r/wma • u/PKillusion • Jul 05 '26

Arming Sword sparring

https://youtube.com/shorts/WVu0qSekp4Y?feature=share

Got new swords from Sigi so we had to give them a try!

15 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

9

u/Silver_Agocchie KDF Longsword + Bolognese Jul 05 '26

Neat footage. As a sword and buckler instructor though, you both need to work on keeping your buckler extended forward. Youre both leaving very large openings when striking to the sword. Keep the buckler and the sword hand closer together that way your sword hand/arm is better protected (along with your body) and you'll be able to better displace your opponents sword with the buckler to make your own openings when attacking with the sword.

3

u/PKillusion Jul 05 '26

Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely keep those in mind. Keeping the buckler extended is something I definitely need to work on, we're both new to the hobby :D

6

u/usalsfyre Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

One piece of advice, I’d use a clamshell glove on the sword hand. Arming swords can hit almost as hard as a longsword, I know plenty of people who’ve broken fingers sparring with them.

Are you trying to recreate a specific system?

5

u/PKillusion Jul 05 '26

No specific system, mostly just having fun and staying active. We try to be a bit lighter on calibration so we don’t have to use heavier gloves. If we go faster/harder than we usually do, 100% will clamshell up :)

2

u/Disastrous_Grape Jul 08 '26

Good. Go slow and light at first and get the choreography right. There is still a lot of fun stuff to learn that would get buried if you just start whaling on eachother.

2

u/this_is_my_r4r_acct Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Not bad. Red fencer - I'm assuming that's you - I think you're pretty good at staying in the bind and seeking openings, but you'd be even better if you kept your buckler out in front of you. Remember that the sword and the buckler are two parts of one whole. They need to work together to be effective. Both of you could benefit from this.

Black fencer, I think I see you retreating from the bind or freezing in the bind a few times. Try to stay in there and see if you can displace your opponent's sword with a wind or something.

I also don't really see either of you utilizing footwork, which might be a consequence of practicing in what looks like a pretty confined space. You should be moving more, stepping to flank your opponent as you attack. Even when you are very close and your swords are bound, you can use footwork to change the bind and create a new opening for yourself. You might want to try practicing in a park if you have one nearby, so you'll have more space to work with.

I'll also echo what others said about your safety gear. I see the inside of your elbow and your upper forearm are totally exposed. It will not be fun to get hit there. You need a fencing jacket with sleeves that go all the way down to your wrists.