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Post by markus313 on Jun 3, 2019 21:26:23 GMT
Aiming for full range of motion, coordinating limbs and torso for stability, mobility and power generation. Also a good full body workout when used as an interval/cardiovascular training.
Techniques from Joachim Meyer’s Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens, 1570 – halberd section.
Weapons used: Get Dressed for Battle Voulge, length 215 cm, weight 3130 g. Cold Steel Swiss halberd, 210 cm, 2300 g.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jun 3, 2019 22:07:41 GMT
Videos are all reading as unavailable for me
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Post by markus313 on Jun 3, 2019 22:37:24 GMT
Ah, should work now.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2019 1:11:48 GMT
Nice set of demos. Love the background commentary in the fourth video.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Jun 4, 2019 2:03:26 GMT
Nice! I like to watch videos of these things. It makes it all so clear when you can see what is going on and how the weapon naturally flows from maneuver to maneuver. It really gives you a sense of how effective/ineffective they were and where the power generation comes from.
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Post by markus313 on Jun 5, 2019 7:29:13 GMT
Nice set of demos. Love the background commentary in the fourth video. Lol, thanks! Maybe I should add an audio warning
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Post by markus313 on Jun 5, 2019 7:35:01 GMT
Nice! I like to watch videos of these things. It makes it all so clear when you can see what is going on and how the weapon naturally flows from maneuver to maneuver. It really gives you a sense of how effective/ineffective they were and where the power generation comes from. Thanks! Yes, the (early) halberds definitely are power weapons. Good for crushing armor and shocking an already disrupted formation. Later halberds are lighter and their pronounced beaks and heels are very useful for hooking the opponent's weapon amongst other things. Still I’d take a light spear or quarterstaff with good reach vs. a halberd, given enough space to move.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Jun 5, 2019 9:42:35 GMT
One limitation I see is the large area that the weapon takes to swing around to generate it's power. This could be a problem on a crowded battlefield with tightly packed troops. The difficulty lies in trying not to hit your own soldiers, horses (dead or alive), striking objects on the ground, trees, or etc. while trying to get the weapon into a striking maneuver. Under ideal conditions, however, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it by any means.
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Post by markus313 on Jun 5, 2019 11:05:03 GMT
One limitation I see is the large area that the weapon takes to swing around to generate it's power. This could be a problem on a crowded battlefield with tightly packed troops. The difficulty lies in trying not to hit your own soldiers, horses (dead or alive), striking objects on the ground, trees, or etc. while trying to get the weapon into a striking maneuver. Under ideal conditions, however, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it by any means. Yes, I think with its strengths there also come weaknesses. For example, while capable of delivering powerful strikes, the halberd is also tiresome to use. If the formations where tight, I guess a simple Oberhau/upward-thrust combination with gathering steps would be best (that’s actually a rather easy technique to execute, since the weight of the weapon does most of the work for you; see video no. 2 at 0:21).
From the historical sources I’ve looked at, I’d derive the halberd was mostly used in outflanking maneuvers, short shock attacks with retreats and protecting the sides of a formation from mobile skirmishers. I also read historical sources advising the use of shorter halberds and battle axes (5’ to 6’) for cramped conditions.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Jun 5, 2019 16:11:27 GMT
It does, very interesting stuff!
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Post by markus313 on Jun 5, 2019 16:52:45 GMT
It does, very interesting stuff! Oh, it is! And simple, in essence. Yet complex in detail. Here’s some more stuff presented by the man himself, Roger Norling, without a doubt the leading authority regarding Meyer’s polearms...
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Jun 5, 2019 18:13:07 GMT
Dumb question...is the halberd shaft oval so you can feel where the edge is, or round?
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Post by markus313 on Jun 5, 2019 18:31:37 GMT
Dumb question...is the halberd shaft oval so you can feel where the edge is, or round? Not at all. The shaft of the Voulge is round (actually it started life as a ballet bar). The shaft on the CS Swiss came oval, which helps a lot with edge alignment. I put an oval rasped shaft on my CS Sergeant’s halberd and that helps a great deal, too, ‘cause the weight distribution of the Sergeant’s head doesn’t let it “drop” like the Voulge. All my staffs and the shaft of my CS English Billhook are round, and while edge alignment is not as easy with a round shaft (not that important with staffs, though), I feel a round shaft is a bit more gentle to the hand when making impact. The heavy head wants to turn, though. So I'd definetly prefer an oval shaft on a cutting polearm.
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Post by kristian on Jun 5, 2019 18:48:20 GMT
This is pretty cool to watch.
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Post by markus313 on Jun 6, 2019 21:47:29 GMT
This is pretty cool to watch. Thanks! It's fun practicing, too. So much to be had from Meyer’s Kreutzhau, not only with polearms...
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jun 6, 2019 23:51:48 GMT
Very nice work. I immediately picked up a shovel in my backyard and copied you.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 7, 2019 3:20:11 GMT
Dumb question...is the halberd shaft oval so you can feel where the edge is, or round? All my staffs and the shaft of my CS English Billhook are round, and while edge alignment is not as easy with a round shaft I've used tacks on round shafts to help with edge alignment.
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Post by markus313 on Jun 7, 2019 17:30:33 GMT
Very nice work. I immediately picked up a shovel in my backyard and copied you. That’s how it should be! Knowing about your dexterity from former videos, I’m sure you have no problems with the pattern.
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Post by markus313 on Jun 7, 2019 17:33:38 GMT
I've used tacks on round shafts to help with edge alignment. Good idea! I’ll have to try that. Two questions, though… How do those work with sliding the shaft through the hands? And do you think they may possibly affect the integrity/strength of the grain?
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jun 7, 2019 18:10:47 GMT
I've used tacks on round shafts to help with edge alignment. Good idea! I’ll have to try that. Two questions, though… How do those work with sliding the shaft through the hands? And do you think they may possibly affect the integrity/strength of the grain? I am a great fan of poling, sliding as you call it, and have experienced no problems. I suspect the head on the tacks will have an influence. I used upholstery tacks with dome heads. As for effecting strength I’ve seen no adverse effects, but I suppose if a testing machine was hooked up there may be some difference detected but it would be small, if at all. I should point out that a spear is primarily for thrusting so it won’t experience the lateral stress other pole arms might. That spear will slice, halving the standard back yard soft targets as my swords will do, hence the tacks for edge alignment. I ran a stripe of masking tape down the haft and marked off the tack locations on that, then drilled a small pilot hole, smaller than the tack’s shaft, to ease any stress that may be caused.
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