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Author Topic: Great longsword videos  (Read 28618 times)

Sir Edward

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Great longsword videos
« on: 2008-01-27, 20:50:45 »
These guys not only do some very interested longsword techniques, but also have a very interesting video style.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kj4Ng6DBfrg[/youtube]
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kj4Ng6DBfrg

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=HC5FIyfI8TA[/youtube]
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HC5FIyfI8TA

« Last Edit: 2011-06-02, 15:11:19 by Sir Edward »
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Sir Brian

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #1 on: 2008-02-05, 21:12:39 »
 :o

I always suspected that the longsword was an often under appreciated weapon
that was too easily dismissed as crude and clumsy.
Seeing what I can only assume are some of the techniques of Johannes Lecküchner,
it truly was an eloquent and versatile weapon in the hands of someone who knows
how to use it!

WOW!
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
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[img width=100 height=100]
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Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #2 on: 2008-02-05, 22:21:49 »

Yeah, what they're doing isn't precisely the same as what we're learning at VAF, but very similar. Some of the techniques are executed a little differently. But this is basically what the period European longsword fighting looks like... or I should say, this is what the techniques can look like when executed properly under perfect conditions, since they're demonstrating rather than fighting. :)

I like to point people to these videos so they'll understand why I love longswords. :)
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Sir Brian

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #3 on: 2008-02-06, 12:20:12 »
You know Hollywood has done a real injustice to the longsword and sword fighting in general.
Remember those 50s and 60s era films that portrayed medieval fighting and the actors used the
longswords like rapiers. Even more modern films take a lot of liberties. The only recent film that
even “hinted” at the real potential of the longsword was Kingdom of Heaven and that was pretty
much the one scene with Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson.

I guess you could call Hollywood’s contributions to historic reenactment a double edged sword.
On the good side it sparks interest in an otherwise oblivious general public but on the other hand
it gets almost everything completely wrong.
  :(

weird, I had to edit my post...seems like I was repeating myself!
weird, I had to edit my post...seems like I was repeating myself!
Oh cut that out! ;)
« Last Edit: 2008-02-06, 17:48:02 by Sir Brian »
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
Vert, on a Chief wavy Argent a Rose Sable,
a Gryphon Segreant Or

[img width=100 height=100]
<a href="http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Tah908/media/LP_Medals_zpsq7zzdvve.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i221.photobucket.

Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #4 on: 2008-02-06, 14:23:34 »
No kidding. I know a lot of my interest in swords, knights, armor, etc came from a variety of sources, including movies and games. It's good that it gets people interested, but it's a shame that there is so much misunderstanding out there. It reminds me of a comic strip I saw once, where a young kid is in a karate lesson, and asks the teacher when they'll get to do the slow-motion stuff. :)

Because of the way Hollywood does things, it's no surprise that there's this preconception out there that Japanese katanas and samurai are the "ultimate" in swords and warriors. In actuality there's very little difference between the medieval European knight and the samurai. Similar sized swords, similar techniques, similar amount of weight of equipment and armor. They even had a similar ethos (Bushido vs Chivalry). The culture and styles differ the most, and as a result the weapons and armor fill slightly different niches. So I just chuckle when I see "samurai vs knight" arguments on message boards. :) (IMHO, it's just as worthy as all of the other "holy wars", such as Kirk vs Picard, Emacs vs vi, Aliens vs Predators, etc) :)

The western martial arts are quite beautiful to watch, and fun to learn. They're simply more scarce, since they were allowed to die out as gunpowder took over, unlike the eastern arts that were kept alive as a living tradition. Anything that's done today with western sword arts is being revived from the surviving manuscripts (German fechtbuchs in most cases), and there are only a handful of groups out there doing so. But this revival movement is gradually growing as more people learn that it does exist, and that it's actually pretty cool. :)


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Sir Brian

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #5 on: 2008-02-06, 17:54:24 »
Of course all this really cool revival stuff has to happen AFTER I've
become a middle-aged, overweight and out of shape slob!  ;)

Oh well gives me a goal to strive for! :D
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
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a Gryphon Segreant Or

[img width=100 height=100]
<a href="http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Tah908/media/LP_Medals_zpsq7zzdvve.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i221.photobucket.

Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #6 on: 2008-02-06, 18:51:56 »
Hah, you and me both! I sit behind a computer all day, every day... I'm horribly out of shape all the time.

I actually find that longsword is less strenuous than some of the other things we do (occasional single-hand swords, sword and buckler, etc). The worst was sword and shield, I thought, but we don't do that in class anymore since there isn't much that's survived about those techniques.

Longsword is more symmetrical, and since you operate it with both arms, it doesn't tax any one part of your body much. In fact, one of the things our instructor keeps trying to get us to do is relax, without tensing up the shoulders, etc. And it pays off. It's very aerobic, it gets your heart rate up without wearing you out or causing sore muscles.

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Sword Chick

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #7 on: 2008-02-06, 21:05:27 »
It is wonderful exercise, but what really appeals to me is that the mind is completely engaged as well.  It's my personal escape from ordinary day to day life.


Besides, if a middle-aged frumpy housewife can learn it, anyone can. :D
"Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?
Where's the street wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?"
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Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #8 on: 2008-02-06, 21:19:38 »

I've often heard sport-fencing referred to as "physical chess" since you're having to out-think your opponent, potentially several moves ahead. I think that applies to any martial art as well. And besides, we get to hit people over the head with steel swords. What's not to love?
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Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #9 on: 2008-02-07, 13:10:41 »

Oh I forgot to say...

Frumpy? Hah... Any chick with period weapons is hot as far as I'm concerned. :)

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Sir Wolf

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #10 on: 2008-02-07, 18:06:10 »
:)

Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #11 on: 2008-02-15, 21:30:14 »

Another interesting video:



Demonstrating longswords, messers, daggers, and spears.
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Das Bill

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #12 on: 2008-02-28, 07:04:34 »
So Ed,
This means we have to get off our butts and finish making our videos. :) Got to keep up with the Joneses!
"A despondent heart will always be defeated, regardless of skill." -Master Sigmund Ringeck

Sir Edward

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #13 on: 2008-02-28, 14:32:11 »
Heck yeah, I'm looking forward to being able to show those off. OK, I need to get off my butt and rip that second set of tapes.

Oh, and welcome to the forum! :)
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Das Bill

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Re: Great longsword videos
« Reply #14 on: 2008-02-29, 06:08:09 »
Why, thank you, Sir Edward. And thank you for inviting me.

Of course all this really cool revival stuff has to happen AFTER I've
become a middle-aged, overweight and out of shape slob!  ;)

Oh well gives me a goal to strive for! :D

I don't want to use this board for my own advertising, but since you bring this up:

I'm the guy who teaches Sir Edward and Sword Chick how to beat each other senseless (but with style, of course). Roughly 50% of my adult students are over 40 and begin out of shape. They take my intro class just out of curiosity, then many stay. As they go on, many start getting in better and better shape, and they learn to really love historical swordsmanship for what it is: A beautiful art form that strives to preserve something precious that otherwise will have become forgotten. And they use that to justify purchasing more swords. :) So, while I'm not trying to talk you in to anything, I will definately say don't let your age or weight hold you back if it is something you're truly interested in.
"A despondent heart will always be defeated, regardless of skill." -Master Sigmund Ringeck