Research and Discussion Forums

As a point of wry interest: I have an exaggerated blink, which is caused by overly sensitive eyes due to an operation as a child. Most people don't really notice it, particularly as I've worked to reduce it after a lot of hassling during my school years; however, I have been told by one of my studen...

I am of the same height as you, and I favor a 95 cm blade and 25-30 cm hilt. However, I fear you are mistaken in believing that a bastardsword can be wielded with a shield. I myself have never heard of such a notion; arming swords are rather shorter than bastardswords (and indeed, a bastardsword is ...

I'm confused as to why having all attacks come from above makes them less predictable. It seems to me exactly the opposite is true.

It seems to me that the only show-stopping attacks in a swordfight would be either to the head, or to the hands. If you sever the spinal cord or damage the brain, the fight is over. Your man is down and isn't getting up. If you cut off his hands, the fight is also over. The wound isn't necessarily m...

Well, I've never done any test cutting on meat, but I've seen a fair number of videos of such test cutting, and it seems to take very little effort to cut through soft tissue. Abdomens are basically that, with the only significant resistance being provided by the spine. It seems likely to me that pa...

True enough; German practitioners treat Liechtenauer's students as all being under a single tradition, since clearly they were. But, to be sensible, this does not mean that there is some kind of neo-Platonic "perfect Liechtenauer tradition" which all the students are describing. Just as we...

I think it's important to remember that when you make a versetzen, you aren't going end up in a position where your edge is aligned perfectly to your man's flat. The point is not to establish some kind of perfect blade contact; it is to displace his weapon, while ensuring as much safety to yourself ...

Dude, Lance, what is your opponent doing in that second video? And more importantly, why aren't you nailing him with the schielhau every time he strikes? (: