Very good points. I really don't have experience parrying with the flat of the blade.

Very good points. I really don't have experience parrying with the flat of the blade.

In FMA you train just with sticks or do you practice swords as well?

In FMA you train just with sticks or do you practice swords as well?
These days I pretty much just do stick and knife practice, and it's all very simple. Working angles of attack and footwork, hitting the tire and desquerdes, and sparring with sticks and knives. I haven't had any formal instruction in FMA in years.

10 points for the first link to these aforementioned late-last-century nerd flame wars. I'd love to read them.

If you really must go there, Google is your friend ...

N.B. that if the debate starts again here, I will be off in the corner, quietly sobbing. Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Right. I'm trying the learning from history part. I'm looking a little bit, but if someone finds some decent links on the subject, PM plz!

If you really must go there, Google is your friend ...

N.B. that if the debate starts again here, I will be off in the corner, quietly sobbing. Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Actually, I was sure that debate was over. It can be easily proved again within minutes in person. All you need is to waste a good edge.

The arma website has several articles on the issue of parrying edge vs. flat. When reading them I get the distinct feeling that John Clements was writing while beating his head against the wall & screaming inarticulately at the internet. Still the articles do a fairly good job of going over the reasons edge parries are bad. Here's one:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/edgemyth.htm

The arma website has several articles on the issue of parrying edge vs. flat. When reading them I get the distinct feeling that John Clements was writing while beating his head against the wall & screaming inarticulately at the internet. Still the articles do a fairly good job of going over the reasons edge parries are bad. Here's one:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/edgemyth.htm

Like I said, John can be rather irksome when defending his points.

At least they are usually right and whenever proven wrong he changes them. (Yes, I am well aware of the fact I've said all of the above).

P.S.:Oh come on, haven't you seen him at seminars?
P.S.:You really have to see him make fun of the ninjers. Well worth it.

Modern fencing can be useful, like kendo.
That being said, the right of way, which does de facto discount one time counter, the no grappling rules, and the linearity of the format will need some time to be adapted.
Obviously 19th cent Fench small sword, 19th cent Italian duelling sabre will be very easy for you to adapt to and longsword or baskt hilt sword probably more challenging. But really, all the point techniques even from a longsword will feel awfully familiar.

In any case, the way you organise yourself in the fight and the way you move you body is defiantly compatible. After that you will have to deal with having two hands on the weapon and or having a heavier weapon,

The arma website has several articles on the issue of parrying edge vs. flat. When reading them I get the distinct feeling that John Clements was writing while beating his head against the wall & screaming inarticulately at the internet. Still the articles do a fairly good job of going over the reasons edge parries are bad. Here's one:

http://www.thearma.org/essays/edgemyth.htm

(+rep)

I was very impress with his scholarship, and was left wanting, as a blue-balled teenage boy in the night, for the sweet release of a similar text that would make a similar point about "blocks" in karate. Such an essay (named, perhaps, "OMFG Don't Call it a Lower Block and Don't Try to Stop Kicks With It") is like a nymph in my dreams.

Seriously, the similarity is mind-boggling.

Well
At least from the lichtanauer tradition, static blocks are a big no-no.
In some case you will have edge on edge deflection. Hence the edge vs edge is sometime taken a bit out of proportion or context.

That being said a dent in your sword is better than a dent in you… We can all take a few punches or kicks, if you are hit with a longsword or even a Messer you are likely to end up in two parts

Well
At least from the lichtanauer tradition, static blocks are a big no-no.
In some case you will have edge on edge deflection. Hence the edge vs edge is sometime taken a bit out of proportion or context.

That being said a dent in your sword is better than a dent in you… We can all take a few punches or kicks, if you are hit with a longsword or even a Messer you are likely to end up in two parts

Technically, it's nigh impossible to hit the flat of the blade, simply by virtue of the blade not being flat. You are going to hit the bevel. Still, for the sake of the argument, flat is defined as "not-edge", thus you might see swords contacting at 30 degrees or 45 degrees angle instead of a clear 90 degrees. That's hardly detrimental to the weapon, not nearly as bad as a full-on edge-on-edge bash.

Technically, it's nigh impossible to hit the flat of the blade, simply by virtue of the blade not being flat. You are going to hit the bevel. Still, for the sake of the argument, flat is defined as "not-edge", thus you might see swords contacting at 30 degrees or 45 degrees angle instead of a clear 90 degrees. That's hardly detrimental to the weapon, not nearly as bad as a full-on edge-on-edge bash.
Yeap,
Even if in certain case like a shiel your edge will be pusing his edge down. there is no full force opposition as teh sword travel more of less the same direction
I can not believe the amount of time waisted on full force edge to edge block discution.
Modern science easily demonstrate that I suck structurally
And the manual clearly show what to when that happens (i.e. the “bad” versetzen) to hit that doing so sucks big time.
Of course it probably happens as it happens now days when we spare, but really it is a no brainer.