Do Acrobatics Work in a Sword Fight?

[@SellswordArts]

Help the channel continue making silly and informative content by pledging $1 a month on Patreon.com/sellswordarts Tell me what dumb thing you want me to test next, And I'll see what I can do 😂

[@cervidslayer]

I think acrobatics against a slower opponent would work better than acrobatics against a fast opponent. But acrobatics in movies and books are cooler sounding than just swords hitting swords and armor and such.

[@Varim.Gaunniss]

I wouldn't necessary call it 'dumb', but if you go into popculture... then maybe try to analyze practicality of a certain popculture sword... The Soul Reaver (sometimes called Blood Reaver), Kain's of Coorhagen (his title before turning into a vampire) weapon of choice (also main weapon later in series) from Legacy of Kain series. P.S. I really miss the series... no new LoK announced though...

[@ancientdragon5441]

Great for dodge ball not for combat I am assuming

[@yeetlad926]

There was something i saw Skallagrim analyze i think. Where he reviewed a faux weapon fight. There was a guy with like a pair of hook swords (not sure what theyre called) who pulled off a kind of powerslide spin that ended up with him scoring i think two good hits. And the thing that made it work was probably how unexpected ans explosive the move came and how it likely looked from his opponents POV enough to get him to take a step back.

[@TITANia69420]

At this point you're just flexing how much points you invested in Dex 😂

[@jhl3653]

Or AGI

[@The-next-person]

Is this dnd?

[@Oltiemal]

@@The-next-person Dark Souls

[@monkeyfaceddyl6876]

@@Oltiemal Bro there are stats like that in loads of games lol

[@hysa3255]

@@monkeyfaceddyl6876They talk about dark souls all the time here

[@Rekawizard]

If you guys were taking this at all seriously you would have gotten actual superpowers first. It's like you don't even want to be accurate to movies and video games.

[@theclassyxenomorph1301]

Yeah, but it looks cool and that's all that matters

[@anton.chigrinetc.96]

Lmao what?

[@wolff110001]

Even though movies and video games aren't true to real life?

[@Thunder_Viking3]

The point. It's for video games for style which means it's not accurate to real life

[@anton.chigrinetc.96]

@@Thunder_Viking3 No, that wasn't the point. The point of the video was there are video game nerds who never held a sword and think video games' breaks from reality would work IRL. On that note, welcome to tactical simulators with as little deviations from true combat as there could be. The point the comment made was that "if you try video game moves, you should have respective super powers", which is totally untrue, since regular sentient beings in video games did the same clumsy "flashy" rule-of-cool moves that look ridiculous to the knowing eye.

[@ubercow6611]

Short answer: No, but it's fun to watch and looked like you had fun doing it

[@yunaka_gaming]

What I took from this video: I-Frames are real

[@SellswordArts]

No, I said s aren't real 😂

[@KevinTangYT]

They are, they're just 1 frame :)

[@ShagShaggio]

If the "I" stands for "Incapacitated" maybe 🤣

[@testentity1.0gaming95]

The only s you get are the ones caused by being out of range from your opponent.

[@pvshka]

Yeah, but the recovery frames suck.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I'm reminded of how years ago I was sparring in Tae Kwon Do against a higher ranking belt, who thought it would be a good idea to do a flying kick in the middle of the match. I did a simple snap kick and accidentally knocked him onto his back. They had to stop the match and get him some ice. I did not intend for this to happen, but he decided to show off and got careless.

[@MalloonTarka]

I've heard that move called "Fool leaves the ground."

[@dorkmoonblade4315]

Now here's another thing that might be worth a test: In movies when two people start swordfighting, and one person is forced down on the ground, the other person always starts doing the dumbest possible moves to kill them, which lets the person on the ground to ether get back up, or get the kill while they're still on the ground. How does you actually properly engage an opponent who has been knocked down on the ground?

[@theparaminuteman]

This is actually a very important question

[@Interrobang212]

Basically, medieval wrestling and armor fighting manuals talk about this.

[@mephisto8101]

In armored fighting? "Setz ihm an, so ergibt er sich" / "Set him on, so he yields", meaning when both are grapling on the ground, you try to gain a good position first, then draw your rondel dagger and put the blade to an opening, like the visor of the helmet. THis often forces the person to yield, depending on the setting. In unarmored medieval (recreational) wrestling, the understanding was usually that the fight is over when one person gets to the ground. You're not finding much of the BJJ ground game in medieval wrestling, but I do not know every source here. If the fight is unarmored and to the death: it is really hard to defend against a sword when you lay on the ground. The other person can just poke and chop you. Get some pool noodles and find out for yourself! ;)

[@jasonjames9836]

You need to do the motion capture work for the crazy video games that the moves don't work for. Your athleticism is fantastic.

[@KnightErrata]

My favorite part was at 2:04 to 2:20. You show that a roll backwards CAN be used to get out of distance, BUT you can get a similar effect with simple retreats. A lot of effective sparring techniques boil down to how can a player get the desired effect with less effort.

[@thekaxmax]

plus, after a retreat you're still on your feet.

[@bensonofthunder9229]

Now I'm just imagining him voicing a Darksouls boss saying. "Rolling is so much extra effort! Stop it! Bad!"

[@jackwoody270]

And the boss does undodgeable attacks if you roll

[@Lftarded]

Realistic games should ignore s, accurate body hitbox like tarkov, and make bleeding actually lethal instead of 2 damage per second

[@alericc1889]

I love the disney people who claim this would work with the lightsaber duels because they have FORCE POWERS....forgetting that the person they are fighting ALSO has force powers and would be able to counter them.........

[@farkasmactavish]

Obi-Wan: "Yes." Anakin: "No."

[@TanukiRael]

this type of video looks fun and you guys seem to be enjoying as well. Would love to see more actual fencing move that is both visually cool and practical similar to that one. Or 'Mythbusters' type of video cuz seeing someone with actual fencing skills and enough agility to try out those fancy but impractical things is really entertaining.

[@Onebie]

Acrobatics are rule of cool stuff for movies for our poor casual or amateur people who have no idea how fencing or something like that works probably. Though i wonder if those moves work if your opponent does not expect it. In this video you somewhat knew it was going to happen and just had to react to it. I wonder if this would be a bit different if you suprise your opponent with sudden moves like that (even if very little)

[@LycaonsMemories]

i have to agree with this, its more the "what the fuck did he actually do" line and a one off move.

[@windspast]

I've been larping for many years, hitting people with foam boffer swords is my jam. There have been people who tried doing spins and jumps on me that was totally unexpected. Those ended pretty much about the same exact way as what was shown in the video. "Whoa you're doing a spin? that's totally unexpected!!" --stab

[@Gorsh7]

Doing something completely unexpected (like a roll, a spin or even a suicide attack) is a gamble, that only works if your opponent is too confused to react properly. But if you're out of reasonable options, crazy things might save you.

[@evedoingthingsaaaaa]

I can't wait for Shad's response Awesome to see you guys having fun and enjoying yourselves! Mad impressive acrobatics I'm jealous

[@Aquilenne]

I don't see why he would. He's not going to be able to replicate the flips to prove they work, and he already made a video on jumping attacks just being worse even in terms of force generation since you lose your ability to drive through the legs.

[@ThePhantomSquee]

@@Aquilenne It's a joke about how Shad is terminally incapable of not making long-winded response videos to every new trend in the sword youtube sphere.

[@evedoingthingsaaaaa]

@@Aquilenne I was joking lol

[@Senshidayo]

I feel like a less dramatic high ground (where your lower extremities were less exposed) would give an advantage, since it usually gives armies and smaller groups an advantage in combat. Since you were using swords you basically had no ability to use height for leverage since you both needed to close so closely that it exposed the person higher up and you needed to do a wide swing. But if you had a bow or polearm and some protection then the advantage would switch. Or even a longer sword with low guard. Backward rolls are big in some martial arts as well as forward (unarmed) so I was happy to see that was effective at disengaging. I don’t think I saw it for engaging but it would be more risky against a blade if you were fully exposed with no protection. There are techniques for rolling into guard but idk if they work but it would be cool to see them tried out. Also as a kid sparring with my brother, jump cuts usually failed too lol.

[@rascallyrabbit717]

the jump landing is the hardest part i have ever done .. your technical aspects are jedi level

[@upsettispaghettivulture]

1:30 man that was clean

[@GannerTheKnight]

I can't stress enough how much I respect your attitude towards safety rules. I wish more people were this serious when it comes to safety. Especially during HEMA tournaments

[@AmazingJMS]

Do a tutorial for the acrobatics. Please

[@lykan-rtist7923]

Please yes 😎

[@PurpleAce]

I support this idea wholeheartedly

[@Densoro]

Even when you laughed your asses off, it looked sick :D That's exactly the problem. It's _too_ cinematic.

[@alastoromega1426]

David (and co.) deserve the Patreon support for balancing actual instruction with goofy, wonderful stuff this well.

[@alannatherson7721]

I think this might be the most fun I've ever seen you have in a video, which is an achievement.

[@torrancerichter1469]

um, firstly, you forgot to apply your Plot Armor so that the moves would be totally valid. Also running with a choreographed sword play where the hero is always better is extremely helpful. But as always, love the content.

[@nataliefaust7959]

If there's one thing I learned in my former career it's to work smarter, not harder. Expending needless energy and opening your body up for no reason makes you increasingly vulnerable. If your opponent wants to do the work for you, then let them.

[@luminproductions3927]

You two seemed to have a lot of fun with this!

[@180dagger]

As Skallagrim would say IT DEPENDS. But really acrobatics in a fight are situationally useful. But they are also risky, mostly working by the element of surprise and a bit of luck.

[@OtaniNoAsagi]

I mean that's the case for most things like spinning, or what have you. They work but you better make damn sure you arent able to get interrupted

[@180dagger]

​@@OtaniNoAsagithat's true, spinning just takes longer than most other "techniques" that are risky

[@ellentheeducator]

I will say that the skills from doing acrobatics makes the reasonable moves a lot easier. If you are comfortable rolling and sliding and such, that low strike at 00:53 is a ton more comfortable for people who can do flips and dives and rolls.

[@robertusaugustus2003]

Another thing our keyboard fechtmeisters seem to forget is that fencing is exhausting on its own. Trying to do acrobatics while fighting is even more draining, and there’s no regenerating stamina bar in real life lol. You’ll wind yourself and your opponent will just waddle up and bonk you.

[@nataliefaust7959]

Underrated comment. ♥

[@MalloonTarka]

"Regenerating stamina bar" is actually a good way to describe how it feels to exert myself. It's like I have two barrels filled with water (my stamina). Water drains from the first one into the second one at a constant rate. I can open a faucet on the second one - this is me draining my stamina. If I open the faucet wide the water will drain fully from the second one, limiting myself to the rate the water drains from the first into the second one. If I catch my breath, I can let water from the first one fill up the second one again and exert myself more again.

[@mephisto8101]

That's a good point. I was never very athletic to begin with, so I always preferred a more energy saving fencing style. Some of my club mates are proper athletes and they can spend way more energy in a fight, but even they get exhausted when competing in a tournament. You're not just having one round, you have multiple rounds per fight and many fights until you get to the finals. You have to build up significant stamina beforehand. I think the most exhausting thing sports wise for me were some semi-finals on an international tournament where the rule was "continous fencing" for 2x3 Minutes. No seperation after a hit, both just go after each other. One minute pause between the rounds. And that was after a full day of fighting. :) Even then, you have an advantage here if you can avoid unnecessary movements. Think more of Darth Vader and Obi-Wan in Episode IV than the jumping and spinning of Episode I-III.

[@Lftarded]

​@@MalloonTarkagame should had regenerative stamina bar of your don't do jack shit, fuck it, make walking drain your stamina bar too

[@MalloonTarka]

@@Lftarded Come again?

[@Timeblade_Guild]

How curious. Especially the High Ground. 😮

[@themixer5029]

That’s it, I wanna see a sword fight in zero gravity

[@soupormariobros]

This is why I love the quickstep/dash in bloodborne 🤙

[@Carrot421911]

Wouldnt there also be a real risk of cutting yourself on your own sword if you were rolling on the ground with it? I just know that if I tried that I would manage to stab myself in the nuts or something.

[@Magneticlaw]

This is where multiple cut-scenes in a movie can make a fight look amazing....in one.shot, though, it's a tough sell

[@MCSPARTAN501]

I can see the dodge roll being useful for 1 specific situation: when you want to dodge under an obstacle and run away

[@iceberg54321]

Or if the other person thinks you are going to do a dodge roll, and you fake it, or it is two on one. One guy keeps him from attacking you when you roll, and now you are flanking.

[@afluffydoggo1698]

I think some of those moves were actually pretty good, like a few rolls, but (assuming you master those high skill moves): - They are overall VERY risky: you sacrifice control, defense and more stamina for flashiness. A traditional backstep for example does the same work, but is better overall. - The timing must be PERFECT, something very hard to do even in a regular fight. - Simplicity is more efficient than complexity. - The good thing I see on them is the surprise factor: no one expects a flip in a real fight, so I guess if done right, you can dodge or even land a hit. It must be done only at the right time (and without forgetting the risk), if you spam it you'll lose. - Reverse grip sucks, no matter how you look at it. It only serves for stabbing yourself and save your opponent the trouble.

[@Specter_1125]

The high ground was kinda important in the duel in episode 3 because the lava level was rising.

[@Gorsh7]

Nah, Anakin was on a lava proof platform above a river of lava. He could've walked away and been fine. Hell, he could even leave Obi-Wan stranded there and bombard the whole region. But he was so full of hatred and so focused on destroying Obi-Wan that he didn't even think. And Obi-Wan used that during the whole fight, provoking Anakin into doing dumb things until one of his mistakes cost him the fight. The high ground was the one mistake that finally worked.

[@fabricio-agrippa-zarate]

So is my videogame wrong? 😢😢😢NOOOO YOU ARE WRONG ANIME AND VIDEOGAME IS BETTER THAN REAL LIFE 🎉🎉🎉

[@rawr2u190]

Lol I love the wall jump ones. And lol high ground.

[@ironox8480]

The real reason these didn't work is you forgot to enable plot armor.

[@karishadkit27]

0:09 In case you want to watch it again👌👌

[@JVarley9001]

I think what started the whole reverse grip thing is that someone saw knife fighting techniques that use an ice pick grip and thought "Well obviously if you do this with a bigger blade it would be better" without considering how practical that was.

[@balkmindobro3313]

Honestly anything can be pulled off in an incredibly niche and VERY lucky circumstances. What i want to see is more dramatic but realistic swordfights! You don't need spins and flips to be cool or dramatic!

[@cristalschroeder4485]

I think some of the reason the roll works in darks souls is because most thing are larger than you. It’s like trying to squish a fast rolly polly

[@nightwatcher5607]

Say what you want David but this was very entertaining to watch. The moves might be impractical and extremely flashy, especially the butterfly kick or flip I forget it's name. But still it would work theoretical, just not very well

[@dylansylvester4719]

It might not have worked but it sure looked like a lot of fun

[@niftytheviking]

This reminds me of that scene from Indiana Jones. Kinda same energy.

[@lady_draguliana784]

having acrobatic skill could be useful in various situations in which those skills would allow a combatant to maintain balance while traversing challenging terrain or obstacles, especially while still engaging in combat. so if you live a dangerous lifestyle, in a cramped, urban environment, you might benefit from having this kind of agility and mobility... but it's astronomically unlikely that one would need to use these skills in more conventional combat scenarios, wherein someone with solid footing and clear line of sight would have little difficulty hitting you as you twirl through the air. acrobatics in simulated combat is Fun... JUST Fun... and that's OKAY!

[@exhaviero4186]

You can tell they have some mad fun lol

[@customize1232]

in my opinion roll is useless when you are in balance but if you lost and fall down roll is the best way to dodge or imagine you have to fight 4 guy in 4 directions. Can you just step away to dodge them, at that situation the best option is do a face attack the roll away then run or you can make a cartwheels move to keep the distance because all of them now are in 1 direction(this useless). Only kungfu china does it continously in a solo, roll just use when you trying to escape, ground work and make enemy suprise. What fool use it continously in a solo, can that slowly move make you suprise continously instead just dash away can help you strike and counterattack faster. Additional: it is a safe choice to dodge the catapult or something big one like the great sword jumping attack i think it just use when the enemy is losing balance or stunning to finish off

[@zacktipate9343]

Good testing to see that acrobatics CAN work, BUT NOT guaranteed to work. One major factor is an opponent's visibility.

[@john_molden]

It's all about flair and spectacle. Most acrobatics in fights for films are done to create drama and spectacle. For that reason, it works, but as effective tools in a real fight, they really don't work. But its like Wrestling, trying to apply about 80% of professional wrestling moves in a real fight will not work because alot of those moves require coordination and trust between you and your opponent.

[@olympiaoshiadahail9216]

The only highly specific situation where I can see these being useful is if you're specifically dealing with multiple opponents AND you're in some weird broken terrain where you can use these maneuvers to make space/take up a better position AND more straightforward movements are impractical because of the environment. Extremely narrow use-case

[@toasty2813]

It MIGHT be useful against an opponent who truly doesn't expect you to pull a low backroll out of your pocket, but even optimistically, it works one time, and you gain no advantage out of it.

[@olympiaoshiadahail9216]

@@toasty2813 Yeah exactly. 99.99% of the time, a straightforward movement is just better.

[@PaleRonin]

I did once successfully pull off a rolling attack in a dussack fight. It only worked because the instructor wasn't expecting it, but it was cool, and everyone agreed it looked neat.

[@eighthlegofthephantomtroup1842]

Gotta love the opportunity to dunk on reverse grip when you can.

[@pantherapardus1398]

What I relly like to see is someone with experience in Capoiera try this as that martial art incorporates acrobatics.

[@fernandolyrio1495]

Acrobatics and flourishes can develop body & weapon control and strength, despite not having direct martial applications. However, some of these moves might have had very specific purposes, e.g. the butterfly kick being used as a counter throw

[@9thAvalon]

Wouldn't being on the high ground make your lower section instantly incredibly difficult to defend? One good jab and...

[@MedievalMatt]

In sword and shield combat, where both fighters have the same dominant hand, a spin attack can let you effectively attack your opponemt's weapon side from an unexpected angle. Its not foolproof, but it is done regularly in high level fights in boffer sports such as Belegarth and Amtgard

[@misterhyde408]

Where is the naruto run into reverse grip into a thousand cuts ?

[@WhatIfBrigade]

At 3:05 I was about to say why use just one ineffective technique when you can use two! 🤣

[@deanhamilton753]

Hmm.. maybe try “D’Artangan’s secret thrust” as an attack. ( From the Michael York classic film of the 70s). As a matter of fact, do a whole series in “secret thrusts”, isn’t there a bunch of them?

[@smh6926]

Got a few questions off of my own curiosity (if you don't mind, they can just be simple comment replies) If acrobatics generally have a bad effect in sword fighting, does that also make counters like immobilizing an opponent's weapon to grab and throw them over your shoulder in a form of martial arts to be unethical and pointless? Does gameplay of certain games with swords locking in before backing off from each other have any accuracy when compared to real swordfights? Is it effective to occasionally use the hilt of a sword to attack opponents (such as finding a "potential opening" and jabbing an opponent in the stomach with the hilt of a longsword as a way to stagger them, or smacking someone in the head with the metallic tip of a Katana's hilt or any other hilt for that matter when they're off balance)? What kinds of movement involves not using the weapon but rather making use of grappling to take down an opponent (such as the question I asked at first about whether you can use a specific martial arts technique in a swordfight)?

[@maninalift]

The only down-side of aerials in combat is your other sword falling out of your back scabbard. The only downside of a double ended sword is that you can't reverse grip it... or maybe you are always reverse gripping it IDK

[@Andrew0865]

Pfft. Git gud, scrub. (Fr tho, awesome vid, looking forward to more!)

[@JesseNenninger]

Training acrobatics is to deal with things like falling from a horse or being thrown while wrestling.

[@Brian-cj1nk]

one thing that doesn't seemed to be considered in all this, is the danger of being injured by your own weapon.

[@jaredrobinson7071]

It looked cool

[@ThatGamer11]

I would love to have those swords. Can you provide a link to them? Thanks!

[@zudra2636]

So what I got from this is if you WERE a space wizard with the ability to see the future you COULD occasionally do a flip or whatever, bit you'd still be better off fighting like a person.

[@SellswordArts]

Yes and no. If you were a space wizard with the ability to see the future, you could flip around normies all day long. But against another space wizard who can also see the future... I wouldn't suggest it

[@D_To_The_J]

A spin back slice like a spinning back fist could work in special situations like it does in mma. Catch someone off guard or as a counter to an extreme over commit. Not a go to move for sure and very situational.

[@isaiahschroeder357]

keep it up👍

[@Overlord99762]

Those pants are cool af

[@jreddonamor196]

So basically, if rolling, flipping, spinning, and reverse grip worked, they would b included in the formal HEMA training of centuries old martial arts styles. The original creators of those martial arts techniques would have thought of all that themselves, probably tested and then discarded it as useless. Although we know more about the body and are a little healthier than medieval people, the physical act of swinging a sword hasn't changed.

[@roze_assazin5289]

i ve never been one to agree with rolling in combat against a person. however, I feel as if you were ever in a situation where you would jump out the way, like a horse charging ur, abull etc. that rolling might be better cause u get to ur feet faster. as far as acrobatics. other than just further extions I never really saw it. I've always considered stuff like only fessabile because the person could read the opponents swing and moved around while returning one of their own. if that's not possible then the use isn't aplicable.

[@badlydrawnslide2109]

*does the slowest arial rotation i've perceived today*: "i am good enough" nvm i can only do them way faster because im smaller and have less mass to rotate

[@pbag26]

Acrobatics will work if the opponent is not flexible and let his guard down. Ex. A jumping somersault slash looks cool, but it'll only work if he jumps high enough, and his opponent pivots on the wrong foot, or forgets to duck low enough, or doesn't thrust forward at the start of the somersault. The person needs to time it right to keep the opponent from leaning to the side, and waste all that energy. Wushu sword stances are choreographed, and take a lot of practice. Not just anybody can execute them. You wouldn't do them with a long sword either.

[@BMO_Creative]

If there were points for acrobatic style then acrobatics works! Otherwise, no... LOL Great video tho!

[@AnthonyZuniga-ze1ud]

When would you want use reverse gip?

[@JohnNathanShopper]

Umm, well ACKCHYUALLY- Nah, just kidding. This stuff is the best. Keep it up.

[@sagenod440]

Your Acrobatics is like a +2 AT BEST. Get that Dex modifier up bro you’ll get there

[@tutuadefolalu3661]

The biggest reason that acrobatics don’t work/are a bad idea is because they break the cardinal rule of combat: “don’t take your eyes off your opponent.” You can’t see what they’re doing while flipping so it limits your ability to respond.

[@brandoncastellano1858]

In conclusion Skill issue

[@Michael-yr5oq]

They can work when grappling, sword fights can become a grappling fight, so they can work.

[@Soul-catching_fiend]

alright, when it comes to back handing it should only be used with dirty tactics, besides that it's useless, it leaves your entire front vulnerable to strikes but if you were to grab some ones arm with the weapon and use the backwards momentum that swinging a revers gripped blade comes with it does some wonderous damage, it's still pretty bad in a basic fair fight though.

[@CJ-ht4rf]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@_nick.._.liachnis]

What's this move called at 2:36? I really want to learn it.

[@pignoble9393]

All you need to make it work is plot armour.

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Glorious

[@Ayycly]

next try testing if the soulsborne weapons art and skill actually work in combat

[@thatguyoverthere8823]

The flips look so cool kinda wish you could attack while flipping and how good a defence that would be like imagine your some dude going for some fuel for your honour and some fool just comes up and flips while cutting out your jugular imagine the disrespect some breakdancing noble breaking your ankles in the 1600s

[@lady_draguliana784]

I'd be curious to see what you come up with after a few Taido classes... 🤔

[@kazboven9744]

You guys did not activate your i frames tjat is the provlem

[@matthewhooper1508]

This does look hella fun.

[@hectornonayurbusiness2631]

Nothing beats the high ground

[@garrettmccullough2249]

It only works if you spam the roll button like in Darksouls.

[@combat-greyhound565]

so I have learned, acrobatica don't work, unless you are a space wizzard

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

5:15 pretty sure that kind of high ground leaves your feet wide open for an attack

[@andreweaston1779]

High ground has to be at least a little real. Generals and soldiers have been fighting over high ground for millennia. Surely someone would have realized it was pointless in that time, if it was.

[@allones3078]

fun video