Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to doing these solo learning exercises. For those of us who can't always get to a group, it's nice to have something to work on in the mean time. So please keep doing them!
regarding the forwards wiggle; if you don't have a sword but have lots of firewood and an axe, make toothpicks out of firewood using an axe. just chop away. depending on axe-size hold you hand so you can actually wiggle. trust me, you'll find muscles you never knew existed. I like these solo practise videos!
I used to watch your videos at en garde with various swords, guns, trainers, etc. As soon as that got easier you throw all these new tortures at me. Love it!
I've found that hanging up an empty small drinks bottle works greats as a target since it moves very quickly once hit and it is hard to stab such a small target Don't know how effective this is for training but great fun
Thank you for all the advise.:) Now I feel I could actually start though it's difficult for me to attend a HEMA class for various reasons. At least regularly, but I might be able to go sometime now that I've heard you saying it's ok.:) Sport fencing was more about regular attendance, or at least that's how I perceived it as a teenager. Could be different for adults.
I started doing excercises like this with heavier items like a shovel until I just make my own bokken that I could just add weights to give me more strength on my exercise. It works the best if you work out each arm at the same time so you become effective with both arms.
I love outside circling we do that in mix martial arts to some extent not blade of course but I really love to dodge around the opponents blow where there undefended than I like to dodge in. Now at some point we are going to use swords seeing its mix martial arts.
This is great exercise! I have a cold steel 1796 light cavalry. I find these exercises rapidly tiring of the forearm, as a beginner. The cold steel saber is very ill balanced and too thick in the foible region. I may put a better edge on it. I don't know how to improve the balance. I have also ordered a replica 1821 light cavalry from Military Heritage that probably does not have an edge. It should be better balanced.
I made my own one-handed sword based off of the Sabre of Charlemagne from 1000AD, it works well and efficiently, but the curved hilt prevents some movement limiting me slightly, tips?
so, not trying to give you a hard time. I love your videos. I want to know if anti-clockwise is the english way of saying reversed from normal? the american way of saying it is counter-clockwise.
In fantasy, there's a common trope of sword forms, like katas, that people use for solo training. Combinations of blocking and striking in specific ways or orders, that a person can do on their own to get slightly better, I've been searching the internet but really only see things like this for oriental martial arts, do you know of anything like this in hema? Specifically for one handed swords? Thanks.
I haven't heard of katas or kata-like excercises in any European manuscript, the club I'm in has one that goes through the longsword stances in the order they are presented in Fiore's text because they flow together nicely, but it's not really a "proper" kata.
No, it is a lovely sword - just that at the time I wanted a longer hilt and a scent-stopper pommel, and I could not afford a new Albion without selling one of my others. So I essentially swapped the Crecy for the Ringeck.
so any tips for a sword that is poorly engineered, mine seems to give me blood blisters when doing the straight cut and the windmill cut. Very uncomfortable and makes it hard to train.
I'm new to sword training, but not physical labor. My advice would be to just keep at it with the same sword, eventually you'll have calluses like leather on your hands, and you won't even feel it anymore. If the blisters get bad, just chill for a few days, there is a such thing as over training. Go back to it in a few days, and rinse and repeat. Someone correct me if I'm wrong
Matt, I've been watching these solo one-handed sword videos for research purposes recently, as I've just started making swords, and they have touched on a couple of interesting points for me, as a sword handling novice. I now wish that I had found them before making my first sword! I had been teaching myself smithing, grinding and finishing skills; studying the weight and balance of various sword types; and generally trying to gain a good enough understanding of making the object to get the most out of the course that I was due to undertake at the end of November. It went very well - I made a functional sword. I was pleased with the fit and finish, and although I had to dial back the complexity of my planned build to complete the sword, I managed to make something in homage to my plan. I had hoped to make a mono-steel version of a migration period sword - based on the Gilling sword actually - but in reality the timeframe dictated that a fullered blade wouldn't be a realistic undertaking. Indeed, a typical arming sword was what most people were building that week, but I elected to make a hybrid that retained some of the features of the much earlier design - a spatulate point, short guard, and retaining the broad, tapering blade found on the Gilling sword, with a only limited distal taper for the first two thirds of the blade, increasing towards the point - but with a diamond profile blade, and a simple wheel pommel. These were primarily aesthetic choices, as was the longer grip length I choose. In hindsight: that was an error. At least in terms of its hypothetical use. I had looked into the basics of the different form and function of swords as dynamic objects, and gotten a very basic understanding of the relationship of their form to their intended fighting style, but being only vaguely with the practical use of a swords in the hand - I didn't own one with which to familiarise myself untilI I built this one - I missed certain nuances such as the grip length for a one-handed sword. Having seen these solo one-handed training videos (along with the videos on holding techniques for the constrained 'viking' era sword grips), and having a sword at hand to try them with: I realise why one-handed swords typically have such a short grip! I wish that I had seen these videos earlier, and had time to find some swords to handle, or to build a test an analogue to test before constructing the sword. In my desire to understand the construction skills to make the sword, and understand their basic function as a dynamic tool for fighting: I overlooked the importance of actually getting a feel for that myself. I now know a host of things I would change about it. I should probably make a video looking objectively at its short comings, critiquing the aspects I got wrong, and why. Cheers for these videos, and sharing your in-depth knowledge of the subject of one-handed sword use. I only wish I had come across them sooner, but lessons have been learned for next time!
I doubt you are looking at comments on such old videos now, but i have a stick that is about the size of a one handed sword, it fits well in my hand, is this ok to use? its very light (its driftwood, so its also hard) so its not much for strength training, should i look for something heavier?
Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to doing these solo learning exercises. For those of us who can't always get to a group, it's nice to have something to work on in the mean time. So please keep doing them!
These are Mr. Miyagi lessons from the film The HEMA Kid
And here I thought I look idiotic waving with my big umbrella
Seriously, it encouraged me more than one could expect
Great thanks for those videos
Don't care what people think! Unless it's the police ;-)
Damn, how did I missed this comment
Luckily I didn't got arrested but unfortunately the umbrella got broken, served it's purpose tho :D
regarding the forwards wiggle; if you don't have a sword but have lots of firewood and an axe, make toothpicks out of firewood using an axe. just chop away. depending on axe-size hold you hand so you can actually wiggle. trust me, you'll find muscles you never knew existed. I like these solo practise videos!
4:08 for the ones who are loking the video a lots of times...that the resume excercices ...I LOVE IT
I used to watch your videos at en garde with various swords, guns, trainers, etc. As soon as that got easier you throw all these new tortures at me. Love it!
I've found that hanging up an empty small drinks bottle works greats as a target since it moves very quickly once hit and it is hard to stab such a small target
Don't know how effective this is for training but great fun
I been fighting "like a viking", and these ones will come up pretty useful for polishing my sword fighting. Thanks a lot for putting these videos up
Being doing that with a hammer... man... the burn is real.
Trying to do these one handed with a katana is pretty tiring
Thanks for these videos! Get well soon! :D
Thanks.
Thank you keep them coming. I was given a cutlass. I am practicing with you.
I want to dig out my devil sticks now. This gave me some ideas. Nice vid series!
Thank you for all the advise.:) Now I feel I could actually start though it's difficult for me to attend a HEMA class for various reasons. At least regularly, but I might be able to go sometime now that I've heard you saying it's ok.:) Sport fencing was more about regular attendance, or at least that's how I perceived it as a teenager. Could be different for adults.
I joined a group that fences with scottish basket-hilts this week and I wish I had started doing this sooner ^^
Excellent, congratulations. :-)
I started doing excercises like this with heavier items like a shovel until I just make my own bokken that I could just add weights to give me more strength on my exercise. It works the best if you work out each arm at the same time so you become effective with both arms.
I love outside circling we do that in mix martial arts to some extent not blade of course but I really love to dodge around the opponents blow where there undefended than I like to dodge in. Now at some point we are going to use swords seeing its mix martial arts.
Was just looking at the comment section to see the Miyagi reference coming up :D
Was not disappointed!
How often do you recommend doing these drills for optimal performance and for how long?
This is great exercise! I have a cold steel 1796 light cavalry. I find these exercises rapidly tiring of the forearm, as a beginner. The cold steel saber is very ill balanced and too thick in the foible region. I may put a better edge on it. I don't know how to improve the balance. I have also ordered a replica 1821 light cavalry from Military Heritage that probably does not have an edge. It should be better balanced.
Oh and good job using your left and not sucking at it. Being a lefty I always practice techniques both ways.
I am 1K like!! Ty for these vids
What sword / kind of sword is that? Nice size and looks like a very nice weight and balance and hand protection.
Can we do same exercise for Khukuri???
I made my own one-handed sword based off of the Sabre of Charlemagne from 1000AD, it works well and efficiently, but the curved hilt prevents some movement limiting me slightly, tips?
Do these exercises with an axe, and a sword starts to feel like a twig.
I like using an axe in my bedroom because it is short so I don't hit anything, and the weighted end makes up for it's lack in mass.
Found the Viking
so, not trying to give you a hard time. I love your videos. I want to know if anti-clockwise is the english way of saying reversed from normal? the american way of saying it is counter-clockwise.
Yes, 'counter-clockwise' seems to be normal American English, whereas 'anti-clockwise' seems to be normal British English.
I will keep that in mind for my english friends.
I guess a shortsword use much more elbow movements than a full size sword
I do the same with a broom for parkour
Depending on what I try it's close. Must be too much trying to handicap myself.
How hеavy is this sword
In fantasy, there's a common trope of sword forms, like katas, that people use for solo training. Combinations of blocking and striking in specific ways or orders, that a person can do on their own to get slightly better, I've been searching the internet but really only see things like this for oriental martial arts, do you know of anything like this in hema? Specifically for one handed swords? Thanks.
I haven't heard of katas or kata-like excercises in any European manuscript, the club I'm in has one that goes through the longsword stances in the order they are presented in Fiore's text because they flow together nicely, but it's not really a "proper" kata.
You once told us that you sold your albion crecy. Why? I consider buying that one, what is your opinion on the sword? Is there anything wrong with it?
No, it is a lovely sword - just that at the time I wanted a longer hilt and a scent-stopper pommel, and I could not afford a new Albion without selling one of my others. So I essentially swapped the Crecy for the Ringeck.
Can this be applied to machetes?
Individual .Human yes I have a gladius machete same as sword
so my biggest problem with sparring is recognizing the strike of my opponent and parrying it. Any tips?
so any tips for a sword that is poorly engineered, mine seems to give me blood blisters when doing the straight cut and the windmill cut. Very uncomfortable and makes it hard to train.
+Antonio Salvatore Maybe wrap the grip in something like cord, or tennis grip wrap?
I'm new to sword training, but not physical labor. My advice would be to just keep at it with the same sword, eventually you'll have calluses like leather on your hands, and you won't even feel it anymore. If the blisters get bad, just chill for a few days, there is a such thing as over training. Go back to it in a few days, and rinse and repeat. Someone correct me if I'm wrong
Matt, I've been watching these solo one-handed sword videos for research purposes recently, as I've just started making swords, and they have touched on a couple of interesting points for me, as a sword handling novice. I now wish that I had found them before making my first sword! I had been teaching myself smithing, grinding and finishing skills; studying the weight and balance of various sword types; and generally trying to gain a good enough understanding of making the object to get the most out of the course that I was due to undertake at the end of November. It went very well - I made a functional sword.
I was pleased with the fit and finish, and although I had to dial back the complexity of my planned build to complete the sword, I managed to make something in homage to my plan. I had hoped to make a mono-steel version of a migration period sword - based on the Gilling sword actually - but in reality the timeframe dictated that a fullered blade wouldn't be a realistic undertaking.
Indeed, a typical arming sword was what most people were building that week, but I elected to make a hybrid that retained some of the features of the much earlier design - a spatulate point, short guard, and retaining the broad, tapering blade found on the Gilling sword, with a only limited distal taper for the first two thirds of the blade, increasing towards the point - but with a diamond profile blade, and a simple wheel pommel.
These were primarily aesthetic choices, as was the longer grip length I choose. In hindsight: that was an error. At least in terms of its hypothetical use.
I had looked into the basics of the different form and function of swords as dynamic objects, and gotten a very basic understanding of the relationship of their form to their intended fighting style, but being only vaguely with the practical use of a swords in the hand - I didn't own one with which to familiarise myself untilI I built this one - I missed certain nuances such as the grip length for a one-handed sword. Having seen these solo one-handed training videos (along with the videos on holding techniques for the constrained 'viking' era sword grips), and having a sword at hand to try them with: I realise why one-handed swords typically have such a short grip!
I wish that I had seen these videos earlier, and had time to find some swords to handle, or to build a test an analogue to test before constructing the sword. In my desire to understand the construction skills to make the sword, and understand their basic function as a dynamic tool for fighting: I overlooked the importance of actually getting a feel for that myself.
I now know a host of things I would change about it. I should probably make a video looking objectively at its short comings, critiquing the aspects I got wrong, and why.
Cheers for these videos, and sharing your in-depth knowledge of the subject of one-handed sword use. I only wish I had come across them sooner, but lessons have been learned for next time!
I doubt you are looking at comments on such old videos now, but i have a stick that is about the size of a one handed sword, it fits well in my hand, is this ok to use? its very light (its driftwood, so its also hard) so its not much for strength training, should i look for something heavier?
but how would that help for strength? it weighs next to nothing compared to a sword.
so have you ever used a two handed sword such as a bastard sword in any of you videos? i'm fairly new to your channel so i haven't been able to tell.
Yes lots. Please browse my video list.
I USE MY HOMEMADE SWORD, its just wood though
It's hard oak
I use my cane
*is using a tennis racket*
I have bin using a one hand wooden sword that I made ithe hard oke
those actions are too fluid for you to be a 'beginner', even with your left hand my friend.
Thanks.