Vids on Viking single combat.

[Gerard Kraay]

Bloody Norse… I mean, New Vids on Viking single combat.

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=85500

This is an old link, but some good use of the Shield, almost Winding with the shield.

GK

[Stuart]

Three observations:
1) These guys need to learn to use a shield, not just pose with one.
2) Stop holding a sword up in the air like a spare P****.
3) Quit pretending to be Ninjas, and start wearing decent viking armour and proper helms.

[Phil Berghan-Whyman]

1. Its pretty obvious that these guys are demonstrating techniques rather than fighting. They are demonstrating ways of getting around a shield. Its not sparring, its not a fight display, and its not claiming to be.

2. They are holding the swords in a very common and versatile ward - and yes, they could do things to counter those techniques but I assume that's not part of the drill.

3. This is not the WMA part of the forum - why do you expect them to be wearing period armour? They aren't doing a re-enactment display?

[Gerard Kraay]

I’m not surprised that you have the above observation Stuart.



They are using their shields to close off the lines of attack and to control and open their opponents up to attacks. Their using shield attacks from Talhoffers duelling shields section. I presume your not suggesting you know more then Talhoffer, so since you don’t like their interpretations, please advise your interpretation of Talhoffers duelling shield section.

[Stuart]

All of which suggests they are rubbish.

[Phil Berghan-Whyman]

[BigMac]

[Gerard Kraay]

Ignorance knows no bounds.

Yes Spada has a very interesting article on shield work, written I think by Steven Hand and Paul Wagner.

[Callum]

Both Spada 1 and 2 have articles on large shield use. They are both very good articles and people who use medium and large sized shields should read these articles. The guys on the video obviously did.

Both are available from Chivalry Bookshelf - although be warned that their service is becoming increasingly dodgy. Spada 1 was reprinted but there are only a few copies left.

[conal]

I'd be interested to know what weight shields these guys are using.

My experience is that Norse rounds aren't that easy to push around.

but I'll have a flap this weekend at the all thing and let you know.

You "tube downloader" is the tool of the future for technique demos.