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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2013 15:02:56 GMT
Well, technically you're both right I guess... If you're facing off the opponent with the intention of engaging with the blade, which is quite likely what you'd be doing most of the time, right leg leads. With an offensive use of the scutum, you wouldn't necessarily open every engagement with every opponent, or try mutiple engagements with the same opponent, using a punch with the scutum as the opening move every time, that would be too predicatble and get you killed. In formation against the first wave of enemy, the simple techniques that roman soldiers were drilled to perform, as described, would likely start with a shield strike, left leg leading. Ultimately, I would hazard to guess that a roman soldier would be spending more time thrusting the point of the gladius than punching with his shield (2lb gladius vs 15-20lb scutum being a critical factor), so the right leg would most likely lead for a majority of the time, but not exclusively. That does sound reasonable!  |
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Post by RicWilly on Mar 25, 2013 19:39:47 GMT
Something like this?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2013 1:30:42 GMT
Don't break formation in the Roman army!  |
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Post by MOK on Mar 26, 2013 11:01:45 GMT
A handful of people on these forums do seem to have gotten pretty damn abrasive recently, for some reason, and I'll admit you're not among the softest spoken of posters... but seriously? This is what you kids call a "flame war" these days? :lol:
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2013 13:55:39 GMT
It's Ok Bill, it's not a flame war at all, nowhere near it, just a passionate discussion. :lol:
Agree with your assesment of using the hips and whole body for maximum force, that is one of the most important points in the Chinese martial arts, hence where Bruce Lee got the idea from for the one inch power punch.
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Post by Fifteenthirty on Apr 15, 2013 11:55:53 GMT
I vote left.
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Post by Beowulf on Apr 17, 2013 10:40:51 GMT
Hmmm...
I will toss out here something I guess. The Roman shield was huge compared to the warrior using it. The Roman sword was not something one could generate a LOT of power with by "passing" or "step as you cut". Besides, the cut does not seem to be the most valued tactic with them. Perhaps they were half-stepping with their right leg. I don't know.
All I know is the Gladius is a little under rated, you can take off a hand, probably an arm with its supposed meager cutting power.
However, outside of sport fencing or small-sword I cannot see starting right leg forward for many other styles at all. But I am a HEMA guy.
Interesting read, even though the Romans are my least favorite subject.
Cheers!
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Apr 17, 2013 18:00:02 GMT
i think a sharp gladius in the right hands could take a head in one swing.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Apr 17, 2013 18:26:04 GMT
I've seen a video of a gladius cutting straight through a cow's leg in one cut (can't remember the video atm),i can't see a well made gladius having any problem decapitating with a well placed strike.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 17, 2013 19:11:28 GMT
Problem is getting close enough to put in said well placed strike  |
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Apr 17, 2013 19:34:15 GMT
Very true :lol:
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 17, 2013 19:44:28 GMT
Well, I dinnae have a gladius . . . but I've got the Windlass Qama, which if not a gladius has a quite gladius-esque blade. It cuts like nobody's business. When I'm whimpering in shame, fear and rage at not being able to cut bottles with other swords, I bust out the qama and step closer. Man, does it ever cut.
But you know what else it does?
It stabs.
It stabs like it was born on Stabby Tree and fell off, hitting every stabby branch on the way down. It stabs like it was named Stabby McStabbysword, of clan McStabby. (McStabbysword is presumably just a sept.)
It's not a chopper, it's a cutter, but more than that, it's a stabber.
As for ricwilly's post, that opening scene told me, "Yeah, you're going to love Rome." And I did.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Apr 17, 2013 20:44:43 GMT
Hmmmm that's all very well and good,but how good is it at stabbing  |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Apr 17, 2013 20:52:52 GMT
The funny thing? It stabs pretty well!
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Apr 17, 2013 21:11:02 GMT
I'm surprised the Quama doesn't get more reviews,it's as cheap as chips and always seems to get favorable comments,i should really pick one up.I remember Greg making a nice spear out of one.
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Post by GUEST on Apr 17, 2013 22:28:40 GMT
Also the Roman's kept their swords hid behind the shield until they were ready to strike. Have to have left foot forward to do it. Putting your right foot forward will make it harder to defend with the shield.
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Post by Fifteenthirty on Apr 21, 2013 14:06:36 GMT
Maths was always my least favourite subject... As for cutting off a head with a gladius, it would be more efficient to put a pilum in them first, finish them off with a thrust to the groin, then saw off the head after the rest of the enemy has been driven from the field. Bit of a waste of time when you could be looting or having a few wines or something.
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Post by Military History is 4 Me on Sept 14, 2013 22:02:25 GMT
I have been resaerching actual accounts of roman battles using various gladius techniques...unfortunately no manual of arms has yet to be found...historians have debated about this for years...The fighting style isn't rocket science for intellectuals...the gladius is primarily designed as a thrusting weapon but was also used to cut or chop as an enemy target presented itself.....There is a great discussion on this in this book... www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1439132828 |
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Post by Kasey on Sept 4, 2014 9:33:56 GMT
It is interesting to know how romans used gladius sword (a medieval roman sword)in fighting. So if you compare the fighting techniques with that of Romans then they used to stabbed with them into their opponents guts. A thrust comes from the left side as you sidestep in a 45 degree angle to your right. Actually this can only be done that has a guard.
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Post by Madmartigen on Sept 4, 2014 17:44:11 GMT
Sorry to nitpick and no mean to offend, but gladius is not a medieval roman sword. Actually the Middle Ages start after the fall of the Roman (at least Western Roman) empire.
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