The Sword & the Serpent 2: Shield Binds

[@swordandshield]

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[@rgarcia7392]

A tactic comes to mind: The Viking shield is a relatively light and fragile thing. Why not attempt to catch the edge of an opponent's blade and get it stuck in the soft wood of one's shield? If it stuck well, one might even release one's own shield, wrestle the opponent's shield aside with the free hand and open a path to stab or cut the opponent. I think this tactic would explain why Vikings were allowed more than one shield whenever they dueled. Just a thought.

[@Isaac_howell]

If stuck well you are already at advantage, discarding your shield would most likely not be necessary

[@emarsk77]

In another video (I can't remember which one) Roland showed that getting the opponent's blade stuck in your shield could indeed have been a useful technique. Discarding your most effective defence wouldn't probably be a good idea, though; you'd also lose control over the blade, which could come free again.

[@swordandshield]

The Rook, yes, absolutely: facebook.com/266934476773420/videos/1032843413515852/

[@rgarcia7392]

THank you. That was very interesting.

[@alexmccart2566]

Slithery lil snake

[@niklasjiru7775]

this technique and a type R 564 shieldboss would work nicely together.

[@swordandshield]

Absolutely.

[@chrisn3302]

Very similar to some Yang Tai Chi push-hands exercises at 2:25. Have you trained in Tai Chi before? If not then I think you might find it very informative to the bind work you're doing. There are some sword sensing exercises that are also very similar. Update: Here's a video of a great demonstration of push-hands with applications: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHWkmmiejrqMhKc

[@planesrift]

What if the opponent pokes you from below though?

[@tomdutoit5591]

Planesrift, poking from very far below is usually a bad idea as it leaves your head and upper body badly exposed. I am sure fencers occasionally tried it out of desperation, but terrible counters and their answers usually would not make it into manuals.

[@swordandshield]

planesrift, there are instances, when this is a threat. But most of the time, actions that require lowering the hand not much of a problem to deal with because of their considerably shorter reach (max reach is with your hand at shoulder level!).

[@swordandshield]

Michael, please tone it down, would you?