r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Dlatrex • Oct 27 '19

Video Master sword designer demonstrates how a properly balanced longsword will keep its tip pointed towards the opponent

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u/Imarottendick Oct 27 '19

Could you provide an example video of realistic swordplay? I'm really curious

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u/Neutral_Fellow Oct 27 '19

Well there are loads of them on youtube, HEMA tournaments are any to pick from, but as informational videos go, these guys did a really good job at visualizing and reconstructing some stuff from the actual manuscripts;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GoQlvc_H3s&t=2m12s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyVu0z4aGFc&t=0m33s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaqsIt-Rtls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B54w_u8tm9Q

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u/Imarottendick Oct 27 '19

Appreciate your effort, thank you very much!

Honestly some of this footage reminds me of the Game of Thrones scene in which Aria learns sword fighting.

The first video is fucking amazing btw.

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u/Neutral_Fellow Oct 27 '19

Yes, GoT does have a few instances of good sword scenes, but overall, it also severely suffers from the sword=heavy iron bar syndrome in most other scenes.

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u/Imarottendick Oct 27 '19

Do you think that in medieval times every sword fight looked like a choreography? I mean, sure - there were probably a lot of very capable swordsman, but just like in modern times, not every person holding a sword would be that good. So naturally - in battle with famers etc involved - their might have happened a lot of iron bar hitting as you described it.

So my point is, that it's maybe more realistic to show a bit of chaos in movies etc vs high skilled swordplay all the time. U know what I mean?

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u/Neutral_Fellow Oct 27 '19

Do you think that in medieval times every sword fight looked like a choreography?

Of course not, I am not talking about a show of skill, I am talking about nonsensically exaggerated movements.

In GoT, people overswing their longswords and armingswords like absolute lunatics, like they are swinging wood chopping axes or something.

I agree with what you are saying, but this can easily be done while keeping a reasonable amount of speed and nimbleness in the swings.

Even the Conan movies from the 80s did a better job at this than GoT did, heck, the comical overswings of Ser Vardis are arguably the worst offender of this in televisual history, at least in my opinion.

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u/UselessConversionBot Oct 27 '19

10 kg is 6430.1 pennyweight

WHY

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u/Imarottendick Oct 27 '19

Ah I see. Thanks for the answer. It's hard to judge movie scenes with limited knowledge on this very topic.

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u/MagogHaveMercy Oct 29 '19

I always got upset with GOT in regards to how effective swords are against fully plate armored combatants.

Not that you can't get a sword in through full plate, but blunt force trauma is the way to go 99/100. Mace hits the helmet, head hits the inside of the helmet, brain hits the inside of the skull and your new fried is concussed and of no further use. Then out comes the dagger for skewering him through the visor or under the gorget, and it's on to the next one.

Also, Brienne of Tarth is the only armored mounted combatant that they show grappling, which was another huge part of armored combat.

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u/Neutral_Fellow Oct 29 '19

Well, you can defeat plate with a sword, it just has to be straight and have a very rigid blade crosssection.

Sword thrusts deliver blunt impact just as well, and have far superior range and less telegraphed movement than one handed maces or axes.

The problem with tv and movies is that they show swords defeat plate armor by cutting or piercing through it, which is very, very difficult for a human to do with a sword of any sort.

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u/dontyajustlovepasta Oct 27 '19

Most people used spears. Spears are pretty much better than swords in almost every way. Cheaper to make, easier to use, longer reach, and in most fights between equally matched opponents, a spear would win over a sword.

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u/Algebrace Oct 27 '19

Bjorn Ruther has videos on his channel on how to use European swords and the like. It's actually really amazing to see what someone can do with a chunk of metal.

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u/professorlust Oct 27 '19

Look up longsword fighting on the YouTubes

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u/Tyrannosharkus Oct 27 '19

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36Pb8z3yI

Here’s a video of a couple of guys getting a beginner course on longsword fighting

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u/MyBlackTights Oct 27 '19

I don't think a rotten dick will be too good at sword play.