Longsword Fighting

[Glorelendil]

www.nytimes.com/video/sports/1000000030 ... hting.html

[Faire]

Interesting! At the same time it is about as far from real-world LS fighing as kendó is. The major thing is that from the stances you can see very openly that they are not allowed to thrust - this allows them for very "unrealistic" techniques, guards and stances. Shame... BTW thrust is one of the most deadly techniques - very fast and dangerous.

[cuthalion]

At the same time it is about as far from real-world LS fighing as kendó is.

Hmmm ... not sure what you mean by 'real-world LS fighting'. If you mean what's shown in movies, then yes! Otherwise, this is very authentic--there are multiple texts, but all seem to agree on certain basics--and they are certainly thrusting, it's maybe just a little quicker/more subtle than you're used too. Once you see this in person, you realize that it's really the only way this would have gone down--especially when you take into account armor restriction and weight etc.--and that typical Hollywood stage fighting is pretty ridiculous.

That being said, from what I've read, the LOTR films (Bob Anderson) actually do a pretty good job in making things a little more realistic, Mortensen in particular--this from actual long sword practitioners.

[Morgoth]

Interesting! At the same time it is about as far from real-world LS fighing as kendó is. The major thing is that from the stances you can see very openly that they are not allowed to thrust - this allows them for very "unrealistic" techniques, guards and stances. Shame... BTW thrust is one of the most deadly techniques - very fast and dangerous.

Well, I think this trying to essentially bring back tournament LS fighting. They don't allow thrusts for the same reason medieval tournaments didn't allow thrusts, because like you said, it's a very deadly technique. They're trying to resurrect LS fighting as a sport, not as an effective means of combat (which it never will be again, because... guns).

[Faire]

Nope, I meant "how it looked like in real fight". I can't really watch sword-fighting in most movies ...).

...

Yep, exactly my point of view. Though I still hope that there must be a way to bring thrusts back into action... I was really disappointed when we tried kendo with my wife - it was far too tournamenty for my liking (though it must be fun!). I would have the same problem here - techniques showed in the video would be very self-dangerous in a real fight. Still, it looks like fun . And I have seen the kind of swords they use (with a very narrow, light blade) in our gym, so I guess we do have it running even here, in the Czech Republic.

[Glorelendil]

I have nerf sword fights with my nephews and we use thrusts all the time. Totally safe.

[shipwreck]

Okay this is rad. I want to get good at this and then go beat up all my friends who LARP.

[Otaku-sempai]

I have nerf sword fights with my nephews and we use thrusts all the time. Totally safe.

I would still try to avoid direct thrusts to the chest. A solid hit might be enough to induce a physical shock to the heart. Also avoid thrusts to the face, kidneys, liver, etc.

[Seosaidh]

I have nerf sword fights with my nephews and we use thrusts all the time. Totally safe.

I would still try to avoid direct thrusts to the chest. A solid hit might be enough to induce a physical shock to the heart. Also avoid thrusts to the face, kidneys, liver, etc.

I would say that it really depends on the type of nerf sword, mainly on how much foam in on the tip to protect against the solid plastic core (it it has one). If there is no core, the foam will likely bend (kind of like thrusting with a pool noodle). If there is a core, and there isn't enough foam on the tip, the plastic core could still cause injury. If there is too much foam, the foam will bend, and you have the problem of not enough foam between the tip of the core and the person.

Of course, this is all dependent on how violently the thrust is. It really comes down to a matter of personal judgement as well as what risks are you personally willing to take in exchange for the enjoyment of sword-fighting.

[Otaku-sempai]

Agree with the above. My point was that the most recent Nerf swords that I have seen have a solid core that could still pose a slight danger.