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Ancalagon
09-23-2007, 10:19 PM
The dangers of Sword Fighting.
Hello

Because deep inside I'm 99% pure geek (the remainder is mostly turnip), and because two friends twisted my rubber arm, I have recently joined a medieval sword handling class. It's pretty fun, although it's a it hard on the wrists.

It also a bit bad for blisters. Upon mentioning this to another friend, I was informed that swords are in fact EXTREMELY dangerous, as demonstrated by this video:

http://www.videosift.com/video/Cautionary-Tales-of-Swords-2

Clearly, doom looms over me, in the shape of a sharp piece of iron alloy.

On a completely unrelated topic, the preceding video is extremely dangerous to your brain cells.

Ancalagon

edit: in the odd chance that a serious thread does emerge, the style and practice weapons we use are basted on this sword:

http://www.southtower.on.ca/feature/index.html

With tip on the ground, the pommel is an inch beneath my belt buckle. Since I'm an inch shy of 6 foot tall (ie not that tall), I guess bastard swords were shorter than I thought!

Northcott
09-24-2007, 12:27 AM
Funny -- that grip doesn't look long enough for a hand and a halfer.

Bear in mind that swords were made in accordance with the physical attributes of their owner; good steel was highly customized, much like modern sporting equipment. A sword made to the specifications of your height and arm length might well be larger or smaller than that model.

Very cool stuff, BTW. I'd love it if something like that were being taught around here.

Cat of Ulthar
09-28-2007, 12:54 AM
My bastard sword comes to my solar plexus, and I am 6 foot.

Cool hobby by the way!;) How on earth did you think of starting that?

Ancalagon
09-28-2007, 07:30 AM
My bastard sword comes to my solar plexus, and I am 6 foot.

Cool hobby by the way!;) How on earth did you think of starting that?

Two friends of mine used to be in the SCA and have done a fair amount of fencing (both "normal" and medieval), and learned that a class was being given very close to my place. They twisted my rubber arm into joining (they are taking the class too)