Technique on the Battlefield

[Doug Marnick]

I am a fairly new member and I have been focusing on longsword techniques since joining ARMA. I have been researching and practicing all of the cuts, guards, deflections, etc. from various manuals. However, I imagine in the heat of an actual life and death battle, most techniques, either longsword or sword/shield, are quickly abandoned for more wild hack and slash efforts to survive the swirling violence. I would like to hear comments from those of you who have participated in large group sparring as well as anyone who can cite historical references to techniques being used in a real battle.

[TimSheetz]

HI Doug,

Like most things, the basics are the foundation.. and therefore tend to get more use.

Basic cuts happen far more than the more technical and difficult techniques - especially under the duress of a mass combat.

The hard part is timing the basic cuts and using your footwork so your hits and theirs does not.

Best,

Tim

[JeffGentry]

Hell Doug
Well i can't speak for Rennisance battlefield but i i was in the Gulf war in 91 and have been whitewater kayaking for about 8 yrs and rode bull's for about 6 yrs. When you train for anything especialy something your life depend's,when the training is good and has been realistic and intense and consistant you don't even think it become's the natural reaction. When i am in my Kayak and am in a rapid i automaticly set up to roll and i never even think about it.
Itr just happen's and it is basic to me surviving i think in Martial art'sthat is what we are working for to the more you do it and do it right the more natural it become's and it is not even thinking anymore you just see the sword coming from the right and you throw up the ochs and step to the side and cut or go to the void and make your attack with not much thought just what you do.but this is MHO.

[Jay Vail]

Jeff, if you train hard and properly you won’t forget your basics. Years ago, after taking up the bo, a guy on a work crew and I had words. He tried to hit me with his shovel. I used my own shovel to parry him with a bo move that resembled schrankhut. I may not have done it with technical perfection, but I remembered and applied it when the time came. I suspect that it is no different with the longsword. You may not apply your techniques perfectly, but in combat perfection is not required. Only effectiveness.

[John_Clements]

Well, the iconographic evidence of at least the stances (core ones as well as the more obscure) is certainly depicted in historical artwork as are half-swording techniques and grappling, so that to me is a good indicator.

JC

[James_Knowles]

I imagine in the heat of an actual life and death battle... most techniques, ...are quickly abandoned for more wild hack and slash efforts to survive

I'm sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said. I believe that the key to your assumption is your own newness. It's a logical assumption to make.

You have to gain a basic understanding of how the human mind reacts under this kind of extreme stress. The level of training, including the lack thereof, is a primary contributing factor.

The guiding principle is that one will perform at a lower fraction of one's skill level demonstated in training conditions. One will fall back to the skill set that is so ingrained that the actions are "unconscious" or "instinctive." There is little or no time to contemplate... and the price of failing to execute the appropriate action can be death.

Thus:

• A new student (e.g. a lightly trained peasant) falls back to "hack and slash efforts" because the sword is an uncomfortable tool in the hand.
  
• An experienced student will fall back to the basics, using the rudamentary strikes and counters previously practiced ad nauseum.
  
• Increasing levels of "unconscious" skills will allow one to take advantage of specific opportunities as they present themselves.
  

The key factor is that the skills must be so automatic that they happen "instinctively."

[Shane Smith]

Excellent post James! <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Doug Marnick]

Thank you for your replies. Based on your responses, I can make a comparison based on certain training in my life: sports and music. (Obvious differences to deadly combat aside) Anyone who has played either will also relate to these concepts of instinctive reactions based on training, practice, and experience. I know the easiest way to screw up a classical piano piece is to THINK about what I'm doing. I just have to go with it. Also, reaction time in sports is integral to success. Therefore, I look forward to the years when my reaction to an attack is a reflex rather than a choice.
To conclude, I found the following item recently that addresses the topic in question, if JC doesn't mind: "We can only speculate about how much theory and how many rehearsed techniques might have been forgotten or ignored once actual battle was joined. ...training must have centered not only on the physical execution of movements, but upon conditioning the individual mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. Honor and courage had to be called upon to overcome fear and stress. There are numerous examples of this understanding throughout Medieval literature and in Renaissance fighting manuals (Medieval Swordsmanship, Clements, p250).

[DavidEvans]

I must add that it's all down to muscle memory. Do something often enough, long enough and you will do that "thing" the same way again, whenever you pick it up. I've just returned to deployable unit after 2 years away from real soldiering and passed a Weapon Skills assesment(Weapon handling Test) on the rifle and the GPMG first time without any refresher training. Ask me what I was going to do and I'd go "Doh!"