Postby Stuart McDermid » Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:44 pm
Hi Bart,
I finally got to have a look at this today, there is some good work there.
I do have a couple of constructive critisisms for you though.
Firstly as to the positions you are lying in. Talhoffer has wards that are to a degree from the same lineage as the Codex W. These postures for me helped to "unlock the system" The high ward, Vom Tach is held with the arm almost straight above the head and slightly back. This accomplishes two things. First, it is all but impossible to target the dagger arm with any type of attack. Secondly, this position allows the use of standard sword tactics whereby you can change the speed and angle of attack over a wide ar in order to undercut, deceive by speed or change the line of attack.
Now I realise this video was just a showcase of the techniques and that the subject of this next criticism may have been deliberately omitted. The criticism was that there was no attempt by either party to control the outside line.
If the defender can get to the outside line, he can control the dagger arm with two of his own. If he can't, he is forced into a defence by distance or with a left hand catch, both of which are weaker than any defence done outside.
Even if an outside defence is defeated, the defender has plenty of time to escape as the attack must reorient himself. If on the inside, the attacker can keep on plowing in.
Cheers,
Stu.
P.S. I'd love to see you do some dagger exercises live with boffers and protective gear. I will get around to doing something myself when I get a handle on my editing software.
