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Main => The Courtyard => Topic started by: Thorsteinn on 2013-05-17, 00:14:57

Title: Is this normal in a HEMA tourney?
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2013-05-17, 00:14:57

Is this normal visavie the twitching, bad flow, and bouncing?
I counted at least three blows landed while either the striker or receivers feet were both off the ground. Do you think turn shoes would have helped with the footwork & to cut down on the bouncing?

HEMAC Dijon 2013 Open tournament longsword final (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8LAPM8JXBQ#ws)

Title: Re: Is this normal in a HEMA touney?
Post by: Sir Brian on 2013-05-17, 00:45:41

Well understand that I've only been doing WMA for 2.5 years and haven't been around a great deal in the greater HEMA/WMA community but I have observed several people fight in this manner with a lot of the twitching and bouncing. One of the best fighters from MASHS does a great deal of linear moments with much more fluid bobbing and weaving but definitely not twitching. I've never liked the bouncing or twitching even when I did Karate/Ju Jitsu as I always considered it an unnecessary waste of energy although others claim it keeps your muscles charged up. I suppose it is akin to the arguments for and against thoroughly stretching prior to any athletic activity which I don't pay much attention to either and never had a muscle cramp up or pulled.  :-\

Title: Re: Is this normal in a HEMA tourney?
Post by: Sir James A on 2013-05-21, 20:27:41

"Style doesn't matter. What works is what's important."
~ Mitsusuke Harada

Title: Re: Is this normal in a HEMA tourney?
Post by: Joshua Santana on 2013-05-31, 13:27:36

I would say no.  This looks more like nerves reacting to the visual intensity of the fight.  I know this because it happened to me once and it wasn't a good feeling.  On the other hand that is also their way of feeling their opponent out to find a tempo to exploit their opening. 

Title: Re: Is this normal in a HEMA tourney?
Post by: Sir James (Fiat Lux) on 2013-06-20, 21:40:52

I've seen similar movements in olympic-style fencing. The theory is that the constant motion improves mobility. In a sword-tag type of match, that would prove true. It's a bit different when you need to actually impart power to the strike. Look at Boxing vs. sport karate. In sport karate, it's a matter of simply landing a blow. Boxing requires sufficient force, which is all generated by one's linkage to the ground.