Resolved-in-Steel is a HEMA school in Kitsap County Washington. We currently hold classes for German Longsword, Italian Rapier, British Military saber and Highland Broadsword.
If you'd like to know a little more about what we do, please check out our website at www.resolvedinsteel.com.
May I ask which training swords you use? They look lighter and thinner than what Ive seen on other channels. And these guys described their steel training sabers as probably too stiff for thrusts. At least over a longer period of time, it gets annoying and painfull. How do yours perform while thrusting? And thank You for your fantastic highest level material.
I have a few different sabers for different purposes. In this particular video I'm using a Cold Steel, Hutton training saber. Rose is using a Regenyei Duelist. Both I think fall under the category of gymnasium sabers. Basically a bit longer and a but lighter than real fighting sabers. They're quite nice for both drilling and sparing as you can go fast, and for a long time without much fatigue or getting hit to hard. I also have a Hungarian saber which I love but can't swing for nearly as long before tiring. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Sigi Saber Pro 🤤
Was dreaming of getting this for Saber. Felt a little iffy since it's a new product, but... I think I'm a little convinced, now. A question though, don't Sabers utilize the lunge too? Or is the tail-thingy problematic only for super deep lunges?
It seemed to be a problem only for my very long lunges. Saber can certainly involve a lunge but I find personally to rarely use very deep lunges in Saber. But I practice British Military Saber so we tend to stay quite upright with the torso even when lunging. Dueling saber focuses a bit more on the lunge which could encounter a similar problem. I'm hoping it loosens up with time though.
Most clubs will have a few loaners. It's good to figure out what you like and don't like in a weapon before spending too much money on a nice steel sword. A synthetic is usually a solid first choice. Inexpensive and usually in stock.
I really don't feel like that is what is implied when people talk about the "reverse grip", nor would this be a definitive answer. This is more a modified half sword technique imo. But what do I know as I studied sabre and rapier. Still a cool tech and one I haven’t seen before. Kudos
I have naturally transitioned to a reverse grip in close measure during sparring, usually from the bind, without thinking about it. I think people are a little too dogmatic, and coupled with inexperience they think combat can be approached with an absolutism and it's naive. If you do something in the moment and it works then great. I mean in Harness Fighting, the Bastard Guard can be used in reverse grip no problem.
I feel like half swording needs to be at least a little further up the blade. Also half swording is generally done by moving the left hand up the blade (for a right hander), not the right. But you know... Devil's in the deetz.
@@resolvedinsteel But you do realise that when people talk about revese gripping a sword, they mean a reverse grip on the heft, not over the crossguard? Likewise, Ubergriffen is done to place the hand closer to, or over, the point of balance - which is not what reverse grip is about. it is also done specifically in the bind, while reverse grip would be done anywhere as far as zufechten. As such, it's hard to see why, if we strech our defintions so far that uber griffen would be considered reverse grip ... it also wouldn't be considered half-swording.
Oh I don't know, I don't think there's anywhere where we have reverse grip defined so precisely that it could not be with the hand past the point of balance... I'm well aware that the way people generally use reverse grip is on the handle and not above it, but then again I'm also aware that reverse grip really isn't a thing and mostly done to look cool rather than because it's effective. I thought this technique was interesting and applicable to the conversation because it is a real historical example of reversing the orientation of the blade for a particular purpose. Even if it's not the purpose of looking cool and holding the sword upside down from the handle. Now half swording is something that we see quite a bit and it's done because of its efficacy not in spite of it. That one we have much better definition of and use cases for. And those use cases so far as I have seen are not the same as Ubergrieffen nor is the technique performed in the same way. I do appreciate the conversation though 😁 it's always fun to think about these things on a deeper level, Cheers!
@@resolvedinsteel Having throught about this (probbably for way to long :D ) ... have you considered the zweihander? I wouldn't categories Meyer's ubergrieffen as reverse grip - but as transitioning from a normal grip into zweihander halfswording. The latter uses a wide grip (one hand near pommel, the other between crossguard & thungs), and unlike longswors can be done with either hand forward (as crossing arms can be a significant detremental with wider grips) In fact, as Meyer typically uses feders over longswords (and thus have access to what-one-could-consider- pseudo parrying hooks)... and greatswords were a thing in Meyer's time, if does seem to make sense, he'd might want to switch grips to borrow ideas/techniques from a different weapon.
There is confidence that techniques with a reverse grip are based on the same logic as techniques for a normal grip of a sword. Fencers just need to notice this cause-and-effect relationship and get used to adapting to the new angles of their elbows and wrists. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kaWTf-vC5Us.htmlsi=W5eMga41EGq2QqXC
The lie is both that it was never done and that it works XD. It was done in very specific circumstances and never as a general method of fighting, but fundamentally not in the way people think.
Loooool. No these are practice swords made of spring steel. Real sabers would have been significantly stiffer out of necessity. These are flexible for safety. Though neither sword based its efficacy on its stiffness. The advantage of European swords were in their mechanics not in there craftsmanship. Sabers have better hand protection better engineering for example distal taper etc. Are about as long as a katana but much more nimble.
There are advantages to both ways. It was traditional to wrap the cloak more closely around the arm if you were fighting against someone using a cutting sword or that did more cutting with a heavier rapier. But against the pure thrusting right here or someone that thrusts more often, having the cloak loose was better for entangling the rapier and controlling it.
So... "The best swordsman does not fear the second best. He fears the worst since there’s no telling what that idiot is going to do" is just cope for bro. If you loose to a noob you will get ratio-d... I see
To a certain degree you're not wrong. Dunno if it's cope per say, and I wouldn't say the "worst". The worst swordsman is likely not a challenge in any way. But a wildly unpredictable but physically capable, young and impetuous fencer with little or no training, certainly warrants observation before engaging.
Footwork is how I’ve won many fights before! I’ve done Olympic foil fencing for a few years before I switched over to HEMA and sometimes I feel it has given me a true edge over some of my pure HEMA peers. Many attacks I needn’t even bother blocking because through my footwork I can be secure in knowing the attack will miss
"Excuse me student of mine, would you mind if I put our sparring footage in a video about how to fight noobs with bad technique?" *loses one student* XDXDXD
@@resolvedinsteel That would be a very poor student indeed. Not likely one to keep up the sport if suggesting their beginner form was bad. I liked to think most recent pupils would be open to the fast track of learning through 1 to 1 coaching and would jump at the chance to participate. I also like to think in ideal situations, so maybe I'm completely off here.
@sergemarlon oh I'm just joking about the actual quitting things haha. Really I just try not to cast anyone in poor light if I can help it. Sparring is sparring of course but featuring someone in a video specifically about it seemed distasteful 😅. Thanks for your comments though, cheers!
Very well thought out content, which will be very helpful for beginners and advanced fighters. I often pray the same concepts but instincts take a long time to be "rewired".
It's true! There are certainly times when I'll end in a double hit and upon reflection can see that I ignored a threat I should have heeded but in the moment I was too invested in my attack 😅
@@resolvedinsteel that's great! I'm not even into longsword. I was just surprised. I took fencing in college, so I've been interested in getting into rapier and saber as well.
It is a nice bout but the skill level is clearly quite different. Not the best way to utilize an Arming Sword, so hard to compare the actual weapon types.
I wish all armchair critics and very big shut up. If you don't train a weapon, don't run your mouth off about it. If you think something is true and you're talking to someone who does the thing, frame it as a question, not an accusation. You buncha weirdos. "Do katana systems involve thrusting?" Not "Katanas don't thrust enough for my taste."
Ok so i know I can't be the only one that recognized the passata Soto as the move inigo Montoya used when he killed one of the guards before fighting the 6 finger man
I think there are certainly cases when it can be effective, especially with fencers that like to thrust with their sabers. I find beating to be most useful in rapier fencing where it's important to keep the point in line. With sabers every cut can beat, and every beat can power a cut.
My fencing days are long past - although I still have a Leon Paul 'steam' foil and its bag that are almost 50 years old :) I liked foil, loved epee and was OKish at sabre - Your video was great as a reminder of some of the things I was taught although a couple of things were new to me. Thank you.
I remember as a child sneaking into my parents closet to "borrow" my mother's old fencing foils. Many games of pirates with my brothers and those foils is probably the only reason I'm a fencer today. They're probably about 50 years old as well!
If you can maintain your measure. it is YOU who gets to decide when you engage and when your opponent can or cannot engage. That's a strong position to be in.
This is superb 👏 👌. My club mostly focuses on Silvers work and covers this in its foundation grades and continues on throughout them with advanced techniques. We use slightly different names, but other than that I recognise all the moves.
This list is an amalgamation of techniques I've found useful from a variety of sources. I would say the source I've studied most particularly is Vincentio Saviolos treatise of 1595. But there are certainly hints of Capoferro, Marcelli and Fabris among others.
@@resolvedinsteelAh that explains my astonishment, I have not worked with Saviolo nor know someone who does, Silver is probably to blame for that. It is great to see someone use more variety and non mainstream masters. I have 2 questions and an appeal if you don't mind. The prima shown has the point to the opponents right (almost?) out of presence, is that to represent pointing at the nearest part of the opponent like hand or right shoulder(Docciolini's punto)? Further during the stoccata the performer pulls hand and hip back before lunging, something I am familiar with from the earlier Bolognese school and Meyer but have not seen in later Italian systems, Is that an aspect that was preserved by Saviolo? Lastly a minor appeal, could you specify in educational material a bit what you are teaching from. Barely anyone does and I'd personally like to see Italian swordsmanship represented as the collection of distinct styles it is rather than a monolith. A very interesting video and I look forward to see more, Cheers.
On the position of Prima, this very well may be just my personal take on it due to how I find it most effectively employed. That of deflecting a cut to the head or thrust to the face. In both of these situations having the blade directly in presence or pointing directly to my opponent leaves me with an open line to be attacked. With a very minor adjustment I can bring the blade into presence but my first order of business is to close the line. I'll have to put a disclaimer in the comments that the video may come with a healthy dose of my own quackery XD. On the lunge. I watched the video back several times when you mentioned the hand and hip being withdrawn, I couldn't detect this movement though. Meyer does show a rather extreme withdrawal of both before a lunge. And I do study Meyer as well, perhaps the subtlety has crept into my movement without my notice?! I quite like your attention to detail, especially with the differences between Italian masters, of which there are many. They do deserve their differentiation!
@@resolvedinsteelThat is a very sound interpretation of the guard. Docciolini proposes something very close with his Imbroccata guard, hand slightly above the head and just in front of the right foot in a narrow stance, pointed at the right shoulder, like in 0:12 only bending the body a bit more. He reasons this forces the opponent to remove his sword from the straight line to gain yours, while protecting the head. I might have mistaken you getting into broad-ward for part of the thrust :D. It is just after the screen turns from black and ends when the white bar reads tta in 0:36 and start of second 0:39 there is some mention of fencers who "drill" or throw their thrusts, so I thought I'd ask. I'm glad you agree, without naming them it's a bit hard to find specific masters and confusing for newcomers. Not to mention those that proclaim their chosen style to be THE Italian fencing.
Hahaha, it's true! There is so much out there, especially for those of us that study multiple sources sometimes things get lumped together in my brains fencing "box". I have at times had to retrace my academic steps to recall precisely where I learned something and how it's different from other interpretation, even when it's something I use all the time. I suspect I'm not the only one. Thank you for the stimulating conversation my friend 😁
