The sword is a weapon known since the 2nd millennium BC. At different times it was not only used on the battlefield, but also dominated it. Weapons were given names, endowed with magical qualities, and in the Middle Ages they became a mandatory attribute of the military and political aristocracy. At the same time, the art of fencing developed. Today you can only find a training sword, military weapons are kept in museums and collections, but the art itself is developing.
Fencing: from military equipment to modern hobby.
A sword master can hold a weapon any way he likes.
Still from Game of Thrones / HBO There are several ways to hold a sword, and some of them differ from the usual "slash with the sharp end."
However, characters in films and TV series often use their weapons too freely. For example, in The Witcher series, Henry Cavill grabs the sword by the blade in front of the guard, striking. With this grip, you deprive your hand of protection and reduce the distance at which the strike is effective.
Of course, it looks unusual and impressive, but a sword master would not do that.
Just look at how the guy on the right is holding a weapon in the video and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
Or Arya Stark, who holds her Needle incorrectly in many scenes. The ring on the hilt of the Needle is supposed to protect her fingers, but she keeps turning it the wrong way.
Syrio Forel should have paid attention to this while he was alive. The girl's hand will be mutilated as soon as she tries to parry the blow of an opponent who really knows how to fence.
Let there be kendo
The samurai strives to offend everyone. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Meiji restoration began in Japan, and even the last ronin understood: a revolver is strength, a katana is a grave. The sword slowly began to lose its position. Sometimes it even seemed that soon katanas and tantos (samurai daggers) would only be seen on postcards and children's parties.
The sword, which had become unfashionable, was popularized in those years by the Society of Martial Virtues of Greater Japan, which sought to preserve “kenjutsu” - the art of swordsmanship. It was this organization that in 1920 united various schools, courses and clubs “to wield a sword like a samurai” under the single name “kendo” (“the way of the sword”). And the further, the more patriotic-minded youth came to learn to wield a two-handed sword.
Evgeniy Bashin-Razumovsky Expert on historical issues
By the way, the hieroglyph 剣 “ken” does not mean the katana we are used to, but a straight, double-edged, one-handed sword that came from China. Why is that? The Japanese see in the phrase “the way of the sword” rather an archetype of the sword, something like “the father of all swords.” This is the sword that one of the Buddhist protector deities, Fudo Myo-o, is armed with. Using a straight blade, he cuts off delusions and unnecessary thoughts.
A break had to be made only in 1945, when the American government, as a winner, banned this harmful activity - and the “way of the sword” was stopped being taught in schools. But Japan knows how to wait: only eight years have passed, and kendo has been reinstated in the school curriculum.
The sword is very cool to carry on your back
Cover of the series “The Witcher” / Netflix
Fantasy authors stubbornly continue to hang two-handed swords on their heroes’ backs. The problem is that a person is physically unable to remove the sword from its sheath behind his shoulders: even a tall man simply does not have enough arm length.
The blade was kept in a sheath on the thigh, from where it was easily accessible. And such long swords as the Zweihander were not sheathed at all. They were carried on the shoulder, and on long trips they were carried on a horse or in a wagon.
Hans Burgkmair, the Elder / Achenbach Foundation, Germany
This 15th-century engraving shows Landsknechts holding two-handed swords. Surely, if it would be more convenient to carry a sword on the back, they would do so.
Some fencing techniques
The appearance of the long sword dates back to the 13th century, and by the 14th-15th centuries it became one of the main types of European swords. The length of the blade is usually at least 120 cm, and the length of the handle can exceed 30 cm.
Such weapons, in addition to their considerable size, have high inertia and require specific fencing techniques:
- Strikes are applied in all planes: vertical (ascending and descending), horizontal and diagonal.
- High inertia impacts are undesirable.
- When striking, the principle of leverage formed by the grip of the handle is used.
- In the final phase of the attack, the fencer closes with the sword.
- Movement is carried out from rack to rack.
Fencing books of that time, in addition to strikes and swings, included several stances or defensive positions.
Bull stance and right side bull
Bull.
This is a high horizontal pointing stance in which the hilt of the sword is held above or behind the head. The tip of the blade is directed towards the enemy, the edges of the blade are oriented vertically.
Rack plow
Middle “closed” post.
Plow.
The hilt of the sword is below waist level, the tip of the blade is raised upward and directed at the enemy.
Stance fool
Low center pillar.
The arms are extended and lowered, the blade is pointing downwards.
roof rack
High center pillar.
The arms are raised above the head or over the shoulder. The blade is directed back and upward at an angle of 45°.
Changing racks
Each of the listed racks allows you to move smoothly from one to another. Such movements are basic training exercises.
Changing racks should be smooth.
Protection
Tactics, according to Liechtenauer’s fencing book, is expressed by the formula “forward-backward.” In this case, the enemy is attacked before his own blow and is forced to retreat.
If this option is not possible, then the fencer himself expects the enemy’s attack. The counterattack is carried out with a blow. The goal of this tactic is to seize the initiative and force the enemy to constantly move.
Long sword fencing
Medieval fencing techniques included a variety of techniques using different parts of the sword, and battle tactics were chosen taking into account the overall strategy of the fight.
Longsword fencing is a medieval pastime.
The sword makes a grinding sound when drawn
In films and TV series, swords are drawn from their sheaths with a characteristic sound that cannot be confused with anything else: it is the grinding of steel on steel.
Making a steel sheath is not only expensive, but also harmful to the sword, because it will soon become unusable. The blade will rub against the sheath every time you take it out or put it back in and will quickly lose its edge.
In reality, the scabbard was most often made of wood covered with leather, fabric or fur. And if you take a sword out of such a sheath, there will be no grinding noise.
Cool guys use two swords at once
Still from Game of Thrones / HBO
Dual swords are a common feature in films and video games, but in real battles it is very awkward to use two swords. Even an experienced fighter will find it too difficult to control two long blades at once.
Therefore, in fights, La Scherma (Francesco Fernando Alfieri) took daggers, bucklers (small round shields), cloaks (to confuse the enemy’s blade), sticks or even sheaths in the second hand. Anything except the second sword.
The sword is for attack, the auxiliary item is for defense.
Even if you're fighting multiple opponents, like Ser Arthur Dayne at the Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones, it makes more sense to use one two-handed sword rather than two one-handed swords.
Most Japanese who practice one or another martial art unanimously revere kendo as the oldest and fundamental art of combat. Indeed, in the arsenal of other martial disciplines there are many direct borrowings from the complex of techniques and exercises that make up kendo. For example, many strikes in Aikido are copied from Kendo, with the only difference being that in Aikido the strike is delivered with the bare hand.
But, perhaps, the most important thing is that its philosophical content has passed from kendo to other martial arts, which provides the fighter with the best concentration before a fight and maximum tension in battle.
Kendo, which means the way of the sword in Japanese, was previously called kenjutsu - sword technique. It originates from the samurai art of sword fighting, which, according to the Japanese, was formed as an integral system of principles and techniques by the 10-11th century. At the same time, imported from China, the double-edged sword took on the appearance familiar to us from samurai films: a slightly curved blade, sharpened at one edge, up to one meter long with a two-handed handle.
For several centuries, the decisive blow in any battle between Japanese feudal lords fell to the sword. At that time, obviously, kenjutsu was experiencing its heyday. But there are no descriptions of it in the documents of that time.
With the advent of firearms in the 16th century, the practical use of swords faded away, becoming the lot of wandering samurai and robbers, but, as happened more than once in Japan, it was then that the rebirth of kenjutsu began. Numerous schools of this martial art and treatises dedicated to it are published. Training armor appears, which is still used in our time. And the fame of the samurai Miyamoto Musashi, a master of kenjutsu and a tramp, who won 60 battles without spending more than three blows with a sword, thundered throughout the country. He also wrote a wonderful book about kenjutsu, which has become a reference book for generations of Japanese.
In the 19th century, the wearing of swords was prohibited, but this again, paradoxically, only increased the popularity of kenjutsu, which then received its modern name - kendo. Moreover, it was mainly peasants who were interested in it. There was something about this discipline that appealed to the Japanese spirit.
Meanwhile, by the 20th century, kendo had finally turned from an applied martial art into a sport, although many disagree with this.
We also recommend reading:
- Miyamoto Musashi - a warrior who never lost a single fight
- Karte - the art of fighting with bare hands
- The history of the samurai - truth and fiction
Armor is useless
Still from the series “The Witcher” / Netflix
Judging by “The Lord of the Rings”, “Game of Thrones” and “The Witcher”, the most effective armor is plot armor. The main characters are practically invincible, and the extras, even those clad in armor, die from one poke in the steel plate on the chest.
In fact, a person in armor is well protected from a sword. Therefore, it is better to fight against a warrior in armor with a war hammer or a sword, and save the sword for another occasion.
Even a simple jacket, if it consists of several layers of fabric, is not easy to cut with a sword.
Those who did not have metal armor wore gambesons (quilts), and they already provided good protection. Try cutting your blanket with a knife and you will understand what we are talking about. The same Russian overcoat completely stopped Cut And Thrust: European Swords and Swordsmanship the blows of a British cavalry saber.
Still from the series “The Witcher” / Netflix
So the guy who in The Witcher could not stand on his feet after being slashed in the cuirass with a sword looks simply ridiculous.
Sinai is the head of everything!
Kendo is most often fought with a shinai - a bamboo training sword fastened with special leather fittings and a tightly stretched string. The strength and lightness of the shinai allows you to limit yourself to only bruises, even if you miss a blow.
In kendo, fighters wear kendogi jackets and hakama pants and skirts. Unlike Aikido, in Kendo they are usually indigo in color. But there are many exceptions (for example, ladies often prefer white clothes). On top of the clothing they put on protective equipment - armor made up of four elements: a stylized man helmet, a do breastplate, thick kote gloves and tare, which protects the fighter’s groin.
Blocking someone else's sword with your own blade is a great idea.
Still from the series “The Witcher” / Netflix
Despite the fact that this is the only way they do it in Hollywood, taking hits from an enemy sword on your blade is a sure way to damage the blade and render it useless. But a sword is an expensive thing and should be taken care of.
The blade of a sword is divided into a strong side (wider, closer to the guard), a weak side (tapered, located further from the guard) and a point (the end with which to poke the enemy). And the enemy’s blows were parried by The Myth of Edge-On-Edge Parrying in Medieval Swordplay only with the guard and the strong side of the blade, which was often not even sharpened.
You can't hold a sword by the blade
Hans Talhoffer, Michel Rotwyler / Wikipedia
On the Internet you can often find pictures in which medieval warriors take their sword not by the hilt, but by the blade. They are usually accompanied by mocking comments like: “You should have read the instructions.”
However, the sword can be taken by the blade! This technique is called Half-sword half-sword, “half-sword”. If the enemy is wearing armor against you, instead of bending and dulling the blade against his armor, it is easier to grab the sword from the other end and hit him on the head with the guard. Even if he is wearing a steel helmet, such a blow will at least be unpleasant. And it can even lead to a concussion.
The sword was also taken by the blade with the left hand, leaving the right hand on the hilt to enhance the stabbing blow. This technique was suitable, however, only against a stunned and defenseless enemy.
Roundhouse kicks are great.
Still from the series “Game of Thrones” / HBO
Jon Snow and Geralt spin around their axis in battle like ballerinas, but real swordsmen would never do that. You cannot turn your back on a person who intends to attack you.
Turning 360 degrees in a sword fight is useless. Firstly, this exposes you to attack. Secondly, you let the enemy out of sight for a moment. Thirdly, it is pointless to try to hit an enemy with a sword from a roundhouse: such a movement is easy to evade, and the blow is only slightly enhanced.
History of sword fighting
The history of the development of fencing is inextricably linked with the evolution of military science and industrial technology:
Ancient World Period
This centuries-long period of time is characterized by the relatively low development of metallurgy and the low quality of weapons.
Fencing is both a simple set of basic techniques used in combat and a form of spectacular art. Gladius sword.
The pinnacle of tactics of this period was the close formation of the cohort of the Roman legion. The legionnaire fights with a short gladius, hitting the enemy with a thrust from behind the shield.
Later, the gladius is replaced by a longer spatha, borrowed from the conquered Celts.
Analogs of spatha are also used by barbarian tribes that did not have this method of construction. The battle came down to individual fights, in which slashing blows predominated.
Middle Ages
During this period, military affairs changed radically, and metallurgy reached great heights. The military class is being separated. Learning sword techniques begins at an early age. The first textbooks are being written - fencing books, which laid the theoretical basis for fencing. New varieties of edged weapons are appearing.
Fencing turns into a combat system that includes thrusts, cuts, slashing, leverage and wrestling elements.
By the period of the 16th-17th centuries, firearms negated all the advantages of solid knightly armor. The two-handed sword gives way to the rapier, and fencing becomes not just a way of fighting with edged weapons, but turns into an art.
The sword is a companion of ancient warriors.
The swords were very heavy
Dragon Slayer Sword.
Illustration: manga “Berserk” Sometimes even seemingly educated people say this. For example, one academic on The History Channel said What did Historical Swords Weigh? , that the swords of the 14th century weighed 40 pounds, that is, 18 kg. You probably need to be a real hero to swing such a barbell?
Not really. Most of the longswords and bastard swords in the Wallace Collection in London weigh What did Historical Swords Weigh? less than 1.5 kg. The average weight of swords in the period from the 10th to the 15th centuries was 1.3 kg; in the 16th century it decreased to 0.9 kg. Even huge two-handed swords, for example zweihänders as long as a man, weighed no more than 3 kg.
