Research and Discussion Forums

Hi Corey. I would second what others here have said, the short edge is there by design for a reason. However, I feel you are unlikely to ever find a piece of pre-13th century iconography outside I.33 which is unarguably a short-edge cutting action. Artistic conventions, the fact that it is a mere sn...

For more information on Tenshin Katori Shinto Ryu, the school I mentioned above, please watch the BBC Documentary 'The Way of the Warrior', on YouTube in four parts at this location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9HR7TTOReE There are a certain number of individuals across the United States who cla...

As a practitioner of both WMA and JSA here in Japan, I think you will have a very difficult time attracting the attention of any JSA practitioners of the type you have currently mentioned. I understand that JSA practitioners of Koryu styles do have somewhat of a snobbish reputation, and I certainly ...

Hang on, Jay, I'm interested! I work alot with (arm-strapped) non- or slightly-curved heater shields, and I use sources such as: 1) the Talhoffer dueling shield and sword and buckler sections (even some of the messer plates are inspiring for sword and shield). 2) Ringeck sections on sword and buckle...

OK, nevermind, I answered my own questions. Ringeck in his section on sword and buckler advises a Zwerchau, and I think Meyer has it as well which may be one of the other sources mentioned. The Ringeck version I have is Christian Tobler's, and for others with that version, it depicts a mittelhau and...

If Mike Cartier is around, and wouldn't mind hunting up the source, I'd really appreciate it. I'm also wondering about this: Ignoring the force aspect, isn't the action of the right hand in a Zwerchau critical to guiding the blade? As noted in numerous modern works, the best way to ensure proper bla...

Do you feel a Zwerchau couldbe effective with a one-handed sword? I really would like to know if anyone has any knowledge of manuals mentioning zwerchauen or something similar with an arming sword or later period one-handed weapon.

Hi there all. Fantastic debate here. There are some very important ideas going around. The problem with Mr.Clements article is that is advocates that exponents of WMA bear in mind aspects of western cultural heritage which are quite selective. Having enjoyed Mr. Clements' writing in the past, I beli...