A Hand and a Half - Practical or Out Dated?

[Zoodles]

Just for inspiration, here's some footage form a recent tournament event.

[Harkon72]

This looks really interesting, but I admit, I have never seen fencing tournaments using Longswords here in the UK. I'm jealous and very curious. I must make some inquiries. Thank you!

[Zaine]

And remember, a sword is obsolete until someone comes at you with one. They are then become Death, destroyer of flesh.

You make an interesting point here. Martial arts often teach weapons such as a sword due to tradition, or in my case, because one could not really understand how to defend against a sword until they knew how to use it. I think the interesting point here however, it the correctness. Despite a sword being the easiest thing to emulate from a stick found on the ground in a confrontation, it is starkly differently from handling an actual sword. It causes me to wonder if sword fighting has fallen into the realm of tradition or if there is practical purposes. Face value I would argue for both. One finds that the control over their own bodies increases as you learn to make something an extension of said body.

[ShoriKid]

I was gifted a Medieval Sword last week, a Hand and a Half, or B*stard Sword. The measure in the title refers to the length of the handle, and it is a hybrid of a one handed sword and a two handed broadsword. I know there are Medieval Re-enactors in my area, does anyone know if I can learn to use this Weapon? It would be very physically demanding, it's big and heavy. It has a beautiful etched blade and a crussiform decorated with dragons. I'm very lucky to have it but want to do more with it than just admire it. I would like to meet a contemporary Medieval Sword master, but I suspect this will only happen in my dreams. I have to realize I suppose that teachers of western historical martial arts are very rare, and authentic ones rarer still.

It sounds very much like you have a decorative piece. They are nice to look at, but due to materials and construction they aren't safe for sword training.

If I caught it right, you're in England? It may be worth your time to contact http://www.sirwilliamhope.org/ these folks. They seem more based out of Silver and a few others, but I would expect they have contacts with other styles that would use a hand & a half. Most of what you will find will be out of the German and Italian schools.

As to swords, Albions are awesome. They have gotten rather pricey in the last couple of years. If you get serious about training, they are worth every penny. Doesn't mean I don't want one. Del Tin makes good swords for about half of what you'll pay for the Albion. For something that is solidly built, go to the SBG. Good site. http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/medieval-swords.html

And for questions on this forum, get bushido_man involved. He's the man to talk to in these parts when it comes to HEMA stuff. I've an interest, but he's got knowledge and experience.

[Harkon72]

I live in Wales, not England. Welsh Princes used swords before England existed. Thanks for the links, but re-enacting is all I've seen locally. I would like to do some Shakespearean fencing, I know staged fighting is nothing compared to competitive great sword fencing, so I'll do some research.

[ShoriKid]

Sorry about that Darkon, Wales it is. And here you go, perhaps a little closer to home. http://historicalfencing.co.uk/c5/

Side sword, rapier, dagger and buckler on their list. Might be more up your alley. They even mention stage and film benefits. Sounds like you would be interested in sword and buckler maybe?

These types of swords may be more what you're looking for. http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/renaissance-swords.html

And a stage combat school. http://www.yelp.com/biz/swordplay-school-of-theatrical-fencing-and-stage-combat-ruse

Good luck with this pursuit. If I were in a different area I'd be pursuing European sword work. I don't even have a good point of reference to start from for solo work, so I don't dare.

[bushido_man96]

And remember, a sword is obsolete until someone comes at you with one. They are then become Death, destroyer of flesh.

You make an interesting point here. Martial arts often teach weapons such as a sword due to tradition, or in my case, because one could not really understand how to defend against a sword until they knew how to use it. I think the interesting point here however, it the correctness. Despite a sword being the easiest thing to emulate from a stick found on the ground in a confrontation, it is starkly differently from handling an actual sword. It causes me to wonder if sword fighting has fallen into the realm of tradition or if there is practical purposes. Face value I would argue for both. One finds that the control over their own bodies increases as you learn to make something an extension of said body.

Reference the bold section, in some of the materials I've read, some weapons systems started with the quarterstaff, and moved on into sword techniques, and most of the techniques behind each were transferable. There are some nuances when using an actual blade, to be sure, but the concepts behind each were very similar.

And for questions on this forum, get bushido_man involved. He's the man to talk to in these parts when it comes to HEMA stuff. I've an interest, but he's got knowledge and experience.

Thanks for the vote of confidence here, ShoriKid. Most of my knowledge just comes from reading and referencing. The ARMA is an organization that looks at the applications of techniques in actual combative sparring, and not recreationally like the SCA or others. I think HEMA is pretty close to the same as the ARMA, having study groups that work to interpret the texts and apply the concepts in sparring.

I'd take to hear what Zoodles says here. He appears to have the actual experience through classes and studies.

[Zoodles]

I live in Wales, not England. Welsh Princes used swords before England existed. Thanks for the links, but re-enacting is all I've seen locally. I would like to do some Shakespearean fencing, I know staged fighting is nothing compared to competitive great sword fencing, so I'll do some research.

If english shakespearean stuff is your interest, check out the works of Saviolo, Swetnam and George Silver. Silver is especially revered in HEMA circles and his concepts of timings, the True Time and the False Time are used by everyone.

These guys work out of Sussex, so they aren't much use to you but it does give you an idea of what Saviolo's art looks like

[Zoodles]

A man who knows how to use a sword can be extremely dangerous with a stick or any long narrow and rigid object. Imagine some guy who had done thousands and thousands of air cuts with his sword hitting you on the head with a cane at full force. Or jabbing you in the stomach for that matter.

I know of one guy who used armoured sword techniques (which are based around grappling and using the sword as a lever) to defend himself from a mugger with his umbrella.

Swords aren't sticks though. Sticks and staves are alot easier to use. You don't have to worry about edge alignment or hitting with the proper part of the blade. Swords also feel very different in the bind, the moment when two swords come together. There are still alot of similarities in how they are used.

For instance this is a portuguese staff fighting art called Jogo Do Pau

JDP is a living lineage, and has a great deal in common with certain styles of European longsword.

[bushido_man96]

A man who knows how to use a sword can be extremely dangerous with a stick or any long narrow and rigid object. Imagine some guy who had done thousands and thousands of air cuts with his sword hitting you on the head with a cane at full force. Or jabbing you in the stomach for that matter.

I think about the defensive capabilities a swordsman would have, as well. As opposed to a block and counter, from what I've read, most of the blocking motions are a cut at the same time. At any rate, a strike with a solid stick like that would hurt.

I know of one guy who used armoured sword techniques (which are based around grappling and using the sword as a lever) to defend himself from a mugger with his umbrella.

You are talking about half-swording here, right?

For instance this is a portuguese staff fighting art called Jogo Do Pau

JDP is a living lineage, and has a great deal in common with certain styles of European longsword.

That looks like a lot of fun. It also looks like some of the quarterstaff style I've read about, just with shorter sticks.