Simple Dane Axe Techniques That Work! 🪓 Training and Slow Sparring | Viking Martial Arts | HEMA

A more in-depth video showing how we approach techniques, starting from simple drills to slow sparring, and gradually increasing the speed up to 100%

This isn't meant to be an instructional video, just some clips thrown together of a typical session. Take a shot every time I say "there you go" 😆💀

We are North West Historical Fencing: a small HEMA club based in the North West of England and Wales.
If you would like to train with us feel free to join our Facebook group at:
We can also be found at many reenactment events up and down the country!

[Peptuck]

You know, the usual depiction of how axes are used in battle has them as this graceless, brutal weapon that gets swung madly and violently. But here we see they are surprisingly graceful. The spinning and arcing of the blade and haft and how they are used to deflect and counter makes the sparring as interesting as any sword duel. I've been doing research on how to depict weapon combat with things that aren't swords, and this is really intriguing.

[GrizzTheShaman]

"left hand pulls, right hand pushes" AMAZING WORDING SIR thank you ive been trying to explain to my friend how Axe users have that "Snap Strike" as she worded it and by using that working she realized that unlike swords who by cutting your draw through your strike with the Axe fundamentally were hitting flesh like wood XD but instead more technique goes into it lmfao

[jraben]

I like the long graceful swings that you depict. But I notice the axes are mostly held back, giving little defensive value. Often your bigger swings expose you both to "double-kills". Perhaps combine more thrusts and minor swings? The axe can also parry and deflect more, (used like a Halberd)? These axes were very sharp, so small swings will cut flesh, bone, and leather. I've seen effective light cuts achieved by a crank-like counter-rotation of the hands. Strikes to mail might require bigger swings for concussive damage, but also risk breaking the blade's edge on steel helms, bosses, or getting stuck in shields.

[Ashingda]

Wow these moves are so beautiful! I love how deceptively simple they seem to appear but the art to wielding it has quite the depth.

[longrider]

I have a very nice and light weight Dane Axe. And this video has taught me quite a bit about how to use it, if I ever have too. Mine has a very nice "Beak" for thrusting. And I do know, when things get close. Choke up on the head, make small attacks. Also using the Axe for a blunt force attack is good. Not to mention a butt stroke with the base of the handle. Axes are brutal, and you need to be strong, but watching these two spar, really brings home how a Dane Axe is supposed to be used.

[VTPSTTU]

That would be fun. I wish I could have done this when I was young enough and healthy enough to enjoy it.

[kurtschmidt]

I wish more people did this!
Very interesting to watch

[MasonMorgen]

The reason why Dane axes are used left handed is that the blows would ideally land on right (i.e the sword arm) of your enemy, fighting a left handed boxer is completely different.

[jasonkelley]

Hey out of curiosity. . .where do you guys buy replacement handles? Sweet video by the way I learned a lot by watching

[robnewton]

Lovely stuff as always. I really need to find some time to get to an event your at. Our group have musters that youd happily attend but we are midlands based so is a fair treck. I am currently working on stuff myself with dane work and appears we are coming to some of the same conclusions, ao would love a play sometime and compare notes as it were.

[stevenkennedy]

I like the MC Hammer pants! Can't touch this!!

[r.h]

Do you also train with a metal headed Broadaxe? From training with mine (ca. 120cm haft 1350gr weight) i made the conclusion that the only way of defense with these against each other is evasion by going out of distance. They have so much inertia that i am very sure that such small beats and displacements as in the video wouldnt work against a full force blow and blocking downward vertical strikes with the haft would also require a lot of force or else the arms of the defender collapse and the axe head reaches the head.

[campfiresnlasguns]

Viking: "Come here so I can stab you."

Danish wayfarer: "See how cool my axehead is.."

[gabrielvanhelsing]

How long are the Axe Shafts you are using?

[freestylebagua]

Looks like a halberd is basically a Dane axe with a spear point, best of both worlds.

[christopherquinn]

I thought they were used left hand on top in order to avoid the opponent’s shield.

[mtbtrailshredder]

The two handed stuff looks great, the one handed stuff, Is completely ignorant of the load you feel when you actually strike or miss-trike a shield or armour, How does your wrist handle this flippy floppy one handed swinging stuff when you presumably connect the axe head with 100kg+ force? My reference here is boxing, Its like throwing a big floppy hook, Looks great, until you connect it and use your arm length of leverage against your shoulder joint. If I saw someone swinging one handed like that I would stomp my shield down right on top of his axe and take it from him or perform a securely held two handed swing to knock it out of his weak one hand grip. Literally just shunting your shield strongly into a one handed swing would completely upset the attacker momentum and allow a counter.