----------The Sword Masters----------
Thanx to mwart.com
We sword masters are proud of ourselves and love the art of swordfighting... we own study and live for swords... if you would like to join talk to me... [Indelible]
Falchion
It is not a very well known weapon in history except among big time medieval buffs, but it is a rather important one. Forged from the basis of the Egyptians' Khopesh and the Greeks' Kopis, the Falchion came about. The original Falchions looked very similar to a dadao or for less educated people a cleaver. It was however, a one-handed single edged, sword that in the Rennaisance era was curved. The medieval era Falchions though were either straight, or kind of obtuse. The Falchion of 16th century origin is excelent for slicing maneuvers and suitable for a thrust because it often had a sharp point. From the look of it, though it is a bit short, this broad-bladed weapon looks like it could be used effectivley from a mount, provided that the wielder had a good reach. Over time this design turned into a longer, more slender blade, the Sabre/Saber. I only know that the medieval form of a Falchion, the Conyers Falchion, looked rather ungainly, and is used as the emphasis of many medieval/sword books.
--update by [
champagnebommer 77]
The Art of Fence: The Parry
In the art of fence there is something called a parry. It is quite simple, knock the foe's sword away from your body. Well, from that principle you can gain the advantage. One way is the Parry of Prime and Disarm by Seizure.
You use this when your foe comes in high with a thrust. You hit their blade from the top, knocking the tip downward but keeping their hand high. At this time their sword is about vertical. Then, you wrap their blade close to your body with your off-hand arm. Next, you put your sword into your off-hand and grip theirs at the hilt with your sword-hand and rip it away.
Now you have the obvious advantage possessing both swords.
--Update by [
champagnebommer 77]
Dodge
Now, although I have put up that while fencing you should parry, it is also important to just stay away. Most people get tired more quickly while parrying than while just avoiding a hit. If you remember to just side step and counter a thrust, or step back and jump in after an attempted swathing blow. There are times when you cannot avoid contact, and those are the times you should parry. When forced into a parrying situation don't just stop their, use your free hand to punch your enemy, or send a kick to the groin, that tend to catch most people off guard and put them on their knees.
It isn't all about honor. Even a knight of honor would use dirty tricks to win whether they were fighting to the death or for chivalrous honor. It doesn't matter if you look like a coward, you killed the witness.
--Update by [
champagnebommer 77]
Heavy Blades
Another choise of weapon many people prefer is the heavier swords such as claymores, broad swords, and buster swords.
Monay people assume that attacks from a heavy blade come slow and there only purpose is to strike through armor. this is not entirely true i use a heavly blade and i can get very quick attacks, but i am niether bid nor strong.
I use a metal scabbard with my sword held horazontaly in front of me to use a a pary tool or a quick strike while holding my sword up in the air virticly above me.
the trick is to eather dodge or parry there strikes then swipe down forcfully with the sword and if you miss you will still have the scabbard to fall back on.
[
warlord stuart]
History of the Sword
Preeminent hand weapon through a long period of history, consisting of a metal blade varying in length, breadth, and configuration, but longer than a dagger, and fitted with a handle or hilt usually equipped with a guard. The sword became differentiated from the dagger during the Bronze Age (c. 3000 BC), when copper and bronze weapons were produced with long, leaf-shaped blades and with hilts consisting of an extension of the blade in handle form. By Roman times the hilt was distinct from the short, flat blade, and by the European Middle Ages the weapon had acquired its main basic forms. The heavy sword of medieval chivalry had a large hilt, often designed to be gripped in both hands, with a large protective guard or pommel at the top. The blade was straight, double-edged, and pointed; it was fabricated by repeated firing and hammering, a process that converted the iron into mild steel by the addition of a small amount of carbon. Blades were also made of laminated strips of iron, which were hammered together. Damascus was a renowned center of the craft.
Toledan steel and particularly swords have long been famous, being mentioned as early as the 1st century BC in the Cynegetica of Grattius "Faliscus." There is an important National Factory of Arms and workshops for damask and engraving, which produce metalwork decorated in the Mudéjar tradition.
I take this from:
http://www.armadilloarmory.com/hxsword.htm
[
Alexxei]
Suggested reading: Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Exerpt from Hagakure
Even if it seems certain that you will lose, retaliate. Neither wisdom nor technique has a place in this. A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.
* There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking.
* These are the teachings of Yamamoto Jin'emon:
* Singlemindedness is all-powerful.
* Tether even a roasted chicken.
* Continue to spur a running horse.
* A man who will criticize you openly carries no connivance.
* A man exists for a generation, but his name lasts to the end of time.
* Money is a thing that will be there when asked for. A good man is not so easily found.
* Walk with a real man one hundred yards and he'll tell you at least seven lies.
* It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does the same, it is an even match. Defeating one's opponent is then a matter of faith and destiny.
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