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Leg Shots. A Question.

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Thorsteinn:
In my very limited HEMA experience I have noticed that I am throwing and landing a much higher percentage of leg shots in HEMA longsword vs longsword & longsword vs unarmed than my opponents. I have also noticed that those whose primary (sometimes only) martial experience lies only in the unarmored longsword vs longsword styles tend to leave the leg completely open and/or not guard it well enough.

Example#1: Both I and my opponent are right-handed> I throw a fore-edge head strike fake which I moulinet to a off-side fore-edge strike to their lead leg.

Example#2: Both I and my opponent are right-handed> I throw a fore-edge head strike which they block. I slide off the block disengage, Step to their right and with a passing step I hit the back of their leg or unprotected back depending on how quickly they can turn at the hips to bring their sword around in an attempted block.

Example#3: I am unarmed, my opponent is armed. He throws a on-side to off-side diagonal cut to my head which I dodge under. As I reach out to block a return stroke with my arm (I'm blocking his arm and hilt here). I kick his lead leg with a Muay Thai style shin kick to throw him off balance before proceeding with the rest of my attack.

While my blows are not always successful I seem to run into this attitude in my opponents style that says 'Because leg shots are low percentage options I have no need to learn how to block them, not leave my leg open, or learn how to void the shot in other ways". I know that, as I fight in the SCA and studied TKD, I am much more used to seeing and taking advantage of leg shots than others but it got silly some days.

Thoughts?

-Ivan

Sir James A:
I think half of the answer is in your post - they leave it more unguarded, so it's a great target and struck easier and more frequently. On a casual observation level, I've noticed most people keep their sword pointed upright at least at a partial angle, instead of downwards in pflug / alber (I think that's the name of the stance). That means blocking a leg shot is the longest possible travel their blade needs to make to successfully block, and means they have less time to react to block succcessfully, reducing the chance for them to block.

I started with eastern martial arts and I've always had the habit of "leading" with my leg and then stepping in for follow-through strikes - when I took the 1 class with John Clements of ARMA, he said the proper posture is leaning forwards with your body, at or in front of your leading leg. That makes your leg less of a target, and gives you greater measure for striking. Personally, it was an uncomfortable and unnatural position for me to fight from, as I'm more of a counter-attacker than an offensive attacker, and the "partially retreated" stance gives me more time to react and a better "view" of what my opponent is doing - especially the legs. For the more offensive people, it's a more suitable stance and it also reduces the legs as a valid target area - but at the expense of presenting more body as a target.

SirNathanQ:
Leg defense. Ideally, in Longsword you simply take a step back. Make a cut or stab to opponet's head. It's always exposed when they attack your legs.
If you are in the correct measure (prior to binding), the only leg they can attack w/o stepping is the leading leg. By steppign back, you deprive them of their only target.

If you really need to keep a sword in front of your legs, you can drop int oa lower Alber (fool's gaurd). It's mainly meant to draw an opponet into attacking your body, but it does keep a sword in front of the legs.

Sir Brian:
Sorry to come late into this discussion:

Sir Nathan has the right of it concerning the 'typical' reaction to a leg attack. The prescribed counter is to void the attack by withdrawing your leg and at the same time executing a Scheitelhau (parting hew) which will definitely be within measure before an attack on the leg, which is why in tournaments you'll see some combatants 'play' to the rules and utilize a cheesy left one handed swing to the legs to get that additional reach to avoid the Scheitelhau counter. It is pretty much a move that is playing to the rules and not the 'spirit' of the duel whereas a cut to the leg is preferable if you can manage to split your opponent's skull. Yet some will make an attack to the lower targets but usually in a combination of attacks.

--- Quote --- I'm more of a counter-attacker than an offensive attacker
--- End quote ---
To each their own style, however IMO it is far better to be in the Vor (the before) in a longsword duel than the Nach (the after) and if you're in the Nach it should be only because you are waiting for an opportunity to return to the Vor. In other words do not give up the initiative if you can afford it in longsword.  ;)

Ian:
My understanding with limited exposure to ARMA is that the leg makes a very poor target when combatting a well trained opponent. The leg is too quick and easily moved out of the way and will almost certainly result in you being struck with a quick counter attack.

I think what you're seeing is that folks are told "hey the leg makes for a crappy target blah blah blah...". And they leave it at that, and thus never train for those attacks because everyone is of the opinion that it's a waste of an attack and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of poor preparedness. An athletic and well trained swordsman though, should be able to kill or defeat his opponent every time his opponent decides to throw a cut to his leg instead of his head or torso, using a technique like Sir Brian described above.

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