Advice wanted: (SCA) fighting with narrow strapped shields.

[Sean Powell]

Hello,

This question is primarily directed at SCA combatants but I suppose input from steel fighters wouldn't go amiss either.

I grew up fighting with a large heater, 36x24, under the 'same shield for melee and tourney use it until it is part of you' mentality. That was good up to a point and big shield can win fights against mediocre opponents but not typicly against good opponents. I recently switched to 32x24 which is 'meh' but I'm really enjoying sword and buckler. I decided to switch to a shield roughly 22-24x16-17 that is strapped to my forarm, not center-gripped.

The thing I am noticing in my cardboard paterns, is that my forearm is longer then 17" from knuckle to point of elbow. If I set my hand at a position where it will not frequently get struck then the elbow is exposed to a mid-body wrap shot. The only way I see to block this would be to block my opponents weapon at the hand with my knuckle side edge of the shield. The would mean only using one edge of the shield and require motion that would greatly expose the body. I feel that even a buckler would be more effective.

For those people with experience with smaller shields (or just narrow kite shields): How do I protect my elbow, especially from wrap shots? Is there a blocking technique that I don't understand or is my arm positioned wrong or is there something else I'm not thinking of? is 24x16 just too small for a strapped shield and center-grip is the only possible solution?

I'm out of my element on this one and am appealing to the AA combat gods for assistance.

Thanks in advance,
Sean

[Baron Alcyoneus]

My hand is near the edge of my 24" round shield.

[Sean Powell]

Uhmm Bump?

O.K. I admit that it was a fairly specific question and not everyone fights with a small shield but I thought that they were more popular out West. I had hoped that the international exposure would get at least a little advice.

I understand that I could fight wih a wider shield like Baron Alcyoneus 24" round but that size round dosn't go with my persona or kit.

Any advice on protecting my elbow with a narrow cross-strapped shield? Maybe from the kite-shield fighters?

Thanks in advance,
Sean

[Benjamin de Hatfield]

When you are in stance, where do you hold your shield at?

Where are the straps at on your shield?

Is it a traditional heater shape, just smaller?

Using a smaller strap shield typically requires it to be held out farther, almost perpendicular to the body, to help stop wrap shots. By doing this you are making the opponent throw a wrap from farther out than if you had your shield pressed closer to your body. With the shield farther out, simply pumping your elbow back, pulling your shield shoulder and hip back, or by stepping back with your shield leg (or any combination of the three).

I don't use a small strap, but when I fight with a small punch shield I hold it similar to a strap shield. By this I mean I put my hand in the handle and put the shield flat against the back of my hand (like gripping a strap shield handle) instead of the typical way (holding the shield against the punching surface of the hand).

Hope this helps!

-Ramius

[Adamo]

...
The thing I am noticing in my cardboard paterns, is that my forearm is longer then 17" from knuckle to point of elbow. If I set my hand at a position where it will not frequently get struck then the elbow is exposed to a mid-body wrap shot.
...

If you are strapping the shield diagonally, you have more than 17" worth of space for your forearm.
Also, could you explain what you mean by setting your hand where it will not get struck? My hand is quite close to the corner on my heater (19"x29"), with no issues.

If you are worried about blocking the wrap with a smaller shield, then don't stay in that range. Either stand a half step further so that wraps won't be effective, or get a half step closer and sweep your sword to block them. Just my $.02.

Adam