Best Looking Longsword Exchanges | HEMA

Some of the best-looking exchanges, in my humble opinion, of longsword HEMA fencing I've seen. Watch to the end, you might not like some clips but will appreciate others, I'm sure. Enjoy the video!

I am aware there is so many other goods clips available online, but I don't know them yet. If you have good clips you would want to share, please do! I'll include them in a next video.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I am aware that most of these clips reflect not optimal fighting, with often doubles, poor strategy, experience or technique, and overall that these exchanges might serve no real or good value to the fighter in the action taking place. That IS the point of the video. Not the best exchanges per say; but the best-looking ones. Maybe that might inspire and be liked by some that are new to HEMA.

This is a reupload. The first video was deleted for some reasons, just a few days after I uploaded it.

[sanitarycockroach]

The Polish saber fighting is honestly the perfect style for movies. Practical, yet flashy enough to grab attention and constantly moving.

[ultimomos]

Those saber exchanges are incredibly impressive. I know they're fencing with a skew for safety given the lack of equipment but the intensity and speed, especially when wearing no hand protection...really amazing. Just goes to show how fast and brutal actual combat with these weapons truly was. Amazing work.

[khajiitimanus]

3:56 Seeing halfswording being used sparks joy.

[zatoby]

"European swords were slow and clunky."

[aeoteroa]

I keep trying to imagine two guys doing this to the death fully armored. Battles of this time must've been unimaginably brutal.

[VimyGlide]

4:28
this dude woke up and chose to flex. what a king.

[fabe]

I see why some want continuous fencing as the standard, that was so much more fun to watch as someone who doesn’t know much about HEMA!

[bootzy]

No idea what I'm watching, but that second match. Self-calling a hit while knowing it will cost you the match is such a class act. Just the best kind of sportsman.

[nuyabuisness]

those clips of the orange fighter at around 2:06 really show how important good footwork is. Man knew exactly when and how to step in and out of an engagement.

[dd]

Big props to the guy (I'm not going to try to spell his name) using the longsword one handed. Not only was his a good (unarmoured) "mortal blow" but the over the back parry too! Very impressive.
Although I think it would be harder to do with a full weight longsword. It goes to show that being able to switch up your style is a Major advantage!

[christpierre]

Imagine the intensity in times where your whole life depended on this

[SA-xfpc]

That halfswording was beautifully executed. By far the most impressing exchanges in this video from a fencing perspective

[lukehegdal]

This is a great example of the usefulness of the long sword and how effective it can be when used properly

[bunkersketches]

It's as if the algo read my mind. This is exactly what I was looking for!

[Derrick_Anders]

More fun when they entangle and find the right route to take, although 3:56 was something else entirely what a savage technique

[thomastucker]

The Novichenko one handed exchange from Swordfish was a classic, I remember watching that live with my jaw dropped

If you haven't perused Martin Fabian's youtube channel, I think it has some of the best sparring and tournament footage in HEMA and its not even close IMO. Taking some of his sparring videos against his co-instructors or his one against Dustin Reagan and comparing the creativity and intensity of exchanges to anything uploaded by Blood and Iron and its night and day, nothing against Blood and Iron.

Also nearly every exchange from the longsword final of Bratislava Fecht III is a banger. Tournament and sparring footage of Arto Fama and Michel Rensen are also goldmine rabbit holes to go down

[Tom_Framnes]

“ True Martial Skill is equatable to death disguised in elegance” Beautiful to behold.

[Handeless]

Its an amazing feeling when you have trained HEMA and you have a series of parries and counter attacks that happen so fast, that you dont even really know what happened until after. Its so cool how intelligent and quick your body can be when you train and get out of the way for instincts to take over.

[jackmcgraw]

It’s crazy to think how violent this would’ve been back in the day

[DirtCobaine]

I know nothing about sword fighting but I am a martial artist with boxing/Judo/karate background since I was 4 years old and these movements are actually beautiful. I think there’s a lot one can learn from sword fighting and apply it to other areas.