Helsinki Longsword Open 2022 - Cutting Competition Finals

[@TurulHEMA]

Kettle run is my favorite. Thank you for sharing this!

[@messeringaround1426]

Excellent variety in the cutting challenges. Very good!

[@iita92]

Could we get an extended cut with the finalists' reactions to the rules being explained to them :D

[@LIERHEMA]

Sadly I don't have that on video.

[@KF1]

Nice job, all. Good creative touches with the blocking pole and the kettle run

[@LIERHEMA]

I took quite a lot of inspiration from 2 gun matches, more specifically Desert/Finnish Brutality.

[@dkperu8558]

Im surprised Ringeck is used not Alexandria or Brescia spadona since it is thrust centric sword.

[@LIERHEMA]

The idea was specifically not to use the best cutting sword as that would mean that the patterns would need to be artificially difficult to compensate for the cutting capacity of the sword. Generally speaking even a beginner can do pretty ok with either one of those swords (I have access to both). As the theme was "Functional Cutting" I wanted to use a common type of a sword and have the cuts be something you would be likely to use in an actual fencing situation. That being the basic six cuts. The rules did not specify the edge to be used so if the fencers wanted they could have used Zwerchs for horizontal cuts, Schielhaws for low descending cuts and so on. I then wanted to have the situation itself be the main factor of difficulty. For the first mat it was only being able to use one hand and the threat of the attack. For the second it was the pressure of the time limit with the addition of not having the best cutting sword available. For the third it was being able to perform when tired and wearing additional gear.

[@dkperu8558]

What material medieval Europeans used to practice cutting? Why are you guys using Japanese tatami? Shouldn't historical weapons use historically matching practice targets?

[@LIERHEMA]

As far as I know there is no historical sources records for what was used in Europe to practice cutting. There are some mentions about the sound the sword makes when cutting air in non-fencing treatise texts so that was known and possibly used for practicing. Tatami is modernly used as it is an excellent diagnostics tool and as such can be used to test the cutting skill of the competitors. It is simply the best thing we have for the purpouse.