First Attempt at Sickle Fighting (with Commentary)

For those who don't know, what we're doing is called HEMA, Historical European Martial Arts. It's based on contemporary interpretations of Medieval and Renaissance fencing manuals.
The synthetic practice sickles used in this sparring session are made by Purpleheart Armoury.
You can find them under European Martial Arts - Renaissance here: www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
A collection of treatises: wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Hec...
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[@simonandfaerk]

That woman walking her dog is like "what are those ninjas doing in the park" xD

[@doopydoopz1737]

Lel

[@paulbadman8509]

Yeah... Park Ninjas, just like Mall Ninjas, aka nolifers, neckbeards, nerds, amirite? I'll see myself out.

[@spartankittygames]

simonandfaerk I wonder what skalls reputation at that park is lol.

[@sunslap]

I wish more people would take up practices like this at parks. Would make it 10x easier to enjoy something OTHER than basketball without looking like a complete nerd.

[@oceanbytez847]

Joostin Kookel yeah but if being a nerd means i can properly swing a melee weapon i will take the tag. At least im not wasting my life doing nothing like to many other people.

[@MegaHero71]

If you had two, would you be fighting with bi-sickles?

[@Gerwald_Lanzer]

this comment is underrated

[@drops2cents260]

+Oscar Ferro Bike far, I say!

[@miman-ck9jv]

How about three sickles what would you have then ?🤦🏻‍♂️🧐😊

[@Fluid-combo]

@@miman-ck9jv a tri-sickle. Lmao

[@miman-ck9jv]

Fluid-combo 👍give that man a cigar 😂

[@GCurl]

9/10 "Where was the hammer?" - Stalin

[@3Acidic5u]

5/10*

[@g2ltt733]

Gulag/10

[@parryhotter4283]

United forever in friendship and labour, Our mighty republics will ever endure. The Great Soviet Union will live through the ages. The dream of a people their fortress secure.

[@mlm_academyofficial2041]

You forgot to seize the means of production.

[@patriarchs.9237]

Darth Jar jar I wanted to say that

[@brandonhiggins8712]

Darth Jar jar Maybe, but there were times that sickle breast nearly seized his means of reproduction

[@tuseroni6085]

needs a cross pien in his off hand.

[@SangoProductions213]

He wasn't dual wielding. You capitalist pig.

[@brandonhiggins8712]

just*

[@gallaros9]

I once caught two guys sparring like that with synthetic swords in a park, so I sat down on a bench just like in the background and watched them for like 30 minutes

[@callHardmoor]

Woah, Sickle Moves Dude!

[@LargeBanana]

no

[@CrystallizedBlackSkull]

callHardmoor P U N

[@Warden_Vtel]

Try it with a hammer in the other hand :3

[@neonknight5857]

DAUBENY!!!!!!!!!!!!! THESE MEN DON'T HAVE TO DIE!!!

[@IMTHEMOTHERFUCKINGMAILMAN]

*Soviet Russia national anthem plays Intensely*

[@thewoodworkingmetalhead2712]

Donsmacker1 Daubeny,it's you!

[@TrueMentorGuidingMoonlight]

Last Records (Too cheap to afford the original national anthem) *[plays the Tetris theme (Korobeiniki) instead]*

[@DaBTEDI]

western spy? what the blin

[@SUB0SCORION]

Wow, i'd like to see more of the quick sparing videos with commentary.

[@jawadibrahim2367]

I was watching a Soviet October revolution parade film when I was notified about this video. coincidence?

[@khaorix2667]

Congratulations! You just won a free helicopter ride!

[@jawadibrahim2367]

Khaorix no u.

[@jawadibrahim2367]

It's good to be an American. In America share some, okay?

[@khaorix2667]

I prefer my pommels 5.56mm in caliber, in 100 rounds magazine.

[@MikeKnell2884]

Don't you mean Great Patriotic War parade, comrade? Ruskies are not soviet anymore and they don't celebrate communist holidays in general. But they do love their imperialistic tendencies, just like USofA.

[@cyrilgigee4630]

Finally, *Our* First Attempt at Sickle Fighting

[@kickslinging]

I really like the idea of using a sickle as a weapon. I know there are a lot of disadvantages to them but inward curving knives and swords like sickles, the sica and to a lesser extent the kukri and karambit. Can't wait to see more of this.

[@Toboe12PL]

Ever tried fighting with shotel? That might be interesting to see battle against some more medieval weapons like a longsword or something paired with a shield.

[@Orthos4]

Oskar Oskar Is a shotel an actual historical weapon? If yes, where and when was it used?

[@Orthos4]

Caramel Johnson How very interesting. Up to this day, I only knew it from Dark Souls and thought it was just a creation from them. Well that certainly seems like a weapon that I shall craft someday and test it out. Thanks for the useful and interesting information!

[@Orthos4]

Caramel Johnson I am aware of that, but I always thought the Shotel to be a abstract Kopesh, maybe also inspired by a falx.

[@kgeitzel3293]

This was fun to watch. Looking forward to seeing more of this.

[@MrBigboy3178]

love the commentary with these practice videos!

[@Panzersoldat]

Love these sparring videos Skall! I am glad you are trying out the sickle as I have been curious about them since I saw them in one of your earlier videos.

[@nmuire246]

Love this channel, always makes me relax

[@CrustaceousAnnoyance]

I've been waiting for this video for years!!!

[@FyremaelGlittersparkle]

This is something I've been looking into for a while now, and thinking of trying out, so it's neat to know that there are companies making practice sickles, since, the alternative was going to be trying to make my own out of wood, which sounds less safe and tenable than I'd like. Nice job, Skall!

[@carlosbrilhante]

sick ol' sparring videos. love it.

[@chinwangt2005]

Love to see more this kind of videos showing how these weapons really use in fight! Can't wait to see more for weird weapons like scythe or swinging hammer

[@zellarcher]

Hey skall, you got some SICKle moves!

[@sashapopovic3320]

I love seeing these types of vids

[@michaelkenner3289]

I know this probably took a lot of time to research and prepare but if you get the chance I'd love to see more episodes like this. It's great to see such an uncommon weapon being discussed.

[@thequestionwhy3827]

I would love more sparring with commentary! I'm trying to learn some HEMA techniques but there isn't a club near me so watching you spar is super educational

[@VaanG0v]

Edging forward! Now that strikes me like a good pun, thanks for pointing it out!

[@azielthemagus7452]

I definetly need to see more sickle fighting :-D - looks great

[@Josiah04]

very cool, please do more!

[@ichihich3416]

I loved this one !!!

[@Jadee95]

these sparring videos are dope! makes me want to get into HEMA too.

[@theShepardsPath]

awesome vid bro!

[@salottin]

Looks really interesting

[@vayneglory655]

maybe i'm mistaken or its editing but you can see you've gotten in better shape since your accident in this video. :) congrats and huzzah for recovery!

[@lordexcellent5610]

Do more sickle videos please. They're awesome :)

[@edrichlouw1790]

I really liked this video

[@Andreblinx00]

For a beguiners attempt you seem headed in the right way

[@patriarchs.9237]

You lack the hammers, happy Victory day to you too :)

[@mo45327]

Tito Marshal I posle tebe ti!

[@MikeKnell2884]

Samo tako drugovi. Sa Ovchara i Kablara...

[@anotherdegenerate3520]

Tito Marshal Titoooo!!

[@drops2cents260]

+Comrade Stalin > You lack the hammers Actually, they hit the next bar after training and got hammered. :-)

[@JackTheRocky]

"victory"

[@TheGodTell]

In Silat the sickle or Clurit is actually one of the main weapons, we use them with kicks, throws, and sweeps as well

[@Jim58223]

Sickle video!

[@Adam-yo3bt]

those moves were SICK

[@StopMoColorado]

I studied under a Silat Master who inherited and practices a living Sickle-fighting tradition, one he actually used back home in Indonesia. One of the common misconceptions about nearly all forms of bladed combat, though, is the unrealistic assumption that most confrontations will take the form of Duels. In fact, most knife attacks are more like assassination attempts, relying on surprise and an unsuspecting (and preferably unarmed) target. The only way to realistically defend oneself against such attacks is to develop one's Situational Awareness, basically to the point of hypervigilance, in order to afford as little opportunity to would-be attackers as possible. The main Tlurit/Sickle techniques I learned were basically sneaky and dirty, relying also on hiding the weapon in the folds of one's clothing, something much easier to do wearing traditional Indonesian gear, or a long coat, something understandably infrequent in the West. Not to say there's no value in dueling, including lots of unarmed vs. armed sparring and training, and it is admittedly fun regardless of how "realistic" it may be in most of today's world (S.E. Asia, Haiti, various Pacific Island Nations being among some of the few places where it's much more common), just as Sport Fencing and HEMA Sword are. FWIW.

[@dontbanmerage416]

Would you consider doing interweapon sparing, I would be very interested in a sickle-sword match or something of the like

[@Phoenix-ox2jr]

Dontbanme Rage that wouldn't be fair. Not only because the sword has the objective advantage in almost every sense, but it also has a pommel.

[@carna-9501]

sickle fighting all depends on the size of the sickle and how dexterous the wielder is, with sickles you should go for quick sweeping strikes at vital areas, it's primarily a slicing and hooking weapon, once you figure it out you can disarm your opponent and follow it up with a series of cuts and slashes at vital areas

[@r1-le801]

This is actually really neat. What a nice setting to be practicing too eh?

[@teamsingleshot]

Good stuff.

[@4rreste409]

do sickles have any pros compared to knives and/or hatchets?

[@holyyoghurtman1952]

was gonna say utility outside of combat, but that's not a good point cus knives and hatchets also have that. But i'm not aware enough about this kind of thing to know.

[@ToastiLP]

I don't see any, to be honest. In fact, the only difference I can think of at all is that you can't put down as much force with a sickle, as it's not straight as a dagger. Perhaps it inflicts deeper wounds on shallow hits, as the sickle is shaped like a hook or something, but I'm not sure on that one.

[@JimRFF]

Theoretically, you could use a sickle to grapple / control limbs in a way that you could not (or at least, would be extremely difficult) with a knife... you could also use a hatchet in the same sort of controlling way, but sickles would also be capable of cutting with the inside edge (possible severing tendons or ligaments if you catch an unarmored opponent in a good spot)... ultimately, I think sickle fighting is a novel concept and probably more done for the sake of "let's see if we can do this" than actually attempting to use it as a combat weapon. Another possibility is that a sickle may be something a poor farmer could expect to carry, and thus would make training with it somewhat more viable (sort of like how most Japanese "ninja weapons" are really just farming tools)... I'd probably prefer to use a knife than a sickle if I had to choose one to fight with, but a sickle could potentially be a really neat side-arm to replace a sword-breaker or a buckler in a duel, as it would give you a lot of close-range control options All of that being said, I have never once attempted to use a sickle to do anything other than cut plants, so I'm not exactly an expert on fighting with one lol

[@JimRFF]

also, I imagine a sickle has a somewhat longer reach than most knives, and it's significantly lighter / easier to handle than an axe or hatchet (because of the distribution of the weight)... so it may be slightly "longer range" than the knife and slightly faster / more reactive and maneuverable than the hatchet

[@Siegmernes]

I agree. It was ,as far as I know, illiegal for farmers to carry swords and they could not afford them or even a good dagger if they were poor. But of course every farmer has a sickle. For the royal people it was of course still only a new way to waste time

[@sersnuggles7697]

there is a popular fighting style using sickles in Indonesia called Carok. there is even a film about it. should check it out, theyre pros when it comes to it

[@ADoodGuy]

With your stances, I can't help but imagine dual wielding sickles like how Lautrec from Dark Souls has two Shotels.

[@jig-ga]

thats a slick lookin "armor" you got there

[@macchxero]

Sickle fighting! That's sick!

[@Justin-rn9tf]

The sparring looks sick(le) :P

[@LokiCDK]

Watching this, arnis training makes me want to deflect, control, and strike. Not sure with the curve how well deflect works, but the short length definitely pushes the grapple and control aspects. I imagine the curve and the short length make the curve useful against some longer weapons. Looking forward to what else you do here.

[@papadragon6975]

now time for scythe

[@trystanfranziskus]

impractical. the blade'd have to be rotated

[@deathbyastonishment7930]

GREEN PANDA it's a reference to a lindybeige video

[@Ghorda9]

war scythes then

[@AngryChristian1]

Scythes, no matter what, wouldn't make sense in a fight, which is why not even peasants used them.

[@Ghorda9]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_scythe

[@foralv256]

Did anyone ever asked you what the hell are you doing? You know just some dudes sickle fighting in the park xd

[@foralv256]

I mean some people in that park :D

[@whalekit6570]

I guess everyone there got used to it already.

[@OutOfNamesToChoose]

I never imagined that there would be a manufacturer of synthetic sickles.

[@Niko-br9ql]

this was a sick video...

[@DanielSvensson666]

Great video as always Skall. Now I just want a parody version called "First Attempt at Popsicle Fighting (with Commentary)". Hahaha.😂

[@TheValinov]

ehm i saw a german sword art school battle a year ago. there were sickles used in both hands and i was quite impressing how good they work against greater swords. one weapon to parry/grab the opponents weapon, the other sickle grabs your opponents neck or leg and the fight is over. maybe give this a try and make another video.

[@d33b33]

The grapply bits look like karambit fighting. Of course, the karambit knife focuses on severing tendons, and is sharp on both sides of the blade.

[@remembertostayhydrated]

Edging, hooking - all the sickle skillz you need.

[@theultimatehangover7576]

I can definitely see these used similarly in fashion to modern knife fighting with much of the exchange between opponents being "grab and stab"

[@kiba3x]

I have a pair if sickles from my granfather. They will still work today, I clear the rust and oil them regulary. Now I want to learn some moves with them :)

[@TrueMentorGuidingMoonlight]

3:47 There may be no more wine tonight, but there will always be vodka!

[@NoFormalTraining]

I had some practise with a pair of kamas a few years back.They had long shafts about the same length as most nunchucks I've see with a slightly curved blade at the top, not as curved as these sickles but obviously meant for the same kind of work originally before being used as as weapons. Watching this got me wondering how much crossover in technique there might be between these weapons.

[@noerisfw]

on madura island, indonesia, and almost in eastern java island, use this tool for work on field , forrest, rice field, etc, also use for confrontation....try search "carok madura"

[@CaptianBarouq]

Skall, have you ever thought of making an instructional video series? Obviously an actual instructor working with you is irreplaceable, but just something to get someone going on their own if they are having trouble finding a place to learn HEMA. I know you're fairly familiar with longsword fighting, so hearing instruction from someone who uses terminology I know (because I only watch your HEMA vids really) would be a nice thing to see.

[@nor0845]

Always think of the Druid Getafix in Asterix the Gaul when I see sickles :-)

[@caseydubois3645]

Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.

[@cocobean3154]

@Skallagrim I know this isn't related to this video but I was wondering if there were any practical uses in things such as a bladed shield, or using shields offensively...or if that is mostly fantasy and didn't have a basis on history? Your videos are awesome btw! ^_^

[@tuseroni6085]

this seems like a kind of combat that would have something for the arm, being a close quarters combat you would expect it to be more like boxing than fencing, so you would expect something in the off hand, another scythe/sickle (think when they are small like that it's a sickle) or a buckler or just a nice gauntlet or nightstick..something to help you get inside their attack range safely.

[@YourCrazyDolphin]

tuseroni Or a hammer.

[@prd6617]

on my country sickle usually being combined with moves like grappling or kick

[@hotcarl3885]

Have you reviewed the game mordhau? I feel you may find it interesting. I would love to see a review. I love your videos, they get me into knights and starting a sword collection. Thanks for the videos, keep up the amazing work Noble Sir

[@radioactiveassassin5218]

that was sick

[@jarethernandez7435]

hey grim I'm a big fan of the channel and I was wondering what your opinion or rather a reference to some inexpensive sparring gear. where I live in the US not many people would consider sparring with out protective equipment.

[@MrHusang23]

Really cool video, I'd gladly see one where you guys use shields with the sickles. Would be pretty interesting. Also it's funny to me that people are just walking by, nobody payes attention to this battle:)

[@Godofwar1100]

You should do this more often

[@swordpanda7panda795]

sharp" observations xD skall

[@Mitachia]

Skallagrim It is not much about grappling it is more about dodging and trying to cut off some arms or legs from the inside.Also most sickles don't have an edge on the outside.Sickles would be at advantage against short to medium stabbing weapons.Also it will be good against light weapons with successful parry.

[@BandNerdcp]

FULLY

[@pvalis3]

AUTOMATED

[@Darklazer230]

pvalis3 LIXURY

[@IchKomentiereNur123]

Michael Kemper GAY

[@TheJesus_Christ]

Kommentatus Cosades SPACE

[@hjorturerlend]

ANARCHO-COMMUNISM

[@jensg2523]

I finde sickels are really interesting . Can you do more about them please ?

[@Error-eb9gv]

looks like your knee is doing well that's good to see.

[@Skallagrim]

It's a chronic injury at this point and keeps giving me trouble every now and then. For the most part I can manage though.

[@suckadoesstuff7095]

sickles seem like almost a mixture of a shield and a side arm because it definitely has defensive capabilities as well as quick attacks to me it seems like it would pair up nicely with an arming sword

[@karlcembrano9540]

can you try using the scythe as well. the training that you said that accounted the sickle fighting technique also has a scythe version of it

[@giboranak]

Good vid. Gave me some ideas(ideas are usually good). Good luck finding "cheap" land for training so you don't have to fence at the local park(unless you are into that)

[@konstantink.2127]

I would recommend to try using the sickles in an icepick grip although this is not shown in the manuals. Why? From the blade (and the original use) sickles are pretty close to a karambite knife, and in Silat (philipenean martial arts), where the karambite as a weapon origins from (sorry for terrible grammar), the karambite is used in an icepick grip. Just try it

[@Orthos4]

Konstantin K. Sounds pretty interesting, I would however prefer more range for hooking and cutting with it.

[@NPDGX]

I would be curious to see how a sickle holds up against a more traditional set of sparring weapons like a longsword or a arming sword + buckler. It seems like the hooking potential could cause some interesting interaction.

[@darymetal]

I think learning how to use the Sickle by studying fighting systems that use recurve blades would be far more proficient than studying it from fencing manuals. I mean i'm not "dissing" the medieval manuals, but those fighting systems are still used and viable today, so you can be pretty sure they work. Filipino martial arts are really specialized in using these kinds of weapons in close quarter combats, that might be the best source

[@EmpPeng2k7]

I had seen Sickles in D&D but didn't realise there was a historical basis in their use, very interesting. is there any reference to using a buckler or perhaps a conventional knife in the offhand the the texts?

[@musicandalltheprettybits2670]

i want to see you get some sickles and how they would work as weapons

[@Nonon471]

This looks really funny.

[@TriaMaxwell]

1:24 You have a sharp wit, Skallagrim.

[@ZenDragonYoutubeChannel]

Nice video, I'd love to see some sparring with kung fu weapons at some point. :)

[@sixti3s996]

Would it be usefull (for combat situations) to sharpen the outside of the sickle aswell? Or would it weaken the blade to much? Really interested in that, I hope to see more sick(le) videos :)

[@bonebard6178]

i wonder if when using these types of weapons if it would help to dual wield them, one sickle to deflect an enemy sword and the other to strike

[@HiTechSnake]

Skallagrim do you ever watch the KZbin channel AWE me? Specifically the Man At Arms portion? They have really well made swords based on shows, video games and movies and you can actually buy what seem to be fairly accurate swords and other melee weapons.

[@Thesandchief]

You should look into Okinawan kubudo they have lots of techniques on sickle fighting that you could look into for comparison.

[@killzinshadows3767]

I wonder if on top of the techniques the manual suggests if you would sharpen the outside edge and used it in some of the same ways you would use a Karambit in some situations it may be more effective?

[@frograzor723]

This is unrelated to the video but i am interested in the mechanics of a shield bash, particularly the practicality and effectiveness in combat. I'm not sure if there is a video on this already, but if not it's something that i'd be very interested to see. Thanks

[@GloriousMongrel]

FROG RAZOR, there is. Can't link you right now since I'm tired AF but I hope someone else can or try searching "buckler/shield as a weapon"

[@deim0s243]

Could it be possible that the inverse grip can be used to emulate a Karambit fighting style? Maybe some moves from that martial art can be applied to the sickle.

[@TheN13]

I wouldn't mind a follow up video, after you've had some more practice.

[@ZachBZera]

Can you make a video about the real life penetration power of an arrow in plate armor? I am very curious about the topic.

[@newsheo5822]

I wonder, if a small shield or buckler are mentioned in the manual. They seem to me as a logical option there.

[@wrybreadspread]

passions run high at harvest-time...gotta it when the field hands get ballistic