(SCA) Want instructions for pole-arm techniques.

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:25 am

Hello all,

I know of multiple locations on the web where people talk about or demonstrate through pictures and video techniques for sword & shield combat. S&S is a highly evolved technical game of speed, angles, feints and lends itself to this. When I fight S&S I fight a mostly technical fight with a lot of watching, blocking and counter-punching into openings.

Pole-arm (of all it's various types) seems under represented from a SCAdian instruction standpoint. I personally tend to fight it in a much more instinctive style (which might explain my poor performance with it). I know that there are some great pole-arm fighters and some of them do a great job instructing face to face...

...but I'm looking for some online sources that I can read and explore at my leasure without being at practice. Can anyone help with this?

Yes I am aware of a multitude of historic pole-arm material that has become available recently (Lichtenhauer, Tallhoffer, maybe even Fiore) but I'm thinking more about SCAdian techniques taught by SCAdian fighters for SCAdian combat. No pins, no trips, no back lever throws, no strikes to the knee or foot and a focus on how to properly generate speed and power without telegraphing.

If anyone has any sources I would love for them to be shared!

Thanks in advance,
Sean

Fitz... · Post by **Fitz...** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:13 am

Duke Paul's material covers ***all*** weapons forms.
Including an in-depth look at polearm.
His manual is very instructual and intuitive with the CD/DvD stills/videos accompanying it.

Cheers,
Fitz...

Dmitriy · Post by **Dmitriy** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:00 am

Sir Brand McClellan put out an instructional video a while back (like 10 years ago. It's an actual VHS tape). Anyone have a copy? I don't even think Brand has one.. I might have one somewhere in storage.

Might be time for a second edition, esp. now that a few more crowns have been won with this weapon.

-D

mordreth · Post by **mordreth** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:52 am

I posted this somewhat reluctantly a few months ago, but since it's out it's out
You can't go wrong working from a "living" martial art, in 1860 the musket and bayonet were live arts

http://www.usregulars.com/Bayonet_files/bayonet01.html

You will not go far wrong giving this a good going over for stance, footwork, and weapon placement.

Uneg · Post by **Uneg** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:30 am

There are some Midrealm videos here and some from Drachenwald here.

maxntropy · Post by **maxntropy** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:13 am

Sean:

Don't know how often you make it to East Kingdom events, or if you can make it up to North Jersey fighter practices, but I happen to know that Sir Albrecht Von Halstern takes great pleasure in training folks in polearm method and technique -- so I might suggest you look out for him and ask him for some pointers at events and such.

Not precisely the online material you might've been looking for, but perhaps a good complement.

Max

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:51 am

I got to look at the Belatrix school of great-weapon. It is rather good although not nearly as developed as the sword and shield material. Thank you.

Max, I would LOVE to make it to the North Jersey practices. Heck, I'd just like to get out of my tiny pond and visit Bhakail more then twice per year. Regretably being a parent and my Wifes evening masters degree classes have crippled my ability to travel to many of the practices I wish I could go to.

Oh well, here's hoping that the summer class isn't on Thursday night again.

Since I have you all here anyway, let me ask the question differently: from what stance, and using which body parts in which sequence is the root of speed and power with a pole-arm or great-sword? We all know the mechanics of the flat snap that is driven with the hips and abdomen, directed with the shoulder and elbow and targeted with the hand/writst and that final clench or finger roll but what is the great-weapon equivilent?

Thanks!
Sean

(Aarons challenge has reminded me of how infrequently I pick up great-weapon and the opportunity to do so actually has be interested in fighting again.)

Leo Medii · Post by **Leo Medii** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:57 am

The period techniques work. I suggest studying those.

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Tue May 05, 2009 9:22 am

Sean Powell wrote:I got to look at the Belatrix school of great-weapon. It is rather good although not nearly as developed as the sword and shield material. Thank you.

Max, I would LOVE to make it to the North Jersey practices. Heck, I'd just like to get out of my tiny pond and visit Bhakail more then twice per year. Regretably being a parent and my Wifes evening masters degree classes have crippled my ability to travel to many of the practices I wish I could go to. Oh well, here's hoping that the summer class isn't on Thursday night again.

Since I have you all here anyway, let me ask the question differently: from what stance, and using which body parts in which sequence is the root of speed and power with a pole-arm or great-sword? We all know the mechanics of the flat snap that is driven with the hips and abdomen, directed with the shoulder and elbow and targeted with the hand/writst and that final clench or finger roll but what is the great-weapon equivilent?

Thanks!
Sean

(Aarons challenge has reminded me of how infrequently I pick up great-weapon and the opportunity to do so actually has be interested in fighting again.)

The fundamental drive for polearm strikes comes from very nearly the same action with the same major muscle groups as the flat snap with a one handed sword.

It's the abdominals torqueing the torso, the hips actually follow, they don't initiate, the shoulders lag a little behind building more tension through the torso and then as they accelerate the arms provide targeting, hands provide fine targeting and the arms, at impact, lock up to a large degree to transmit power. The back hand also works as force on a lever where the lead hand is the fulcrum. This adds a little extra both in velocity and impact - the impact addition being more to do with maintaining pressure on the lever so more energy gets delivered - you can let up on a blow tremendously by relaxing the back hand and letting the haft bounce around.

There are some techniques with pole that are almost entirely arm/upper body, but imo the vast majority of good polearm technique involves good use of core strength.

Jean Paul de Sens · Post by **Jean Paul de Sens** » Tue May 05, 2009 10:18 am

I have an urge to write a really big long reply to this but, unfortunately I don't have time, so I'll make sure I hit what are the important points.

For stance, see HG Brannos spear classes http://www.midrealm.org/kith/kith/

Basic principles:
1. Polearm has four parts, front and back edge, and front and back points. Being able to use all four is vitally important.
2. Every strike or thrust must be certain to bring one of the other parts into play for the next strike.
3. Swing with the body, not the arms.
4 Learn the proper blocks. Again, see Brannos' spear classes.

JP

Duke Icefalcon · Post by **Duke Icefalcon** » Tue May 05, 2009 8:06 pm

Sean,

Donnan and I can help you out with that form at practice.

Ice