Historical Fencing video

**Tyrsmann** · Posted On: 6/30/2007 7:33am

The organization is called Zornhau. Don't know if anyone posted this but I thought it'd be cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3DhjFUOG6Y

also the part where they hold the middle of the blades in their techniques, that's called half-swording, it was more commonly used when you and/or your opponent were wearing Full Harness. In the Italian school it's called Mezzo Spada.

Just thought I add that part in their for information's sake.

**vigilus** · Posted On: 6/30/2007 8:45pm

So the blades weren't sharp, only the tips are?

**Tyrsmann** · Posted On: 6/30/2007 11:02pm

oh yeah the blades were sharp, now there were swords called estocs or tucks in english these were made specifically for thrusting into the weak spots and uncovered areas in a suit of armour, so thrusts and half-swording were the main techniques used with these sword. But the Longswords were sharp on both False and true edges or back edge and front edge, as well as the tip. However the Swordmen of the time had a way of gripping it to where the blade wouldn't cut the hand, if I remember correctly the edge geometry had also had something to with it not cutting the swordsman as well.

**vigilus** · Posted On: 6/30/2007 11:14pm

Video looks pretty awesome show wise but I dunno, grabbing a blade like that? If you had a platemail gauntlet on or something maybe but it still seems to me (and of course im ou of my lane here) that even with 'some kinda special way to grab the blade', actually doing that in combat would result in the inability to pick your nose.

With something featuring an unsharpened back and front edge sure.

**Olorin** · Posted On: 7/01/2007 12:25am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3DhjFUOG6Y

**Tyrsmann** · Posted On: 7/01/2007 2:07am

Originally Posted by GuiltySpark

Video looks pretty awesome show wise but I dunno, grabbing a blade like that? If you had a platemail gauntlet on or something maybe but it still seems to me (and of course im ou of my lane here) that even with 'some kinda special way to grab the blade', actually doing that in combat would result in the inability to pick your nose.

With something featuring an unsharpened back and front edge sure.

well man give me a bit and I'll something get on here about half-swording.

**Tyrsmann** · Posted On: 7/01/2007 2:17am

Heres a thread on Sword Forum International about Half-Swording, read through it will be able to explain it better then I can.
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...=half-swording

something this thread reminded me off, because of the types of armour when the Longsword was used, the blades weren't usually razor sharp, sharp enough to sever a limb, but not "razor sharp".
hope this helps, if not, tell me and I'll ask for a more inedepth explanation, as is I'm still learning.

**misanthropic777** · Posted On: 7/06/2007 3:12pm

Say, who do you train with in Iowa? I'm familiar with most of the groups working on Fiore's material but I'm always looking for more people to discuss it with.

**kobudo** · Posted On: 7/07/2007 1:54am

Well, this isn't really my area of expertise, but...

1. Why are they demonstrating the forms barefoot?

2. Only a person who dislikes having stereoscopic vision would practice sword work without some form of facial protection -- even when just demonstrating techniques.

Edit: Here's another video from their group. Note the video is described at the beginning as a pair "training for medieval stage combat." I would be interested to know what their sources were...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkiScJV_IT0

**misanthropic777** · Posted On: 7/07/2007 2:05am

Originally Posted by kobudo

Well, this isn't really my area of expertise, but...

1. Why are they demonstrating the forms barefoot?

The footwork is easier to perform either in footwear appropriate to the period in which the manuals they are working from were written, or barefoot.

Originally Posted by kobudo

2. Only a person who dislikes having stereoscopic vision would practice sword work without some form of facial protection -- even when just demonstrating techniques.

It depends on how much time you have in practicing those particular techniques with that particular partner. I've done this type of demonstration many times, but only with people I've worked with a lot and only after much practice of the specific set of techniques we're going to use. Also, the swords they are using aren't sharpened - they are training blunts.