Spear & Shield Fighting - Why the Overhand Grip is Superior

Welcome to the third video of our series on spear and shield in historical european martial arts (HEMA). Last time we discussed applying the techniques of our first video, but there was one very important thing missing: The Spear Throw. So for this video we switched the location to not destroy anything and gave it a shot, wielding two spears and no swords since that was not allowed due to covid at that point. And this alone changes the game so much that it makes the overhand grip superior in spear and shield fighting. (as in overhand vs. underhand grip)
Our first Sparring with Spear & Shield:
• Spear and Shield: Appl...
Historical Spear and Shield Techniques:
• Learn Historical Spear...
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#hema #spearandshield #spearfight

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

What do you think? For me, the spear throw changes the dynamics of the fight completely 😁❤️

[@KraequhoS]

I'm wondering. Do you launch them with strength? I believe that it might be a dangereous sparring technique to use

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

@@KraequhoS Good question! For us the mix of not going all out in the throw, a fairly light shaft and the flexible head does the trick.

[@KraequhoS]

@@SchildwachePotsdam Good to know! Thx for the quick answer

[@ianhathaway602]

Fantastic! I am actually convinced that the spear throw is what makes that grip make sense. I have always been confused by it, very cool to see it with new eyes :)

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thank you! I am glad you find it useful 😊

[@rogerz9281]

Excellent content, thank you! Really enjoying these spear fights!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thank you very much 😊

[@manuellutz1298]

Thanks for sharing your insight !

[@AdlerMow]

This shine a light at the gallowglass, because they used this style. Also, overhand is less tiring for back ranks that need to stab over front ranks in some situations. Skirmishers would use that a lot too.

[@dequitem]

Nice witcher Musik and epic location. I hope we can use the location at 17.07.21 together.

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Fingers crossed 👊

[@msg5879]

Beautiful

[@LordPeachew]

Excellent I do HAMA and your videos are helpful in understanding how throwing spear were used which was common in North and West Africa

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

That's great! I'd love to compare notes with the HAMA community at some point :)

[@LordPeachew]

@@SchildwachePotsdam You can DM me on Facebook My name Khari Evans and I’m the Head historian for HAMAA or just reach out on our main page

[@arion5371]

fantastic video! i really like to see a video about one spear tecnique asian, really enjoy your channel!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thank you! You'll find some footage of fighting with one spear (with and without shield) here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIrcYoWDaJWBY9U

[@Arcuzool]

Great stuff, I've haven't truly considered the throw in spear fighting like this, mostly to it being unsafe with steel weapons. Very interesting!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thank you and yes, it's quite surprising how much difference it makes 😁

[@papermap1646]

In Ming dynasty China, soldiers with shields and swords were also equipped with throwing. In the Edo period in Japan, there was a school that used shuriken to beat the much longer kusarigama and spear with a sword. At the time of the Genpei War, a man equipped with a throwing arrow killed nearly 20 enemies by himself. The British Imperial Army also seems to have suffered from Indian Chakram, despite being equipped with muskets. The throw is very powerful. I want to see spear and shield spear sparring.

[@GermanSwordMaster]

Schönes gefecht. Muss ich mich mal mit beschäftigen. Super interessant :) Keep it up!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Dankesehr - bin gespannt, welche Beobachtungen ihr macht!

[@aaronharris1592]

Another great video

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thank you 😊

[@felix.der.ritter]

Deine Videos sind auch Kunst

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Danke für die Blumen ^^

[@jasonjames9836]

I like the fact that you are referencing Monte as well as the Bolognese tradition 👍

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Monte really is a great read 😊

[@Ulf_Ulfurson]

Hey Martin und Stefan, ich liebe diese Art des Kampfes. Wo gibt's die Speere eigentlich? Super Video. Fechterische Grüße.

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Danke! Die Spitzen sind von Coldsteel, die Schäfte einfach leichte Kiefer 😊

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

Very cool! Do you think the spear and shield fighting has anything to do with a love of antiquity at the time?

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Definitely! Though spear and shield was an alltime favourite on battlefields and in skirmishes as well. So I think Bolognese spear and shield is probably a mix between the current practice and reconstruction of times long gone.

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

@@SchildwachePotsdam Makes sense to me!

[@NeivGabay]

Dont really know much about hema, but two guys fighting with mideval weapons has to be cool. Also, liked the pride shield!!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Thanks! 😊

[@nicholasmccurdy383]

Great series. I was on the fence about spear and shield just getting into the hobby but I’m going to take the plunge for sure. One question, have you tried a Pictish H shield? Do you have any ideas on how to use it effectively as opposed to the shield you use here?

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

I think it could be used quite similar to the Imbracciatura on which we have a playlist on the Channel here as well :)

[@nicholasmccurdy383]

So actually what I was referring to was a small buckler type shield in an H shape. Would there be any benefit to using the smaller middle cut out of the “top” of the H shape to an advantage with a spear?

[@Hades-im1ml]

@@nicholasmccurdy383 For what i understad, this shape help for visions when the war is about small javelin throwing skirmishes. Its the same purpose for the crescent shaped shield of the peltast.

[@MichaelGThomas]

Nice. Where did you get your spear hafts from? Do you have any specs for them? Thanks.

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

These are just long broomsticks from the hardwarestore. with a length of 180cm and a diameter of 28mm. they basically fit the coldsteel heads out of the box. Best, Stephan

[@MichaelGThomas]

@@SchildwachePotsdam Thanks. One last question. The tassels on the one spear. Did you use furniture tassel? How did you attach it to the haft?

[@AngelChernaevHistoricalFencing]

Something nice ;) How much do your shields weight? We be tried before with 3,5 kg heather shield and oak shafted spears and anything more than basic throws and one handed thrusts was a pain

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

These Riotella are aroubd 1.6kg - so very light, the spear shafts are made from pine and around the same weight anything more and throws might get too dangerous to really be applicable in sparring I think.

[@AngelChernaevHistoricalFencing]

@@SchildwachePotsdam thank you for the information. Yes, this does seems reasonable in such experiment.

[@BlademastersAcademyHEMA]

Hi, What are these heads that you guys are using? Thanks!

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

These are from Coldsteel :)

[@BlademastersAcademyHEMA]

@@SchildwachePotsdam Thanks!

[@AdlerMow]

Also, never saw that style of heraldry, with the rainbow colors. There is historical precedent or you just did out of personal choice?

[@llamaegasus]

What wood is the shaft made of?

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

For weight and cost purposes it's just regular pine :)

[@llamaegasus]

American SCA uses rattan which adds too much weight for a throw to be gentle. Have you experienced any issues with spear haft breaks on pine when fighting against swords?

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

Well, any kind of wood will take damage and eventually break when used vs. steel. But since these pine shafts cost less then 10 eur and are ready to mount the spear tip from the get go, it's not really a problem fortunately :) Isn't rattan in that length also a bit floppy?

[@user-hc9xw7bh2g]

Location? Building in the back vaguely looks of the 16th century

[@SchildwachePotsdam]

It's in Potsdam Park Sanssouci in front of the New Palace. It's a mid 18th century building, but Renaissance inspired 😊

[@jimmynicolas4602]

😁