Post by jfnobody on Aug 21, 2024 12:27:53 GMT
I always found these displays interesting. It's too bad modern HEMA would not mix these displays in with all the other cutting competitions.
Pretty sure most here already know about this stuff but basically these were demonstrations often associated with the Grand Assault exhibitions in 19th to early 20th century Britain. These exhibitions also appear to have been linked to Joseph Bushman A pretty influential martial artist/fencer in 19th century Britain
hemamisfits.com/2024/03/05/a-newly-found-broadsword-manual-and-the-bushman-method-of-fencing/
Anyhow, there are several books with instruction (and pretty pics) on how to perform these cutting feats which basically are the sword equivalent of "trick shooting"
The first book is John Musgrave Waite's Lessons on Sabre, Singlestick, and Sword feats (1880). Waite being a student of the Bushman Lineage
archive.org/details/lessonsinsabresi00wait
The other being Professor Harrisons Indian Clubs, Dumbbells, and Sword Exercises (1860) -outside of Bushman Harrison might have been the best of the best at these displays according to various sources from the period ...also the self proclaimed strongest man in the world
archive.org/details/indianclubsdumbb00harr
These videos are from a bit later than the books but still similar.
From 1915
From 1910ish
William Tuohy who wrote the official regulation sword exercise from the 1850s-1895 also was an advocate for soldiers cutting lead bars to rest their cutting mechanics. Tuohy also being a student of Bushman.
Pretty sure most here already know about this stuff but basically these were demonstrations often associated with the Grand Assault exhibitions in 19th to early 20th century Britain. These exhibitions also appear to have been linked to Joseph Bushman A pretty influential martial artist/fencer in 19th century Britain
hemamisfits.com/2024/03/05/a-newly-found-broadsword-manual-and-the-bushman-method-of-fencing/
Anyhow, there are several books with instruction (and pretty pics) on how to perform these cutting feats which basically are the sword equivalent of "trick shooting"
The first book is John Musgrave Waite's Lessons on Sabre, Singlestick, and Sword feats (1880). Waite being a student of the Bushman Lineage
archive.org/details/lessonsinsabresi00wait
The other being Professor Harrisons Indian Clubs, Dumbbells, and Sword Exercises (1860) -outside of Bushman Harrison might have been the best of the best at these displays according to various sources from the period ...also the self proclaimed strongest man in the world
archive.org/details/indianclubsdumbb00harr
These videos are from a bit later than the books but still similar.
From 1915
From 1910ish
William Tuohy who wrote the official regulation sword exercise from the 1850s-1895 also was an advocate for soldiers cutting lead bars to rest their cutting mechanics. Tuohy also being a student of Bushman.
