Principles of Fencing with Blade Binds 1

Recorded by Christian Stickel. More info here:

[hermitscribe]

As usual, you give very clear instructions and provide simple matter of fact answers and points. Thank you for putting such good videos for those of us who are not able to come directly to you!

[Skjaldbraedur]

Roland, this is fantastic. I love the depth of explanation you give in your videos. You use language of things that makes sense across weapon platforms. Great.

[SpecArch]

A ten minute video on blade binds!? And my copy of Thibault arrived just yesterday!? Oh what a lovely way to start the weekend :D

[wiskadjak]

Very clear and concise demonstration of the fundamental principles of blade binds. You mentioned that these principles are also used in spear. This would suggest that knowledge of the bind could have been passed down from ancient times when the spear was a primary weapon.

Again, great video. More technique that I can apply in rapier fencing!

[medieverse]

You're accelerating his weapon because it's a demonstration! I understand. A real fight would be much quicker and harder to see these fine details. I love this great information!

[Vitadoc]

Awesome videos! Thanks for uploading! :) You really made me buckler-curious with all your videos. Started doing buckler fencing over the summer and love it! Keep on rocking!

[zormaumauer]

I would really like to see the Dimicator approach to freeplay applied to different weapon types.

Intermediate to advanced practitioners with minimal protective gear (light gloves and goggles, maybe masks) and (blunt) steel simulators seem make for a surprisingly safe experience as you're *very* focused on avoiding double hits and getting hit in general. I feel the reduction in speed and stronger focus on blade binds compared to sparring in protective gear is mostly a result of being more focused on not getting hit rather than not hurting your partner.

Personally I have done it with sword and buckler and a little bit with longsword, but I would be interested in seeing it applied to things like sidesword, broadsword and saber as well as between different weapon types.

Another thing that has taken root in my club is the use of sporting tape on the simulators' edges to simulate the stickyness of sharp blades. It doesn't last all that long per application, maybe two or three sessions, depending on how you train and fight and is not a perfect simulacrum, but it definitely changes up how binds feel.

Currently it has fully replaced sparring in full protective gear for me.

[ellieliebefrei]

As always, a great video! I've got one question, though. What should you do if your opponent does not wish to enter the bind&control match but would rather start to or thrust at you directly? Would you have to go to the more primitive style as well? Or is it that the style you are using is so much better that you would win easily?

[KeytoKungFu]

Much knowledge! The other Kung Fu guys should watch it as well! Hey Roland, kennen wir uns nicht über Andreas Reiss?

[mattmaughan]

is there a video about the beautiful enviroment you are in? those cottages are marvelous! who built them?

[zenhydra]

Roland, historically speaking, from blade binds like these is there much evidence for tactics like the envelopment and croisé you see in more modern fencing?

I would love to see a video (or series of them) on what we know about how swordsmanship was taught in the Migration and Viking ages.

[grailknight]

super, roland der schwertmeister ☺!! 😊

[jenniferc]

Thank you for the very informative demonstrations!

If you don't mind a question or two:

the nomenclature you use - such as "the center" - is there a glossary or newbie text somewhere that explains these?

Also, how much of "control of the center" comes from the brute strength to push an opponent's blade aside, how much from leverage (edge against flat, base against tip), and how much something else?

[DamKaKaDaNi]

I see many of the same principles that are used in chi sau in wing chun kung fu. It's really fascinating that the same principles occur independantly of one another in places so different. Must be because it works :D. A bit like convergent evolution :).

[MDrebellion]

Hallo Roland, tolle Videos machst du . Gibt es Bücher die du empfehlen kannst ? Ich selbst bin kampfsportler (Shaolin Kung Fu ) und möchte mein Wissen erweitern .
Lg

[LordVex]

You can just back up after you tap blades ;)