Wrestling with the sword

[jaime_g]

nice video on close combat while fencing with a longsword

https://youtu.be/OCoajvCeAnY

[GrahamB]

Say what?

I'm assuming that the blades are not that sharp that you need to worry about this

[Giles]

Indeed. I know little about HEMA in practical terms, so I'm open to more informed opinions. But during this demonstration there are moments when the instructor has the opponent's blade: tucked under his armpit - held firmly in his hand - tucked into the crook of his elbow. Even if the whole thing lasts only a second or two at real speed, the opponent might sharply pull his blade back to free it and disengage. No expertise needed, it would be a logical instinctive response. And that would surely slice through the armpit, palm or the elbow tendon. Or am I missing something??

[GrahamB]

Rubbish - it's just a flesh wound.

[wiesiek]

however worth to notice, that sword is quite dull closer to the handle, and in real encounter you are wearing protective gloves and some armor.

[HotSoup]

It's expected that the fighters are wearing heavy armor. Grabbing the blade with a gauntlet is safe enough to make this practical.

[Yugen]

I trained a little in the long sword, you are wearing armored gloves, etc. I definitely want to train it more when I have time. The nice thing about HEMA is they spar and have competition. So they reality check things. I once saw a post somewhere, maybe on this site, where a HEMA guy who had hundreds of competitions says that he's been able to pull off only a couple disarming of his opponent and for the most part they are low percentage opportunities.

[Yugen]

Indeed. I know little about HEMA in practical terms, so I'm open to more informed opinions. But during this demonstration there are moments when the instructor has the opponent's blade: tucked under his armpit - held firmly in his hand - tucked into the crook of his elbow. Even if the whole thing lasts only a second or two at real speed, the opponent might sharply pull his blade back to free it and disengage. No expertise needed, it would be a logical instinctive response. And that would surely slice through the armpit, palm or the elbow tendon. Or am I missing something??

as in the "it's only a flesh wound" image, you'd be wearing chain mail. pinning a blade to your side with your arm would be protected by the chain mail.

[Giles]

as in the "it's only a flesh wound" image, you'd be wearing chain mail. pinning a blade to your side with your arm would be protected by the chain mail.

OK, understand. The blade type used by the two guys here seemed to my inexpert eye to be too thin/narrow for use in full armoured fighting because it wouldn't be sturdy enough to thrust reliably through the chinks; instead more like a civilian sword used for Bloßfechten (fighting without armour). But I'm only guessing here.

[Yugen]

as in the "it's only a flesh wound" image, you'd be wearing chain mail. pinning a blade to your side with your arm would be protected by the chain mail.

OK, understand. The blade type used by the two guys here seemed to my inexpert eye to be too thin/narrow for use in full armoured fighting because it wouldn't be sturdy enough to thrust reliably through the chinks; instead more like a civilian sword used for Bloßfechten (fighting without armour). But I'm only guessing here.

Yes, the "training swords" are often sold thinner like that and don't represent the "real thing". I don't like those. Where I trained we had trainers that had full size dull blade. Those thin ones are so guy's "don't get tired" - which I guess makes sense if you're working foundational movements over and over..

You're probably right too... from what I've read some of the longsword manuals are from a time when people were wearing less armor... but maybe the technique shown was taken from an earlier time? don't know. All I know is I'd rather try and smash with the hilt before trying to capture a blade in grappling.