Discard HEMA Gear for Longsword: Part 1/2

Traditional blossfechten is an attempt to recreate the practice of traditional longsword freeplay that we see in our HEMA source material. Blossfechten is best understood as “fencing with openings” rather than “unarmored fencing.” Aspects such as danger and fear inform practitioners of the art of blossfechten, and if one only wears the entirety of safety gear that’s usually worn in modern longsword freeplay, one misses the way in which the feeling of danger is a vital aspect of the art.
This is part 1/2. Continue to part 2: • Discard HEMA Gear for ...
Images are from the Goliath MS: www.wiktenauer.com/wiki/Golia...)
Note that this is inherently dangerous. Practice these techniques at your own risk. Shane Brown, Eric White, and the New Jersey Historical Fencing Association are not liable for any injuries and the like that are sustained if you give this a try.
Intro music: The altered segment of “Master of the Feast” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 International License. Kevin McLeod in no way endorses this video.

[@AlvinLau]

Thsnk you for demonstrating

[@historikerfabio]

Very cool to see the idea of Bloßfechten spread in the community. We in Bremen at Klopffechters Erben and also the guys at Guildam Gladiatorum only know our fencing like that.

[@andyedwards9222]

Looks to be much closer to how historical fencing would have been practiced. Much closer to the sources. Good way to practice control and technique.

[@DanSny]

I enjoy a milder form of Blossfechten with synthetic nylon swords + impact protection work gloves/safety glasses + 70% speed. Allows for full contact but still enough risk/threat/pain to engage proper self-preservation drive.

[@The_Okami]

Cool video. There are only two or three people i would ever trust for fencing without gloves or a mask tho.

[@Bounty_Hunter0000]

cool looking gloves, are they good protection for longsword? Where can I get those?

[@CapitaineYolo]

Amazing work, it's a rare thing to see bloßfechten, though when you do the fencers tend to be clearly very skilled :) At 9:34 the fencer in blue briefly switches his grip by reversing the rearhand. what are the advantages of this grip and where to find it in the manuals?

[@irubberyouglueonethousand5384]

the albion tho 🔥🔥🔥

[@demingzhang7204]

I see your point, but i can't discard my protection, too many youngsters just like to swing wide arcs and feel cool, and sometimes they just can't stop their momentum. It is as all gamers say, the highest requirement for game is a friend. (just replace game with fencing)

[@Velesus101]

1:15 By"traditional bloßfechten armour"do you mean what was traditionally worn in the past or what is traditionally worn in modern HEMA? I'm asking because most fencing jackets we use today are much, and I mean much thicker than most arming dublets and even gambesons of the past. Most of the treaties showing bloßfechten that I know don't even show fencers wearing anything that could be considered actual textile armour. Just regular clothing. It could offer some protection for sure, but it was not intended as armour. But otherwise, I definitely see your point. Modern equipment changes how people fence. I guess the next step after doing so free play without fencing masks is to try to do it in period-accurate clothing.

[@Apperceptive_Swordsman]

very cool!

[@teamppappi2526]

woot!!

[@LongswordRussia]

You say very interesting things! In the Russian community, the fashion for HEMA conveys similar advanced ideas a little later. And as a result, people seriously continue to believe that super-sharp swords do not become dull during fencing, after the sharp edge has passed through the steel of another sword several times. Thick quilted fencing jackets are perceived as an abstraction that does not contribute to the quality of cut resistance. All these small features now make Russian HEMA happily and optimistically fencing with ultra-short cuts. At the same time, it completely ignores how people actually performed techniques that take longer than the reaction to super-fast cuts. Everyone believes that in fencing there was no resistance at all to the materials of military clothing and the dulling of the sword in battle. How do you feel about the fact that the range of cutting techniques should include mastery of both short and amplitude types of trajectories, due to the resistance of clothing materials and the quality of sharpening of the blade? With respect from Russia!

[@EricWhiteNJHFA]

Gambesons were excellent at stopping cuts. So, it's vital that we are aware of this fact as we fence. Long, powerful cuts are not an exception to this understanding. There are quite a few videos on KZbin that demonstrate the way that cloth material can stop a cut. Also, some people will incorrectly believe preconceived notions no matter how many times they're shown differently. Our weapons are tools, and the great thing about tools is that their properties can be tested! Cloth armor--in the form of gambesons and doublets--is great at muting the effects of cuts. It's quite simple to test.

[@LongswordRussia]

@@EricWhiteNJHFA Glad to have a dialogue with you, friends! I completely agree that even a slightly dull blade will no longer effectively cut a gambeson. But don't you think there is a connection between the amplitude of the impact and the traumatic effect WITHOUT CUTING the gambeson fabric? Let me give you an example of a blow with a blunt sword. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGK5opR3YpiDY5o

[@chrisouellet1038]

The Goliath image at 1:29 may not be the best image to use... Do note that the sword from the guy in yellow is going *through* the leg of the guy in striped pants. It's a stab through the thigh. Good stuff otherwise! :P

[@Kirill_Ivanov.]

One incident is enough to ban sparring without masks. For those who don’t know: in one of the clubs, a coach demonstrated a technique with a long sword on a student, which ultimately ended by real death.

[@shaharyitzhaik59]

Which club?

[@Kirill_Ivanov.]

@@shaharyitzhaik59 google this: Lawsuit: Sword-fighting student sues instructor for stabbing him in eye and brain