There are a few pages of decent description in "The Complete Renaissance Swordsman" from Tom Leoni. It is a great book for sword & buckler but the footwork in the bologneser school includes more delicate. Or do you mean about viking style combat in general?
@@dyslexickangaroo141 There is not so much good stuff out there. There is the classic "Vikings at war" from Kim Hjardar and Vegard Vike. A brief summary of weapons, tactics and history. There is "Viking Weapons & Warfare" from J. Kim Siddorn, which is mostly about reconstruction of fighting with the weapons. But it does not go in much detail. There is "Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques" (all creative names) from Wiliam R. Short (the guy from Hurstwic, which is a nice homepage to read to begin with). But I have not read it yet, it was not available a long time. As far as I am aware, the is not martial art fencing book. Sadly. Maybe I will write one in some years :D
@@alexandermartzok_vikingcombat Thank sounds great I will get them all. I heard Roland Warzecha was writing a book about Viking sword and shield fencing so we might just get the book we need.
Enjoyable. Looking forward to next video.
Ty for these… as a trainer and coach these are very helpful.
Cool!
Very good 👍
Good explanation of how you see it. The step to opponent’s sword side with strike definitely works in full speed combat. However, do not dismiss the step to opponent’s shield side. Going there you get further away from the opponent’s sword, while getting your own sword closer and can exploit the situation to your advantage for example with a low leg strike. Easy to try! By the way, does your sparring system allow striking to ankles and feet?
Thanks for your input! I may have explained it too strictly. Of course steps to the shield side will occur often in combat. Especially after fainting/keeping the opponent busy on his left upper side and then you do a side step to the right and cut to the leg. Or you simply dodge the sword strike.
What I meant was, that while it works great to circle the opponent constantly on his left side to outperform him, this is not effective on the shield side. At least in my experience.
Yes, it is allowed! Everything is a potential hitzone. However, I rarley had opportunities where it would be a suitable target area.
I find escaping opponent’s counter strike easier when I move to my right. Here’s a short video of two different setups for a leg strike, with stepping to the right. I’m the fighter in the brown suit. This is SCA fighting so we are not allowed to strike to knee or below. Try these if you have the time! ruclips.net/video/alvWihSkvXk/видео.html
You also have some tips on fighting as a lefty? Or how to keep your hands from cramping up around your shield handle and weapon?
That are difficult questions. I have limited insight on how to fight as a left-handed fighter. With the opponent's weapon side on the same as yours, hand coverage becomes even more important. I often stick to binding the enemy's sword instead of striking, since latter often result in double hits. Bind inside his sword and stab from there to the face/chest. But as I said i have not so much experience against left or as a lefty.
Cramping is often a sign of being to tensed in general, going hand in hand with short breathing. The causes are often being to stressed/concerned during training/sparring and/or missing fitness in arms and shoulders. It helps to focus mainly on being relaxed during the session instead of on performance. For the latter reason, you will have to exercise more often in solo drills and exercises. I am sorry, if this is not really helpful but its hard to "diagnose" over the internet.
This looks like you've adapted boxing footwork. Have you considered trying wrestling footwork where you would be much closer to the ground? The guard you're using seems to suggest that you would want to be as low to the ground as possible while still being able to maintain adequate mobility, and wrestling footwork would be ideal for this.
Who knows whether they fought like this not, since, from my understanding what we know of viking era combat comes from dueling instruction manuals written centuries later, so it's at least possible.
Just a thought.
Nice work can you recommend some reading material?
There are very few viking or medieval descriptions of how to step with a round center grip shield. A German manual (cannot remember which now) describes a shield step forward and backward. Have left (shield) leg forward, then advance your right leg in a slinging or slanting motion. That is, right foot is pointing 45 degrees to the right, so your shield side and left shoulder stays forward when you move. For turning steps reference, you might want to look into DiGrassi texts for the step to the opponent's sword side, for example the rapier and the square target section (it is a center grip shield). You can find that on Wiktenauer: www.wiktenauer.com/wiki/Giacomo_di_Grassi#Rapier_and_Square_Shield.
To be honest, I have not read much martial art books despite the historical sources (which seldom describe footwork). There are a few pages of decent description in "The Complete Renaissance Swordsman" from Tom Leoni. It is a great book for sword & buckler but the footwork in the bologneser school includes more delicate.
Or do you mean about viking style combat in general?
@@alexandermartzok_vikingcombat About viking combat style in general.
@@dyslexickangaroo141 There is not so much good stuff out there. There is the classic "Vikings at war" from Kim Hjardar and Vegard Vike. A brief summary of weapons, tactics and history. There is "Viking Weapons & Warfare" from J. Kim Siddorn, which is mostly about reconstruction of fighting with the weapons. But it does not go in much detail. There is "Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques" (all creative names) from Wiliam R. Short (the guy from Hurstwic, which is a nice homepage to read to begin with). But I have not read it yet, it was not available a long time. As far as I am aware, the is not martial art fencing book. Sadly. Maybe I will write one in some years :D
@@alexandermartzok_vikingcombat Thank sounds great I will get them all. I heard Roland Warzecha was writing a book about Viking sword and shield fencing so we might just get the book we need.
❤