Cold Steel: (2 of 3) Basic Self Defense With Saber and Cutla

www.coldsteel.com
Basic Self Defense (using Saber and Cutlass) instructions brought to you by renown Anthony DeLongis and Lynn C. Thompson.
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[@YazuHP]

Anthony De Longis is the textbook definition of a gentleman.

[@hansgruber1974]

The man knows how to fight with a sword that's for sure.

[@EmoHawkas]

De Longis is also a noble name so .

[@39Thorns]

DeLongis is a great instructor. Really makes me want to study the saber.

[@danielhiggins8798]

This is so much like boxing training. Minimal movements, angles, keeping the elbow behind the hand. I just bought my first edged weapon (a cutlass), and I’m really looking forward to learning a new skill.

[@TwinkieTerror]

How is it going?

[@jasestrong]

Anthony you are such a well trained warrior and stuntman, I love seeing you in movies!

[@LordPerique]

Ok, I get that. I'm a fencer myself. The title of the video led me to believe that you were trying to market a sabre as a self defense weapon to be carried on the street. My bad. I, as a bladesmith and a fencer, have great respect for the blades Cold Steel has produced, you guys somehow managed to make exellent blades available quite cheaply.

[@denniscontreras]

very elegant swordplay

[@mnije]

This is some really good education right here. Great videos! Thumbs up.

[@sparrowhawk81]

tietjen1st Yes, parrying has effects on a blade. "Wreak havoc"? I don't know that I'd go that far. I do know that without parrying the chances of the other guy's blade "wreaking havoc" on your face are pretty high. Plus, parrying across your left side and intentionally turning your wrist somehow to take a shot on the flat would be awkward. Basically, if you were fighting someone with this and they also had one, and theirs was coming toward you edge first, you would put your hand out so that your weapon stops their weapon. What situation are you imaging where a combatant is going to go "Oh my! I'd better not ding up my blade a bit!"

[@hansgruber1974]

Wow, you seem to be so much more knowledgeable than the man in the video who so clearly SHOWED his ability! I'm impressed with your oral refutation of his demonstrated physical ability! Thank you sir!

[@matthewpham9525]

Hans Gruber He’s addressing a commenter

[@jamestyler4676]

I would love to see a video on the hanging guard.

[@albystore3184]

Love it, cool movement

[@LordPerique]

In a gunfight; I carry it because I don't drive, and need to transport it between where I live, and my foundry/forge, and I love the look on a wannabe gang-banger's face when he sees I have a calvalry saber on my hip.

[@supersasquatch]

This guy is the real deal, super instructive

[@JTWilliams74]

Sabers are unsharpened on the strong of the blade, they're meant to be blocked with the edge, and the edge is always stronger than the flat, therefor blocking with the edge is always going to be stronger.

[@Sinbad683]

This is very informative :). I wonder if Cold Steel delivers to the Philippines if I were to make an order in the website. Sadly though at the moment, I got no cash :(

[@LordPerique]

I do fence, competatively I might add, and I would still prefer a throwing knife, or a gun to a wooden stick or a sword. IMHO, fencing doesn't magically make you able to defend yourself with your bare hands against an armed attacker, and since I live in an area where the murder rate, and number of gun homicides, is very high that means defending myself against a guy(s) with a gun(s). While I do occasionally take one of my swords with me on the CTA, I don't seriously think it would do me anygood.

[@demomanchaos]

This is helpful info for any swordsman. Some of these tips fit for a 2 handed straight-sword as well as a 1 handed curved blade. Can Cold Steel help me out? I am looking for a good battle ready short sword that can be used 2 handed or with a shield. I am wanting to keep something in my car (a larger sword would be hard to get out in a hurry) to have an edge if I ever need a personal defense weapon (preferably a double-edge). Do/could you produce something that would fit the bill?

[@ChishioAme]

@1FirestormIndustries You've probably already done so, but in case not, lemme say this. Watch part one; Lynn states quite clearly that the bottom half of the saber is unsharpened and that that is where you make your parries.

[@Linkfiremblemace]

@adrianrubi Not really. The thing to consider is the weight of the weapon. This will determine what you will do; Slash, cut, or thrust. (Slashing and cutting are two very different techniques.)

[@JTWilliams74]

It depends on the saber, if it's a cavalry saber and the wielder knows how to use it I'd put money on the man with the saber. Cavalry sabers cut just as well (if not much better) than katanas and with only one hand. In any situation I'd pick a saber as my sword of choice. But in the end it depends on the person holding the sword.

[@Maciliachris]

If I may answer to an 2month old comment: As Saint Carnifex has shown you can parry many strikes with the flat. And if you look up the master strokes of the Liechtenauer tradition you'll see that most of them redirect the incoming blade by hitting with your edge against his flat. John Clements of ARMA says that static edge blows weren't used before the advent of classical fencing. So although the video above is great for saber fencing, you'd use a longsword totally differently.

[@Dragon1813]

I like how you emphasise the whole "Less is more" principle. LOL So true.

[@Anonymus79952]

Vladimir, I agree with you! A good saber should always win against a katana (of course, everything else being equal). I have no idea why your comment has received too many negative votes. Cheers

[@EtherealDoomed]

It depends on the situation, your training and armor, their training and armor, and their sword. Saber vs. katana it's very hard to keep your grip on your sabre sometime since your fingers grip it less and it is less heavy and one handed.

[@Deibodese]

What's interesting about his instruction on parrying is that it is essentially the same theory of structure known as "internal strength" in both Tai Chi and Kung Fu.

[@Zombied77]

Dude is a good teacher

[@walatalalaw]

@feketekristoti yeah I've been thinking about that one for a while... I know you've got to preserve the blade, but say you do an overhead parry. The maximum stability (or as he calls it, skeletal alignement) is when your wrist is straight. But if your wrist is straight, the cutting edge is the part that makes contact (mimick the move and you'll understand). If you bend your wrist you've got less force. So what do you do? It's a serious question, I do not know the answer.

[@SavageArms357]

For some people where guns are illegal or extremely hard to obtain for self defense, a good short sword (Like a CS Gladius Machete, for example), would be an excellent home defense weapon.

[@onerom_evad]

great video...thank you for posting and shareing this knowledge.

[@ALTimatum8]

It seems to me like all that blocking and parrying would wreak havoc on the edge of the blade. Do you guys enforce it or something?

[@thedarwinist672]

This reminds me so much of wing chun

[@Anonymus79952]

1. You should be faster than someone with a Japanese daito (katana). Also, strike their hand and wrist: with an average length saber you should have more reach. 2. If you are getting disarmed while doing a parry, you are probably doing it wrong. Pay attention to the angles for the parries the guy mentions, and you should be able to parry any katana blow. The name of the game is how to use your opponent's strenght and momentum against him. But it is good you notice this, and now you can remedy it

[@CatCopy01]

is there a certain stance you must be it when i or someone else spars with a saber?

[@colddrake80]

@rehwr It also depends on what technique you want to use. For really close fighting a gladius or bolo type blade would work best. Even if you are short for European rapier fencing your thrusting blade would still be quit long. What do you want to study?

[@walatalalaw]

Yes, the ricasso. But I was wondering what the proper technique was with say a hand and a half. Do you sacrifice that portion of the blade, do you not sharpen it (or very little), is there some special technique or method to preserve the edge and have a stable parying hand? I'm no expert in this stuff, just wondering

[@_XR40_]

Actually, sabres are designed to be used from horseback - most effective against ground troops or other horsemen. Best sword length for someone on foot is a blade about the length of your own thigh, from hip to knee.

[@KowboyUSA]

Excellent instructional video mini-series.

[@josephbloom1768]

John Ratko I aggree with every except his hanging gaurd. It should be set on a slightly downward and forward angle which would allow him to immediately counter without having to obsorb any energy as the enemies blade just rolls down and out of the way

[@matthewpham9525]

Joseph Bloom The parry 5 is more like a British Roworth St. George rather than a hanging guard, which is mostly horizontal.

[@EtherealDoomed]

I've found the best way to block, counter, and fight is the way that results in you not getting cut or stabbed. The whole debate is a little irrelevant from that perspective.

[@CannonRoadPilot]

@csknives it would be better to consider Yoda versus count Dooku, as they are both on screen at the same time :P

[@NYWAORCANZ]

the founder of Aikido once said a small hand held stick is as good as another other hand held weapon.I personally agree with him Consider the Roman Army control Europe for a thousand years with a short sword no long then two feet long Consider how short the average cutlass was used on most pirates and sailors Consider how dangerous chinese butterfly swords are. Or how dangerous a bowie Knife or a tomahawk is

[@CJ-ej6sk]

Super video.

[@radiomay]

if you know fencing you are able to defend yourself with a wooden stick or even bare hands

[@guerrierodelgiaguaro]

Fantastic! *****from Italy

[@georgelancaster6701]

So informative

[@rehwr]

so considering my lack of height, I should pick a weapon that is proportional to my size, will a machete or short sword fit the bill better?

[@EtherealDoomed]

@csknives If you take a cutlass or saber into a fight against someone with a two-handed sword using the grip taught here, I've found you tend to lose your sword, as in it just gets smacked out of your hand by the greater weight and power of the katana. Less so with the cutlass, since you tend to grip that a little more like a "club", (obviously not fully like a club) but is something wrong with my technique, or is that just the nature of the swords?

[@TheBidenhander]

Not as much as you might think. Katanas used properly wouldn't generate THAT much impact. Katana forms emphasize the cut rather than the impact. If the Katana user is just adapting to smashing blows, then yes, theoretically it could disarm you if you throw a hard block. However, if you do as this guy suggests and deflect rather than stop, the force behind the swing would be next to worthless.

[@jiveheaded]

this would come in handy in the very likely event that you are attacked by a saber wielding man while strolling about with your saber. cheers!

[@P99AT]

The way I see it, it's not about necessity. Some people are going to want to own sabers, so they might as well know the basics of how to use them.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

This is better than I thought it would be honestly, no disrespect to the ceo of cold steel, but he usually shows terrible cutting technique and form. This guy is good though and knows what he's on about, get him to do your sabre cutting in future it will be better for your credibility among swordsmen.

[@robertlehnert4148]

Hanging Party is better than Quince (Five)-- even for one handed but especially two handed blades. Hangen leaves much less of you open and the riposte is faster as well.

[@matthewpham9525]

Riposte from hanging (I assume you mean inside) has a velocity, but needs to travel a higher distance. Quinte/5 is both faster to move to and faster to riposte.

[@infernape425]

do cutlasses have that unsharpened areas at the base

[@jcline87]

What would you suggest for a tall person with a long reach?

[@player1vladimir]

Who would be a better warrior someone equipment with a saber or someone with a katana?

[@OSJ81]

The one who trained harder

[@stefthorman8548]

i would assume katana, it's an two handed weapon, far more force and leverage, behind the blows, but yes, the one that trained harder is more likely to win

[@watcher3451]

well the bottom half of the saber is blunt specifically for parrying

[@ifcrocco]

the secret is the warrior the weapon is nothing

[@naughtyskywalker9292]

Count Dooku early days.

[@Mantinae]

Where can you learn such techniques these days? Aside from Olympic fencing schools, where can you learn to wield sabers and the likes in an effective, military way?

[@lukazz434]

does it matter if you're left or right handed because I'm left handed

[@BrotherDerrick3X]

My guess is that as with everything, apply the instructions to your being left handed.

[@matthewpham9525]

“Cutla”

[@Kurio71]

What's with the black jacket?

[@jonathonparzyck82]

It's a fencing coat just custom

[@TheBidenhander]

It's k, they don't know 'bout dat thing called footwork. He didn't mention it in this vid so obviously fencing involves no movement. :P Or at least that's what many of these guys are apparently thinking.

[@chadtuttle343]

Instructor is great the prop looks like he got out of Curling classes then finished a bowling divorce court. She rolled a 300.

[@DarkWookie]

The techniques he is teaching are rapier techniques....which are actually square or diamond in shape and only have an edge on the last 8-10 inches of the blade....great for low to mid blocks and parries....not so great with a full edge weapon like a saber or katana

[@matthewpham9525]

These are most definitely sabre techniques, you can see these in manuals from Barbasetti, Hutton, and Roworth. Even with the edge damage, it's only in the lower third of the blade, which doesn't do any cutting.

[@player1vladimir]

No armor, same training. Just swords. Imagine it as comparing cars. :)

[@aporlarepublica]

Does a lad with a sabre need self defense? LOL

[@fungusenormus2378]

#WallOfSteel

[@player1vladimir]

Well in my opinion katanas are overrated, like most other things from japan. I mean if we look just at the sword. Which sword would be the best sword? I think it is the saber but a lot of people say it is the katana.

[@madisonelectronic]

Just use a sawed off shotgun. Once the other bad guys see the first ones' guts hit the wall they will take off.

[@sidneymilligan9572]

I’m using these videos for dueling in vr 😂

[@infernape425]

ok more specifically the Cold Steel® 1917 cutlass

[@gannonruby1119]

I trust teddy roosevelt

[@LordPerique]

When exactly do you believe you will have to use any of these skills in actual combat...?

[@calderwis]

This guy is teaching classic sabre *fencing* not self-defense. Who's going to attack with a sabre in this day and age? What do I do against a knife or gun? Also, parrying with the edge is a great way to ruin a blade. Cuts should probably be received on the flat.

[@player1vladimir]

Japanese anime fans, hollywood believers and so on. I will also say a rupier is better than a katana.

[@ifcrocco]

katana is good but the hollywood and people create a wrong image saying KATANA IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD !! but NO it`s wrong...roman gladius for exemple is much better than katanas

[@ctrlaltdebug]

But how do you defend against a skateboard-wielding felon?

[@12345urbana]

..... I kick him ..... What then

[@raghvendrasingh9984]

Jai rajputana

[@feketekristoti]

The swords never meet at the edge of the blades, so they do that very grand mistake.

[@stefthorman8548]

not really

[@redbeard1911]

While I have to give credit here, I dare say that this is fine and well if you are fighting like gentlemen. However, anyone skilled with a katana and/or double edged sword knows to deflect and parry with the side and back of the blade. While these methods and users may seem more barbaric by comparison, I'd almost have give the samurai or knight/Viking the credit. But I guess that is also the difference between fighting and sparring like a gentleman, and actual combat fighting.

[@0hn0haha]

+Redbeard Lonewolf Actually, military saber can look very pretty; deceptively pretty. All the moves are deadly efficient; perhaps that is why they are so pretty to the human eye.

[@regalrender1934]

I cut the shit out of katana users all the time. The katana is just a short 2 handed saber with no hand protection. It's actually a garbage sword design. The best thing the katana has for it is its draw cut, or "Iaijutsu". The design of the katana allows it to be pulled out of its scabbard _slightly_ faster than any other sword design, so if you want to pull out your blade and cut someone before they get their sword out, the katana gives you an increase in that skill. All in all, the katana is not that great. Sure, if you know what you're doing, any sword is a very very VERY dangerous weapon. But I'd always take a Rapier, saber, or longsword (in that order) over a katana.

[@Hibernicus1968]

Actually, the military saber techniques were codified and taught in armies like the British armies that fought sword-wielding opponents in India, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Sikh warriors and Afghan tribesmen didn't fight "like gentlemen." It was rough and tumble, life and death stuff. Military officers using sabers to defend their lives wouldn't have used these techniques if they weren't effective. And actually, they DID parry with the edge going back to the fight manuals of the late middle ages and Renaissance. Perhaps the Japanese did parry with the sides and back by preference, but then again, the katana had an edge hardened to such a degree that it was very prone to chipping -- the gunome hamon (as opposed to the old flat hamon), which were basically "fingers" of softer steel running into the hardened martensite of the edge, was a development specifically invented to limit this damage to a small section of the blade, and not allow it to propagate along a great part of the edge.