Viking sword fighting
For whatever reason I was having the kind of weekend afternoon where you spend your time watching youtube clips. Anyways, I saw this clip on viking sword + shield fighting that I thought would be interesting to share here. There are others available, this happened to be short and interesting. I can't say I've ever fought or trained with swords, but I assume it is accurate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFiIDl_mt2c&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFiIDl_mt2c&feature=relatedPost edited by elminster on
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I find it very interesting too. Especially when he shows how Hollywood is doing stuff, and how those tactics would play out in the real life.
Wow! Very Viking, much north, such a cool! Wow!
About footwork: it's interesting, because in later medieval styles, footwork is very important, especially when you get into renaissance/17th century rapier styles. I've also learned that German and Italian styles employ different footwork - German styles tend to involve getting in close for a quick kill, while Italian styles favour backing away to keep distance. In longsword styles, we tend to learn footwork before we do any blade work.
Like I said though, fine if both people do it.
The only time your sword goes behind you in a big "Raaagh!" attack is when you're a disposable bad guy who gets killed in mid-attack by the hero...because that's exactly what will happen if you attack like that.
So yeah, this is indeed how the way to fight.
That shield must be at least a +2 and grant an extra attack bonus!
(As well as what I assume is now the hight of fashion in Germany, right @Buttercheese? (and @lolien... I think.)
But of course, this is actually all wrong, because everybody knows Europeans didn't have martial arts, and just flailed around like idiots with big "Raaagh!" attacks for 2000 years. :PP
@meagloth: I am not an expert, but I wouldn't say it's high fashion here. The only people I know who do sword fighting are reenactors, living history players and/or LARPers. Not counting fencing which is a more or less regular sport here (and also a common practice in male fraternities). I heard that some sport clubs are offering Kendo lessons though.
Other than that, Asian martial arts have been popular here since for ever (I myself took Judo lessons back when I was little and for very short periods I also did Karate and Aikido) but those usually only involve hand-to-hand combat here. Though I have never met anyone who took Kung Fu lessons or the likes. I once met someone who knew Ninjitsu though. People are not to keen about weapons here, aside from maybe their decorative factor.
Tldr: Aside from fencing, sword fighting is *very* niche here.
I think the problem with European martial arts is the lack of a rigid uniform/belt system and stylish katas, which leads people to think of it as not a serious martial art - ironically, this is the thing I dislike most about Oriental martial arts! Of all the ones I tried, the one I got along best with was kickboxing.
Fencing is the use of swords in a training and/or sportive way, not simply modern sporting 3 weapons (foils, épées, or sabers). I fence with German longswords, Italian rapier, etc. Look up the Swordfish Sweden HEMA event on YouTube to see what sporting HEMA is like. There's a really good one coming up in Berlin too.
@Squire in the UK, some high profile schools I can highly recommend:
London Longsword Academy: http://www.londonlongsword.com/
Schola Gladiatoria http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/
The 1595 Club http://www.the1595.com/
@Buttercheese by "here" which country are you in/referring to? Deutschland?
Apparently the re-enactment/sword-fight scene is big in Poland.
Provided they avoid the weapons designed to armour pierce, it shouldn't actually be that dangerous. Steel isn't very easy to cut, and a dullish sword will definately have a hard time doing more then dent, but I'd expect getting whacked on a boney area covered by sheeting.
here are some techniques demonstrated using half-sword:
@DreadKhan In terms of injuries, if only using blunt steal and using the no-thrust rule most of the BoN and Eastern Euros use, then really only broken hands, and concussions at most. In armoured fencing in the Historcial bouting I've seen, *maybe* the occasional hand injury, but other than that, not much, due to control, rules, etc.
Regarding 'real world', remember traditional isn't necessarily optimal. Also, battlefield tactics might not fair well in a close-up fight with non-lethal weapons; many techniques are for obvious reasons designed to kill, so if killing isn't on the table, many, many techniques and tricks are impractical. Fencing maintains many advanced techniques/styles in part due to the fact that a move that would be lethal usually wins things, even if your sword isn't dangerous. The rules I expect are designed around encouraging a grapple scenario.
Concussions btw are potentially pretty serious, especially if you've taken a few. Definately a thing to take seriously!