Halberd Sparring - Jordan v Nick

[@heirihunziker]

Highlight reel: 02:14 thrust of the day 05:05 strike of the day (even with the flat that must have hurt) 06:58 hook, line, and sinker!

[@momiji7308]

5:05 BONK

[@MrBatraaf]

​@@momiji7308 even with the safety gear that will ring a bit 🤣

[@weaseljack1336]

06:58 is really nice! :D

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Damn, I saw "halberd" and I instantly clicked on the video, without noticing it hasn't premiered yet... I think this is the most enthusiastic I've ever been about a sparring video.

[@davidrichardson8183]

Imagine driving down the street, when out the side window you see this going on! What fun!

[@heirihunziker]

Looking forward to this, especially since training with pole arms is drastically underrepresented in most HEMA clubs and channels like yours can help to popularize such weapon categories. Having bought the same halberd trainers, I'm very interested in seeing how other people spar with them. The duroplast material is quite unpleasant to get hit with. The tip of the halberd is forgiving but the axe blade is a danger to society, polite or otherwise.

[@verbalbbq7976]

That sequence of attacks, parries and hooks that starts at 5:57 looks almost choreographed, very nice

[@tallonhunter3663]

I'd like to axe you to do more polearm stuff

[@SuperOtter13]

Definitely

[@marschallblucher6197]

This comment isn't a request. *It's a threat.*

[@jgttx]

Looks like the best technique is hook and stab. Would love to see a modern interpretation of a historical manual on halberd and other polearms. More videos please!

[@timhema5343]

Look here : kzbin.info%C3%B6rnR%C3%BCther/videos

[@jgttx]

@@timhema5343 Thank you!

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Yesssss! Also, I just realized, you guys can't spar at full strength/speed because you would injure your partner... I'm still very happy to watch this. I've seen plenty of solo drills, not so much sparring.

[@InfonautInvest]

I'm real excited of this fine weapon

[@ukasz8183]

I like how this man at 1:29 just doesn't care.

[@PoweRaGER]

Thought so, too, but he's probably just seeing them regularly.

[@Psiberzerker]

This illustrates extremely well how Halberds don't effectively have the same Reach as spears (Of the same length) I've had to explain this several times in response to the FAQ: "Why did anyone use spears when they had Halberds?" The short answer is reach, but the long answer is reach you can use effectively. A lot of the haft is used to balance the head, and many of the clinches showed that the heads can get hung up on each other. You can thrust with the spearpoint like a spear, but you still can't thrust as Effectively as a spear, with all that weight on the end, hooks, and projections. It's not as good a spear as a spear. However, you can't really hook with a Spear, either. This really comes into play in formation when it's not A Halberd, but the halberd next to you, the other one on the other side, and the guy behind you. Spears (Pike, and Shot...) Work better in formation, because everyone can use them effectively without getting in each other's way as much as Halberds, for example. Good Halberdiers could work around it, by training together, but good halberdiers were also expensive, while you could practically dump a cart-load of spears, and teach the levees how to use them fairly effectively in a couple of hours. So, even if a Halberd is arguably "The Best Weapon." Just about everything is better with spears.

[@Psiberzerker]

This goes for most of the multihead polearms like glaive-quisarmes, partisans, and so forth. You do gain something by adding a hammerhead, or back-hook, but it's not free. You can change the balance drastically that way, and that changes how it handles at maximum Reach. You also have to notice how far apart they are there, even in that narrow garden.

[@SuperOtter13]

Very much enjoy these sparing videos. One of my favorite channels. Thank you for putting this content up on KZbin for us to nerd out on

[@TheGuzeinbuick]

In my humble opinion, the halberd is the best melee weapon ever designed. Yes, every weapon's efficacy depends on context, but on the aggregate, I'd say a halberd/polearm will give you the advantage the most number of times. Hell, the only "check" to a polearm besides another polearm is a large enough shield. And even then, it's not what I would call a "hard counter."

[@quixotika3232]

Please make a tutorial series on halberds cuz its quite rare on youtube and I'd really like to learn

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

I'm not sure we're going to be able to do that anytime soon, but we would suggest this video series, which is excellent - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXixgaJ_o9pgetU

[@stacyenzmann1230]

I really enjoy AHF's Halberd videos you've been putting out! Its so fun to watch technique in action! Question: Outside of the protective gear you're wearing that's visible--jackets, pants, elbows, knees, forearms, (shins I assume?), what are you wearing underneath to help make this safer? Gorget I can guess, maybe a heavy duty plastron? Also, are you wearing a special mask for halberd usage?

[@ВоронМаусы]

Cool video. Enjoyed it. Wish I could join a HEMA club

[@SuperOtter13]

Loved watching this match up. Were duels fought with halberds? From what I have found it was mostly used in groups. But I have found images of dueling being performed with some pretty crazy weapon combos. Such as darts and greatswords or the infamous rock in a sock vs wooden club.

[@CanalTremocos]

It's also a guard's weapon. Not exactly a duel, but if guards used it it should be effective enough against intruders at least until the alarm is raised.

[@randelldarky3920]

My Halberd raises My confidence level.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

That's a fact.

[@AVGyerra22]

HOLY SHIT, YES

[@chaitanyavats7579]

My favourite dark souls weapon

[@elifellipe3206]

More polearm sparring, please!

[@229glock]

I don’t know why most people think the “axe” head was used (mostly) like a huge 8 foot axe. Most people start swinging it in a huuuuge arc. No way. Makes much more sense that it was just part of a weapon of opportunity during a thrust, jab, tangle, pull opponent off balance …with a few of your buddies doing the same thing with you.

[@budgetcommander4849]

There is extensive documentation on actual contemporary halberd techniques, and many HEMA practitioners have studied them. They know more than you.

[@raphlvlogs271]

how similar is it's use to that of the English billhook?

[@proteus9012]

Really nice location

[@Sfourtytwo]

I would consider shortening a halberd and pretending it is a poleaxe in an armored fight a quick way to end any fight

[@zachabsher8546]

I guarantee every guy watching is just like "GIMME THAT THING IL SHOW YOU HOW ITS DONE"

[@marcelocampos749]

WHERE I CAN BUY ONE OF THIS?

[@Davidpostingshid]

Cool, they turned Chivalry 2 into a real thing

[@gn2650]

How long are those haldberds?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

7.5' or approx 2.3m

[@RovingPunster]

It looks like you were just feeling out the weapons, and sorta figuring things out on the fly - didnt see anything that looked like developed technique. Got any links to later vids showing how your skills progressed ?

[@timothyedward6147]

Where did u get the Halberts?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

From Tempus Fugitives.

[@spasoldatin6258]

Never more have I wished I was there to spar with you guys lol excellent stuff! I can't wait to see more polearm content from you guys. I have been practicing the quarterstaff casually for about a year with help from technique videos from the likes of Björn Rüther and Hroarr (kzbin.info/door/NQLWZTKxqaJphVr8b_1vMw ) as well as any other staff, spear, halberd, etc videos I could find online. It's interesting seeing how you guys approach this spar and I wonder if what I'm seeing my perspective is inexperience or a *different* experience. In either case it would be very cool to see you guys practice more and grow into very deadly halberd wielders. 😎

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

Join the citiguard today

[@RUGER5264]

AD MORTEM INIMICUS!

[@vx3proteus]

Can you guys do a video where ya'll arnt holding back so much?

[@Sceadusawol]

Not with pole weapons.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

No, they are a large weapon with huge percussive force and must be used with the appropriate control and respect for your opponent.

[@jordanreeseyre]

We dont like to permanently injure our sparring partners

[@vx3proteus]

What about better protective gear? Maybe try foam weapons for safety?

[@mdstmouse7]

@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing okay so this isnt you going 100%? are these really top heavy?

[@alitahir4147]

No wonder people loved fighting back then. They just sparred endlessly it seems lol.

[@davidduke3417]

Good, now use morning stars thanks. ;w;

[@bullyt2170]

😍💪🏻

[@Obytack]

Put some aggression into your sparring.

[@Misfit1336]

Man, the halberd has got to be like the worse weapon. It just look awkward. Looks a lot like they have a difficult time find paths of attack.

[@jordanreeseyre]

Takes some getting used to. They're very good defensive tools, hence the difficulty finding an opening.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

They are great weapons, but they are of course both using them here and so any advantages are negated, such as the reach, leverage and overall power of the weapon. They also have incredible defensive qualities.