Seeing legwork being analyzed and elaborated is always fascinating I began to pay attention to it when I studied camera operating, where we definitely took inspiration from martial arts as well in how to maintain balance flexibly and swiftly
It's simultaneously the most important and least exciting component of fencing. A bout can be won with little more than being in the right spot at the right time, and you get there with your feet.
@@robinswordsyep, in any combat sport 2 things are very important: 1) position (distance and angle) and 2) rhythm (timing your opponent and disguise/change your own rhythm).
TIL why the instructor of the fencing class I took in highschool asked me if my name was Meyers. He wasnt asking "Meyers?" as in my name, he was asking "Meyers?" as in had I any training, because I was doing exactly this to move around my opponent in the initial evaluation.
This is giving me that interaction from Dune between Dr. Kynes and Paul: "You... have worn a still suit before?" "No, first time." "Who taught you how to do that?" "It seemed the right way."
Yes! So grateful we have someone so knowledgeable about Meyer’s real system making such great content. I feel like Meyer so often gets reduced to “the guy who cuts a lot” and it just makes me smile to see someone so popular speaking about this topic, and his rappier section especially.
As a boxer I definitely didn't like that motion at first but in this context it makes sense, and you did a good job of explaining the practicality of it
Being off balance in the direction you are trying to make an explosive movement is literally how every olympic sprinter starts. Thank you for helping people understand they every rule exists within its context and are only somewhat generalizeable.
One cool thing I noticed is that because you are front loaded, the second step onto your front foot is a lot quicker. Instead of shifting your weight back then stepping forward, you just fall into your next step.
Destreza also uses tranverse steps, which are this but lead foot crossing. You can do it fine if you do it at the right time. Crossing your legs is an issue with closer fighting because you can be bowled over, but from distant engagements it frees you up to step out and way from blows and break your opponent's line, which is very useful
That first step already telegraphs your second step. As the first step takes you “off balance” and then you go into balance again. So you could incorporate foot-feints. As some boxers do.
It's only telegraphing when your opponent not only notices the move but also has ample time to react. The whole 2-steps here is supposed to be done in a second in real time. By the time you notice it, the flow's already completed. It's supposed to be THAT quick. If someone takes more time than that to do this, it's either they're out to pull a feint or they just suck at the move. If they do it correctly & the opponent still is able to notice & react in time, then said opponent is just THAT skilled.
@@FalconWindblader I understand, but at a high level opponents react on telegraphs and rhythm. Not on movement, because there would not be enough time. Like at high level boxing no one can react to a punch when it’s already being thrown. You react on telegraphs of the shoulder muscle (for example) and reading the rhythm. Someone can throw you offf with feints.
@@Ken_Jones A fighter's rhythm is determined by how they move. there's no way someone can tell the other guy's rhythm, especially if they're telegraphing, without reading how they move. as for the analogy in boxing, there's one key thing you overlooked, direction. a boxer can tell the other guy is telegraphing from the shoulder movement as it's damn obvious how the shoulder flexes as the arm moves, & a boxer who's telegraphing tends to wind up their punches almost all the time, which means the shoulder flexes in the OPPOSITE direction of the attack, & the arm would subsequently move BACKWARDS as well. a boxer can fully read that a punch is coming in the next second because the nature of the winding moves in the opposite direction of the actual attack, causing a noticeable DELAY, thus giving the other guy ample time to plan ahead, as there's just no way anyone can wind up & fully throw their punch in a second. In that 2-step fencing footwork however, the leg is moving FORWARD, in the SAME DIRECTION as not only the blade, but the rest of the body as well. unlike with the punch, there's no wind-up, no pulling in the other direction before the launch with that specific footwork, & thus NO DELAY. by the time the opponent notices the leg crossing, the fencer in question would already be throwing their blade & their other leg forward, FORCING said opponent to react howsoever right there & then. to be able to actually plan ahead against someone using such footwork, the fencer in question would need to be able to tell the other guy is sliding their leg as they cross, just reading the hips, which is a hell lot more difficult than just reading the shoulders.
That was my thought, plus he throws his free hand up to keep balance opening his face. His opponent has a power advantage, allowing him to lunge and sweep the sword to the side, using his weight to push through it. Jut as he brings his front foot down his opponent will be punching him in the face with his free hand.
this kind of stepping is super common in eastern martial arts, it works. I think a lot of the issues people have with it is that it feels alien because its not something you normally do day to day. It takes a little bit of practice and hip mobility and that scares off a huge percentage of people.
This tracks. Karate, from Okinawa, has many similar forms and movements, especially from a front weighted stance. The ability to move that lighter leg is pretty great, and can situationally be useful without extra danger.
It´s similar to Destreza, a system from Spain which also use side steps and diagonal side steps to move out of line to defend and attack in a circular pattern.
Meyer traveled around Europe to learn in his younger days and probably learned Destreza as well. Pacheco's treatise mentioned him with a bit of trash talking
So excited to see more footwork lessons on this channel!! I really hope this topic gets the views to justify more of these videos. Especially with the Sidesword (and similar swords), it's my favourite💜 (I'm also curious how not having your finger over the guard changes Rapier fencing, what are the advantages and disadvantages?)
as someone who did martial arts for a long time, the 'weight is on front so move hind' argument is found in many other fighting systems to, you always want to start movement with the foot that has less weight on it
We do cross steps in Choy Li Fut too, though no, it's not a stance you wanna hang out in. It's a transitional stance for particular movements, such as bringing the rear hand forward for greater reach. Getting swept is possible, but that just means you have to be careful about when you use it.
I developed the habit of crossing my feet like this in longsword to cut angles quickly. I later went to judo and got my feet swept so many times I can't cross my feet anymore without feeling nervous.
There's also a really well structured cross block you can throw off of that sidestep as you engage if you do the hop-step like you're throwing a switch kick. It brings your weight to the left side of your body (because that's where your feet end up) which makes it so you don't have to wheel to throw that block on the way in. I love footwork. I actually like that switch-kick-step just to fuck with people, it's enough of a distraction to get a hit a good portion of the time.
Surely the big baggy trousers would get caught on stuff mid-fight and hinder your moment, right? Or is that not an issue, and there’s actually some practical use for them to be so baggy?
That stance has also a lot of power. With a zweihander, instead of stepping forward with your lead leg (like here), you can spin and generate a devastating blow, with or without an additional step for reach. Ideally before the spin you have parried a polearm that you're pinning down while sneaking the back leg in place for the spin.
You can tell you've been on the internet a long time when you're able to pre-empt the "Well, Ackshually" guys in the comments before the video is even halfway done! Love the analysis!
I know you pointed out the down falls of crossing your legs. But in general moving the back leg first is always going to be slower than the front. I know because being the shorter fighter i need any advantage i can get to get past a taller opponents range.
I use a similar technique in MMA, the time it takes to make the two movements is very short, plus if you use the movement sparingly it’s hard for people to predict and thus hard to counter.
I was able to use scanso del pie dritto if i remember name correctly - front leg sidestep with counterattack - in epee mach and it worked perfectly. Inquartata / scanso della vita are present even at proffesional level.
Interesting. I knew striking distance/engagement range would be different with swords compared with unarmed combat, but I hadn't considered the forward-leaning posture as part of the reason.
Wow 😳 I kinda did developped this step by myself messing around with movement and tought it was kinda silly yet so effective Wouldnt have dare to thought it was historical 😅😂🎉
Meanwhile in my fencing classes and tournies "Stomp stab go brr" Aka, always act uncharacteristically aggressive, like a greatsword wielder switching to fencing, and the opponent just gets confused by how uncouth you are
I'm not terribly familiar with rapier sources, but I've done a little bit of Polish sabre - it seems like that might be a useful way to move off-line for a cut, as much as giving point... am I wrong?
Yeah, crossing the back foot to the right at its core is just a way to prepare an off-line movement. What you do with the sword during that preparation is up to you.
Do you think a rapier is more of a slashing weapon or a thrusting weapon? I've always wondered if it'd be effective at slashing, since it isn't as thin as a fencing foil
Between the two? Thrusting, but the degree to which it will also slash will depend entirely on the rapier in question. Some have blades that are borderline indistinguishable from earlier Medieval cut & thrust swords. They cut quite well. Others have no edge at all and will only thrust.
Does this technique of loading the front foot help with dealing with attacks coming from different directions? In an actual fight you aren't just facing one person directly in front of you.
Hey Robin, have you played Star Wars Jedi Survivor yet? I'm working my way through it right now and I believe the crossguard saber resting stance is the same from the Dark Souls 2 longsword video you made awhile back talking about how much you missed it.
I think Meyers was 60% loaded front foot, he describes the knee being over the foot so u can see your toes, at a 90 I believe, then follow the lines in the wood cuts of 1570 they show direction of action….maybe lol
It is effective footwork, done with longsword and unarmed, too (just for an example). It might raise a few "red flags" but it really shouldn't if you're knowledgeable.
Mostly because Mair's life work was compiling and preserving other people's work. He's the og HEMA practitioner. Where we have access to a manuscript he copied down, I refer to the original.
Cross steps let me do fun little spin moves on my heels. Easier when dancing than dueling I'm sure, but nobody is expecting to come up behind me and then to be instantly face to face.
Seeing legwork being analyzed and elaborated is always fascinating
I began to pay attention to it when I studied camera operating, where we definitely took inspiration from martial arts as well in how to maintain balance flexibly and swiftly
It's simultaneously the most important and least exciting component of fencing. A bout can be won with little more than being in the right spot at the right time, and you get there with your feet.
@@robinswordsyep, in any combat sport 2 things are very important: 1) position (distance and angle) and 2) rhythm (timing your opponent and disguise/change your own rhythm).
@@Ken_Jones
I’ve also seen rifle stances translated to camerawork, tho that might be more of a picture-taking thing than video.
Once in karate class we had an 8th level black belt come teach us as a guest teacher. He had us work on our stances.
That smooth footwork is really satisfying to watch. It’s like you’re just floating around.
TIL why the instructor of the fencing class I took in highschool asked me if my name was Meyers.
He wasnt asking "Meyers?" as in my name, he was asking "Meyers?" as in had I any training, because I was doing exactly this to move around my opponent in the initial evaluation.
I wish this story was longer because it's so cinematic & I love it.
Did you practice fencing with knifes?
This is giving me that interaction from Dune between Dr. Kynes and Paul:
"You... have worn a still suit before?"
"No, first time."
"Who taught you how to do that?"
"It seemed the right way."
@@puppyenemy "He will know your ways as if he was born into them..."
Meyer's al ghaib
Yes! So grateful we have someone so knowledgeable about Meyer’s real system making such great content. I feel like Meyer so often gets reduced to “the guy who cuts a lot” and it just makes me smile to see someone so popular speaking about this topic, and his rappier section especially.
As a boxer I definitely didn't like that motion at first but in this context it makes sense, and you did a good job of explaining the practicality of it
Being off balance in the direction you are trying to make an explosive movement is literally how every olympic sprinter starts. Thank you for helping people understand they every rule exists within its context and are only somewhat generalizeable.
Lol, the pose in the thumbnail looks like the virtual insanity slide
Footworks
Made of
Virtual insanity
Always
Seem to
Be governed by the Meyer’s step
That's why rapier fighting looks like an elegant dance
The cheese on top is that Meyer "rapier" is not even rapier, he only called it that. It's just an arming sword with a big side ring
I dont know why I enjoy listening to this man talk about this very niche topic that I have no relation to and no knowledge about. But I do enjoy it.
For me, it's the drip he wears, the swords are just secondary
Hearing somebody talk about something they’re enthusiastic about tends to draw people in, even if they don’t know anything about the topic
One cool thing I noticed is that because you are front loaded, the second step onto your front foot is a lot quicker. Instead of shifting your weight back then stepping forward, you just fall into your next step.
Your videos have been a gift from the gods for someone who writes fantasy with sword combat.
As a martial arts nerd i love your understanding of footwork
Destreza also uses tranverse steps, which are this but lead foot crossing. You can do it fine if you do it at the right time. Crossing your legs is an issue with closer fighting because you can be bowled over, but from distant engagements it frees you up to step out and way from blows and break your opponent's line, which is very useful
Fencing is not in my culture but I love your videos for breaking down the theories/techniques. It puts more science into the arts. 👍👏
That first step already telegraphs your second step. As the first step takes you “off balance” and then you go into balance again. So you could incorporate foot-feints. As some boxers do.
It's only telegraphing when your opponent not only notices the move but also has ample time to react. The whole 2-steps here is supposed to be done in a second in real time. By the time you notice it, the flow's already completed. It's supposed to be THAT quick. If someone takes more time than that to do this, it's either they're out to pull a feint or they just suck at the move. If they do it correctly & the opponent still is able to notice & react in time, then said opponent is just THAT skilled.
@@FalconWindblader I understand, but at a high level opponents react on telegraphs and rhythm. Not on movement, because there would not be enough time. Like at high level boxing no one can react to a punch when it’s already being thrown. You react on telegraphs of the shoulder muscle (for example) and reading the rhythm. Someone can throw you offf with feints.
@@Ken_Jones A fighter's rhythm is determined by how they move. there's no way someone can tell the other guy's rhythm, especially if they're telegraphing, without reading how they move. as for the analogy in boxing, there's one key thing you overlooked, direction. a boxer can tell the other guy is telegraphing from the shoulder movement as it's damn obvious how the shoulder flexes as the arm moves, & a boxer who's telegraphing tends to wind up their punches almost all the time, which means the shoulder flexes in the OPPOSITE direction of the attack, & the arm would subsequently move BACKWARDS as well. a boxer can fully read that a punch is coming in the next second because the nature of the winding moves in the opposite direction of the actual attack, causing a noticeable DELAY, thus giving the other guy ample time to plan ahead, as there's just no way anyone can wind up & fully throw their punch in a second.
In that 2-step fencing footwork however, the leg is moving FORWARD, in the SAME DIRECTION as not only the blade, but the rest of the body as well. unlike with the punch, there's no wind-up, no pulling in the other direction before the launch with that specific footwork, & thus NO DELAY. by the time the opponent notices the leg crossing, the fencer in question would already be throwing their blade & their other leg forward, FORCING said opponent to react howsoever right there & then. to be able to actually plan ahead against someone using such footwork, the fencer in question would need to be able to tell the other guy is sliding their leg as they cross, just reading the hips, which is a hell lot more difficult than just reading the shoulders.
That was my thought, plus he throws his free hand up to keep balance opening his face. His opponent has a power advantage, allowing him to lunge and sweep the sword to the side, using his weight to push through it. Jut as he brings his front foot down his opponent will be punching him in the face with his free hand.
made a lot of connection to other martial arts thank to this 59sec demo and explanation
Bro is a college of swords bard😅
this kind of stepping is super common in eastern martial arts, it works. I think a lot of the issues people have with it is that it feels alien because its not something you normally do day to day. It takes a little bit of practice and hip mobility and that scares off a huge percentage of people.
Ive followed your channel for the last year i think, and i recently got into training HEMA with a longsword! Love your content!
Hope you find it as rewarding as I have!
This tracks. Karate, from Okinawa, has many similar forms and movements, especially from a front weighted stance. The ability to move that lighter leg is pretty great, and can situationally be useful without extra danger.
Cross stepping around like that worked really well for Muhammad ali
Bruce Lee moved around a lot too. They spent a lot of time with their legs crossed simply because they could get away with it.
Subbed for properly showing difference of footwork using the rapier versus other swords
It´s similar to Destreza, a system from Spain which also use side steps and diagonal side steps to move out of line to defend and attack in a circular pattern.
Meyer traveled around Europe to learn in his younger days and probably learned Destreza as well. Pacheco's treatise mentioned him with a bit of trash talking
the rare 0.00000000000000001% of YT knowitall martial arts/weapons channels that even know about footwork let alone talk about it. bravo.
As someone who does Wudang sword, we share this same footwork and it works very well in sparring.
This is 5 star content. Sir, thank you!
I was also taught cross steps in Taekwondo where we don't even have the range of a weapon and yes, the most common postures are also front weighted.
So excited to see more footwork lessons on this channel!! I really hope this topic gets the views to justify more of these videos. Especially with the Sidesword (and similar swords), it's my favourite💜
(I'm also curious how not having your finger over the guard changes Rapier fencing, what are the advantages and disadvantages?)
Some boxers do this, despite the much closer ranges involved. Looks like a very useful trick
Anybody else here not really into swords, but totally hooked anyway?
This dude deserves more subs. Let’s get him over a million💪
Also it just looks classy as hell
There's a difference between 'having' an opening and your opponent being able to make use of that opening.
i came here because i saw ONE Dragons dogma short... im staying because this is super cool !
"where our tips are just making contact"
as someone who did martial arts for a long time, the 'weight is on front so move hind' argument is found in many other fighting systems to, you always want to start movement with the foot that has less weight on it
Would you maybe put up a video about how to start getting involved in HEMA for beginners?
Mustache looks good brother, keep up the good work
I don't fence but I always love seeing your shorts show up in my recommended
My favorite strategy would be the elegance of the rapier with the sheer savagery of grappling while 6’ 2” and 250 lbs
Bro's color choices not dissuading the Superman vibe
Love the use of the bike stand. I got one to work on my bike, but I ended up using it for so many other things as well. Very handy. 👍
We do cross steps in Choy Li Fut too, though no, it's not a stance you wanna hang out in. It's a transitional stance for particular movements, such as bringing the rear hand forward for greater reach. Getting swept is possible, but that just means you have to be careful about when you use it.
This is hella cool 👀✨✨ Could you show a demonstration of this in full speed?
Are there full length videos of rapier techniques and footwork. I really wanna learn this at home
I developed the habit of crossing my feet like this in longsword to cut angles quickly. I later went to judo and got my feet swept so many times I can't cross my feet anymore without feeling nervous.
I'm not attracted to many men but you are very fancy with your sword things and I am watching
There's also a really well structured cross block you can throw off of that sidestep as you engage if you do the hop-step like you're throwing a switch kick. It brings your weight to the left side of your body (because that's where your feet end up) which makes it so you don't have to wheel to throw that block on the way in.
I love footwork. I actually like that switch-kick-step just to fuck with people, it's enough of a distraction to get a hit a good portion of the time.
this is facinating
These pants slap! They will get really popular if rappers start to wear them 😁
You also look very elegant doing it
Surely the big baggy trousers would get caught on stuff mid-fight and hinder your moment, right? Or is that not an issue, and there’s actually some practical use for them to be so baggy?
Love to begin action when our tips are juuuust making contact.
And when you do the side step you yell "HEEEE" and then when you swing the sword after you yell "HAAAAAA"
That stance has also a lot of power. With a zweihander, instead of stepping forward with your lead leg (like here), you can spin and generate a devastating blow, with or without an additional step for reach. Ideally before the spin you have parried a polearm that you're pinning down while sneaking the back leg in place for the spin.
Hey Robin, What’s your opinion on the Lightsaber-Nunchucks and the Lightsaber-Whip?🗡️
You can tell you've been on the internet a long time when you're able to pre-empt the "Well, Ackshually" guys in the comments before the video is even halfway done!
Love the analysis!
I know you pointed out the down falls of crossing your legs. But in general moving the back leg first is always going to be slower than the front. I know because being the shorter fighter i need any advantage i can get to get past a taller opponents range.
Very similar footwork can be used in boxing too.
I've been working on my footwork in fighting with my arming sword .
Cool analysis 👍
a very interest comparason between front foot heavy and rear foot, i love how to dive into these
Hehehe he said our tips making contact
Thanks for the short!
I wouldn't want to try this on uneven ground. On a fairly flat surface without debris, I can see where this would work.
I use a similar technique in MMA, the time it takes to make the two movements is very short, plus if you use the movement sparingly it’s hard for people to predict and thus hard to counter.
Definitely use this in Kung Fu too.
I was able to use scanso del pie dritto if i remember name correctly - front leg sidestep with counterattack - in epee mach and it worked perfectly. Inquartata / scanso della vita are present even at proffesional level.
>Tfw the tips are **just** touching
Heh, the tips touched.
There are a lot of cross steps in Hung Gar weapon forms as well.
Plus balance isn't nearly as difficult to lose when your legs are STRONCHed apart like Meyer wants.
I need the song name :,)
Interesting. I knew striking distance/engagement range would be different with swords compared with unarmed combat, but I hadn't considered the forward-leaning posture as part of the reason.
Wow 😳
I kinda did developped this step by myself messing around with movement and tought it was kinda silly yet so effective
Wouldnt have dare to thought it was historical 😅😂🎉
This is excellent tutelage.
I always, always, ALWAYS use a cross step when I am in a medieval rapier duel.
Meanwhile in my fencing classes and tournies
"Stomp stab go brr"
Aka, always act uncharacteristically aggressive, like a greatsword wielder switching to fencing, and the opponent just gets confused by how uncouth you are
Band of the hawks
I do foam fighting, and I make use of this footwork all the time.
can we get some grapple techniques, or realistic versions of it happening?
BRB gonna try this next time I'm in a dual
Ha. Tips, contact. He he he
Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm most likely am but also wouldn't that allow you to jump back by pushing off with your lead foot
Background song is fire
I always wondered why you would do a triangle step.
I'm not terribly familiar with rapier sources, but I've done a little bit of Polish sabre - it seems like that might be a useful way to move off-line for a cut, as much as giving point... am I wrong?
Yeah, crossing the back foot to the right at its core is just a way to prepare an off-line movement. What you do with the sword during that preparation is up to you.
sidesteps is key in swordplay bcs lot of schools is too linear.
Do you think a rapier is more of a slashing weapon or a thrusting weapon? I've always wondered if it'd be effective at slashing, since it isn't as thin as a fencing foil
Between the two? Thrusting, but the degree to which it will also slash will depend entirely on the rapier in question. Some have blades that are borderline indistinguishable from earlier Medieval cut & thrust swords. They cut quite well. Others have no edge at all and will only thrust.
Does this technique of loading the front foot help with dealing with attacks coming from different directions? In an actual fight you aren't just facing one person directly in front of you.
Hey Robin, have you played Star Wars Jedi Survivor yet? I'm working my way through it right now and I believe the crossguard saber resting stance is the same from the Dark Souls 2 longsword video you made awhile back talking about how much you missed it.
I think Meyers was 60% loaded front foot, he describes the knee being over the foot so u can see your toes, at a 90 I believe, then follow the lines in the wood cuts of 1570 they show direction of action….maybe lol
It is effective footwork, done with longsword and unarmed, too (just for an example). It might raise a few "red flags" but it really shouldn't if you're knowledgeable.
Is that the VB Meyer rapier?
You cover Meyer but I haven’t seen any Paulus Hector Mair coverage yet
Mostly because Mair's life work was compiling and preserving other people's work. He's the og HEMA practitioner. Where we have access to a manuscript he copied down, I refer to the original.
what is with the baggy pants ?
I kinda love how because of logical reasons a basic peice of fight logic can be ignored
Cross steps let me do fun little spin moves on my heels. Easier when dancing than dueling I'm sure, but nobody is expecting to come up behind me and then to be instantly face to face.
What is that thing you’ve got your second sword mounted on? I need one
Same debate in kenjutsu check out Anthony Cummins he's doing research on the oldest styles they front wight and cross step but modern kenjutsu doesn't
What song is this in the background? XD