Rapier and Cloak sparring - Tom vs Nick 

Ah yes, but what about duel weilding cloaks

My three favourite comments When's net and trident? Can't wait to see rapier and lantern What about beer bottle and chair?

They were once laughed at for carrying "security blankets", who's laughing now? I am, because this means Linus is actually a talented fighter.

I imagine a 18th century duelist bringing his lucky blanket to the duel. XD

Personally I prefer the rapier and the double barrel 12 gauge.

It can be used as extra-defense against slashing cuts by wrapping it around the arm, as an improvised gambeson of sorts. It was very common in Latin America with ponchos during knife fights.

I eagerly await rapier and lantern next.

So next is net and trident then ?

Thank you so much for doing this. I think you're the only ones to have shown this on youtube and I hope it catches on with more people. I hope you do more I have to admit, HEMA sure can be classy at times and it's just as beautiful as what the East has. Keep up the good work and may HEMA prosper under people like you. Chers! :D

Cool! I was hoping someone would do a cloak and sword video. I was trying to explain the concept of cloak and sword/dagger fighting the other day, and it would have been much easier to refer to a video.

so, this how rich people fought back in the day?

How about beer bottle and chair?

I first sparred with a cloak and sword around 6 years ago, and let me tell you it's so tiring, leaving it wrapped around your arm Donald McBane style isn't so bad, but when you perform some cloak techniques over and over during a fight it can quickly ware you out. It doesn't look like it from the video, but if you try this out you will see it actually takes a lot of effort to fight like this for long periods of time.

I really like the exchange at 4:37

i vote pommel throwing practice next :D

its will be much more effective in real duel. sharp swords point can be caught and trapped by the fabric very easy. thus the coat provide very good defense as well as offense.

I love to see how you guys seem to experiment and "play around" with different weaponsets... keep up the good work :)

Weaponized carpets ?

This is a great video. Street fighting really is all about using what you have at hand to your advantage. Throwing dirt in your opponent's face can be used just as or more effectively as a cloak, chucking rocks, whatever. It's probably arguable whether using a jacket as a means to defend your torso slightly by wearing it, or by taking it off and using it as an impromptu shield is better. Use whatever you have, though. One memorable movie scene for me was Lords of Dogtown, I can't remember the guy's name, but there's about to be a fight and he whips off his belt and wraps it around his hand, buckle out like a flail, in a very practiced motion. Know what you have on you, and use it. Even a wallet can act as a shield. Thick leather and a bunch of credit/debit cards will stop a knife thrust pretty effectively. I have never been in a street fight thankfully, but a guy was acting strange and I was ready when he pulled his knife, handful of rocks, and a beer bottle ready to smash over his head. My friends ran, but I stood my ground and backed off slowly. He backed off right quick, guess he didn't wanna get bottled if he tried me with his tiny pocket knife.

When Linus from Peanuts grew up and became a swordsman

Sometimes you're the cloak, sometimes you're the sword.

personally i've always wanted to see a fight in a movie or something where some renaissance duelist is caught without his rapier and fights using just the lantern and the cloak.

Gives a whole new meaning to "cloak and dagger!"

2:37 Did that guy in the back just drop and do pushups?

Seems like there isn't as much masking of movement as I would expect to see from mastery in this technique. It looks like a very interesting method.

I'd love to see more exploration of this combo. Will you be going into more detail about how various masters instruct its use and maybe some demonstrations on technique?

I would love to learn how to historically duel 🤺 but I alive in NYC and the only HEMA is in New Jersey the enemy of New York 😡

¡¡¡ESPAÑA!!!

I literally was just thinking of this an hour ago... Great video btw.

0:58 Nice kick

Does it count as a kill if you hit him with the blanket instead if the rapier?

2 cloaks vs 2 rapiers

The Cloak: The original trolling side weapon! The Cloak: The gentleman's troll weapon! The Cloak: A weapon that makes even a master look silly! Seriously though, this is pretty fun to watch, I guess.

seems like they having fun time

lol the guy with a smiley on his mask sure knows how to distract :D out of curiosity: how resistant are those masks? can they withstand a mighty thrust? cool sparring by the way, really love the idea of adding improvised weapons, creativity is important in battle p.s. pretty full house there, good for close quarters training

So whats your conclusion ? Better then nothing in your offhand or better have nothing ?

Watch Alatriste! There's the best cloak rapier fight ever there.

I like the sneaky hand grab for the sword tip to go with the cloaks :-) it makes me wonder how many fencers of old would have had slashes on the left palm from where they tried that trick :-D great fun and nice to see the cloaks, im surprised that they didn't evolve the idea to perhaps add cable or string in to the capes to make it like a whip :-)

I used to do this when I wanted to fend off bites from loose dogs, I'd only throw the cloth in order to grab the dog. I didn't have the heart to give them a swift kick, so I just smacked em with a jacket or some cloth, and blocked their faces until I got far away from their homes, and they'd bigger off to dodge traffic until their owners woke ups to figure out their dogs were loose.

Reminds me of zorro using his cape to surprise his enemies and hide his movements.

I use the modern equivalent, a leather trenchcoat littered with safety pins. I dig the unconventional off hand. Up next? Rapier and lantern!

Freaking Awesome spar

and that is why Romulans love CLOAK AND DAGGER lol.

My Spanish blood is happy at last

Truly more skilled than anyone I've met into the SCA light fighting. It would be awesome to someday face people with actual skill. (Note: I like the SCA, however tge fighters learn very few things where I am, and they stick with what they know and don't bother to learn more.)

Almost like Spanish bull-fighting...I wonder if the techniques are applicable such as hiding your weapon behind the cloak? I don't see them doing that at least.

My question would be how effective would it be to be wearing the cloak during combat. Set in a way where it getting snagged or caught by the opponent's blade would end with is getting removed rather than your neck being garroted

To be honest, a napkin would be enough to distract an opponent in most cases.

That's actually kind off how bulls were fought in foot in the 16/17th century

Improvised with a trench coat or long jacket , I can really see this being a close quarters stealth thing...

Rapier and Cloak is cool, but what about Gun and military soldier?

No. No! NO! You're supposed to wet the cloak, twist it around a bit and use it as a whip!

Does the guy on the right not have a blunt on his blade?!

People in the 17th century took pillowfights too serious

blankets..?? im thinking about whips..

Rediarius .... Rediarius is cool .. but I think if you use a network..maybe it was even more efficient...

Nice, southern style. The one guy did not want to though.

Pocket sand vibes

I imagine the answer is no but do you think there's any merit in the idea that you could use the sword it's self to help you wrap the opponent's blade with the cloak and if so, at 5:56 the cloak on the right is draped over the rapier anyway, would that have been a good opportunity?

he dodged the cloke?

Dude, throw the cloak once and as a gentleman you let him pick it up, but twice, that's too much!

Brilliant nick: I've always wanted to see this demo!

Do these cloaks have weighted hems or are they 'standard' cloaks?

I hate to be that guy, but they don't seem to be using the cape to its full potential...

wtf????????????

Can't wait to do cloaks

Seems like it would tire you out faster swinging a heavy cape for very little effect. Rolled up and tied at the ends then worn over the shoulder would give you the best protection.

Awesome.

tried to end him rightly using that cloak...alright- memes aside, I have never seen this style used before. very cool. i wonder if this style could be performed with cloaks worn. it woulf probably allow for easier manipulation of the cloak. more deception.

I kinda pity the guys in the back the one with longswords I think

So it seems throwing the cloak onto someone's not much of an impediment.

Companion weapon? pssssh. The pommel is all you need.

Cloak and Dagger with grappling. What a mess that would be.

Am i the only one that was waiting for one to start using the cloak as a whip?

what purpose have these lashes? increase the risk of injurys?

Dude, awesome, I've been wanting to see how one of these fights would work

Im very confused about this whole situation...

Im really glad for this !!! Keep on the surprises !

Looks like the fencer on the right has a Leon Paul mask. Are those really safe for this kind of sparring? Do you guys do additional stress-testing beyond FIE requirements?

I love how comedic everyone in the comments are.

Where is rocket launcher and berserk pack?

This looks genius, actually.

I'm imagining how cloak and rapier fencing may have started; a couple nobles in the street shouting curses at each other trying to slap the others sword away with a cloak or throw it in their face. XD

Hi fellow HEMA enthusiasts, I would like to ask a question about HEMA practice: If I am nearsighted(L400 R250. I can distinguish everything of course, but it's just a bit blurry and my sense of distance is off withou glassets), could I still practice HEMA? Do you know any HEMA practitioner with this condition? And how do they deal with this?

looks like "esgrima criolla"

This is really cool.

shouldn't one end be stuck to the shoulder?

And for the next sparring session you will use wet towels folded into rat's tails as an offhand weapon?

Nice work, gents!!

this is outrageous

Why is everyone dressed like a ninja? Where are all the vibrant historical European colors and patterns?

Hey, that's interesting..

About time! Can I ask what sources you use?

Spanish cloacks weight 6 kg, is used in bullfighting... those are blanquets...

You seem a decent fellow, I hate to kill you You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die You both seem a decent fellows, I hate these cloaks

This may seem like an odd question, but where can I get one of those cloaks?

You need a bigger place to train guys ! :D Great video

what this cloak used for ?? if its really fight and he use that cloak he will just easy cut the cloak and his hand without any problem

How long have you been using the cloak for before this video? It's hard to tell what comes from the style and what comes from inexperience.

Don't think you should parry with a cloak. It can be done, but how are you going to riposte? Cloakslap? Get the cloak wet and wrap it real tight and whip them in the eye? I think the most effective use of the cloak is to first off hold it off to the side so you dont sacrifice the distance of your rapier in front, and then throw it forward to BLOCK VISION before committing a strike.