Longsword Lessons: Basics - How to wound your opponent (drei wunder and beyond)

Welcome to this video on the various way to wound using the longsword according to the renaissance fencing master Joachim Meyer, and presented by Michael Thomas, and Nick Thomas the founder of the AHF.
In this video we look at the famous three wounds (drei wunder) as well as a few extra ways to use the sword in your attacks. This video is concerned with the different ways to actually harm your opponent, rather than specific techniques.
The sword being used is known as 'The Meyer' from the Albion Maestro Line:
www.albion-swords.com/swords/a...

[@epr8974]

Oh man, all your videos are so quiet. I always bump up the volume, then go back to "normal" videos and BAM! XD

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+EPR89 We're working on it!

[@Sfourtytwo]

The Prellhau will have quite an effect even when wearing a (modern Hema) helmet, i think that the stunning effect together with the whipping action around the versetzen makes the technique quite martial.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Shikami42 Indeed, it is an interesting way of using the sword, and especially effective for follow-up strikes.

[@graemeshemachannel1557]

very well explained video`s. thank you for taking the time to make them.

[@philiprichardson7935]

These are so helpful thank you!

[@justiciar1964]

1:52 Don't tell me how I can and can't slice bread. I'll hew it as if it insulted my mother, and then dump melted butter on it from a murder hole that I bore over the cutting board.

[@Alemag_]

more longsword lesson videos please

[@BigHossHackworth]

Question: I've noticed a lot of HEMA theory seems to advocate binding and winding with the sword. Yet in most sparring matches where the rubber meets the road I rarely see it used. Most successful hits seem to come through unattached strikes or just after a parry. If attacks from the bind are so advocated by the manuals why are they so rarely employed in sparring? Are they mostly impractical or do I just not know what I'm looking at? thanks

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+BigHossHackworth It is true that in German longsword that there is a lot of binding work, but I think some people get carried away when in drills, there is still so much more beyond it. Also it has long been out belief and many others we have discussed it with that a lot of winding is misunderstood in that it is seen as a form of sword wrestling in a bind, when we would say that it is far faster than that and how many people practice it. Lastly, even then, when you realise that some things likely are winding when some wounded consider it, why do you still not see a massive amount of it? I would say largely because the large gloves necessary for safe sparring often interfere with a lot of winding techniques, and also that the emphasis on ever larger and lighter feders has made it increasingly difficult too.

[@marcoeckhoff5829]

Because most sparring is basically playing tag and not training for a real combat.

[@blacklight4720]

i can see slice being used back then.My question how often you use it in sparing when you know both of armored and both of stay safe and alive.mostly i noticed cuts and thrusts.correct me if i'm wrong and thanks for informative lesson.

[@dmytroy]

I am wondering about tip cuts, Thrand been doing quite a few tests on gambesons cutting with what he calls a cast blow. Hitting with the sword tip to cut gambeson. Does this apply to longsword as well?

[@TimmyTurner421]

Hey, I'm from Germany and you pronounced the german words very well :-) Very interesing video. Makes one realize how complex HEMA is with all those different techniques, just for the longsword. To come to my questions: Aren't you very vulnerable for an after-blow when you slice? Was this technique primaly used by knights with proper armour?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Timmy Turner Thanks! The slice is intended very much for unarmored combat, and is rendered ineffective by any notable armour such as mail, plate, or even leather and padded protections. It is really intended to be used against weak and vulnerable targets, such as the neck, face, wrists/hands, hamstrings etc. The slice is often used when closing distance which will put you into grappling distance and out of reach of the slice, or whilst recovering tho safe measure. But it should be against targets that will have a major effect on your opponent. so for example, you would not typically make a slice against the torso.

[@TimmyTurner421]

+Academy of Historical Fencing Ah okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the fast reply. When you spar, do you use techniques like the mordschlag and the strike with the flat side? If so, how useful were these techniques in your sparring matches?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Timmy Turner mordschlag no, it is just too dangerous. However it is an unusual and rare technique anyway, so is not a major loss. As for the strike with the flat, yes, but normally as the rebound that it is intended to get into a proper cut on the other side, more than as a strike that would seriously do harm. We wouldn't count any strike made with the flat as an actual hit.

[@BlissfulCounterstroke]

Are there any HEMA clubs in the north of England? I'm soon to be based in Yorkshire, but the Sheffield club seems inactive. Any help would be appreciated!

[@WozWozEre]

More fireworks please :-D

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Pyronaut44 Yeah, we did film it on the 5th :-)

[@korzalm]

Why do you say a Haw must have this final slice / sliding of the blade? I've always thought the hau is like a chop, for example: when I want to cut a chicken bone with a knife, I don't slide, I just hit it "whipping" the edge point on it. It seems (to me) implausible to slide the blade when I strike an Oberhau onto Langen Ort.

[@chrisbernard534]

Great video! Curious, who makes that feder you're using? Also, can you recommend any feders for someone on a budget looking to get into HEMA? (under $200 would be ideal)

[@Aku-fl1dn]

Chris it's the Albion Meyer, www.albion-swords.com/The%20Meyer.html I don't know of any Feders that cheap but here, www.google.com/amp/s/www.wisepeasants.com/hema-longsword/amp/

[@chrisbernard534]

@@Aku-fl1dn Thanks! I figured $200 was pretty ambitious to ask ;)

[@fareastpride94]

i noticed most of the time in european sword/ or even stick fighting, practitioners usually have a rarely moveable stiff upright erect upper body. while in escrima, practitioners who practice with swords, sticks, spears (or any long weapon, and even shields) bend, lean, crouch, kneel, and do head rolls (similar to boxing) and are able to perform deadly strikes from many angles or positions. i also noticed for knife combat in hema, practitioners move their upper body/torso a lot more compared to long sword training. does armor and weapon size determine whether you move your upper body/torso more often and be more evasive when fighting?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

We don't do armoured combat unless we specifically state it on a particular video. But the weapon type certainly does yes. With swords of the reach we have far more of it comes down the weapon than the body. Still watch out sparring videos and you will see plenty of use of the body, but it is often a lot more subtle than you find in martial arts and sports that work more at closer ranges. The lunge also plays a vital part here, as it is seen in some form in most European styles, and covers mass ground, where footwork, more than upper body work is used for evasion.

[@CyrilDash]

'Stechen' pronounced (roughly) 'shtekhen', with 'ch' being a voiceless palatal fricative, basically like a very soft 'sh',

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+CyrillusDash Yes, in English my students find steh-shen to be easier to follow, and close enough to the pronunciation to do the job. I suspect a HEMA terms pronunciation series of videos might be handy for native speakers to create and pop on KZbin for us all. Thanks for watching the video.

[@CyrilDash]

+Academy of Historical Fencing Thanks for the video! Could you do one about parrying?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+CyrillusDash We're getting to it :-) Eventually I plan on covering the entirety of Meyer's longsword, but first I need all the basics done. Gripping the sword, division of the target and the weapon will be next. Then will come the cuts and displacements.

[@CyrilDash]

+Academy of Historical Fencing Brilliant! Looking forward to all of that.

[@sf90001]

And for experts there is the pommel throw :)

[@yimello6267]

To end him rightly

[@lfricmunuc4534]

1:28 "like a troll"

[@Christian.L.Rodgers]

How would one acquire a sparring long-sword?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Christian Rodgers Best bet is to get a feder (training sword) from Peter Regenyei, but there are also other suppliers around of similar.

[@Christian.L.Rodgers]

+Academy of Historical Fencing Thank you so much! And I'll remember that, "feder" not long sword.

[@Sebastian_Gecko]

This is quite amusing to watch as a german.

[@mattmanbrownbro]

How so? If you don't mind.

[@Sebastian_Gecko]

Matthew Brown Some of the names are german and their pronounciation is... quite funny.

[@Sebastian_Gecko]

I guess so :D

[@vbdope]

Kingdom Come Deliverance anyone?

[@Corellon666]

Well, such strikes are able to kill an opponent very quick, but you can win a fight not only by killing. Even very quick strikes with the sharp tip on the right spot will leave such deep wounds, that the opponent will be so much influenced, that the fight is over. Of cause, if you have the chance, it is always useful to slice combined with a strike, but only if you don´t have to emedyatly parry. Often its better to parry well and give the opponent a quick strike with the last 5-10cm of the tip. That would not kill him, but delivered on the head, neck oder upper arms, this could make a real diffence for the rest of the fight. When then your opponents hands are shaking or he is some how else influenced, then you can really good deliver such a killingblow. But against a trained opponent who is fit, you really need a good moment. But it is true, that the sporty influence brings fightingstyles that only concentrate on such quick strikes and brings also the feeling, that you can ignore your defense after a quick strike, what could be deadly, too. It is always more important to beware yourself from injuries, than to hurt your opponent. And that should always be thinked of, even in a sporty duel.

[@percivalconcord9209]

Who looked out the window to check for fireworks? :/

[@casimiriii5941]

Great video, still I almost thumbed it down out of pity for the poor son of a bitch all on his own.