Katana or European Longsword

[mc_Floyd]

I highly disagree. In my first year I've learnt basics, mostly stuff based on German school of fencing, teachings of Johannes Liechtenauer, written down by Hanko Doebringer, Sigmund Ringeck, Peter von Danzig. Based on the documents written by those three there is an era described as Early-Liechtenauerian era, ranging from 1350 to 1450.

Ok thats new for me, are they refering to the German "langes Schwert"?

Because i think you mean this one (late medieval, early renaissance long sword, two handed sword):


and im talking about this one (1200-1350, German "langes Schwer", or Anderthalbhänder ="one and a half hand used"/ Bastardsword):


Different swords from different times, probably not used in similar ways, dunno

Later in my second year I've learnt from this specific school more, mostly about "blossfechten" or "naked fight", fight without armor, tries to aim to hit/cut/stab the quickest way possible, in my third year I've learnt of the teachings of Fiore dei Liberi, Italian master. His book was more thorough and about way more stuff, longsword fencing already included armored combat, so his techniques are different than of Liechtenauer. In the future I'll most probably learn of Marozzo, Joachim Meyer (damn, I've seen his guard stances, like Liechtenauer's but lower and way less comfortable), Thibault, and dunno who/what else.

And this is the point where it becomes strange for me. Im not visiting a sword school or anything, but tried out some basics with other reenactors. They studied what they found about it (in matters of earlier medieval times, Liechtenauer is very late) and we tried that stuff out. It was horrible to execute, from my martial arts experience partial totally useless, as if there was missing something. Although i liked the part to use your metal gloves with the sword (eg stabilizing your blade with your hand to block and counter the attack)

Research is going on. There are a ton of transcripts and fight books to translate and examine, try out techniques, apply them in combat, master them. The Ars Ensis is about this. The HEMAC is about this. (And also not only longsword fencing, but a ton of other European medieval and historical weapons and fighting styles.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjT4JepA-Vc
Those two are great

I know you're right Thyrzul, when saying there is a lot of bequeathed techniques from books and pictures. But the point is, it some how died out in executing it. Which imo is a great disadvantage, cause you are forced to reconstruct the "lost techniques" step by step not even being able to say if you do it right or not. So yes researching in that direction is more than a cool hobby, but bringing back some of our lost living european culture.
Somehow the asians (ok somehow is mean, they put alot of effort in it), especially the Japanese managed to keep their culture of that kind. Thats why in films still the Samurai and his Katana are the known heroes and martial arts masters more often than a european knight with his longsword.

---

Proud 2.0er Code Sabre Pilot [-=XTF=-]
Checkout my videos on my way, becoming a good fighter pilot!