Body Type and Fighting Style

[Scott Anderson]

carlo, my calculations put you closer to 5 foot 3 inches tall at 115 pounds. just thought you might like to know.

SPA

[TimSheetz]

Carlo,

It is a must that you stay away form the 'long range' attack area of tall opponents.. that leaves you vulnerable to attack and thrusts and in a weak position to counter.

you want to stay far away, or in past this 'long range' engagement area of your tall opponent. it doesn't mean you'll be safe, but at least you will be mitigating your risks.

Once they are in range of you, take appropriate action...

Tim

[Guest]

Good advice.
Scott is right about my dimentions, I forgot to convert centimeters into inches <img src="/forum/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" />
As to the weapons, I find I give my best with two light blades (sword and dagger, or double sword) the rapier I can handle but not well, and I need three hands to draw one <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />
In your experience what's better suited to ... dwarves like me <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> ? (sabre and small sword would work well, but it's so historically incorrect!)

PS: I feel a bit guilty for the mindset issue, I took you for willing to fight people, after reading other posts I realized it's a matter of terminology.

[Jake_Norwood]

I'm 6'1", but there's a guy out here that's 6'7", and I've had to learn to deal with his range. Best as I can tell long-armed people have a slightly longer recovery time following a full-arm cut. In that time it's easy to dodge in and get so tight within his range that his reach is a disadvantage to you and your shorter weapon.

Or you can take the longer weapon, like a greatsword, against his longsword or other shorter weapon.

Jake

[Guest]

Thanks Jake, the first suggestion I'll try out as soon as possible, the second...
If I take up a great sword it's hard to tell who among us is gripping who <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> for when I swing it it swings me too

[Guest]

I'm not saying not to give it a try, but Goerge Silver's advice on not having a longer sword just because you are smaller comes to mind. Give it a shot, by all means, but I do think there is somthing to be said of having a sword "of your size," I suppose.

Any thoughts on Silver's length recomendations? They definately made me think alot about the size of weapons.

[Guest]

My experience with great swords is that they're mass makes me unstable when I use them, I mean I've the tendency to go with the blow...not a good thing. It's this I mean with the joke of the sword that swings me.

I'm not a fan of two handed swords in general anyhow, If I really was in a renaissance battlefield a two handed sword is the last think I'd bring with me, I'd bring instead: one wheel lock or flintlock musket, two wheel lock or flintlock pistols, a C&amp;T sword, a buckler, a dagger.
Similar equipment for a 700' battlefield but all guns flintlock, sabre or spadroon, no buckler.
In a medieval battle I'd go with crossbow, arming sword, buckler, dagger.

[Scott Anderson]

my regular sparing partner is 6'6", and i'm about 5'8" after about 10 years or so of training with him all i can say is he's faster than me on most things, the only thing that really makes a difference (and this works both ways) is get your footwork down. it's taken me longer than i like to admit but with proper footwork height and the extra arm length really don't matter as much.
also, learn to know your reach, that helps immensly.

SPA

[Guest]

Yep, footwork is vital, but I think it has to be the right one for the terrain... on some terrains you really whant to move as little as possible. Outdoor on flat grond brillant footwork wins, indoor with slippery floor and obstacles around lunging can turn into slipping and fast retreating in stumbling, in these conditions sabresque double time shines (for me). On slippery ground a second weapon means a lot for defence, even if it's only a cloack. On hanging ground or stairs I whant to stay below, because the opponent is in a very bad position with regard to the defence of his legs, while I can stop his blows with St George or hanging guard. In the woods I whant to have no obstacle on the strong side and to put my opponent where he has obstacles on his strong side. The less space there is on the sides, the less you can take advantage of cuts, indoor the rapier is hard to beat, if used with a dagger it's even harder to beat. When you are in a sort of corridor and the floor is not slippery, the master of the small sword is almost undefeatable (this I discovered to my own expence!), get some room on the sides and you will be able to batter the weapon out of his grasp. Against pole weapons good parry-size combo count much more than footwork, because you must close in or you will be defeated.
Ciao
Carlo

[Shane Smith]

Hello Carlo,
If you are having a problem with uncontrollably "following" the longsword due to it's momentum when swung,I would be willing to bet there is a problem in your footwork.Based on what you describe,it sounds like your center of gravity is not being kept centered over your base.Footwork is CRITICAL to any martial art.Without it,we would all just wobble about barely on the edge of controlling our movements. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Thanks for trying to solve this problem of mine, but I fear I'm a bit weak for the great sword <img src="/forum/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" />
Many other sword types exist so that's not too much of a problem, the worst part is that I've little control of the blows and my opponent would recieve them full power <img src="/forum/images/icons/crazy.gif" alt="" />
I'm becoming a little stronger now that medicine for colesterol are no longer a must, still I stay away from great swords

[Jake_Norwood]

I would actually suggest that a greatsword requires significantly less strength than a cut-and-thrust or other single-handed cutting sword. The weight difference is less than 2 times, but you have two hands and increased leverage on a great sword. Now if you were 4'6" and 100 lbs that's another story, but I think that with some practice you would be more capable with a greatsword than a singlesword.

Jake

[Guest]

Jake your comment on the weight of these swords new to me
My padded C&amp;T and sabres are around one pound and half, I studied a bit to anscertain this was correct, that they are not heavy in their classes is true, do you mean a great sword can weight around three pounds? Mine was 1,25-1,30 meters and weighted 2,5 to 3 kg. A sword of three pounds is not a problem for me to handle.
Yet I like one handers best <img src="/forum/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> , I think their style is simpler, leaves you freedom of movement and a good excuse to employ a dagger or even a second sword (or a flintlock pistol eh eh eh).

[Jake_Norwood]

A greatsword should weigh between 3 and 5 pounds, if I'm not mistaken (and I could be). A lot depends on personal taste as to actual weight and balance. Remember also that any replica we have, even if the weight is right, will be balanced poorly in comparison to the real thing.

My experience with the C&amp;T style of swordsmanship (which is my favorite) is that it requires substantial forearm strength and endurance if you're using something that's got a proper weight and are strike with real intent. A longsword or greatsword, while heavier overall, is easier for a weaker individual because both arms come into play, and the leverage issue becomes so much more important.

I'll agree with the previous comments that any problems you're having with a greatsword are due to either poor balance and weight and/or poor footwork for the weapon in question. Lastly, if you feel that a greatsword is simply too weighty and you can't get enough power in your strikes because control takes too much strength, then consider a spadone or bastard sword of similar length. The more dramatic taper will lighten the weapon considerably.

Jake

[Guest]

Proper weight is related to the lenght of the piece, I prefer 36'' weapons to 40'' ones for this reason as well as for others.
There is a certain tendency I've noted in american weapon users in general: going for something that has a dramatic effect on the target, looking for power if you will, this is so evident in the firearm field. To european weapon users it's enough to convince the opponent that he is wounded, this requires an heavy blade only if the opponent has got an armor, we never felt, I think, the need to show the enemy his gone limb <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> . This is evident in the blade lightening process that followed the decline of armors and while sabres were heavy at first, soon light ones came out to meet our taste and civilians ended up using small swords.

To the other suggestion: yep, I've no problem with long and bastard swords, but I get more hits with one handers.