I think that mass does come into play with horizontal cuts. I do have a sword bit on the blunt side and when I cut bottles with 45° angle, the bottle is partially forced into the stand so practically, it has more mass. Even if the hit is suboptimal, the blade is still forced into the material. However, with horizontal, there is nothing holding the bottle (or the tatami) in place, so with bad alignment and/or low applied force, the thing comes flying off like a baseball. I have learned through experience that more power can compensate poor technique, to a degree.
Is there a particular blade typology that is better for cutting tatami? I notice a lot of people using swords with strong thrust characteristics and at first glance that's odd to me, but it's obviously working. Thoughts?
Quick question, at 6:06 you mention a cut with the false edge of your arming sword. Am I missing a detail? It looks to me as a true edge cut but there's probably something I don't understand.
It looks as if it would be a better strategy in round 2 to start with the tricky cuts when you're fresh and save the easy power cuts for when you're flagging a bit.
You don't really get tired at all during a cutting tournament like this, so that's a non issue. Generally the factors to consider: - Probability of failure/messing up the mat/cutting off too much - Height of the mat (different cuts are easier at different heights) - Cutting the same angle multiple times in a row uses less mat than cross cuts
I noticed that your feet are moving before your hands, which is a pretty big tell in actual combat. Do you typically do that, or is that specifically to generate more power in this cutting challenge?
Проблема в том, что тут первый участник - это единственный, кто умеет бить с акцентированием удара, но по нему видно, что он пытается делать также как и японские мечники, которые стараются нанести один резкий удар. Европейское оружие позволяет вращением набрать огромную инерцию, которая позволила бы разрубать эти циновки как бумагу. Но никто почему-то не пытается вращать меч, чтобы сделать по настоящему сильный удар, все замирают в одной позе, а потом просто резко дёргают меч а сторону. Я сам занимался историческим боем, даже на заточенное оружие у нас пробивало щиты, толщиной по 12 миллиметров клееной фанеры, из-за того, что мечу боец придавал разгон.
Question not sure if you're still watching comments here, but with these cuts, isnt also a big issue even if you may be very good at home etc.. or at a place you're used to train, that you get stressed or feel awkward with people watching you and might think to yourself "Dont fuck up" etc..?
Yeah, I mean everyone could say its easy and all that but it really isnt, I mean I dont do HEMA personally I do viking re-enactment or starting to, but even I can say its really hard to line up a cut with your sword or axe an actually get a good cut unless you've trained.
What makes a blade good for cutting vs. thrusting? I've noticed a lot of extreme distal tapers are usually called 'thrusters' but I've also seen them used for cutting tournaments, also (like the Albion Principe). Any info would be helpful.
Very late response but if you're still wondering blade width also makes a big difference. While the albion principe has a strong distal taper it is very much a sword specialized for cutting because of the super wide blade. Typically thrusting swords are like needles like estocs.
As sharp as possible I would imagine. Although people will disagree with me and come shouting about technique (as if technique isn't important). What's just as important is a hella sharp sword.
I'm nobody important, but I have the Sticklestad. Mine is very well made, and even after Skallagrim-like abusive 'testing' it's holding together just fine. Nothing has loosened, nor have I managed to damage the blade yet, other than scratches.
This fabulous pre-Principe time... really demanding and skill based. Vs nowadays, when you just buy a massive triangle and lower it on the target with different angles.
The Principe isn't a magic sword. I have, and have also seen others completely fail cuts with it on many occasions. It's definitely an extremely high performer but to say that there isn't skill involved when using it isn't accurate either. There are many other Angus Trim swords that cut just as well as it.
I dont think its edge alliament. These mats and the wood dont weight enough. The hits push them away because they are too light so a lot of force is lost. For example the same hits vs a person weighting 40-50 kg? No way you could push him back with that sword slash and still the impact would be much higher.
The impact would be much higher, but as a cut it isn't that effective. A sword cut is different than attacking with a blunt weapon. With a sword you try to minimize the energy transferred to the target. So if the target is heavier you can club it harder, but if someone was going to to that they could probably use a club that costs a fraction of the price of a finely honed steel weapon. :)
Aye clubs are fun to learn. However most people swing a club like haymakers. They use the weight of the weapon to do damage when the damage should be from the entire body. Just like a proper punch. Top that off with the fact you must swing it fast enough to cut air. Really fun stuff.
Yes alot of the worse cuts may still hurt or even kill, but the idea is to discern the people who can cut from those who can cut well. So you make it harder by using lighter targets that are less forgiving. A good cut with proper edge alignment will go straight through with almost no energy to displace the two pieces being cut apart, and on a person will cut much deeper and be more damaging. After all a sword does much more damage by penetration and slicing than it can do by impact. You slap someone with the flat of the blade and it hurts like a bitch, you cut them properly and they lose a limb, or their torso.
8:25 I don't think edge alignment is this guys problem (Talking to the commentator) I think that his sword is not sharpened properly, I could be wrong, and it could be his perpendicular non follow through cutting technique adding to this, but in my opinion that sword is semi dull.
Definitely would love to see more videos with commentary, definitely helpful for understanding. Thanks for this!
I love seeing these. If there's more competitions like these, please upload.
This was a really interesting tournament.
I think that mass does come into play with horizontal cuts. I do have a sword bit on the blunt side and when I cut bottles with 45° angle, the bottle is partially forced into the stand so practically, it has more mass. Even if the hit is suboptimal, the blade is still forced into the material. However, with horizontal, there is nothing holding the bottle (or the tatami) in place, so with bad alignment and/or low applied force, the thing comes flying off like a baseball.
I have learned through experience that more power can compensate poor technique, to a degree.
Some nice cuts in there
Nice video!! enjoyed it, i know its not your best work, but you still did a good job. good work!!
Is there a particular blade typology that is better for cutting tatami? I notice a lot of people using swords with strong thrust characteristics and at first glance that's odd to me, but it's obviously working. Thoughts?
Quick question, at 6:06 you mention a cut with the false edge of your arming sword. Am I missing a detail? It looks to me as a true edge cut but there's probably something I don't understand.
It looks as if it would be a better strategy in round 2 to start with the tricky cuts when you're fresh and save the easy power cuts for when you're flagging a bit.
You don't really get tired at all during a cutting tournament like this, so that's a non issue. Generally the factors to consider:
- Probability of failure/messing up the mat/cutting off too much
- Height of the mat (different cuts are easier at different heights)
- Cutting the same angle multiple times in a row uses less mat than cross cuts
loving that intro
I noticed that your feet are moving before your hands, which is a pretty big tell in actual combat. Do you typically do that, or is that specifically to generate more power in this cutting challenge?
I always heard this "cutting practice" in HEMA videos and never had any idea how difficult cutting actually was.
Проблема в том, что тут первый участник - это единственный, кто умеет бить с акцентированием удара, но по нему видно, что он пытается делать также как и японские мечники, которые стараются нанести один резкий удар. Европейское оружие позволяет вращением набрать огромную инерцию, которая позволила бы разрубать эти циновки как бумагу. Но никто почему-то не пытается вращать меч, чтобы сделать по настоящему сильный удар, все замирают в одной позе, а потом просто резко дёргают меч а сторону.
Я сам занимался историческим боем, даже на заточенное оружие у нас пробивало щиты, толщиной по 12 миллиметров клееной фанеры, из-за того, что мечу боец придавал разгон.
That visquine would annoy the hell out of me if I was trying to move quickly with a sharp sword.
Question not sure if you're still watching comments here, but with these cuts, isnt also a big issue even if you may be very good at home etc.. or at a place you're used to train, that you get stressed or feel awkward with people watching you and might think to yourself "Dont fuck up" etc..?
Yes, absolutely. Being able to perform under pressure is always a factor in anything competitive :)
Yeah, I mean everyone could say its easy and all that but it really isnt, I mean I dont do HEMA personally I do viking re-enactment or starting to, but even I can say its really hard to line up a cut with your sword or axe an actually get a good cut unless you've trained.
cutting with cold steel swords... these people badass
What makes a blade good for cutting vs. thrusting? I've noticed a lot of extreme distal tapers are usually called 'thrusters' but I've also seen them used for cutting tournaments, also (like the Albion Principe). Any info would be helpful.
Very late response but if you're still wondering blade width also makes a big difference. While the albion principe has a strong distal taper it is very much a sword specialized for cutting because of the super wide blade. Typically thrusting swords are like needles like estocs.
The cold steel sword did better than I would expect in comparison to an albion.
Serious question not joking, are longswords the only type of sword that's allowed in these type of tournaments?
lamxung5000 currently, yes, but other events are starting to look at starting out s single hand cutting events as well in the future
And is it only western style long swords that are allowed? I'm genuinely curious so sorry if I'm sounding silly
lol that respike at the end
How sharp are the swords here ? Shaving sharp ? Or a bit less ?
As sharp as possible I would imagine. Although people will disagree with me and come shouting about technique (as if technique isn't important). What's just as important is a hella sharp sword.
have any of you used the windlass sticklestad viking sword? i would like to know if the blade is well made, or if it is spring steel.
I'm nobody important, but I have the Sticklestad. Mine is very well made, and even after Skallagrim-like abusive 'testing' it's holding together just fine. Nothing has loosened, nor have I managed to damage the blade yet, other than scratches.
rookieroo24
awesome, thanks.
How did you sharpen your albion crecy?
Harbor Freight Belt sander and trizact belts going to the leather at the end.
This fabulous pre-Principe time... really demanding and skill based.
Vs nowadays, when you just buy a massive triangle and lower it on the target with different angles.
The Principe isn't a magic sword. I have, and have also seen others completely fail cuts with it on many occasions. It's definitely an extremely high performer but to say that there isn't skill involved when using it isn't accurate either. There are many other Angus Trim swords that cut just as well as it.
Yay I'm Famous!
I dont think its edge alliament. These mats and the wood dont weight enough. The hits push them away because they are too light so a lot of force is lost. For example the same hits vs a person weighting 40-50 kg? No way you could push him back with that sword slash and still the impact would be much higher.
The impact would be much higher, but as a cut it isn't that effective. A sword cut is different than attacking with a blunt weapon. With a sword you try to minimize the energy transferred to the target. So if the target is heavier you can club it harder, but if someone was going to to that they could probably use a club that costs a fraction of the price of a finely honed steel weapon. :)
Aye clubs are fun to learn. However most people swing a club like haymakers. They use the weight of the weapon to do damage when the damage should be from the entire body. Just like a proper punch. Top that off with the fact you must swing it fast enough to cut air. Really fun stuff.
Yes alot of the worse cuts may still hurt or even kill, but the idea is to discern the people who can cut from those who can cut well. So you make it harder by using lighter targets that are less forgiving. A good cut with proper edge alignment will go straight through with almost no energy to displace the two pieces being cut apart, and on a person will cut much deeper and be more damaging. After all a sword does much more damage by penetration and slicing than it can do by impact. You slap someone with the flat of the blade and it hurts like a bitch, you cut them properly and they lose a limb, or their torso.
Niiice!
8:25 I don't think edge alignment is this guys problem (Talking to the commentator) I think that his sword is not sharpened properly, I could be wrong, and it could be his perpendicular non follow through cutting technique adding to this, but in my opinion that sword is semi dull.
Feels like some of those blades weren't very sharp
Git gud noobz! Just throw some pommels next time for high score!
But that way they will nuke the entire Con!
Do these people even practice?
Troll spotted.
So in athletic lol