Wrestling with the sword
Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 1:44 am
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Giles wrote: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??
Yugen wrote: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 wrote:Yugen wrote: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.