Gripping the Sword
Dec 11, 2006 0:34:44 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2006 0:34:44 GMT
Lots of people I see grip their swords poorly. Even those who say that they 'train often' and 'use historical methods'. Take a look at Tobler's 'Fighting with the German Longsword' to see what I mean.
It is my opinion that a sword grip should be firm AND relaxed. Gripping tight with the hand(like a fist) limits how much you can do with your sword without moving your whole arm and body. While power can be generated this way, it telegraphs your attacks to your opponent.
Subtle blade control is very important I think in any form of swordfighting - be it longsword fencing or a grand melee. Thus I advocate a grip that is tight with the little finger, and progressively more relaxed as your fingers wrap around the handle. In this way, the forefinger and thumb are very relaxed, and the middle and ring fingers are sorta firm, sorta relaxed. The thumb and forefinger should form a sortof 'V' shape as well.
A grip like this yields a great range of motion just from the wrist. this will lend itself to subtle blade control. Also, it is easier to have a more relaxed body merely from a grip like this - less tension filters through the arm. I've found also, that a grip like this is no less firm than a grip one would use with a club or baseball-bat(the kinds I see all the time). In fact, trying to hold onto a sword with a really tight grip is harder than with a relaxed grip. The reason for this I believe is that in a very tight grip, more of the energy of parried attacks or blade pulses is absorbed in the hand/forearm, and less with the body.
It is my opinion that a sword grip should be firm AND relaxed. Gripping tight with the hand(like a fist) limits how much you can do with your sword without moving your whole arm and body. While power can be generated this way, it telegraphs your attacks to your opponent.
Subtle blade control is very important I think in any form of swordfighting - be it longsword fencing or a grand melee. Thus I advocate a grip that is tight with the little finger, and progressively more relaxed as your fingers wrap around the handle. In this way, the forefinger and thumb are very relaxed, and the middle and ring fingers are sorta firm, sorta relaxed. The thumb and forefinger should form a sortof 'V' shape as well.
A grip like this yields a great range of motion just from the wrist. this will lend itself to subtle blade control. Also, it is easier to have a more relaxed body merely from a grip like this - less tension filters through the arm. I've found also, that a grip like this is no less firm than a grip one would use with a club or baseball-bat(the kinds I see all the time). In fact, trying to hold onto a sword with a really tight grip is harder than with a relaxed grip. The reason for this I believe is that in a very tight grip, more of the energy of parried attacks or blade pulses is absorbed in the hand/forearm, and less with the body.