True Gentlemen

[toledo_jesus]

I've wanted to get involved with learning how to fight, but two things have stopped me: I can't find any groups, and I have no money.

[Quietfire]

I always carry my sword here on Phatmass.
Now, whether or not I use it....thats another question.

[Don John of Austria]

Well I can help ou with the no money part, I can tell you how to make sparring swords and such that are not that expensive but you do need at least a small group, a partner will do in a pinch but you will quickly stop learning anything from fighting one another. Unfortnantly I don't know anyone in Virigina you'll have to move for me to help you.

[Don John of Austria]

So is there any aspect of swordsmaship in particular you would like to discuss.

[HomeTeamFamily]

my friend is/was on the fencing team at duke university and he and i fenced in his driveway a few times....it was kinda fun i must admit

[mark3200]

I prefer cannons to blades - I do my slaying at 6 miles' distance!

Although, learning to fence would be extremely cool.

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Don John of Austria' date='Dec 2 2004, 02:32 PM'] So is there any aspect of swordsmaship in particular you would like to discuss. [/quote]
you mentioned in another post that you preferred longsword over rapier because rapier was used more for killing civilians. I was wondering whether you thought rapier was an inferior weapon to the longsword.

[azaelia]

[quote name='Dreamweaver' date='Dec 2 2004, 12:01 PM'] Have you heard of the group, the [url="http://www.sca.org"]Society for Creative Anachronism[/url]? They're a fun group that lives out the Middle Ages as it should have been. [/quote]
My best friends parents were members of that group. They have swords and stuff, it's really cool.

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='Dreamweaver' date='Dec 2 2004, 06:01 PM'] I am not a gentleman but I do enjoy sword play. [/quote]
I'm the opposite

[J.R.D]

do butterfly knives count?

[White Knight]

Cool post [b]toledo_jesus[/b], I was wondering how long you been training with a sword of anykind. Also I do sword play, but mine isn't really met for sport, mine is more based on "Real Self Defence." The attacks and defences moves can also apply to a 2 by 4, baseball bat, Lumberjack axe, etc etc, but it best obviously applies to swords.


Which weapon would you prefer to go into combat?, if you had to go into combat. [b](Middle Ages Style combat that is)[/b]

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='White Knight' date='Dec 2 2004, 06:34 PM'] Cool post [b]toledo_jesus[/b], I was wondering how long you been training with a sword of anykind. Also I do sword play, but mine isn't really met for sport, mine is more based on "Real Self Defence." The attacks and defences moves can also apply to a 2 by 4, baseball bat, Lumberjack axe, etc etc, but it best obviously applies to swords.


Which weapon would you prefer to go into combat?, if you had to go into combat. [b](Middle Ages Style combat that is)[/b] [/quote]
I have been a fencer for about 6 years now, maybe 7. I do not compete and I wouldn't call myself particularly skilled...but I'll get a few touches. I'm more interested in medieval style swordplay.
If I went into combat I think the weapon I'd want at my side would be a sword and shield.

[Don John of Austria]

Well yes I think the longsword is superior to the rapier, I agree with George Silver and think the cut is superior to the thrust( not that thrust arn't important in most swordplay even with cutting swords) but really I believe that the application is important in a skirmish with light armour I think the cut and thrust sword with a buckler is about as deadly a combination as you can get, for heavier armoured combat including full scale battles I would choose a longsword over a sword and shield of cut and thrust but not perhaps over a spear and shield( spears are nasty weapons) I find accurate Medieval shields quite cumbersome to move at an appropriate speed, they more than any other weapon I have come across( and yes the shield is a weapon not armour) I believe requires [b][i]years[/i][/b] of training, i understand why training forthe knight started so early. I guess the best way to answer your question would be this, if I had to fight to the death and had no knowledge of what weapon my opponant was bringing there is no weapon I would hesitate to face with a good 48" longsword. Of course cut and thrust and buckler almost falls in that range as well.

[Don John of Austria]

[quote] Also I do sword play, but mine isn't really met for sport, mine is more based on "Real Self Defence." The attacks and defences moves can also apply to a 2 by 4, baseball bat, Lumberjack axe, etc etc, but it best obviously applies to swords.
[/quote]


Well I wouldn't entirely agree with that you would be better served to study fighting with a club or an axe to properly fight with those weapons, from an iimprovised weapons point ofveiw sword training ( particularly long sword) is moree effective for things like broomsticks, pool cues, iron bars, things which are about the same wieght at either end and relatively long and thin.

[toledo_jesus]

There is something rather appealing, in a base sort of way, about picking up some random object and using it as a club.