single hand and two hand

[TimSheetz]

HI All,

Though specific techniques are specifically different, I think that the single "GENERAL" difference has more to do with the difference in the TIMING of each weapon.

Tim

[JeanryChandler]

HI All,

Though specific techniques are specifically different, I think that the single "GENERAL" difference has more to do with the difference in the TIMING of each weapon.

Tim

This is an interesting idea, could you elaborate? (Comparing ways of gripping a weapon, as opposed to different weapons...)

JR

[TimSheetz]

Jeanry,

When I say that I think the timing is different, I mean that the manner in which a sword travels towards the target when gripped by two hands is disctinctively different than when a sword is gripped by one hand.

Simply consider the manner in which a singl hand gripped weapon will pivot around the wrist compared to a double grip where the levering of the long handle affects how it pivots at the hilt.

The number of hands affects how far the weapon can be held from your body. The way the bUsing various one hand grip techniques (that I personally REALLY LIKE and used frequently sparring at the ARMA International Gathering last summer) changes the way a sword moves when compared to a two hand grip. The range of motion, the arc of the hand, the way the blade moves is different than with a two handed grip and it has a different timing.

Tim

[JeanryChandler]

Thanks Tim. This is exactly the sort of analysis I was looking for. I had noticed you using a one handed strike in one of the Clips from the ARMA gathering. I too slip back and forth sometimes from single to two hand grips, I think it can grant much greater flexibility. But my real interest in this thread was simply to quantify the differences. You make a good point about the way the sword rotates around your hand in a strike. Thanks for the comment.

JR

[TimSheetz]

Jeanry,

No Problem. Of course I didn't think of it by myself... I think that Marazzo discusses the same thing. Anyway, it is not an original concept from me... and that, in turn, makes it more valid, I think. Historical sources, applied to the test of hard exercises and drills, and mock combat against an uncooperative opponent, and test cutting are difficult to argue against.

Tim

[Guest]

As mentioned before, an offhand weapon is possible with a one handed sword, which I personally like quite a bit. Two handed weapons seem to almost nurture a primal "bash over the head" instinct, and, if nothing else, conveys a subliminal feeling of power to the swordsman.

Myself, I always found it more difficult to flow from one cut to the next with a two hander, due to the limited reach. By "reach", of course, I'm not referring to the distance to the opponent, but rather across one's body, where one arm cannot reach as far as the other in one direction. I also notice that, weight aside, two handers seem to be slightly slower due to the necessity of coordination between the two hands, but that could be due to my relative inexperience with two handers compared to one handers.

[TimSheetz]

HI Michael,

Two handers can be VERY fast. The timing is different than a single hander. It can seem slower until you work out what I call "the Flow". You have to get your body to be able to flow from one attack into another.

Speed is efficiency of motion. Once you get the bio-mechanics of how to move the weapon efficiently, you are much faster and consequently get your attacks 'inside' the opponent's decision cycle, that is you exceed their capacity to react correctly to your actions.

Can also be done with single handed swords... it is just that the timing is.. well... different.

Individuals fighting are simply tactics taken down to the 'micro' level. Tactics on the battlefield is managing battle space and time and combat power. So is fighting with the sword.

Sorry, I digressed.

Tim Sheetz

[Guest]

I definitely see what you mean, although I haven't quite experienced it as I focus almost exclusively on one handed weapons. Hopefully I'll have more opportunities for two handed instruction in the future.