How to grip the medieval longsword, Part 2 (Historical Fencing)

[@scholagladiatoria]

Many thanks. Yes I do intend to do some videos about the more academic side of things, though they could end up being rather long!

[@scholagladiatoria]

Replicas from Albion Armory, Regenyei Armory, St.George Armoury, Del Tin etc. Antiques from antique shops.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Thanks.

[@bansheemopar]

Very nice video. A lot of interesting informations, I fence after Liechtenauers Manuals (i am german) but I thought the thumb up thing was used generally. But it could be interesting for you, that the thumb uo thing is only used in some guards ans strikes, where you rotate your sword in your leading hand by 90° (Ochs or Krumphau for exampe). It is a very good way of exactly rotating and "locking" the blade without having to think about it.

[@mattcole3119]

we do that holding-the-pommel-thrust in Olympic fencing when you use a French grip. super frustrating to fight

[@rasnac]

"Helicopter of Death" would make a fine heavy metal cover band name! :D

[@albanaeon]

Wonder if a wheel pommel would be easier to keep in proper edge alignment in the thrown cut? Very generally, I find it easier to cut with one of those instead of a scent stopper, but I am willing to admit that its just as likely that I prefer the wheel pommels.

[@vinland5558]

After a short time of owning a longsword, I have to say I prefer holding it with one hand on the pommel, I feel like I have much better control over it and it feels lighter in my hand.

[@albanaeon]

@ banseemopar Wheel pommels weren't uncommon. They were more popular in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries to be sure, but they still show up even towards the sixteenth century.

[@AGermanFencer]

Once ive done 2 fast zwerchhäue against a fightpartners helmet. worked well even in full contact fighting (for those who are saying theres not much of "technique" in armoured fighting) . :D

[@honingtaart]

keep the good work up! Love your videos! Can you make a video about some fencing manuals, authors and other sources? Like a video on Fiore, Silver, Dobringer... You do seem to have quite some knowledge:) And that information is a little harder to find than techniques.

[@schm00b0]

Let me check my fechtbuch. Yep, there it is - 'helicopter of death' (Hubschrauber des Todes) ;)

[@lukerope1906]

So how would hold a wheel pommel so that it does not dig into your hand. As all my swords with wheel pommels really dig into my palm.

[@docjjp]

Matt - Why do you think finger rings, side rings, and all the more complex hilt forms developed so late? Swords were around for millennia before we saw that sort of hand protection. Is it because swords were always paired with shields and / or gauntlets prior to the late medieval / renaissance, or was it a technology issue or a weight issue maybe? I'm just curious because in hindsight it seems like an obvious improvement over a simple cross hilt.

[@JoramTriesGaming]

Thank you sir.

[@bansheemopar]

Wheel Pommels are very unusuall for Longswords, the appear in one handed swords and bastard sword, but longswords normally have in some way conical pommels, that can effectively be used as an extension of the grip.

[@thecrafter8937]

how do you hold a longsword if u r left handed

[@Altrantis]

Most of these things are also true on a katana, except that the katana has a larger focus on the left hand, and that the way of gripping the sword with the longsword is more like gripping a hammer, while with a katana it's more like gripping a knife.

[@bansheemopar]

Blank-blade is absolutely right with the term "häue". I am a german (a i think he is too), and it s clear that the letters ä, ö and ü are confusing for non germans, because you have no connection to them in your language. But it is clearly right and tehre is no possibility of another way. Like in: Bad - Bäder : singular and plural of bathroom Bogen - Bögen : singular and plural of bow or arch (same word in german)

[@yhfuj877]

FAR, i love this

[@solemncoyote]

Somewhat unrelated, but where did you get the fighters against racism shirt? Google has not availed me, and its pretty spiffy.

[@Alejandro-te2nt]

do you think your wedding ring has ever messed up your edge alignment?

[@JoramTriesGaming]

Where do you get your swords from? They look like very good blades, and I've been thinking about getting one.

[@AGermanFencer]

Does eg. "Meisterhäue" ring a bell ? ;) "Haue" is the correct modern plural of "Hau" thats right. I dont know if "Häue" is actual nowadays. When i first heard "Häue" i was all like o.ô yeaah right. but Liechtenauer for example uses this term. Are you familiar with the german language ?

[@scholagladiatoria]

This is totally incorrect. Wheel pommels are incredibly common on longswords, right the way through the 14th and 15th centuries. See any of Oakeshott's books for lots of examples. Or visit a good collection like the Rustkammer in Vienna.

[@dronillon2578]

Future video: 6:40 Also these are the previous version of your mutton chops eh?

[@jesseeaton1359]

Reverse hand grip? Nothing on reverse had grips??

[@christiansmith3438]

I'm not experienced or anything, but wouldn't that completely destroy your leverage in an actual fight?

[@dablop1]

They were almost never used with swords. Occasionally they art depicted when stabbing someone who is on the ground, but there is no practical advantage to the reverse grip with a sword.