How to fight with a poleaxe!

[@user-lv5rd6kb5o]

This makes me more sad that we never see these weapons in movies.

[@dequitem]

True. I can't remember any film with poleaxes! It's the perfect badass villain weapon!

[@fredfry5100]

Actually we see them quite often. They just happened to me in the hands of nameless mooks, town guards, and other non important characters.

[@DedMorez]

@@fredfry5100 what annoys me the most, is the fact, that "Helebarden" where only used after the typical medieval period, and only in southern germany and swiss, but still are seen as the typical guardsmen weapon

[@fredfry5100]

@@DedMorez Well, keep up in mind, such weapons were used by the Swiss, i.e. the personal guard of the Pope. Because of that, it features prominently in artwork.

[@DedMorez]

@@fredfry5100 the swiss guard, yes... In german they are called the "Schweizer Garde" but your wrong, the spear is the much more often shown in art, in varying forms, the helbard is simply more iconic, more interesting then a "boring" spear. i would like a helbard more then a spear, its more versatile... even more important: there where really many forms of polearms, dividing not only the helebardes themself, but also other longshafted axes or hammers, glaive ore naginata ore whatever, into a big group of weapons well i still like to see them to be shown to often, as if the other option is an sword just cleaving through a steel plate... or leather armor, pure plot armor or what else XD

[@HolyReality891]

I actually laughed out loud at the end with the pistol 😂

[@mailmikekang]

Oh.... I see. Ringen is the German equivalent to wrestling in armor for old German knights.... This poleaxe is a wonderful weapon. Very practical.

[@THX-1138.]

The snow scene, absolutely amazing visual piece. Props to your location scout.

[@bleachedink]

Great video as always! The pistol at the end got me 😂

[@strikingglintproduction6817]

This was a fantastic video. As a poleaxe fencer, this is giving me a lot of food for thought of what to try this week :>

[@Josukegaming]

Its unbelievable how incredibly deadly and practical these weapons are. Additionally, your video editing and educational demonstrations are wonderful. Thank you for making this, and I really hope we see more polarms used in media going forward.

[@WheatKnight]

Beautiful and highly useful work. You are such a credit to the community!

[@dequitem]

Thanks. I hope it will help you if you try some rubber poleaxes.

[@KBDwarf]

The last scene with the pistol is great xD

[@QuibilusDrachenn]

I've never thought about hooking the leg with a poleaxe, it looks to be a terrifyingly effective attack. What do you even do if someone manages to land that hit? Seems like it would put you out of commission pretty fast.

[@amarmunaev7939]

I swear people like you should choreograph Hollywood fight scenes

[@bugsysboy21]

This shit is some of the most mind bogglingly larptastic videography I have ever laid my eyes on. How you somehow play in the same way kids do when they dress up like Link and then pawn it off as high art like you're doing us some kind of favor is immaculate, keep it up John Snow!

[@wilky1189]

I can't tell if this is a compliment or an insult

[@LiShuBen]

@@wilky1189backhanded compliment. An insult made to sound like a compliment

[@unocoltrane2804]

He isn't pawning it off as anything. It's a basic introduction to pollax techniques.

[@solomon796]

Man, I'm so happy I stumbled over your channel. So incredibly interesting! Thank you so much for sharing

[@BanksOwnUs]

offtopic: 2:25 just shows how incredibly important a helmet is. Anytime I watch a movie and the knights are charging in without a helmet it just completely destroys my suspension of disbelief. ontopic :) Turned spear grip FTW

[@ProspektorCZ]

Thank you very much for another awesome video! You are doing it great! 👍

[@hanshanszoon]

OK, the ending was funny. Interesting to see the techniques you focus on.

[@dequitem]

These techniques are interesting for beginners and advanced poleaxe lovers! I want that everyone can learn something from it!

[@alainkhoanguyen3098]

Totally love it! Powerful and versatile, this explains why the poleaxe were pretty popular in the Late MA, in both pitched battles and skirmishes. In a parallel evolution, in East Asian, particularly China and Vietnam, a lot of elite and/or bodyguard units were equipped with axes and poleaxes, at least since 1500BC. and for good reason, too! I supposed it has something to do with the amount of armour that you ought to have to protect yourself as both hands were occupied. In your opinion, what is the best bet as weapon/tactic for a common footman to counter an armored opponent handling poleaxe? Thankyou for your awesome work!

[@darthjack2860]

Vielen lieben Dank für das tolle Video.

[@Oleksander_de_rat]

Great video. Thanks a lot

[@dequitem]

You are welcome!

[@jungoder1085]

Great video will be using this for reference when drawing lol

[@crystalbirthdays]

I love seeing the poleaxe used in other techniques than "big axe"

[@lordxandar480]

Very Nice and informational video! also loved 11.55 :D

[@dequitem]

Slow motion draw 😅

[@robertthebruce-geniusofban647]

Excellent video and brilliantly explained!

[@Csarci]

Extremely educational, well done!

[@magnuslauglo5356]

All these moves really show how medieval fighting was a complex martial art. So different from the relentless sheild bashing we see too often in the movies.

[@alecausderbeek5918]

Thanks for the video. Super interesting!

[@pablotesticules]

I love your channel. I'm a buhurtsman and I'm very interested in harness fencing. I hope we can fight someday.

[@dequitem]

Hope too.

[@dudlicsek1993]

Cool video Leonard! Pls make more of such!

[@dequitem]

It was a week of work. Don't have time for this all day long 😅🙄

[@dudlicsek1993]

@@dequitem I can imagine! It is visible that you put effort in it.

[@LlamaSweater1928]

This makes me appreciative of the poleaxe.

[@sethpurifoy6025]

12:04 made me guffaw. Great vid!

[@DedMorez]

Hi Dequitem, its very nice to see some fencing with poleaxes :D i want to get a smith myself, but its so hard finding an actual smithingworkshop wich does still do smithingthings and not only the "normal modern metalwork" like stairs, fences and stuff like that. I came around in the past few months in half germany doing internships, but sadly i only got negative answers for my applications... anyways, i want to smith my own armor and stuff like that as well, when the time has come... i some of my friends do "buhurt" (me freaking out cuz i cant right now) greetings from the black forest

[@dequitem]

Greetings back. First advice for smiting your own armor from Karsten (Decima) and me is: "Do it! Yust do it!" You can find some forging videos on my channel as well. Buy a anglecutter, hammers a small anvil (25 kg), a "propangasbrenner" and Steel, than messur the stuff you already have and try to replicate it. That's the easiest way to learn making armor!

[@DedMorez]

@@dequitem right now i got some hammers, but no real good ones, a "feldesse" and a krupp railttrack as anvil XD and well a anglecutter is somewhere in my fathers garage i think... but a friend of my father has his onw little hobby smithingworkshop, i think i can go there... i will take a look for your amazonelinks anyway :D i have already (some) practice, but no armor or stuff like that nearby, the friends i metioned live in northern germany 😕 thanks for your advise and the response

[@brotherandythesage]

Wow this is very informative thanks!

[@Lord8976]

Love your videos, such a great work and beautiful fights ! You didn't mention the hability of strong parry with the queue of the poleaxe (the bottom part). It s a very common and often use technic in the XVth century, it can be seen in the testimony of Olivier de la Marche. This burgondian man describ a lot of poleaxe duel in his memories. This is a strong and quick blow given in the moving and attacking weapon of the opponent, if it is donne well it could result a disarmement like Hervé de Meriadec succesfully does in scotland in a 3vs3 fight mid XVth.

[@dequitem]

Thanks to remind me.

[@gotbaka3]

Superb video! Instantly subscribed.

[@OliverJanseps]

Sehr sehr cool 😎 Der alte Stangenwaffennarr ist verliebt! Ich war immer versucht den Stücken zu Stange, Hellebarde und Axt von Mair, die ich seit über einer Dekade als Gedankenstütze auf eine Festplatte habe mal einen neuen Anstrich zu geben, aber mit deiner bildlichen Umsetzung möchte ich garnicht erst versuchen mitzuhalten, also genieße ich deine tolle Arbeit 😊👏

[@dequitem]

Danke danke. Ich hoffe die zusatzinfos zur zugrichtung oder dem Zweck von Beinhacken waren auch informativ, obwohl Mair dazu wenig sagt.

[@OliverJanseps]

@@dequitem das sind Erfahrungen, die man natürlich auch weitergeben muss! Deine decken sich in diesem Fall auch mit meinen, wie ich sie jüngst in einem "good old times" Einsteigerseminar zur Axt bei Tremonia fechten Anfang des Jahres wieder gezeigt habe. Schön fand ich im übrigen deine Lobesrede für die Axt zum Ende; zusammenfassend als Schweizer Taschenmesser an der Stange 😉

[@gabrielchcosta]

I need more of this. Definitely subscribing.

[@tomsmolinski9833]

Good work!

[@sh36]

Drives me nuts that the buhurt guys in my area seem to only use the poleaxe like it's a massive baseball bat. So many potential tecniques

[@jamesduda6017]

Incredibly interesting video!

[@SirWhorshoeMcGee]

Man, watching your videos makes me sad that I can't afford a harness myself. I want to get into harnischfechten so badly, but I'm stuck in standard hema

[@dequitem]

I forged my own myself!

[@thegoofygoblin2081]

Love this weapon

[@OBXDewey]

Excellent!

[@Andrew-gz1fo]

Where are you from? your videos always have the most amazing scenery.

[@dequitem]

Germany 😉

[@lipp1992]

Amazing video! Excuse my absence, I had to take the kids to school.

[@user-zy8bv7tl2r]

We want the skills of Arabs in fencing with swords.Your teaching of swordsmanship is excellent👍

[@darionietlispach2470]

what an amazing guide and beautiful filming😮 whats your opinion on the blunt damage, could a strike like the one at 9.05 injure your oponent if a steel head was used?

[@dequitem]

Injure - yes. Killing - not so sure. The strike to the head even hurts with the hard rubber hammer, the strikes to the shoulder wouldn't hurt even with a steel hammer!

[@darionietlispach2470]

@@dequitem would you say its even possibel to injure someone in full armor by striking another bodypart than the head or an unprotected area?

[@dequitem]

@@darionietlispach2470 of course it is possible. For example a strike to the rips can break a rip under the brigandine. Strikes to the gauntlets can break fingers...

[@darionietlispach2470]

@@dequitem i own some steel ones myself and did some strikes in empty air they carry a punch for sure but i cant really judge the protectivness of plate ^^ you dont plan on armor testing videos in the future by any chance?😉 would be interesting to see the effect of a poleaxe on armor by someone who is used to wield them

[@dequitem]

@@darionietlispach2470 I am planing it. But it will take a while. Mayby next year. I have to build a poleaxe and a sharp sword first. That will need some time.

[@Floofian]

Hahaha the pistol at the end 😂

[@dequitem]

It was to good to not use it!

[@tuerkefechi]

Very cool

[@02Shay20]

nice work! :)

[@haffoc]

impressive

[@Keln02]

Fascinating and beautiful

[@charlesw5919]

I know you guys are experienced. Still, please be extremely careful when you practice without helmets. Even an accidental hit can be very serious with weapons like these.

[@spookyboivilla5386]

YES YES YYYEEESSSS

[@solortus]

Hi can you make a duel with a bill hook? It'd be cool to know how effective it would be in full armor combat

[@hotpanky6936]

I've been watching a lot of your combat, and I'm curious to know whether any of the head attacks actually cause nausea or stunning through the armour?

[@dequitem]

Not realy.

[@schwertschwinger]

Wirklich gut! Jetzt nur noch eine Rüstung ;)

[@dequitem]

Hast du die poleaxe schon?

[@markkneebone9669]

❤

[@user-gw3dv1kl4z]

The shaft is a problem, but why not make the shaft completely steel and hollow, as was done with some one-handed maces and hammers? Will it be strong and relatively light if you make it hollow?

[@dequitem]

It would be to heavy. Langets are the only way to protect the shaft.

[@torreyjones4421]

My wife has an interest in learning poleaxe for harness fighting (when money finally allows to acquire it). How do you feel a trained and fit female fighter would fair in armored fighting? Would poleaxe be the recommendation or another weapon?

[@dequitem]

Weapons are equalizer, but of course it's harder to fight bigger and stronger fighters. A poleaxe will be always a great choice but the best weapon for smaller and weaker fighter are fast thrust weapons, like spear, longsword and dagger!

[@danielvega9185]

Sir. Dequitem, did the knight had hand combat training? If yes, what style did they use?

[@dequitem]

Ringen... Watch the video "knights with judo black belts".

[@balaclava8464]

What is the process of making the weapons non-lethal? these knightly fights looks pretty damn fun!

[@dequitem]

Making them from hard rubber 😉 Black armory and other shops sell them for hema. I have two steel ones from arma Bohemia but this isn't safe!

[@balaclava8464]

@@dequitem ty very much for replying!

[@fallencrusader2975]

I wish armored fencing was more popular, as I am not a big fan of buhurt. The lack of thrusts, and the extra heavy armor/weapons are huge turn offs.

[@dequitem]

I like Buhurt. But duels with thrusts are way cooler!

[@bruhlordofthemoment]

What are the axe heads made out of for your pole axes? I imagine it would be pretty brutal to be hit by a steel head even in armor.

[@dequitem]

I have a steel one and we tryed it, it hurts. The once in the videos are hard rubber too protect us from injuries. When we record we are most of the time hours away from medical help. You don't wanna risk dying for a video.

[@bruhlordofthemoment]

@@dequitem Ah I see! It makes sense since I've seen the spike bend, so I was wondering what the material was. Safety is of course number one priority!

[@michaellaviola6540]

I still don't understand how you two are not actually getting hurt sparring, are the weapons lighter or something? I'm really struggling to understand just how the balance of damage and protection with these kinds of weapons and armours works

[@dequitem]

Hard rubber poleaxes 😉. But I already try to forge real steel ones with safe tips.

[@michaellaviola6540]

@@dequitem do you think that if you were using steel parts that were sharpened you'd kill each other?

[@dequitem]

@@michaellaviola6540 we would kill each other with a pointy spike, a sharp axe or a steel hammer would not kill, but they can permanently injure you. Cutting of muscles or fingers. The hammer is the smallest problem. It will only knock you out in worst case!

[@REAPERthePRUSKIE]

Dude where are you from?! Your country is gorgeous

[@QAZWSXEDCRFV4579]

did the guy just pull out a flintlock after his shaft broke?

[@dequitem]

That's me. After the shaft break we needed a good ending and so we used that as a funny ending. It was scripted after the poleaxe break and we can continue the recording of the sparring.

[@alpharius8264]

So harnichfencing ist still mostly about thrusting, even, with a Poleaxe

[@dequitem]

Exactly

[@Deliverygrot]

Any books that go more in depth ?

[@dequitem]

Nop, there isn't much audience for this. The views also suck on this.

[@TJSnej01]

Ich denke nicht, dass die Holzstangen bei diesen Waffen oft gebrochen sind. Wenn ihr öfters miteinander kämpft, solltet ihr doch die entsprechende Erfahrung gemacht haben.,

[@dequitem]

Ist ein Unterschied ob man mit voller Kraft und scharfen Axtköpfen kämpft oder mit Hardgummi auf einem Eschenschaft.

[@darthjack2860]

Wo kauft ihr eure Rüstungen ?

[@dequitem]

Meine ist selbst geschmiedet aber die rote von meinem Teammate ist von Pavel Burkalov (armors.pro).

[@hdcraft8468]

moedhau in relife

[@deinemuddda1178]

I thought this is about axes from polen

[@dequitem]

It's a Pole - axe. Axe on a long stick.