Darth Maul Staff style

[Ivan]

There is definitely a technique to gripping a blade
It works well if you know how to do it and does require a certain amount of grip strength and non-sweaty hands

Gripping the blade was indeed common practice. It allowed you to strike with the pommel and hand guards, utilising them as a blunt weapon. This was better used for armoured enemies as blunted weapons were more effective than attempting to cut through their steel armour.

You would also use the lower end of the cutting edge to strike down on an enemy’s shoulder, using the added momentum from the weight being at the opposite end of the sword you were holding from the blade, to cleave through their flesh. This was called a reverse grip I believe?

 

[drop bear]

There's a lot that's painful to watch in that clip....

The thing is I have suffered the same embarrassment. I did sort of stick fighting (I did hocks system)there for a while and thought I would go at it against a mate who knew nothing with some nerf bats.

And go at it we did.

And at speed almost nothing worked. It was literally an even fight. And we both got beat up.

 

[dunc]

The thing is I have suffered the same embarrassment. I did sort of stick fighting (I did hocks system)there for a while and thought I would go at it against a mate who knew nothing with some nerf bats.

And go at it we did.

And at speed almost nothing worked. It was literally an even fight. And we both got beat up.

That's pretty much everyone's experience when they spar for the first time ;-)

 

[Deleted member 39746]

I’ve not seen the video you are referencing, so my comments are not connected to that.

However, it is my understanding that at least in European sword work, grabbing the blade was a standard technique. Having a soft leather glove on the hand I expect would help with a firm grip. Also: the sword was not kept razor sharp. Doing so creates a very thin edge, which lends itself to damage during use, when the steel clashes with steel. The sword was kept “sharp”, with a thicker edge that better withstands abuse, and was plenty effective with the chopping/cutting techniques.

Once you get a grip on the blade, you don’t just try to pull it away from the enemy. That gives him the resistance needed to pull back, and possibly cut you. Instead, you keep the arm and shoulder somewhat relaxed and you grip the blade and ride along whatever he tries to do, and you control where he is able to thrust the blade. In this way you keep the threat away from you while you kill him with your weapon.

In gripping the blade, you don’t squeeze it with pressure on the edges directly into your palm or fingers. There would be a finesse to it in how you strive to places it in your grip.

Its all a friction game, so being gloved or not plays a big part in it, if you arent it goes down to grip strength to create enough fricition so the blade cant be pulled out. But then if we are disucssing longsword, thats longsword, half swording and gripping the blade is common for longsword. I am not entiely sure how it relates to Katana or asian blades. Plus there is also the myth for longswords (european blades in general, largely longsword) out there that they are purposely kept blunt for some reason. I am of the view they kept their weapons as sharp as could be reasonable done and maitainted in the field, so if they dont get time to maintain their weapon in a week and they have fought the entire week it would be blunter than on the onset. to re enthisise i do mean PURPOSELY blunt, not like during this peroid this sword was more blunt on average than this sword. Purposely kept blunt as in they didnt sharpen it when able. Obviously a longsord has more mass so doesnt need to be as sharp as other things to cut.

Its still pretty dodgy and there is a knack to it as has been established, if you are working off the back of you using the blade like that then you allready have some degree of experience in holding the blade and under force.

I recall anecdote somone shared with me about a IJA soldier that ended up doing the (i forget the name and whats its based off) half sword katana thrust and found out after the hand that they had put on the blade was cut the bone.

Never the less to all that, you need a actual blade to practise on not a wooden one for sure.

 

[Flying Crane]

Gripping the blade was indeed common practice. It allowed you to strike with the pommel and hand guards, utilising them as a blunt weapon. This was better used for armoured enemies as blunted weapons were more effective than attempting to cut through their steel armour.

You would also use the lower end of the cutting edge to strike down on an enemy’s shoulder, using the added momentum from the weight being at the opposite end of the sword you were holding from the blade, to cleave through their flesh. This was called a reverse grip I believe?

Yes, gripping your own sword by the blade and using it to bludgeon with the hilt was also a common techniques. I was interring the discussion to be about gilling the enemies blade as he attacks.

 

[dvcochran]

Yes, gripping your own sword by the blade and using it to bludgeon with the hilt was also a common techniques. I was interring the discussion to be about gilling the enemies blade as he attacks.

I will bite. How does this not cut the cxxp out of your hands?

 

[drop bear]

I will bite. How does this not cut the cxxp out of your hands?

Metal glove?

 

[Deleted member 39746]

I will bite. How does this not cut the cxxp out of your hands?

A great deal of knack you have aquired. I think it does in practiality cut the persons hands quite often, wait actually if i recall in some cases longswords may be kept blunter where you half sword them etc to facilitate you doing that safer.


On that note i dont think people have really looked into how often does the person cut their own hands, this sort of thing is generally seen a nessesity so if you get hurt doing it its that or dying. I wonder if there is a statstic somone has made on the matter. Modern longsword doers might be spoilt in the fact they use mainly blunt swords while half swording.

 

[MartialMasterTeddy]

The grip on a Blade, not Tanto, is half the marksmanship.