Hand & Half Sword Techniques : Martial Arts & Exercise 

Wahahahahahahahahahahaha

The legendary ratio of dislikes on this video suggests I should not watch it, like, or subscribe

Thank you for putting this out there. The level of concise delivery of relevant information is one of the best examples of Bullshido I have ever seen. WELL DONE!

So utterly awful that it will live on forever and very likely become a meme ... entire HEMA groups are gathered around laptops laughing right now ... hahahaha

Clearly MMA training doesn't make you an authority or even competent with swords. Pick up a book and take a class from someone that knows what they are doing.

ahhh you see in the west April fools is in April on the 1st, not in August on the 24th. A simple cultural difference that many people also from the magical bird land make the mistake of. Regards, Wade

DOWNWARD STRIKE LIKE A BIRD OF PREY

How many times can I dislike this video? The presenter has apparently never even come near a real longsword source, and has no business presenting on it.

Are the rest of your videos this poorly researched?

This is epic. Just to think, the 20 years I've spent training in European swordsmanship, I could have learned it all in just under two minutes. And with just two core movements. Up and down. If only you'd made your video in 1994, you would have saved me a lot of bother.

is he harvesting a field?

OMG, this video is epic! I love how you did the whole narration absolutely deadpan. I'd never have made it through the whole monologue without laughing myself sick.

The lessons shown in this video are totally nonsense...this has nothing to do with sword fighting!

Dear dude, there are principles in all fighting styles, especially in mma. Don't exeggarate movements, look at your opponent, don't expose yourself to attacks during any actions and a lot more. You don't have to change all of those just because you switch to a weapon. Line of attack, solid stance, even the way you plan and attack are similar to boxong, wrestling etc. Only and important difference is that you have a thing between you and your opponent that you can use. Keep distance or close in. Think about it. Good luck

Bludging effect.

If you have ever seen a book about medieval fencing, you may call yourself a beginner. Then comes the actual practice-sword fencing, after that you manage to find a battle-ready sword and start the actual thing. All that is ok ONLY if you find someone to actually build your sword techniques with. So do us all a favor and stop insulting the memory of the people who wrote the books you need!

This is terrible! How on earth did you destroy the arts of Longsword so completely?

0:30 (and numerous other spots): Wide open to attack.

To be clear. There seems to be some confusion in the comments about whether or not this guy is using bad form, or if he is a member of a club that does hema and teaches this type technique. Both answers are no. The truth is that he is making up everything he is saying about how to use a longsword. 100% BS just to sell a ehow video. I say good for him. Ehow got taken to the cleaners. This guy didn't. He got paid. I think that's awesome.

I think his entire experience with using a sword was from playing World of Warcraft... as a wizard.

The discussion on my Facebook group is about whether this video is a joke or not. The tentative consensus is that it is not. Spotting the resemblance between the technique shown and anything taught or used anywhere is challenging, however. What's 'bludging'? Possibly you meant bludgeoning?

Bugger me sideways and call me Barbara, that was absolutely ABYSMAL technique. I should do an entire video about how many ways this got it wrong.

This guy is the weapons equivalent of Master Ken.

Things like this make me wish that RU-vid wasn't a free, public service. I wish people would just not speak when they don't know what they are talking about.

I hope this is a joke, but I fear it isn't. This man has no business teaching this material.

This is like watching Barney Fife giving instruction to SWAT teams on making a hostile door breach into a high threat environment. For those not as old as me, its like watching Derek Zoolander trying to teach High Energy Physics.

Well, I've made a debunking video explaining specifically what's wrong with this video.

Came back after the last time I watched this, over a year ago Update: Still hilarious

Have you ever actually taken lessons in sword? I don't mean a "single siniwali, twelve count, six take-aways" Arnis seminar. I mean a class in how to use a longsword. Nothing you are doing even vaguely resembles longsword technique.

I've been studying the sword arts for well over 20 years. Yep, rather new to European Sword arts, but the Japanese and European arts are complimentary. And you should know that. And yep, a lot of people got their start with ARMA. Its kinda like kindergarten. You start there, but grow up quick and get a much more comprehensive education where the teacher is not treating you like a child. And you all know the real reason Chidester is no longer in ARMA, he moved and he started the Wiki.

Hey there's a lot of us out there who do train how to use longswords and their various variants. Some of find it great that more people want to learn it all. And you've got a big channel so you could probably pull more people in towards actually training it. However I have to say your technique looks pretty bad. Some of the things you say are actually true-blade grabbing was done in particular circumstances and yes swords can cut as well as bludgeon(but you wouldn't want to actually bludgeon with them unless using the pommel or when using the flat as to try to not kill your opponent). As for parries-they differ greatly depending on the tradition we talk about. I suggest looking at the following channels and what they show for longsword techniques as you can easily learn to do it a lot better+I'm sure you doing it properly would give proper exposure to these things online. 'Sword Carolina','womatelevision'(they've got general martial arts stuff but there's quite a few great but short longsword videos),'Schola Gladiatoria','ASD La Sala delle Armi - Scuola di Arti marziali','Northwest Fencing Academy','Anton Kohutovič','Gladiatores - Schwertkampf und historische Kampfkunst ', Also there's actually a wealth of preserved manuals and treatises on how to use medieval and renaissance weapons-I suggest googling 'Wiktenauer'-it's the best hosting website for such things and you can find a lot of them. :)

Thats great! It's like the Jim Cary sketch where he's a karate guy who ends up getting stabbed. More please!

If you are in the UK look for BFHS clubs there are several clubs around the country that will teach both German and Italian longsword

If we're a "blight", then it's a "blight" we're all proud to be a part of.

I just discovered this video and I must say it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever watched. Should be titled: “How to win a duel by making your opponent die from laughter.”

Two sources, one of which is a copy of the first, are not "numerous sources".

If you haven't already realised, this good sir is already a meme on at least 4 of our HEMA organisations. We are already considering writing a certificate for him in comic sans.

I've also noticed that nearly every single question I've asked of the ARMA folks has gone... unanswered. I wonder why?

Oh, also.... Quite right what he says about sword weights. For a good idea of what actual historical swords weighed, check out Albion Swords Next Generation line. They are replicas designed by Peter Johnsson, who has studied real swords in-depth for his designs. He's about the only sword maker today, AFAIK, who goes to such lengths to "get it right". You can also check the websites of museums that display swords; they'll often have the weights of their pieces listed.

Also, anyone else I found were "Johnny come latelys" to MARE, whereas ARMA and JC has been around for a fair bit longer, making him the most qualified person studying MARE I found. I wasn't "wowed" by JC's personality or anything of the sort- I have yet to meet him in person. In short- I chose ARMA because it was the only MARE organization to sufficiently impress me with what it was doing.

is this what you resorted to ehow... why not hire my dad for your phone review videos

First of all i agree with the rest i would also like to add:please correct your stance or you will seriously injure your knees, you overpronate, your toes are facing inward and your knee is collapsing with practically every strike(save those where your legs are far apart where you're messing up your shoulder form instead). If you really wish to show LONG SWORD techniques i would refer you to this video first: Zornhau training - Lichtenauers longsword techniques by Anton Kohutovič.

What direct question have I avoided? And what has Hugh Knight added to his interpretation since October of last year? Did he completely overhaul it? Did he start freeplaying?

Why is this video still up? If you made a video to try and demonstrate something you knew nothing about, and you were quickly called on it... Wouldn't you take it down.This is like a guy who is tone def and without any musical ability doing a lesson on how to play the violin.

Dozens of new fight books not acknowledged by JC? Am I reading you right? If so, can you provide references please?

Hey this is great and I have learnt a lot! Where do I sign?

Also, the cut Hugh Knight performs is a crooked squinter, not THE krumphau. Once again, if the ARMA krumphau is wrong, what line on the segno does the true krumphau follow? What is this mysterious cut that ARMA performs that is seemingly unnamed?

You where holding it wrong.

Don't know where you are looking, because there is none of that crap from Virigina all the way into Montreal and Toronto. I cannot speak for other parts of the country as I don't have near as much interation with them. MOST of the HEMA/WMA places don't even charge a fee (other than an annual HEMAA insurance fee which is 50 or less depending on school size) and don't require ANY equipment unless you which to purchase stuff like a good feder or rebated steel on your own.

What two sources are you speaking of?

what do Oriental styles have to do with European sword techniques ?

Because the other WMA groups tournaments have the same problems as Asian martial arts tournaments- they incorporate rules which divorce the action of the tournament bout from reality. Winning these bouts becomes less about utilizing effective combatives, and more about who can best "game" the rules to score points.

...what the hell is he doing? His grip is all wrong, his stance is all screwed up and he's swinging it like a baseball bat. And this guy is an INSTRUCTOR?

Um, then do not participate in the tournaments. Its really that simple. There are plenty of folks that are in HEMA/WMA to learn the art of the sword and don't do tournaments. We don't teach hauptstücke for tournament fighting, we teach hauptstücke because that is the foundation of the art. I don't get this OMG I don't go to other groups because they have tournaments! Just don't go the tournaments. No one is forcing you to do so.

I have a list of 10 different images depicting the ARMA krumphau, almost all of them from different sources. RU-vid won't let me post urls, and the urls themselves are long enough to make posting them unwieldy. How about answering my questions regarding these "two sources," or the new fechtbucher that JC refuses to acknowledge? And if you know a way for me to get you those urls, let me know.

Nobodies? How did such nastiness come up? And why? Overall I like Scott Brown, he and his crew were very nice when we visited his school in 2011. I also liked the presentation by Brain Stokes that he gave at the 2006 WMAW. Plus I would really like to meet Axel Pettersson. Good luck with the your class.

Seriously, for those of us who actually study and train, this the equivalent of telling you to punch with your thumb wrapped inside your fist.

Even the title is wrong. where is the punta longa?

What YT videos I've watched of tournament bouts has shown many instances of fighters doing things that would be suicidal in a real fight, but under the rules of the tournament garnered them a point and a "win"> That's enough to convince me I want nothing to do with the other WMA groups and their tournaments- I want to learn how to FIGHT, not how to play a game.

As for free information, every single group I have worked with again from Virigina to Montreal and Toronto have web sites, youTube pages, facebook pages and share information willingly, hell they even fund the fight book Wiki (Wiktenauer). So again, not sure what groups you have been working with but my experience on the East Coast is just the opposite.

"A bludging effect?" Isn't that when medieval people avoided work and took money from the state? Hahahaha ... oh dearrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Tell me this is a joke....

If the ARMA krumphau is broken, then why does it work perfectly the way it should?

Because the ARMA krump is based on placing the point over the guard to his hands. Not to mention you are clearly putting yourself at serious risk. This is made QUITE clear in just about every fight book. Look at Hugh Knight, MEMAG, NYHFA, or any other of the major clubs which have posted online, which fall MUCH more in line with what the Masters left us.

I recommend you ALL avoid ARMA and focus more on other groups within HEMA, WMA. ARMA is a blight on WMA/HEMA

Actually I have met Clements in person. Twice in fact. But that's besides the point. It says it right in the ARMA rule set: don’t share things that you are not authorize to disclose. Sorry the easiest way to learn is to share and work with others in the field to figure out the how/what/why of anything.

Um, you do know that Hugh is constantly updating what he does right? Still avoiding direct questions too I see...

Qualified? How so. There have been literally dozens of discoveries of new fight books that JC still refuses to acknowledge that have helped push HEMA/WMA even further along than it was in the early 1990's. Honestly your experience with HEMA/WMA groups is VERY limited if you think that. I mean it can happen but I find it to be very inaccurate with the groups that are around today. Hundreds of them, all working together to advance the art. Unlike ARMA.

He isn't Serious ? or is He ?

I'm sorry but this is not longsword

Awesome video :-)

I can't believe this horrible thing is still up. Its as bad as some of the ARMA videos!

Bwahahahah... "Wrongeck" that's gold. I'm gonna use that in a training session.

And to follow up, there have been DOZENS of invites sent to JC from all over the world to participate in very large instructional gatherings. All denied. Wonder why?

So again, explain to us why none of the ARMA members will be attending IGX? Its not just about tourney fighting as you have clearly seen. I guess Scott Brown, Jean Chandler, Anton Kohutovič, Jeff Lord, Axel Pettersson, Brad Rangell, Dustin Reagan, Brian Stokes, Pascal Theriault are nobodies right?

Again with the ARMA folks not answering previously asked questions. Go figure. URL's are easy, send them in a private message.

Utterly baffled how anything can be so wrong wrong, I mean literally every single word is incorrect.

yeah but those things aren't about fighting, it's about play a role (hence the title; live-action-role-play)

HAs anyone watched his other videos? Especially his weapon ones? and has any one considered that these are fake?

Oh my God! By the way, Nice foot work. Oh! Wait. You have none. This is from the "Everything I Know About Sword Work I Made Up." School

You have no idea what you are taking about!

Well, in this particular case, I can tell you that ARMA members did not start the name-calling. In my experience, those that dislike ARMA have no real discernible reason for doing so, while we in ARMA don't believe tournament-focused groups are adding anything significant to the reconstruction effort, but are detracting from it, and are still getting most of the publicity. At least that's how I see it.

This video is so wrong in so many ways, that I dont know where to start. So i just drop it.

And I am amused by people who make judgments like yours about people whom they've never met and know absolutely nothing about. :)

"I'm a mixed martial artist!" Are you though? www.sherdog.com/fighter/Robert-Weeks-94055

So I watched Hugh KNight's lesson on the krumphau posted late last year. What he's doing wrong: Unrealistic speed, unrealistic force/intent, poor footwork, dui tempo action, repeatedly misnaming what appears to be a crooked zwerchau to the head, no proper binding/feeling. These are symptoms of not freeplaying.

I cant dislike this enough. Seriously Mr. Weeks, please take this down. Those of us who actually do work with European Longswords with our style of Martial Arts, find it insulting that you would post this with such a blatant disregard for actual knowledge.

Please do the responsible thing and take this clip down.

is... is this a joke? pls tell me this is a joke

I've looked at what JC shows, and he shows it working. I've done it myself, and it works. The angle of the cut, the position of both opponents, and the cut's direction (descending) all correspond to what's repeatedly shown and described in numerous sources. And if the ARMA krumphau is broken, what is the true krumphau?

OMG! This is hilarious! HAWK BLOW!!!

... ... * sigh *

Michael Brennan- I'm a student of Hugh Knight's. Please, seriously, if you can, come to one of his classes. We're in SoCal, and I realize that this may be not possible, but I promise you that nobody who's actually come and trained with him has a doubt about his ability to do the techniques at speed and with force.

I can only agree with all the people before me. This is wrong and it would be nice of you if you could find a HEMA group close to you to make a video to help you explain how thing should be done. Just for your viewers sake to be informed well. I bet any group would be willing to help you with this.

Again, I have met JC and listened to him. And read quite a bit. And worked closely with people whom studied under him for several years, some of whom I consider very close friends now. Here is a hint, lose the cult, stop drinking the KoolAid, head to another HEMA/WMA school in your area and see what you are missing. Thus far EVERY SINGLE ARMA (rather former ARMA) person I've met that has done just that has had no regrets and are a lot better off.

Watch some more of his videos... some are actually pretty funny... well they made laugh....

A bastard sword is NOT a hand and a half sword

It may be so 2000, but its also quite true. How many people from ARMA participate with the rest of the HEMA/WMA community? I know of only one or two, and they are usually in the process of leaving ARMA. When you have a whole group (albeit small group) of folks staying on the outside of the rest of the community refusing any level of input from that community that IS in the know, that's a cult. And your behaviour only proves it further. Don't worry someday you'll figure it out.

Patrick- not sure I follow- Buffalo?

I am going to seriously ask, where did you get your info? because everything is wrong.