New Article on Armored Longsword

[Webmaster]

A new article is now available in the Essays section:

A Brief Introduction to Armoured Longsword Combat

By Matt Anderson and Shane Smith of ARMA Virginia Beach

[Craig Peters]

Great article Shane and Matt. It helps to fill a significant gap in the ARMA's page of essays. Good stuff.

[James_Knowles]

An excellent intro.

What role, if any, do wasters play? I came away with the impression that you only practice with blunts.

[TimSheetz]

Excellent!

This along withthe bits of video I have of the International event will make
a great study piece!

Good job guys!

Tim

[Randall Pleasant]

Matt & Shane

That is a really great article! Please tell us that you are in the process of writing a book on your interpretations of these techniques. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

For the new people that might not know, at the 2003 International Event the ARMA Virginia Beach scholars gave a demonstration of Fiore's armored techniques with controlled but realistic speed and intent that showed just how effective these techniques were. Although many of us had seen other interpretations of Fiore's armored techniques we were blown away by the ARMA Virginia Beach scholar's more realistic interpretations.

[Shane Smith]

Hi James,
Wasters play roughly the same role in armoured combat training that they do in the ARMA method for unamoured work. They are used for light drilling and some speed work and even a bit of moderate freeplay. The biggest problem with wasters in harnessfechten is that their inherent infexibilility lends a false impression of how one can work in a bind to lever. That is why steel comes in for so much work in armoured training.

[Matthew_Anderson]

Hi Shane!

In addition to the flexibility issue (which is significant) I would add that some techniques just work better with realistic replica weapons (imagine that!). The thickness of the waster blade and hilt often make it difficult to position your blade correctly. With a thin steel blade you can slip it between armour plates, inside a gauntlet cuff, between the hilt and fingers (ouch!) etc. As I'm sure you remember, some techniques just didn't work for us at all untill we tried them with steel blunts. Of course, this is also true of blossfechten.

[Matthew_Anderson]

Hi Ran!

I won't speak for Shane, but I really don't feel that we know enough yet to fill a book! I think we've barely scratched the surface of this topic and we literally learn something new every training session. We will certainly keep experimenting and studying however and plan to share our experience in one form or another.

[JeffGentry]

Boy that is a good article, that is some mean fighting, hope i can eventualy get the gear and do alot of Harnessfecten, that is some good stuff. Better than the slashing against armor we see on tv, this stuff would actualy work, fantastic job on the pic's and explantion's. I was educated and motivated.

Jeff

[John_Clements]

Shane &amp; Matts excellent work and skills will be presented more and more in upcoming projects I am happy to say. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

JC

[Casper Bradak]

A motivating article! A good starter to study too. I'm still using your handouts from the international event btw.

[Matthew_Anderson]

Glad you liked it Casper, maybe we can do a class at the next International Gathering and have some free play after. Everyone get their harnesses ready!

[Jeffrey Hull]

Thank you Matt and Shane!

Jeffrey

[Ryan Ricks]

how does fiore's harnischfechten compare to what's in ringeck and the other german masters? a compare and contrast would be very interesting.

[joelthompson1]

Hello everyone. I just thought I'd throw my two cents in here. Matt and Shane did a great job on the article. About all I can add to the article and the comments here is that once you put on the harness and begin working with the techniques, you discover all sorts of little things that are specific to your armor. Things that affect your combat. It gives one a feel for what it must have been like to actually be an armored warrior of the day. Some elements of your harness will get in the way when you fight, making you have to adjust your technique a bit. Other elements will actually aid you in harming your opponent, and you learn to use them with your techniques. There are all sorts of little items to catch your interest. Sometimes, when grappling, your harness becomes hooked to your opponent's gear. And pieces come loose, and straps break, and rivets pop out.
And finally, there is the experience of becoming accustomed to wearing armor for fairly extended periods of time. One reads of men sleeping in their harness and wearing it for days at a time. This becomes more believeable as you wear your armor more often. We at ARMA VAB have trained for over four hours in 95 degree heat in harness, and it wasn't THAT bad. As with all things, you get used to it.
We have plenty more to work on and study. Perhaps we'll be able to show off some more at the Gathering 2005.

Joel Thompson