Target zones in HEMA

[@Tyler_Lalonde-]

I like your way of scoring. if people so just point scoring the they panic when someone that wouldn't have been disabled continuing to attack.

[@jacktraveller8290]

Who was that master who said fancy, beautiful fencing is all well and good, but when it's life or death you should always snipe the hands.

[@HappyBrontosaurus]

It just occurred to me... Is it "Historical European Martial Arts"? I never thought about what HEMA stood for until now...

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Alex Macdonald (Zaraphawn) Yep that's it.

[@HappyBrontosaurus]

XD.... I'm a silly banana...

[@gungriffen]

Off subject? Thoughts on Giacomo di Grassi Rapier vs Cappa Feiro? or Italian Vs Spanish Rapier styles? could you make a video on either subjects?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Gungriffen I will certainly make a video on such subjects soon. It will certainly be controversial. I really don't like the Spanish rapier style and have made that quite clear on a number of comments before. Will do what I can to get it done. But in short, their circling and constant motion makes too many openings. The lack of lunging loses distance for what it a well ranged weapon. Their cutting actions often lack power because of the body mechanic of having either foot forward. No doubt I have seen people do well who have trained in it, but I think it is inefficient. It is however a lot easier for beginners to take up, because of the upright stance, passing steps and constant motion.

[@gungriffen]

Thanks!

[@nikemozack7269]

+Academy of Historical Fencing Historically speaking, which Rapier school was considered better? I've heard that the Spanish ranked amongst the best swordsmen.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Nike “Hombre” Mozack You will find no definitive answer to that question. It is something people argue endlessly over.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

One thing I like to do with brand new fighters is to target things that if it was a sharp sword would have been a disabling cut, like a cut along the arm so that way it wouldn't kill them. (As that was something that really good Swordsman in Gaelic lore were said to do.) Or I will go for the head as the target as it is usually the most protected part of the body, in the club I study in.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Josh Campbell Lead arm is always a good target no matter who you're fighting. As a target zone you can test the abilities of your opponent, potentially disable that arm, and do so at very wide measure. The head hit thing we also often do with beginners because they are as you say not wearing much protective gear. Curiously if you go back to sword practice and sword sport from the renaissance onwards in Britain, you weren't allowed to hit new and inexperienced fencers in the head. This comes from a time when fencing masks were of course not common place, and was essentially a safety measure, and an allowance to the newbies, or handicap to more skilled fighters.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

Academy of Historical Fencing Agreed, I choose those targets because of the gear that we have now adays, and I am pretty sure one good blow from a highldand broadsword will disable someone's arm.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Josh Campbell Oh yes...one good blow to an opponents arm with a Scots broadsword and you can go home for tea and biscuits.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

Academy of Historical Fencing Or a Scotch and some haggis. Lol fantastic work btw I do really enjoy watching your videos.

[@JZBai]

How do you deal with the hand as a target zone especially in the context of when someone grapples with or grabs an opponent's sword blade?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+JZBai If an impact against the hand is substantial enough that we believe it would have caused severe injury, which is quite easy against the hands, then we stop and consider it a good hit. Blades can be grabbed if they are stationary (not in motion as they would slice). We encourage people to only grab the blades from the half closest to the hilt, grabbing further up is much more dangerous and far less likely to work for real, due to less purchase hold, often sharper edges, and the blade moving quick and faster due to being further from the hilt. Those grapples and holds are fine, but you would still have to either strike the opponent, disarm and move to a safe distance, or if they surrender, that would be considered an effective scoring.

[@markdavidpeterson]

+Academy of Historical Fencing When you say that you don't know of any texts that show cutting to the torso, do you count Meyer's rappier as part of a "rapier category? I ask because Meyer clearly advocates cutting to the torso in many of his plays. I understand that Meyer's system is generally considered more of a sidesword oriented system but the distinction between a "rapier" system and a "sidesword" system is rather nebulous.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Mark Peterson Definitely not. We also do some work with Meyer's rappier, and it clearly isn't a rapier. It is a weapon, and system, firmly routed in the Bolognese school of swordsmanship, using a much broader and shorter blade than typical rapier styles such as Capo Ferro and Fabris.

[@markdavidpeterson]

Academy of Historical Fencing How would you recommend rules be established in sparring or open rapier tournaments that allow for different lengths/widths of blade? My experience on the US West Coast is rules tend to be based solely around the conceit that combatants are using rapiers similar to what is recommended by Capo Ferro and Fabris, regardless of the style of training weapon used.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Mark Peterson Tournaments are a very small amount of what we do. They have there place, but by their definition the necessity to create complex rules systems is problematic and causes so many bad habits and 'gaming' of the rules. But as for sparring, what we would call a sidesword we would allow torso cuts for, as well as some cuts that are made with lesser arcs that a rapier would cut poorly in. For all other cuts and thrusts they are the same.

[@danellis4437]

A little off topic but do you plan to do any videos in the future that are directed towards the use of the bayonet of the 18th or 19th century periods?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Dan Ellis Yes, though initially that will be covering section from Roworth, which is how to fight against a bayonet with a sword. Our focus is always on swordsmanship. As to whether we will get to how to use the bayonet specifically, I would have to say likely, but a long way off. Right now the list of lessons we want to do for sabre and longsword is huge, and I haven't really started rapier either.

[@100RAmen]

Nick, when are u going to make a 21 foot draw video for a 133 sword(short) and bucker? some how I think it will have much more option and chance against a knife attacker.

[@100RAmen]

Dannicka Brooks yes, but the i33 one is a type 14 shorter arming sword

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+100RAmen Not sure at this stage because there are just so many other videos and topics that I want to get done. As for the sword length, i.33 is not just a type XIV sword. The manual appears to show quite a range of different blade lengths, though scale and perspective are obviously not amazing in the manual. As to how it would be in the fight. Well a typical length arming sword would be around the same size and draw time as the sabre. A shorter one would be similar to a hanger/cutlass which is another video I would like to do. How the buckler effects it? Depends on how it is worn. There are many ways, such as with a hook to the belt, hung over the shoulder, slung from a loop, tied to the pommel and thrown onto the back, and slipped over the grip of the sword. I think in many rushed scenarios you would draw the sword quickly and not worry about the buckler until you have a moment to breath. Drawing it first isn't ideal as alone it can be deceived easily.

[@Borjigin.]

You mention that rapier cuts to the torso and shoulders are ineffective and should not be counted, while legs are fine. Knees and below are fairly comparable to valid targets along the arms, but do you consider thighs valid, or do you consider them to be like the shoulders?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Borjigin Yes we consider thighs valid. Firstly because it is documented in period treatise. For example, Capo Ferro in the description for plate 25 describes and shows a riverso cut to the thigh. Also, coroners reports from the time describe a number of deaths from cuts at the thigh with rapiers through blood loss.

[@Borjigin.]

Academy of Historical Fencing Thank you!

[@enoughofyourkoicarp]

I don't wish to insult you by questioning your expertise or the expertise of anyone who practices with rapier but while I've heard several people claim that the rapier can't deliver comparable cuts to the longsword or cuts that would at least be potentially fatal (arteries etc. notwithstanding, of course), I can't seem to find any videos demonstrating rapier cuts against flesh analogues, do you know where I could find a few?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+enoughofyourkoicarp Against flesh targets I am not aware of any videos online that are of any use. The only time we did get to practice with sharp rapiers against flesh (butchers carcass) we were not able to film it. Hopefully we will get some recorded in the future.

[@enoughofyourkoicarp]

Academy of Historical Fencing I'd certainly be interested in seeing the results, thanks for the quick reply. :)

[@Spar10Leonidas]

Do you ever address common myths or analyze sword fights from movies?

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Spar10Leonidas I am addressing myths about swords in a great many videos all the time, but not with the direct intention of doing so, it just goes that way when discussing the weapons with factual information. I will however do some videos specifically on the subject at some stage soon though. As for movies, yes I intend to do some videos about movie fights soon.

[@Spar10Leonidas]

Academy of Historical Fencing OK, cool! Just out of curiosity, do you have any thoughts about this?: sailorsun546.tumblr.com/post/49490586923/thelaughingmagician-vestara-starwarsgroup A friend of mine showed it to me recently, but I was a bit dubious, but I'm not an expert, so I thought that I should ask someone with more experience. Thanks.

[@breaden4381]

+Spar10Leonidas Well considering that using a sword/light saber in a reverse grip is useless, and the person tries to justify it using foil fencing means that the "technique" is useless for that kind of combat.

[@AcademyofHistoricalFencing]

+Spar10Leonidas Yes I have thoughts, its crap. Firstly, trying to garner any useful sword technique out of a prequel sword fight is a dead loss, they are awful. But to look at it in more detail, neither is serving any purpose there. They aren't using a circular parry to avoid the others blade, they are just doing a completely pointless move to show off. The change to reverse grip would be weak and dangerous, they are too close, there is no intent to strike, their is no intend to bind, parry, or avoid the opponents blade. It is a dance, not a fight.There are reasons to use circular parries to parry, or avoid engagement, but they don't look anything like that.

[@Spar10Leonidas]

Thanks guys!