Thrusting Mechanics

[Clint_Schaaf]

Recently the thought occurred to me, late as always, that I may need to change my thrusting mechanics. When I practice thrusts I default to my fencing mechanics of leveling the blade, aiming the tip, extending the arm(s), and following with the body (lunge). I don't know if this is correct for medieval swordsmanship and I'd like to some insight on RMA thrusting practice so I don't keep reinforcing the wrong idea. Is there a particular master who wrote on this subject, or a common method used today?

[Randall Pleasant]

Clint

Trusting with a longsword can take place along any and all possible paths and angles. Therefore, the blade does not need to be "level". While there are many uses of the classical lunge there are many more where you will move your body first while sitting aside the adversary's blade and then thrusting using your arms only. If you are grappling with your adversary you may possibly end up thrusting with one hand. In short, there are no hard and fast rules on trusting, just remember that it is not sport, it is fighting, do what works best for you.

[Jonathan Hill]

In a very rough statement a proper thrusting mechanic creates your defense with your offense. This is actually the root of why fencing philosophy has you extend first then lunge. On a Rapier the extension creates your defense, allows you to put your opponents foilble on your forte and control it while you lunge. Done correctly this keeps you safe. Transitioning this to a cutting weapon your blade needs to be able to be between you and your opponent’s blade and his available options to attack you.

Expanding on Randall’s example, if my opponent is in a low guard, which dictates an upward attack, you would want to keep your blade at such an angle that it can block his attack while you stick the point into him. If this means your blade is at a 45 degree angle, then so be it. If you extend and level your blade you have no defense if he chooses to cut up at you while you thrust. A double hit still means you got hit.

[Clint_Schaaf]

Thanks guys. That answers my question and more. Johnathan, your mention of the rapier makes me wonder if it would be more natural for me to transition to Renaissance swords first, then work my way into the longsword later. Do you have any thoughts on that? (I also competed in Kendo too, but that seems much more distant to longsword than fencing is to rapier.)

[Randall Pleasant]

Clint

Another thing to remember is that since a longsword is both a pointed blade and a sharp blade a thrust does not have to follow the striaght line of the blade. In other words, if your pont is on line but your hilt is off line you can still thrust effectively.

[Patti Ehresmann]

Clint....skip the "transition" thoughts...a longsword is a Renaissance sword! This is not a linear art wherein there is some order in which you should learn based on time or weapon. Learn the concepts of fighting and the weapon is in addition to that. Randall points out the Rapier only to give an example of how to use that particular weapon to accomplish the essence of what you are trying to accomplish with thrusting (or any move for that matter) and that is to maintain the offense (and good defense is in fact offense) and win the fight (which usually means killing your opponent historically, not getting points for fancy technique). So think less about the overall mechanics of thrusting and more of what you are trying to accomplish with a thrust and then you may find that thrusting is a matter of what works at that time, Just as others have already pointed out. Good Luck!