The
Sword and Shield
One
of the earliest forms of medieval fighting is that of the
Sword and Shield. Here we will delve into the practical application
of this combination of weapons. I say weaponS because the
shield was used offensively as well as defensively, despite
what some of you have heard :) There will be several sections
on the Sword and Shield broken down for easy referencing.
Gripping
the Sword
The
grip of the medieval sword is a natural one, often called
the fist grip. This is because you are holding the sword with
just that, your fist. A simple and effective grip. Depending
on the size of your handle and the balance of the sword, your
grip placement might actually vary. Most people, myself included,
like to hold the sword close, if not flush with, the crossguard.
With this grip accuracy with the cut and thrust are good.
Some like to grip the handle more in the middle. Cuts are
good with this one but, thrusts can be a little off pending
on hand strength and practice. And, some like to hold it closer
to the pommel. It adds to your reach. Purely an offensive
hold. Each person has their own preference. With some swords
you have no choice where to grip. The handle is short and
your hand fits perfectly just there, and that's that.
A
variant of this grip is one done by wrapping your forefinger
around the crossguard. Gripping it kind of like a pistol.
This is a basic cut and thrust grip. By wrapping your forefinger
around the crossguard, you add to your point control making
it just that more accurate. Cons, having your finger chopped
off or broken. But, it's worth checking out, you can always
get a sword with a finger guard :)
Wearing
or Gripping the Shield
The
wearing or gripping of the shield is a multifacetted subject.
Shields came in a variety of different sizes and shapes. From
the bucker to the heater shield, it is a matter of personal
preference and what time period you favor. There were shields
that were gripped in the middle with a single hand holding
a handle and others that were worn on the arm with two straps,
one for the hand and one for the forearm.
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