Sword & Shield Fighting with Roland Warzecha

Lecture at Moesgård Museum by Roland Warzecha, 26 may 2010.
If you want more from Roland, please visit his website: www.dimicator.com
He has a KZbin channel as well: / warzechas
And has published a Sword & Buckler DVD: www.albion-euro...
If you want to learn historical fencing in general, the easiest option is to find a club. For that, go to Hroarr and choose your continent from the sidebar: www.hroarr.com/...
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This lecture was originally uploaded by TheViketube. I'm just a guy who fixed the badly out-of-sync audio of the original video. Visit TheViketube for more viking stuff: / theviketube

[@hathiphnath]

Come to see a revised version of this Viking shield demo staged at Moesgaard Viking Moot 2017: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWLafpihZapkg80

[@thomasbaagaard]

From his FB page: "We did shoot it from three angles. The demo lasted about an hour and twenty minutes. So it may take a while until you see an edited version of all the footage we recorded. Bear with us." So guess we will get a great video of it at some point. :-)

[@jurajkovacik2430]

You are talking too much and even without using immediately your weapons-I suggest less bla bla even if it is sometimes to the point, and more doing the explication practically with (less)talking into it-the practice....

[@asrafsulaiman2054]

i have watch so many sword and shield technique video . .but not one can answer my question on my mind ,how do we control that huge shield . so much to learn after see this awesome video THANK YOU ALOT! from malaysia :)

[@noneofyerbiz6321]

This guy is an awesome lecturer. Someone needs to get him together with a professional camera man and a director/editor to film this properly.

[@hathiphnath]

He has a Sword & Buckler DVD out: www.albion-europe.com/books/item.aspx?item=478

[@MayhemCause]

+Noneofyerbiz And a KZbin channel (just Roland Warzecha)

[@ericrhinehart9155]

+Noneofyerbiz My Hema couch just did a course with him!

[@Pyllymysli]

I've been watching hema channels for a long time know and this is one of the most interesting topics about shields I've seen so far. Also the lecturer's stance is in my eye superb so I'd think he knows what he's doing.

[@Wolfuskaktus]

go on his youtube channel

[@brottarnacke]

It's eerie how sophisticated this stuff is.

[@ifunk79]

Fighting for your life is a serious thing.

[@tomgjgj]

It's almost like... people from the middle ages... were as smart as we are...

[@ДианаКабардинова]

+Tom J lol

[@phantomwizard]

It isn't. Try rapier

[@Farweasel]

As well to say 'try a Katana'. Its a non-comparison. Clever tho the Vikings were (as Roland Warzecha makes clear above and in other vids) I doubt their smiths and metalurgists had the technology or knowledge to make the quality of metals needed for later swords. So they wouldn't develop the associated techniques. We don't now know whether they had a word for 'tempo' in the way a rapier weilding fencer uses it - But they sure as hell understood the *concept* of tempo. Brilliant video BTW

[@christophergregory1205]

"If he's not a competent swordsman, he's going to die any way." *hits like button*

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

Now I wish combat in movies and TV shows would adhere to these principles.

[@JTWilliams74]

"If your arm was attached to your ass you would have won" - Roland Warzecha 2011

[@alsoyes3287]

I beautiful sentiment that applies to all aspects of life.

[@blipblop1806]

Actually it was in 2010, though. Awesome quote nontheless

[@nicktaco2818]

tough crowd

[@morten1975dk]

This is a very good lecture..the best I have seen on the topic..and I don't understand those who try to argue against it simply because in combat there is always a chance that even the best technique/training will fail..and you will die..there is no 100 % fail safe technique. It's risky business to try to kill an armed enemy..even the best viking fighters died sometimes ;0) But this is very very effective and well tested fighting. And even common sense when you understand it. Good video...

[@morten1975dk]

+Joshua Levi Renard he he. Yes.......Well it sometimes sounds there is a lot of people that have developed that very technique when they commentate 😀

[@patriciusvunkempen102]

i am just outweirded by their Huten, their guards they most often stand with the sword arm side forward? which is a weird thing to me, maybe because i am more using Meyer based instructions? it just weirds me out

[@MathasiaJ]

@@patriciusvunkempen102 Meyer's manuscripts that worked with single-handed weapons were devoted to the rapier and the dussack, and neither his rapier nor dussack guards and forms function on the sword arm being back. I couldn't find anything that did from his manuscripts, so you might have been misinformed.

[@patriciusvunkempen102]

@@MathasiaJ interesting , but happens.

[@enlightenedterrestrial]

I'm still watching this yearly, even in 2020. It's one of my most favorite videos regarding the correct usage of a round shield and sword. Brilliant lecture, Roland!

[@ryanjb2082]

i love the offensive shield technique when he pines the other's shield to his shoulder to strike the opposing side; but the defense for the same is just as, if not more, ingenious at about 14 minutes in. this is awesome!

[@2serveand2protect]

DAMMIT!It's been YEARS I WONDERED WHY THE HELL the early medieval swords had practically ALMOST NO CROSS-GUARD, unlike those from the LATER periods, that had the cross-guards much developed! ...here you got the response!...because they DID NOT NEED IT! :) - as THAT SIMPLE!... :)

[@swordandshield]

Finally available: Five years after this popular recording of Mikkel's and my Viking shield demo at Moesgaard Museum, here is my latest video on Viking Age close combat and the origins of medieval swordsmanship: . Enjoy!

[@WaywardSonVideos]

Roland Warzecha It seems like I became interested at a good time!

[@swordandshield]

Wayward Son Thank you. Glad you like our presentation.

[@Ulf_Ulfurson]

+Roland Warzecha Roland aus welchem Sperrholz / mm baut ihr eure Schilde, sie sehen sehr leicht aus?

[@swordandshield]

Dietz Stolzenburg Die Schilde sind nicht aus Sperrholz, sondern aus Spaltbohlen/-planken, wie die Originale. Mehr Info hier: facebook.com/266934476773420/photos/a.549286731871525.1073741918.266934476773420/291897017610499/?type=3&theater

[@victor5949]

Amazing job my friend

[@Aguvika]

So......how does this help me tank in mythic raids??

[@mikeycrabtree123]

Go back to your bridge, troll.

[@rune5416]

@@mikeycrabtree123 learn to take joke. Damn

[@AnaseSkyrider]

Press Shield Block on cooldown, good to go.

[@Cosmoline]

For those interested, Roland continues to pursue this study in great detail and his FB page includes almost daily updates. He's putting together a book on sword and shield theories which will expand on the concepts outlined here.

[@EhAmes94]

Teaching with a bit of humor is the best kind. I love it great video.

[@koolrabbit100]

God, the crowd sure shows enthusiasm... every question even if you can just guess, they don't say a fucking thing...

[@DamienZshadow]

Although the effect varies from age and size of the audience, the responsibility lies with the performer/educator. From my experience, as difficult as it sometimes may be, it is up to the speaker to work the crowd and learn to play off of what motivates them. Like I said though, this also depends heavily on the size of the crowd and many other factors that make public speaking so difficult for some.

[@koolrabbit100]

I completely agree with you, but the guy wasn't really bad at all so I don't see why people can't just shout out the answers or at least try because they're all there for the same reasons probably and they all have some interest in the subject in not by any stretch of the imagination was the man a bad teacher nor talker. From my perspective, it just looks like the crowd needs to grow some and just speak up because I think they're all adults and showed be able to be brave enough to answer a few sometimes simple questions... But that's just my opinion, I've never taught in my life so my opinion could be completely invalid but that's just how it looks to me.

[@DamienZshadow]

No, the guy is very well informed and is trying his best, but he isn't that amazing of a public speaker. I'm sure he's a great teacher one on one, but just from my experience, he doesn't know how to work the crowd that well. Nothing against him, it's just something that comes with experience.

[@DamienZshadow]

***** I don't know if you teach anything at all but if you did you would realize the value of gaining the attention of your audience with the correct amount of charisma and public speaking abilities. If he was doing a video tutorial, this would suffice. If he didn't care if people were engaged or interested, he would've told everyone to leave accept those willing to learn. He does not because he, just like any teacher, is invested in gaining their student's attention and respect. He simply didn't do that well enough even though he was obviously trying. It's not one thing you can simply say or do that makes you a better demonstrator or teacher. It's experience and learning how to tailor your actions and script to the audience watching. He obviously wanted to teach and asked questions but no one answered. This means he needs to be a little better at communicating and creating a dialog to encourage group cooperation. Yes, it is a concert. We aren't computers that listen to every command given. If we're not interested, we lose focus to the next attention grabbing thing. Every lesson is a performance and you're either good at it or your students learn nothing.

[@mofogie]

at 32:00 he explains the 'coiled ' position, as we call it in Kali, that is, one weapon chambered underneath the armpit, ready to counterattack. That really enlightened me on that stance. Looking at his site, Roland was first raised on UCC, an eskrima-kali based system, so he has great insight from both west and east.

[@Peptuck]

I always knew that the shield was an important component of combat, but the concept of the shield being the "attacking' weapon and the sword being the "exploiting" weapon never occurred to me, and totally blew my mind. It's pretty much transformed my view of sword-and-shield dynamics.

[@yaphead20]

I literally think this is the best thing i've ever seen

[@willnonya9438]

I've watched this video a few times now. It made me pretty interested in viking age swords.

[@strelok1988]

finally some usefull non holywood kungfu fighting lesson, great video thanks for upload

[@my_dude_5742]

Kungfu? Firstly, kung-fu Second, kung-fu was an eastern martial arts technique featuring a variety of weaponry, but never shields

[@Zigtyr]

Useful? For your larping adventures?

[@Draec]

I like this guy, I like this guy a lot! He strikes me as a very smart fellow.

[@AttilaTheKhunt]

you strike me as a dumbass

[@ellisv75]

Awesome ... So good at articulating, and evidencing the techniques and then with the demonstration it is all so eloquently related. The only thing I can not wrap my head around is how you survive enough fights with all that can go wrong in the chaos of combat to become really skilled.

[@SirCaco]

"He's completely sealed off. And I even step on his foot!" lol cold blooded

[@palestinevideos2025]

not to hurt his foot but it stops him from being able to take a step backwards or could cause him to fall over if he tries to.

[@justinw947]

for the first time ive found a man who applies science, wonderful job.

[@sejfzlrrhman]

I just imagined PewDiePie with a Viking sword and shield and armor. He looks like an authentic Nord. I'm pretty sure his ancestors were. He's Swedish, after all.

[@alfatazer_8991]

Syed Fazlur Rahman He's a little thin though. Boi needs to bulk up! He can grow a mean beard so he's a real Nord in that regard.

[@BigHenFor]

Bulk isn't everything. Muscle mass doesn't always denote strength in the technique, and muscle is heavy and too much can slow you down. Speed can kill as much as mass.

[@XykuJoxa]

PewDiePie is stupid and so are you.

[@razaalak]

Am I the only one who comes back to this wonderful vid once in a while just because of it's sheer awesomeness?

[@Nosondakar]

ahhhhh, quite a difference. unlike "Sword Fighting As It Was For the Vikings" video

[@grabspopcorn8902]

Nosondakar The shields they are using are a little bigger then the ones they where using. like he said the tactics in this video don't work with a smaller shield so you have to use a different style. In this video the shield is used to open gaps in the opponents defense and in the other it is used almost exclusively to defend when you use the sword to open gaps and strike like they did with the buckler but their shields where bigger so it was a bit different there too. Also in this video they where showing theory more then trying to kill each other.

[@atathunderdance]

You really open my eyes. I see the Viking Sword and Shield as a new art. I'm learning the Viking Ax at this time, and i'll be building a shield and looking into a Viking sword to learn. You've also open my eyes to the buckler. No Hollywood here,how wonderful to see the real teachings. You explain and show very good. Thank you for your sharing.

[@swordandshield]

I am pleased to see that this video of the museum demo I did with Mikkel Mønsted five years ago is so popular. You may care to note that some new videos on Viking Age close combat are in the works. See a trailer here:

[@heatherwind]

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this! This is the most comprehensive and creative demonstration on the use of the center boss shield I've ever seen. Until today I've never thought of them as a fencing weapon! This is so unlike any previous demonstration or film representation I've seen to date, yet it makes absolute sense. Very well done!

[@Dwilson1282]

I go back to this a lot. This is probably the best explanation of body mechanics for fencing on the web. Go Roland! Cannot wait to train with that guy some day.

[@EmbraceTheHate]

You're assuming that the shield boss spike wouldn't work as a weapon when you're fighting 1 on 1. In mass shieldwall battles when two armies clash and the front soldiers are mercilessly pushed forward, a spike might actually cut into an enemy soldier also being push forwards by his army.

[@seiji42]

Possible, but it seems unlikely that someone would be stuck against an enemy shield without having his own shield against it aswell.

[@jokommentaah5947]

The Romans used the shields to push their enemies in mass combat. A spike is uselss cause as Viking said the oponent would have a shield aswell. If he wouldnt, you wouldnt need the spike anyway since then your weapon is the attaking thingy. In roman times there was no pushing the man in front of you. such things are stupid. actually they made shure there always is a little space in between battle lines. The lines behind the first ones would be trowing spears into the enem lines, breaking the formation. Having a spike would make a shield heavier while the protection of it would not really increase.. so rather have a thicker shield that slows down spears or arrows more (shields do let spears get through and arrows can have enormous power aswell.. )

[@mistanix]

but what if your attacking thingy struck his whachamacallit? then the doohicky thingamabob might break off in his doodad?

[@jokommentaah5947]

huh lol?

[@EmbraceTheHate]

mistanix Just listen to this man and you'll understand what i'm talking about.

[@Haitchpeasauce]

Excellent informative video, well researched and carefully explained as to why things were designed a certain way. Weapons were designed in response to specific situations, and it's very interesting to hear these reasons explored here. About the shield boss having a spike - the only advantage I can think of is to cause extra damage to the opponent's arm during a shield trap move, or to weaken/break the opponent's arm's posture in this movement. What I enjoyed most about Roland's discussions is that each component of weaponry shouldn't be considered alone. The design of the shield diameter, shield edge, shield boss, lack of an arm strap, sword crossguard, they're all integrated into a clever fighting system and make a lot of sense. Regarding people saying firearms requiring less skill: it's easy to shoot a gun just like it's easy to stab someone. Guns started off as a trump card to traditional warfare, and so at the start it's easier to train soldiers to a basic level and beat well trained melee soldiers and archers. But when everyone has a gun, training is required to maintain the advantage. Whoever has the better accuracy, range, rate of fire, tactics, endurance, speed, on and on. Guns have seen constant improvements to become more effective, and now we have aircraft and drones and guided missiles. Once again, training and technology continue to be pushed forward.

[@quincy2142]

To elaborate on why the edge would be stronger than the flat side, Pressure = Force divided by Area, decrease the area on which you apply the Force and the Pressure increases. Basic physics. This is why in fighting the weaker guy can win if he cleverly uses this physics principle.

[@XykuJoxa]

A. K. A. Hit hard and where it counts.

[@MatthewLiebrich]

This is fascinating. I learned a lot from this video.

[@happyhealsgaming7614]

The reason why he isn't talking much of formation/shield wall is mainly because I think its cause this is about individual skills. To learn to use the sword and shield against a single opponent....Why? Because, just like when you do the easy moves before you do the big moves, you gota learn to be able to look after yourself first with the weapons in hand. What's the point of talking about group-formation fight loonngg before a individual can even look after himself? =I

[@secularnevrosis]

In the wall you defend and let the guys behid you stab your opponents in the face with their spears..or knocking them in the ground with a big daneaxe.

[@happyhealsgaming7614]

secularnevrosis Read my comment. This is teaching "Individual" skill with the viking shield and sword. You know, 1 person? 1 person looking after himself first? 1 person doing the basics of shield and sword techniques? I know in a Shield wall you can defend and let others do the attack for you, but for that you need a "Group" of people, and that involves a "group" skill to work on, which won't work if the "individuals" can't use the shield properly. I'm saying, to everyone saying "THIS IS BAD HE ISN"T MENTIONING THE EPIC SHIELD WALL" that this training session is talking about individual skill with what you can do with sword and shield. Just like manga-drawing. You don't get 5, random people who hasn't had experience in manga drawing or with completely different art-level from one another togther, and make them do group work on how to make a manga together. They have 5, individual people who has learnt the basics, on their own time how to draw manga in their style and THEN, with similar art-level, they make a group together and draw a big manga series together.

[@secularnevrosis]

Hiroo Fukuoka Sure...This video isn't about shield walls or "team fighting"...Maybe thats why he isn't talking about it. Refering to your first post. Now to the "Why".... Many instances in 'viking' society revolved around individual skill in arms..Like setteling of disputes, challenging opponents warriors prior to a battle, protecting the farm etc etc. Most of the fighting were with a few of your guys against a few of others..man against man is a good skill to have when the lines break and total chaos ensues. Maybe I missunderstood your comment?

[@happyhealsgaming7614]

secularnevrosis Possibly. Sorry for that too. I should have said that "In this video..." rather than the entirety of things. What I meant to say was, in THIS video, he;s only talking about individual techniques with viking sword and shield. Just that most people just goes straight into how this video is bad for not mentioning or teaching the shield-wall when there's only 2 guys being shown on the video, which I found rather ridonculous.

[@secularnevrosis]

Hiroo Fukuoka Then we are on the same page :)

[@Dewderonomy]

This is a wonderful demonstration, easily one of the best I've seen on swordsmanship. Simple, straightforward, and still thorough. Thank you!

[@ProfessorTravis]

"If his arm was attached to his ass, he would have won." Brilliant!

[@LutefiskSavage]

O. M. G.. I've been on the edge of learning this for years and never put 2+2 together on this. You've completely revolutionized what I'm going to be trying in my fighting styles. This is brilliant, and what's more you can do this while appearing to be a flat shield fighter on engagement. Sneaky sneaky.

[@errolflynn7153]

Came here expecting to have a good laugh at 'these grown kids with too much time on their hands', but it's actually very interesting.

[@mofogie]

i liked this video, good talk on biomechanics. I was a wrestler, and the pushpull/lateral push is very true for any martial art, armed or unarmed. I will tell you the #1 most important thing in fighting is footwork. Footwork is best defense and the best offense. a good sidestep trumps all attacks, and a good advancing flank compromises all foes.

[@slyrez]

A lot of these concepts are relateble to wing chun

[@roberth.9558]

What a physically and intellectually gifted man. An superb presenter.

[@An0mal0us1]

real life barristan selmy

[@alienmohawk6927]

My exact thoughts. Thank you, good sir, for brightening my day.

[@aeD4RK]

This person has very good understanding of bio mechanics and what we call absolute. I rarely find or even see such person. Thumbs up! He is going through the right track.

[@gjigaqaquj]

here's a question, what if the Viking was left handed and was used to fighting right handed fighters? would he/she be at an advantage?

[@seiji42]

If he/she had practiced in fighting vs. right handed fighters, wich would probably be tha case, there would be a definite advantage - and I say this as I have fought left handed fighters in the style Roland uses here, using viking weaponry. It's very different from fighting right handed fighters, and since most people are right handed, they would be used to fight right handed fighters, so a left handed one would be something they aren't used to; i.e. worse at. Hope that was a good enough answer! :)

[@ShamelessHorse]

It would be very awkward for both parties because they are sword on sword and shield on shield. The only way I can think to attack would be to move in diagonally with the shield to block the opponent's sword and push it to the side to create an opening, but then to exploit it you have to attack over your own arm! If your opponent blocks your shield with his then you could roll around his back and deal a backhanded slash; maybe that would work better in practice. Still, I wouldn't want to be spinning all over the place on the battlefield.

[@seiji42]

I actually fought a "lefty" just yesterday at training, it was quite a nice variation. What happens it that there is a lot more "fencing" rather than blocking with the shield, as no one wants to attack on the shield side both fighters keep standing with shield on shield and sword on sword. Sure, the shield is still used to steer away the opponents sword and to block out his later attacks, but the first thing that seemed to happen was sword-on-sword attacks with blocks occuring first after the initiating blows had come. However, I've gotten more used to fighting left-handers since in the club i first learned to fight, there was a left handed guy. So it's been part of the learning process from the start, rather than being something to get used to after already mastering a technique.

[@PhsycoAthe14]

There's actually some evidence to suggest that some weapons from the Migration Era, like the bearded axe, were used left-handed. The Bayeux Tapestry shows invading Vikings wielding axes in their left hand as well as with both hands.

[@tychoMX]

Hell yes. I had fits fencing (epee) against lefties. Even the coach said about the best guys (pre-olympic team, sabre - "too bad he's not left handed").

[@adeptus79]

I am glad to here this. It is important for people to understand that Europeans had fighting systems every bit as sophisticated as anything from Asia. Next I suggest looking for information about the German and Italian masters and Fechtbuchs. You can find many good videos here on KZbin.

[@Hawaiianstile]

easily the most legitimate example of its kind i have ever seen. this guy obviously hs done his research and done a lot of intelligent experimentation of his own.

[@Thrand11]

I plan on making a upcoming video on this video but it will be in praise and show some variations of this Fighting style and other moves.This Video is correct about the Style in all ways.

[@suzirowsell9807]

This is great. Really frustrated at sword fights were the two opponents just concentrate on whacking each other's swords with no interest in hitting the body. Very instructive. Thanks Roland. Great work!

[@KnightSquire]

Can somebody please explain to me the 3 quarter length and high socks thing in HEMA, Where is everyone getting this look from?

[@Nomans_Nomen]

It's probably more about mobility than fashion. It allows the mobility of shorts, without any bare skin being exposed. Safety equipment against bare skin is going to chafe like hell. Just my guess.

[@KimerikKukka]

We use shin guards under the socks, just like in football (or soccer if you do not understand Europa).

[@pungivergiverofpuns3611]

KnightSquire huh, odd to see you here. I do t usually think of people with their own channels commenting on videos. Lol

[@KnightSquire]

My comments are littered all over the place. XD

[@pungivergiverofpuns3611]

KnightSquire and fine comments they are my good sir.

[@Cragrim]

I keep coming back to watching this video! Roland is amazing and It would be great if a professional film team made a documentary on actual historically accurate sword fighting. An interesting scope would be to have the intention of debunking (or mythbusting if you will) swordfighting movie tropes or "Hollywood glorifications" with Roland as the lead!

[@swordandshield]

If you also like to see what our fencing with medieval sword & buckler currently looks like, you are welcome to watch this video:

[@Dwilson1282]

I never get tired of this video!

[@ariochiv]

Fascinating. I watched this video about a year ago, but on second viewing (with more knowledge of the subject) I find it even more fascinating. Hand to hand fighting is a brutal business, but weapons were designed the way they were, even in the early periods, for very specific reasons. Some great insights.

[@CusterFlux]

It's amazing all the knowledge we've lost on this stuff, there's so much to it.

[@icfubar9150]

Superbly thought analysis of how sword and shield work together and masterly portrayed. It all made perfect sense without counter argument..

[@laskey84]

Mr Roland is such a bad ass, and you can tell he is a very kind and funny spirit. I hope to train with him one day.

[@ajb7876]

The principles he talks about of force,leverage,balance,trapping and containing an enemy and use of fluid movement are identical to the ones I was taught when i was learning Wing Chun,even though Wing Chun doesnt use swords and shields but it shows that some physical laws are universal. It also shows(I believe)that European Martial arts are not so crude as commonly thought of,especially when compared to those of the East.

[@Rikitocker]

When he speaks of pressure and what they called "feeling" - ie, yeilding upon pressure in order to gain the advantage, the French treatises of 17th century Small Sword still maintained this and called it 'Sentiment du fer' or feel of the iron ... feel of the steel in modern terms. The wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors has never left us, we just let it go for a while ... now we are reclaiming our fighting arts once more!

[@warmpond]

I hope this guy is still making success with his classes (or whatever program he has). Really excited to learn more!

[@omari2306]

7:57 The way he manipulates the shield is awesome, that's how actual vikings did it, they create an opener in the shield then they attack with the tip or blade of the broadsword.

[@rodrigobodhisattva812]

This guy is an excellent teacher, regards from Chile

[@Messiahs]

Holy shit, when they showed of how a fight would look like at around 15:00.... I was just astounded how dynamic this looks 0.o

[@JRT176]

This is some innovative stuff. Among the best about Iron Age shield combat I have seen.

[@Kopa_Malphas]

The boss is used for multiple purposes. It guards your hand from having your shield run through, it also can be used to strike foes to break bone, they had spike implements in other shields of the time...as well as a use for as you stated, a chance of stopping a sword swing. Everything available was used as a weapon, in any way.

[@QuarterMasterGaming]

this is incredibly fun to watch

[@nickkraw1]

THANK YOU FOR FIXING THE AUDIO!

[@tsik1919]

Very freaking informative. Never knew fighting principles could get so complex and sensible..

[@Gillsing]

The audience is watching and listening intently and not making a lot of noises that ruin that recording. Pretty great audience in my book.

[@savagecoconut1735]

I AM ENTERTAINED! Like you and you comrades thought process.

[@swordandshield]

I did re-enactment combat, show-fighting and other ecclectic hobbyist styles for years. They left my 3mm steel edges with all sorts of damage. For almost ten years, now I base my training on historical combat treatises. I use trainers with only 1 mm edge width for sparring. They are all fine. This is in line with many period originals that I have examined: Re-sharpened numerous times, no severe damage. The Maciejowski Bible shows swords square-on only. It does not inform on blade angulation.

[@TheLordArion]

I trained with theese guys at swordfish 2008 in Gothenburg. It was really interesting and they know a great deal about this which I love learning

[@swordandshield]

Harris, I am outlining my thoughts in the video above and in the Agilitas DVD "Sword & Shield". I do not argue vs edge contacts but against edge-on-edge blocking in medieval swordsmanship. I am a member of CFAA and HEMAC, so yes, I am familiar with Talhoffer and other treatises of various traditions. Like my colleagues, I see the same martial principles at work there. Feel free to get in touch via Hammaborg. This is a topic for a hands-on discussion, not YT-comments! Thanks for the input.

[@Zaharad]

Ive never been much of a sword and board guy...more so of a greatsword/twinblade. Though in one on one scenarios, makes it tough to beat people who use sword and shield. Personally, I've only been able to counter this by grabbing the biggest weapon I could get (my amazingly ridiculous (why I love it) greatsword) and give them a swing they cant block. Watching this, though, helps me understand more on how I could win in a means that isn't turning myself into a berserker.

[@DurasDrum]

I honestly thought Sword + shield fighting would be very brutish, but this just showed me how graceful and technical it really is. Absolutely amazing. It's just a shame this kind of arm is obsolete since we have guns and other ungraceful weapons now.

[@BPWells]

This is an amazing presentation of historical single sword techniques. I will be looking for more of these fine efforts.

[@mennoace]

True, but now you forget a crucial difference. The Scottish Targe did have an arm strip, which prevented it from turning sideways on impact. Same goes with the heavier kite shields and iron/steel shields. Which made the shield reflect blows easier, thus making the swordsman able to get in closer without losing his guard. Now when 2 men have that kind of shield, the closer combat will happen more often, because it's designed for just that. So in that scenario, the spikes would've been useful.

[@hathiphnath]

As far as I know, butted maille did not historically exist outside Japan. But you are of course right that typical viking sword would not be pointed enough for its tip to pass through a ring. Spears and arrows (and pointed axe blade tips), however, would probably penetrate maille about the same as the half-swording technique shown in above link.

[@swordandshield]

Check out HURSTWIC's DVD: Viking Combat training. They have a similar approach. I focus on medieval buckler and only experimented with Viking shield to analyse concepts. I don't intend to produce an according DVD any time soon. However, I am going to hold a lecture that covers the difference between combat with center-gripped round shields and later kite and heater shields in Freiburg, Germany, at the Symposium "Das Schwert" in October 2012. Roland

[@Genktarov]

I think he even said it in the video: all weapon designs are clever. Having a boss which blocks blades in normal combat and can bash the other guy's skull when the shield walls hit each other would make for the cleverer design indeed.

[@Thrand11]

This is Thrand!!! Excellent Video!!! all true and valid points about Viking round shield.

[@thomasbaagaard]

one clip and fixed sound. Fantastic.

[@kekeke4467]

what i find interesting is how they figured all this stuff out without our understanding of how the body functions and the limits and capabilities that is has. Really Cool. :)

[@Dr.B_TigerStyle]

Nice lesson on body mechanics and warfare tactics here for martial artists in general

[@SpartacusColo]

Cheers! Very cool demo! Studying Chinese and Filipino arts and enjoyed this greatly.

[@hathiphnath]

Yes. This is also the reason guillotine has an angled blade. You deal much more damage if the blade slides across the target. Think of pushing a knife straight down on a bread versus drawing a knife across the bread. The beauty of the the sword is that when it hits an object, the inertia of your arm automatically makes the blade to glide across the target, but you can augment the effect when timing a draw at the same time -- that's what I believe Roland means.

[@hathiphnath]

I'm not the person in the video, but I can tell you that for their regular I.33 practice, they use Paul Binns swords which can flex up to 90 degrees. Google "hammaborg sparring equipment" and you find some forum threads. The original video that those threads refer to is taken down, probably due "Sword and Shield" DVD being out now, but you get some useful data from the threads anyway.

[@Belphagor13]

An excellent tutorial; very insightful and enjoyable.

[@TekhnikosMagazine]

Best Viking Sword and Shield Video on the internet! Thanks so much for the information!

[@TheCsel]

i agree with dabomb. most of the sword's damage is from the weight of the blow. it doesnt have to be incredibly sharp to cut, even a dull blade will act as a wedge force. Most armor prevented cutting and the damage was from the weight of the blow, bruising, dislocating, and breaking bones. Smaller and quicker blades usually relied on stabbing, piercing attacks, through the armor. Tip of the blade also kept its sharpness more than the edges.

[@harrygoodworth]

This was very interesting, going to have to look up this guy and see what else he has done.

[@MorrighuBadb]

Targes and bucklers often had serrated, spiked, and otherwise edged bosses on them. And they date from the same era but were often carried by those who were defending against the Vikings....

[@WaQuick]

I believe Dremora may be confusing his statement with a different weapon fact. That when fighting with an axe, a slightly duller blade is preferable to a sharp edge. This is so that the axe, which is a hacking weapon, blade doesn't shatter and a heavier, duller edge will cause more damage when striking. However the axe blade still needs to have an edge, just a slightly dull edge

[@prothius]

Great presentation! I would have been delighted to have been there.

[@hathiphnath]

Plus half the hoplon is meant to shield the guy to your left. Search youtube for "a point about shields" and "another point about shields" for more in-depth explanations.

[@Rikitocker]

Excellent presentation ... the instructor here is very good.

[@mrl8766]

Straight blades allow for thrusting/piercing forces to be optimal. Curved blades (with a backwards curve like a katana) maximize slashing/cutting forces. Curved blades (with a forward curve like a kopis or falcata) allow for optimizing chopping/hacking forces.

[@Philleboioioi]

I'm actually buying his theories. I would like to see a movie, were they have not only studied the fighting techniques, but also the fighting strategics, their attitude, strength and battle formations of the vikings.