Halberd fighting basics from Joachim Meyers book about the knightly art of swordsmanship - 1570 A.D. The description of the chasing hews can be found on page 32recto (XXXII) to 33recto (XXXIII) in the last chapter of the original book found here:
daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/...
PS: Obviously NOT exclusive for formation fighting. Meyers manuscript shows mostly techniques for a duel! But you can use many of the concepts also for formation battles like thrusting or striking in a tighter way.
Hey Hollywood. This is how you make something look impressive while having it remain effective fighting. Also put more halberds in your movies.
Everything would look better if it was realistic in my opinion, like I wish hollywood would hire not only HEMA instructors but MMA coaches for their fighting scenes, I am just sick of seeing actors go through the routines over and over again. I remember seeing a video where 2 guys choreographed a longsword fight based on HEMA and it was glorious. It wasn't any less impressive.
@@schibleh531 I don't think of HEMA or MMA when I think of realistic fighting. But, I'd agree it is a lot closer than a lot of the bad choreography we do end up seeing in film or tv.
Or at least polearms in general (I hear the spear was quite popular). Also armor that actually, you know... works, forcing the attackers to use proper weapons and techniques that were designed to defeat armor.
@@schibleh531 they do hire specialists all the time. Except they ignore them and make whatever they want instead. This is the case for so many movies, not just for fights, but everything rly
Hollywood’s too focused on plopping out “progressive” garbage while simultaneously being pedophiles and non-consensual sex addicts.
I wasn't even looking for halberd anything when I stumbled upon this gem under my recommendations, nice tutorial of the basics.
For once KZhead recommend something that is relevant to me nice job.
I'm saving this for the day I need to defend myself from a zombie horde using only medieval weaponry. It might seem unlikely, but I like to be prepared for every eventuality. Can't skip halberd day.
Same
Halberds are just so freaking cool. A spear, an axe and a pike in one tool so simple a peasant could use efficiently? Yet complex enough to be used skillfully against both unarmored, armored and horseback opponents. What a marvel in melee combat!
Same i was looking at bushcraft when this popped up
These types of videos are invaluable to writers and roleplayers, not just aspiring recreation fighters.
. . . and everyone is a fantasy novelist.
they are invaluable to artist and animators too!
For 3d animator as well
Imagine a HEMIST going to a larp and fucking everyone up.
... and apocalypse survivors. Nothing bests a spear or a halberd when fighting zombies.
People used to spend their entire living trying to buy a book about halberd arts and to buy a halberd. Now we can just watch it when we're trying to sleep. How times had changed.
Isaac DragonDerp your comment made me happy. We are quite like minded
@@raykapahi2775 it's just smth that clicked in my head because as I am falling asleep to this I compared it to how complicated it is, like a game of some sort, then I realised that medieval warfare, duels, and sparring, are like classical pro gaming haha so that kinda lead me to write that comment down. I'm glad u feel the same way. Cheers!
@@WM01129 rightly said, just that in those games the players can get hurt really bad.
Real life pay2win. Defeated nobles usually were ransomed instead of killed. Armies were largely motivated by loot. There are probably more parallels.
@@WM01129 Cheers, brother!
Thanks for bringing polearms to the masses. I'm sick and tired of sword's monopoly.
Swords break too easily.
I know! Swords are awesome but they get way to much atention when compared to other weapons *giggles in non-armed martial arts*
Shaftweapon gang rise up.
I fucking love swords, but I feel you. There are plenty of other weapons to also fucking love
@APassersby Swords were not used as a main weapon. It is mostly a secondary weapon for use ouside of a battlefield.
Wouldn’t want to break into this man’s house. Cause of death: Halberd. Haven’t heard that one in a while.
Definitely a social distancing weapon. 😄
:D (y)
Yup. for the same reason a burglar at my place would face a bit of a problem. Particularly since the positioning of furniture and general room layout renders the place a trap if I so desire, since I can effectively trap an intruder in a certain place with no way out. Basically they have the choice between surrendering and being impaled on my halberd.
@@ranekeisenkralle8265 Unless they just shoot you, which is very likely if they're going through the trouble of breaking into your house.
@@theusher2893 in the US maybe, but here in Europe Firearms are far less prevalent. Besides they would have to have the gun out and ready in order to get a shot off before they are impaled. There isn't all that much room to dodge a stab - which is intentional for this very purpose.
Not sure if anyone has made this before, but here goes Handling 1:11 Guards 1:37 Footwork 3:07 Thrusts 3:47 Strikes 4:57 Summary 9:07
thx mate!
Long pointy sticks are the best. Even better when they come with choppy bits!
The second comment that had me laughing out loud. Love it!
Is it a pointy chopper or a choppy pointer?
A polearm is definitely the best of all swords.
@@piperar2014 Yes
*Alexander the great liked this comment*
Just needs to scream "Ad Morten Inimicus" while doing the wrath hew, and it'll be perfect. In all seriousness, when all those moves were put together fluidly, it was beautiful to watch, and looked deadly.
Lord_Cecil_IX used to play for honour as a lawbringer main. He seemed like the most menacing character to play as, that’s why I chose him.
Lord_Cecil_IX i haven’t played in years yet still remember him shouting it when doing an unblockable, i should play it again sometime
@@LordGingerBerry Yeah mate, he's still an all round solid toon, definitely worth another play.
NOLO SUPERSTES
INREDIBILIS!
KZhead “want to watch a beefy man teach you how to swing a halberd?” Me a tiny 5’5 lady with the strength of a wet paper bag “yes , I can finally be deadly” Subscribed because I’m a nerd with beefy fictional characters that actually need to swing a halberd, nice for drawing and writing
Manriki Kusari - no strength required, and 3oz of lead travelling at speed is going to spoil anyone's day. That being said, timing is everything, only played with it in TKD classes - and I was rubbish!
@@andyleighton6969 Strength always helps, but almost anyone can train.
@@andyleighton6969 even that weight would tire me... 😥😂 but I get what you mean, I wish I could learn this and handling a sword
The halberd is one of the best weapons for tiny ladies. Two handed, and devastating due to balance and leverage. If the weight of a Western halberd is a problem, try an Eastern type like the naginata.
It really doesn't take a lot of effort to force a pointy metal spike into tissue. Especially if there are +60 kg of mass behind it. Even the slightest amount of kinetic energy would drive the tip into the target due to the high intertia of your body and the weapon.
Rollo got sick of the Viking life, became duke of Paris. Rollo got bored of the duke of Paris, began teaching Germans halbert techniques on YT. Git you some, Rollo!!!
xD
Duke of Normandy bro. The king would have never appointed a Viking in Paris. The goal was to have him protect the entry of the Seine river, because he was a good warrior and mostly because he knew vikings tactics so could easily counter them
@F D *YAWN*
funny.. my grandfather been dead for quite awhile now...
Alright but can we appreciate how skilled this man actually is? Big fan of this stuff, definitely subscribed
Longswordsman meeting a halberd soldier on the battlefield: *Oh crap, not a halberd. Anything but a halberd, dear God*
that's literally anyone meeting a halberd, except guns
The longswordsman must have dropped his own polearm or firearm than... why would you bring a sidearm to the battlefield?
He was probably dismounted by the man with the halberd!
Imagine being friendly-fired by a guy next to you swinging this thing like this.
@@trollmcclure1884 given how wide the field the weapon commands it was used for crowd control where fewer people placed moresparsely and not stuck so close to eachother could crowd control more, the mainreason it was used by guards besides the fact that mostly faced swords and so had a reach advantage since hauling this around would make an average civilian very conspicuous and it isn't like a sword justified for self defense
"Can't touch" those pants. Nice fluid work, looks like the product of careful study. Thanks for sharing.
Can't touch this!
That insightful MC Hammer comment put you at the top of today's chart. LOL
My my my halberd hits me so hard makes me say Oh my Lord...
MC Landsknecht
Greg Beeman it’s called puff and slash. Literally everyone wore it when halberds were in use.
Nobody: KZhead at 2am: Halbert fighting Me: okay Great vid bud
Everything for beginners and drills, plus your perfect body mechanics as reference. What a treat!! Thanks again Björn !
Finally a guy doing this sort of thing who actually probably looks like he should.
Man, look at the speed that the head is moving through the strikes. Very intimidating. Thanks so much for this!
Remember that these aren't even at full strength. Because he isn't trying to actually hit something, he had to hold himself back so he doesn't swing through
@@NotFlappy12 It's keeping form over ferocity.
I fell in love with polearm weapons and specifically the halberd through DnD but it got me curious about their history and how they're realistically wielded and used. I'd love to get more into recreational fighting, it looks like a lot of fun and a decent workout too. This video is an awesome jumping-in point!
*Me, at 2am:* Ah, yes. I must learn the ways of the halberd!
Really glad I found this video, halberds are such underrated weapons in modern medieval culture
True - and quite versatile if you have the room to use them.
This is valuable culture. Im glad there are still skilled people out there preserving it. When judgement day comes we will need it.
Wow!!! Good channel!
Didn't expect to see you here!
Halbred is my absolute favorite thing to spar with. I made some trainers with ash poles and leather heads with some foam in the spear part for some stiffness and kydex in the blade and hook for rigidity when hooking. They worked great and as long as you trust your partner, you could get the intensity pretty high while still keeping thing safe and controlled. One thing I've noticed that carried over from quarter staff was that to perform rucken in a way that was effective and felt correct was when in straight partying, bring the butt up into your armpit, almost like shouldering a rifle. This is shown in some of Meyers quarter staff plates and I believe in some of his halberd plates as well. I'm absolutely thrilled that you're posting halberd videos and am eagerly looking forward to more!
Hey ! I Just discovered your channel, it Will be extremely useful as a reference to drawing warriors, so thanks !
Nice :D
@ Hello Björn. That was awesome. Looked lethal. What kind of parrots do you have, btw, Amazon's? Or should I wash my ears? Greetings from Norway
I always saw halberss and thought 'Oh sure, sharp stick, I get it', but seeing the power, speed, and reach of this weapon in use, I can actually imagine it being truly terrifying on the battlefield. Love it!
I was always bad with Halberds and similar weapons in VR. This Video helped me so much!
@Dzintra let him enjoy what he wants,literally zero reason you should've insulted him for a harmless comment
I dont really see how this could help with VR since VR tracking and sense of weight is a tad off, but good for you! I guess it could help you fiddle with the tracking better since the motion is based on using real polearms.
The guards helped me, i had no plan about this before. Maybe i would have figured it out on my own with more patience, but i was curios to try some old stuff.
Dzintra how do u know he’s a man also Seriously what was the point that
Dzintra don’t be a dick and how else is he really supposed to experience it there aren’t exactly and insane amount of opportunities to go out and fight people with halberd sin real life
Very cool to have these stances filmed from several angles. Thanks! Enlightening.
Now if only polearms could do anything even resembling this in M&B.
I know right!
I guess M&B doesn't focus that much on good fighting. I know the original and warband were supersimplistic. I haven't played Bannerlord yet 😄
@@jorenbosmans8065 Bannerlord is about the same from what I've watched.
@@abysswatcher9172 from what I've seen the fighting is indeed the same. The battle AI and graphics have just been improved. I can live with that 😄
@@jorenbosmans8065 Can't wait for the crazier mods
Love the Halberd. Halberd go bonk :')
The halberd has always been a weapon that i wanted to see in action. Seeing how you handle it gave me way more informations about how it should be handled : the postures, the swings,etc... because i have a faction in a story that i am currently making, and they are known for using halberds as their battle tactics are built around maintaining specific formations and controlling the battlefield, and halberds were the first weapon that came to mind as i read once that it was great in line formations and was very deadly when used in mass. I've said too much hahah but thank you for making this video, really helpful !
"your money or your layf" "That's a nice head you have on your shoulders"
"It's almost harvesting season."
@@nuspas i see you're a man of culture as well
I loved this. So often i only ever see longsword or sabre in HEMA but this is the first time i've ever seen somebody break down the techniques and footwork with a halberd. I would love to see duals with this. Obviously with training weapons of course
Thx! Have a look at our channel.The latest video is about the first 6 plays with the halberd :)
After watching this, I can finally defeat pan man with my halberd build.
Nn I don't think so
DODGE THIS YOU BASTAAAAAARD
Certainly not!
You swing well, but miss horribly!
NO, DON'T LET THEM DO THIS TO ME!
I was highly waiting for that one ! Thank you so much for showing the ropes for a weapon I dearly appreciate.
I always seem to want to learn every weapon you cover. Very interesting! Thank you for making these.
Absolutely my man I love your videos. I watch your videos before longsword and try new things because of it. Keep it up buddy
Thank you so much for being one of the first to make a quality halberd fundamentals video. I've been LARPing for years, and the halberd is my preferred weapon (even if realistic combat doesn't tend to mesh well with LARP combat systems). I get killed a lot, but I try to keep my fighting style as close to realistic as possible with stances, footwork, and strikes. I was pleasantly-surprised to see that my own footwork almost exactly mirrors your own while fighting with a halberd, and with no formal training at that! Most excellent video, I look forward to seeing more from your channel!
This is great material for character poses. Thank you so much for providing a performance and commentary about the stances!
I love to watch these videos, it’s always cool to see all the technique that goes into each weapon.
Hell yeah halberd fighting! I must experience this in person since this is my favoured fighting style! Thank you! And yes, this also came in my recommendations. A love of halberd plus knowledge with how to wield it is infinitely useful for me!
Now I want to start learning halbert techniques. Love it!
I appreciate the detailed photos of the various positions, guards, etc. Very educational.
This is simply beautiful mate. You have no Idea how helpful this is.
Great lesson. Halberd is a really interesting weapon.👍 Nice swings, and I like the Wrath Hew one too.😃
So you're telling me all that dancing and jumping the Empire Halbadeers in Warhammer do... is historically accurate??
Not jumping, no. Number 1 rule of melee combat, never jump. Well maybe it's not rule 1, but it's pretty close.
@@GeorgieBonsoir in high school I once saw a dude run down a hill and knock a dude out with a drop kick. Craziest shit I ever seen I sware to God.
@@GeorgieBonsoir I think spinning takes the #1 spot for stuff not to dp in melee combat, followed closely by jumping.
@@therustedshank9995 I'd say that spinning is 2nd, since you can actually use a spin effectively, if you do it while still holding a block against the target. There is 0 point to jumping mid-combat, except maybe in martial arts; but that's not my area of "expertise" so I ain't sure about that.
In warhammer they gotta jump a bit because most of their enemies are a fair bit larger than them
Ah yes, nothing better to start my day with than a nice hot cup of coffee and an instructional video on the basics of halberd combat. In all seriousness, well done on this video. Easy to understand, the pacing is great, I love the fact that you included front and side shots for the basic stances and strikes.
couldnt get enough of the straight fowardness of this tutorial, hope to see more :)
I'm making an OC that is using a halberd as her main weapon so this really helps me to know at least what is the very basics, Thanks!!
thank god if found this, if i ever get in a halberd meele fight im prepared
I am so happy to see this. There aren't enough good demonstration videos about polearms out there.
As a fan of Halberds I thank you for showing the practical stances and combat. Cheers!
the beginning is perfect It looks like an animation mod showcase for skyrim or a fighting game character's moveset showcase btw, I would like to have the same pants than his
I can see why Bodyguards carried these, the shocking speed you can reach with these, the brutal momentum, and the just all around intimidating design, would make any violent brigand wishing to threaten your lord shit themselves seeing that thing swing. The reach and momentum must have been great for crowd control, maybe not the exact same as a Zweihänder which has a greater cutting capacity because it's a sword, but still definitely pretty damned terrifying in full swing.
This channel is amazing as a reference for drawing realistic medieval combat.
Fantastic tutorial! You have that style & art of Halberd fighting down to a sweet, fluid & powerful science my man, while your movements in tandem with your Halberd swinging/thrusting/hacking were amazingly graceful, seamless & wonderfully coordinated. I greatly enjoyed watching those awesome demonstrations💯💯👍👍
some m&b warband modder should watch this
i feel like people who did a lot of reaping with a scythe would be naturals at using a halberd.
Well you're not supposed to swing a scythe as much as you are to just turn with it and let the blade do all the work but I get what you mean.
Beautiful work with the halberd! Very clear and precise.
This video is so well put together and packed with knowledge. Great video, Bjorn.
How about the “shove your opponent off the map” move?
Thanks!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Björn! Thank you for this video! Very impressing movement you show there. Reminded me to go back into Naginata practice again. Where do you got this Halberd from? The wood and construction looks very familiar to me. Regards! Nicolai
Love everything about the style of your outfit to your overall look with the halberd. Looks sick man.
Thank you for teaching me these basic moves and stances. It really helped me in Blade and Sorcery VR.
This looks great for body animation for a video game I'm thinking a european polearm user for Soulcalibur.
hey i am currently collecting literature sources etc on halberds for a publication about halberds, their production to be precise and i am planning to also include a part about the use of the hablerd, could you point me to literature/ sources for that? i am not very well read on the general use and literature about halberds is actualy quite rare in many reguards.
Joachim Meyer 1570 - Strassburg or Paulus Hector Mair 1543/1544 - Augsburg are very good sources for german Halberd techniques!
You might consider the “jeu de la hache” I think it’s called. Also I have a feeling there’s some stuff from the bolognese school. There’s certainly some partisan stuff. In addition to the German sources of course.
Thank you for demonstrating this wonderful technique.
I can't even pronounce the weapon's name correctly but here I am watching this, brought to me by Magical KZhead algorithm.
if i am born in this era of swords and spears, id say id strive my best to become the best cook in town. id rather stay in the kitchen than parrying and thrusting swords with the enemy.
idk why this was being recommended to me earlier but now that I am armed with this information i'll hopefully be able to put it to good use whenever I find myself in a battle
It's 4am and somehow I'm now learning how to use a halberd. Thanks, youtube recommendations.
I just imagined the swiss "Gewalthaufen" company all with halberds pulling the whole enemy cavalry from the horse and mangle them.
3:23 - he is retreating from the incoming butterfly :D
Started learning to draw recently and wanted to do some fantasy stuff with halberds as long term goal. Was wrecking my brain on how to understand battle poses, so your video is perfect! Thanks a lot!
Incredible video! Randomly found it on my home page and it was interesting to watch. Never have I look up anything related to halberds or combat, but I'm glad I found this.
Everyone: ... Me: I need a Halberd!
Spiked English billhook. You get a hook-y choppy blade in the front instead of an ax head, a sharp pointy spear bit up top, and a spike at the back. Also good for trimming tree limbs.
Halberd instructions: THIS end toward enemy
Nice to a see a guy who is actually in shape, demonstrate the use of historical weapons.
Excellent demonstration from beginning to end! And intimidating even without the 3/4 armor. :)
"Don't mind me, just practicing my Halberd Techniques." "Why?" "...." "It's cool!"
Jesus Horatio Christ, look at this beefy dude swinging that thing around. Thank goodness for firearms. :-/
I am not that big a fan of firearms but they are effective at range for sure
navajas rs so uncivilized
@@tarvelsforge Modern civilization is in large part owed to, and marched in step with, the development of firearms. I should clarify my point. I only have respect for this man in keeping his body fit and strong and acquiring the martial skill to use these weapons. He is magnificent. I did not intend my post to convey “Der, I’d just shoot him!”. I am a martial artist, primitive archer, fencer (and shooter). But, I can also see history and these martial skills through the eyes of disenfranchised peasants without the time, resources or in some case even the legal ability to match them in any way... My god, 30-50 professional warriors who look like this dude show up to your hamlet the week after you busted your ass off subsistence farming? You do whatever in the hell it is they tell you do. The marginal gap in capability between peasant, serf or subject and the ancient professional or trained warrior is oceanic compared to what remains extant between a modern properly armed citizen and soldier.
@@navajasrs2402 totally agreed. Professional soldiers from the middle ages and earlier would literally annihilate a peasant soldier in a heart beat. They had better food, education and they were trained in combat and use of half a dozen or more weapons in melee, ranged, horseback, individual, and formation combat. It was as you said "oceanic" in differences, whereas a modern professional soldier can still be killed at range by a civilian sniper or soldier who had the proper time or training in firearms just from going to the firing range enough. A Navy Seal is still going to wipe the floor versus a civilian gang of armed thugs, but his chances of death is far higher than that of an ancient trained professional soldier in the same scenario of their times.
@@dannykuang9433 Exactly. Cheers, dude.
It is always good to be up to date on modern weapons. Thank you for the video.
A year later I'm struggling with a description for a fight in a fantasy novel due to lack of any knowledge about polearms. And this is a gods blessing that gives me a sufficient moveset to work with.
Me, a person who's closest weapon to a halberd is a lightweight staff: hmmm yes i need this information
Me, a person who's closest weapon to a halberd is a broomstick:
You'd get a lot more views if you found someone to narrate these and if you found something to actually stab.
I like that theres no talking
@@captaindonut5240 Mute + captions = listen to whatever music you want lol
I get that, but IMO this is perfect.
Would you prefer him jabbing the business end into a big ol' rubber tyre?
Thanks a lot for this awesome and explanatory video. Polearms are underrated although they are beautiful and perfectly useful weapons. I would like to see more halberd action especially binds and sparring. Brilliant work indeed danke Herr Rüther.
Thanks for the demo. I have a character who i want them to use a halberd as a weapon and this video is perfect to draw them in various positions with said weapon. Thanks
dark souls brought me here!
Lol I was looking for this comment
An interesting guard I learned from a hema instructor is the wrath guard similar to long sword with deceptive ability to do a full swing from the position or to stab in over the head for a quicker attack
Great video, very educational. Thanks for showing us these techniques! It's a really nice style.
I was having problems with cavalry charging at my house but thanks to this video it is no longer a problem.
I didn't even realize that I've been missing this my whole life til I saw this.
Extremely well made video and instruction. Well done, and thank you! Now I’ve got practice to do with my Halberd.
Que Sabbaton 'Last Stand'. Thanks for the video of a very underdiscussed brilliant weapon of the late medival early rennasaince era.
This is amazing! More of these instruction videos please!
This video is the most chill way to teach people kill moves!
Thank for the clip. I really love martial art. Both western & eastern
This is perfect for D&D and writing. Thank you so much
That intro ...pure art!
Found this by pure chance while looking for something completely different and glad I did! Really interesting channel, suscribed.