Secpond part of a lecture held on occasion of the Great Gathering of Jomsborg (an international Viking re-enactment society) in Oldenburg/Holstein in April 2018.
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I love when the whole rooms just draws swords out of nowhere 😂
Sir, what I absolutely love and wholeheartedly endorse of your message is that it is always safe to assume human genius when looking back through history. I think too much of modern “progress” has closed our eyes to see what has always been brilliantly human throughout history, in any field whether it is art, literature or warfare etc. I wish this attitude were more commonly taught in historical perspectives, and more readily appreciated and accepted. If an object that could have been theoretically shaped like anything, is shaped consistently like “this”, the safe bet is there is a darn good reason for it. I love your videos so far and appreciate having my eyes opened a bit to appreciate something I know so very little about just a bit more. Thank you, and please keep sharing.
I am delighted to read this. Thank you for your appreciation.
Well written.
I've been training and/or teaching aikido and iaido for about 30 years and I absolutely appreciate the nuance of your instruction. I am blatantly borrowing, not stealing as I will give them back to my students, some of your analogies and points. Very informative video sir.
I am delighted to read this, and would feel honoured if you would use any of my analogies.
I tried to teach people this over 30 years ago and they all said I was crazy. Once people try it with a Viking type sword they see it feels natural and has to be the way these swords were intended to be used. Excellent presentation. Thank you
You are welcome.
The Vikings were Tall and Muscular men with Warrior attitudes and had No choice but to conquer other lands to feed and multiply their families.
@@smlarat58 That's a common misconception. They were not as tall as you think. Average height was 5' 7"
Hi Roland, practical history, love it. I by accident got in to tai chi for health reasons, now I am a teacher and this morning described the same principles as in where the energy expenditure is. Great to see those principles repeat in different cultural martial arts. Love your passion. Thumbs up.
Thanks for your appreciation.
A general note on this comment section: I am grateful for your interest in my videos. They are but one means of sharing the results of my research into historical combat with sword & shield with everybody who sees value in my work. Any video reflects my knowledge at the time of making. Because I am constantly learning, older videos might be out-dated, and I will eventually unlist them. However, you can still find them on my Patreon pages: www.patreon.com/Dimicator/posts On repeated request, I have re-opened comment sections with recent videos. So you are welcome to leave a comment if you feel you have something substantial to contribute on topic. I very much appreciate being pointed to relevant historical sources. I am not interested in hear-say and unreflected opinions. If a relevant question of yours has been left unanswered, then I might have missed it or the subject was already addressed elsewhere. I only check comments occasionally, so have some patience, please. Personally, I feel that constructive discussion on martial arts only exists in the analogue world, in a salle or a dojo. Please consider that your own valuable personal martial or military experience is inevitably reduced to mere assertions in a comment section. That is the nature of online media. There is zero competence control. This why I tend to shy away from such discussion. I find they are prone to misunderstanding, and generally a waste of time. Time that is better spent with actual research, practice and hands-on discussion. I am always open for the latter, and anyone with a serious interest is welcome to get in touch via private channels. Bad manners, boasting and babbling are a pest of the digital age. They have no place here.
The most common applicable use of this information is how to hold your toothbrush when you brush your teeth. You`re not gonna be in a sword fight anytime soon
i guess Im pretty off topic but does anyone know a good website to stream new tv shows online?
@Trace Sonny Try FlixZone. You can find it on google =)
@Trace Sonny Lately I have been using Flixzone. You can find it by googling =)
I coach badminton, and interestingly I say exactly the same about power shots, using the towel whip analogy. I also see many beginners tense their whole body before hitting, wasting energy as actually reducing the power transfer We also use a similar handshake grip to apply power through the arm, and by squeezing the grip only at the point of impact. Who would have thought Viking sword technique and badminton could be similar😁
Impressive! I am a Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu and Jujutsu instructor and have just received my certification to teach Glima. I can see that the Viking weapons principals and sensitivity have a profound significance on the empty hand fighting in much of the same way they do for the Samurai! Thank you for sharing this!
You are welcome.
I just got a Viking sword (was using katana for years because I am a martial artist) I’m so happy you have these awesome videos to teach how to wield swords properly 👍🏻 skal
Thanks Roland. I wasn't at the Gathering but I fight for Jomsborg. This is invaluable for us.
I learn something new every time I watch one of your video's.
This channel still deserves 10x the subscribers it has.
this was well worded and presented thank you
Thank you for this example I practice drawing on my off time and this helps add character and detail to my characters.
Fascinating insight!
i'm buying my first viking sword and this video was very helpful! thank you for this amazing advice
Thank you for the education!
You are welcome
Absolutely awesome! Something seems so common and simple for entire life, but you find it is different then you thought. Thanks to your work i ve made many discoveries and found the meanings of things not so close to martial arts, but if look closely the same rules and patters rule everything. Thank you!
I am delighted to read this.
The big bad Viking didn't use their muscle but skill. In the movies they use a lot of muscle
Wish there were other Viking communities around me in Boston, I was part of the Boston lag for 6 months. Passed my steal test showed up every Saturday and hung out with the guys after every week. The steersman of the group used to tell me how much you liked my vibes,, and he used to tell me that he felt a kindred spirit with me and 2 weeks later kicked me out for telling someone who posted a ton of politics on their Facebook page, which is against their own constitution that their were problems on both sides. Really sucks because I’m Swedish and German . I’m a historian of western countries and had been looking for something like this all my life. The higher ups have told me I did nothing wrong and I could still join a lag but the next closest lag is about 4 hours away! So m a solo Viking with knowbody to train with. Your videos have been helping me with Techniques and some of the historical accuracy, but I need a sparring partner....great information though !!! Love your page. I’m subscribed and really in joy your teaching style! Lol I bought my sword the same time as the girl in the lower right corner...Jenny
You may care to know that I will be teaching Viking sword & shield at Ásfólk Viking Martial Arts in Eagan, Minnesota, on September 28/29 this year.
Interesting, I will have to try this grip with my replica viking age sword.
It's crazy how such intelligent knowledge is getting lost as time goes on.
Great stuff!
harharhar. your a real cut up. thank yew gare
Bought my first carbon steel viking sword, will practice this grip.
Bad manners, boasting and babbling are a pest of the digital age. I have learned more valid technique from Roland Warzecha's videos than any other KZhead source of information. Keep up the good work sir.
You are most welcome. Thank you for your appreciation of my work.
4:20 The lady at the front thought of something else and she did not like it!😂 At least her friend was there to help her understand what Roland was talking about 4:24
very interesting
Bästa svärd tillverkas i Sverige!
Seen this in other videos from you but a new twist on it. Maybe one day someone will make a film and show the real way swords and other weapons were used...as far as we can ever know anyway. It would be more cinematic than what they do now.
That would great.
"if you use too much effort, it has the reverse effect" OMG whole new perspective on life. Thank you for this lesson
Well, well, well :D. It was very interesting to hear, at long last, a convincing explanation of that pommel design on Viking era blades :D. I train with a very different sword, the katana (Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu school), but, despite my use of what is essentially a two-handed sabre, the principle of treating the sword like a whip or a chain in cuts is as familiar to me as it seems it is to the Viking style of swordplay :). Principles of physics and human bio-mechanics apply universally it would appear. Now I can see that the pommel grip would give excellent tip acceleration for slashes; how does it fare with thrusts? I note that swords of this period tend to have spatulate points, which would suggest they were used much more for hewing rather than stabbing - is that an accurate perception?
16:08 The entire class seems to have historically inaccurate long handles on their viking age swords.
Probably because they are for sparring where people wear thick protective gloves.
@@MinSredMash Correct. We do wear padded gloves 😊
I did notice that too lmao. And did someone have a toy green sword or something?
thing is, that even with the type of glove used, you don't need more than 8-9 cm of grip to hold the sword. The long, 12,5 cm grip is more a consequence of not knowing how to cut properly - exactly what Roland said was happening to his gloves when the pommel kept hitting it.
Yes, I used to use a Type V (Jones 2002) Viking sword and had to change my cutting and grip technique to stop it happening. I'm using a Daneaxe nowadays but will have a more historically accurate grip length made on a sword when I can afford it. My gloves are cricket gloves camouflaged with welding gloves over the top. I get a great range of movement, grip and protection from them.
I really like your channel. I have a question about what you say at 6 minutes about damage being done by acceleration. When should I think of momentum as doing the damage, when should I think of impulse, when kinetic energy and when should I think of acceleration? I feel like all of these are important in their own way. Could you possibly say a little more about the physics of sword fighting?
good question. Alas, I find it hard enough to teach it in class, leave alone writing about it. I do my best to convey as much information in video and posts as possible, but this has its natural limitations. Sorry to disappoint you. But you are most welcome to attend a class or meet me at an event to discuss sword in hand.
Thanks for replying but unless you are planning on coming to China any time soon I don't think I'll be able to attend.
@@ishanr8697 Think of it more to do with tip speed than just acceleration, Ishan. You use your body, with the sword as an extension of your arm, to get the blade moving and then use the geometry of your skeleton to flip the tip of the sword away from you to strike. My sensei used to describe it as throwing your sword away without letting go :lol:. Now the principles are likely a little different in execution as I use a katana, which is a draw-cut curved blade but the desired outcome for any edged, slashing, sword is the same.
Hi! I have a question. Could You tell us something about Your hat? I think it looks great and I really want to make myself one, but I was unable to recreate that top. Loved the video, interesting and informative.
Sure. I think I will have to make a video on this hat - viewers keep asking about it. No such hat has survived in its entirety, so all organic components are conjectural. However, silver points like the one sitting on my hat were excavated e.g. at the Swedish trading town of Birka, which is notorious for lots of oriental gear. An Icelandic saga mentions a Norwegian king bestowing gifts on an Icelandic traveller, amongst them a so-called Russian hat. This may well have been a hat with a point such as found at Birka. Earlier reconstructions had the point attached to a textile flap hanging down. But it is more likely that it was actually pointing up. High pointy hats were a symbol of rank in medieval Russia, as far as I know. The model that I purchased years ago seems to be out of stock. Here is an alternative one: www.wulflund.de/schmuckstucke/silber-schmuckstucke/gepresste-schmudstuecke/viking-cap-end-birka-sterling-silver.html/
That`s great! Thank You very much :)
You are welcome.
Damn I want to learn more
Hmm... Never thought about using the pommel like that. I always liked the "I beam" shaped hilts with the Brazil nut pommels.
Can the short vs long crossguard be explained by the type of shield? The mini crossguard on the viking era swords go together with flat roundshields. And might have been used to strengthen the shield-wall? Since crossguard and pommel protrude equally the shieldwall can be strengthened by pusshing the pommel+crossguard points into the shield? Then longer crossguards could be a natural development from shifting to domed shields and no shieldwall? I do not know how domed center held shields were used. Obviously a strapped shield would change the equation totally and increase the need for handprotection very much.
I completely agree that there is a connection between shape of shield and form of sword hilt. If this has anything to do with battle formation, I cannot say. But it is certainly true that, when fighting with an active round shield as I have suggested elsewhere, a long crossguard is a hindrance. Plus, with an active shield, your sword hand should hardly be exposed anyway. This is why hilt components made of organic material were an option with the flat round shield, but not with other forms of shields.
Thank you for reply. Well, I only became aware of the shift in shields as early as 10th centuary from one of your excellent videos, so that was why I asked here. ". If this has anything to do with battle formation, I cannot say." Yea, it is problematic that judicial combat was so prominent in old germanic cultures, so it is hard to tell if equipment is due to single combat or battle formation. WIth the greek hoplites we know that everything is battle formation. With vikings, well, when single combat is important for protecting property, its hard to tell :(
I find your experimentation a wonderful breath of fresh air to viking reenactment. I've seen people spend too much time and effort trying to apply the centuries later medieval manuals to the technology the vikings created, and its always awkward to see. The manuals were made in a later time for technology wildly different than what the vikings used. Its great to see you let the design of their weapons speak for themselves though curious exploration of their actual function in the hands, and its wonderful you are willing to share your findings with us in the wider world.
Roland I do have a question as to how Vikings fought, I’ve seen your videos on how Vikings fought by binding their shields to try and pin their opponent’s shield, but seeing as they traveled across seas and fought various cultures with different methods of fighting, how would viking fight them? Would they keep their shields forward like they’re going to bind or would they approach differently depending on who they’re up against?
Very interesting question. Not easy to answer, as the contexts of military action would vary: it might have been a hit-and-run attack, a siege, an infantry battle, one that involves cavalry or a sea battle. Apparently, flat shields of traditional Germanic design are optimized for duelling and small scale skirmish. They are less appropriate in greater formation or on horseback, which is why Frankish military had long given up on this design and favoured domed shields, as did the Anglo-Saxon. This could not have escaped the attention of Scandinavians, so the question is when or for which purposes did the Vikings abandon the flat shield?
I tried the willow-twig thing, using your grip. It flew out of my hand. This was with my Albion Hersir, which has a broader (and smoother) H-type upper hjalt. Then I noticed what you were doing, you changed the blade alignment so the pommel pushed against your palm from the torque. I tried that, and the sword did not fly out of my hand, nor could it. I also tried that with my iaito, which has no pommel, and it had the same effect: changing the edge alignment prevented the sword from flying off. Without changing edge alignment, holding the blade in this fashion, I find the only thing that supports the blade is the thumb.
Yes, I do indeed change the way I hold the sword as it moves. This is actually true for all my sword actions.
It took me less than an hour to realize that a different grip was needed on a Norse sword, but my solution was different that yours. I find your pommel grip ...interesting.
Beautiful - I have never held a viking sword in my hands and was actually wondering about the hilt. No I see it is held the same way you would hold a sicilian stiletto - a traditional 45+ cm one.
I've wanted to ask a few questions for a lot of time. 1) I tried some of the techniques you show in your videos with my Torshov viking sword, but many of them felt very unnatural. I still have to decide whether I have to train more to get some muscles in my forearms (plausible, but I've trained with it for a solid 3/4 months now), the sword is ill-balanced or there is a problem with what I found in the videos; for example, the grip you show here is quite literally impossible unless one has either superhuman strength, a thrust-balanced sword or a light sword. (Or a better sword than I do.) 2) Your form of combat is very distanced, as you draw a lot from sword&buckler. But what to do if an opponent closes in, or refuses to bind by putting the shield forward, or just fights like many do (as in "bash with the steel and cover with the wood")? Then you would find yourself in a pretty bad spot, unless you have very good footwork to get away. It boils down to "I have the impression it only works against an opponent who fights the same way as you do" 3) Have you ever heard of Holmgang Hamburg? Probably yes, they gained a lot of infamy lately. They're a group from Germany who do, among other things, sparring with sharp swords. They do not do strictly HEMA, and their way of fighting is pretty different than yours. But since they are in a pretty realistic environment, all things considered, why don't they use at least some of the techniques you show? It would seem so, if a combat style actually evolves to be the most efficient possible. Or probably they can coexist, I'm not saying one of them is necessarily fake or not-working, I'm just curious about this thing.
Re 1): I don't really think it is possible to learn any martial art and the associated mechanics without personal tuition, fine motor skills in particular. For an instructor, it is hard enough to spot individual students mistakes in the dojo or salle. So I cannot adequately comment on the difficulties you encounter. Re 2): If you know measure/distance, there is no reason why you should allow anybody closing in if you don't want it. Bridging distance takes time, and this time is at both combatants' disposal, which means you can keep your distance if you wish to do so. in other words, if somebody has gotten to close to you, you have already made a mistake by having remained passive while he did so. Regarding binding: If an opponent remains in measure and denies to bind, then he can only do this by taking his weapons out off the center, which means he is already on the losing end. Re 3) If in training with sharp weapons you wear face and hand protection, the true lesson of the sharp sword is rendered useless because you will take risks that you would not if these main targets were exposed. Thus you will fail to learn how to seize control with your weapons before striking to a target, which will turn the fight into a sniping contest. Playing tag is not a martial art, regardless if the weapons are blunt or sharp.
I would like to mention that in some viking sagas, there are descriptions of swords cutting straight through the iron helmets worn by the opponent. Cutting into helmets is totally understandable. Harder metal beats softer metal. The swords were made of crucible steel, the helmets were just iron. What I'm wondering though, is if it's possible with humane strength cut straight through a helmet, into the head and out the other side as depicted (I don't remember which saga, but you might know it). Alternatively, is always cutting through enough of the helmet to kill a viable tactic or is it somewhat of an extraordinary situation?
Only the best swords were made from crucible steel. And cutting into a helmet is feasible, but would only cause a scalp cut at best, cutting into a helmet enough to kill somebody happens if the helmet has a weak spot(in the process of making it or from it taking repeated hits). Another thing to take into consideration is blunt force trauma, a viking era sword can stun somebody enough to cause an opening in his defence.
So I used to think, but there's one particular example in a saga that I find interesting. I found it while browsing Hurtswic (another viking re-enactment group). In the _Finnboga saga ramma,_ the main character is actually _surprised_ that is sword did not cut through the helmet of the enemy. What does that say? Well, it says that swords might have cut helmets more often than we today believe
You wouldn't have enough inertia behind the sword to cleave through a helmet. That's likely a tall tale. Also, weapons and armor aren't that far apart from each-other technologically. Most swords were made from cheap iron just like the metal armor components were. The crucible steel swords were, as far as we can assume, rare treasures to behold back in the days. Let me just put this into perspective, I don't think anyone in the modern age has managed to prove that you can cut through any sort of metal helmet with a migration period sword of any quality construction whatsoever. Feel free to introduce me to contrary evidence if you have any, but I won't accept stories because I simply understand plate armor too well to just believe word of mouth on the matters of it failing against cuts.
@@HamsterPants522 thegn thrand has cut into helmets(but not deep enough to cause more than a scalp cut)
You're assuming that migration era armor is as effective as late medieval armor. Don't fall into that trap There are plenty of accounts that the Falx could cleave through helmets worn by the romans with relative ease. The Falx is a sword. It was a reason why the romans reinforced their helmets with extra rims. If I had a viking sword and a period iron helmet, I would test it out. But I don't What's interesting however is that the channel Thegn Trand tested a viking sword out on a 16th century samurai helmet, and dented it quite heavily with one swing. If it can do that to a 16th century helmet, I stand by that it may cut through a migration era helmet.
The role playing swords are much lighter I would imagine. I've seen some exact replica's and they were no joke.
Hello from South Dakota, I am looking to purchase a 9th century (Viking) sword and am wondering where I could find one, to please let me know, Thankyou!
Do you consider make a video about dane axes?
We have already started to use one-handed axes with our Viking combat reconstructions, and there is according video footage waiting to be edited. I have done some experimental fighting of sword versus Dane axe with Arthur von Eschen, so there may well be an according video at one point. So much to do. With additional support via Patreon, it would be easier to make for more time to see into it. You are welcome to take a look at my Patreon, where there is loads of special interest material: www.patreon.com/Dimicator/posts
Nice.
14:00 I definitely thought it was "he who tends to the war above gets ashamed below". But uberlauffen is right (I always get it confused with durchlauffen, which is one example of how one who tends to the war above can get ashamed below).
I will look up the original text. Thanks for the hint!
the way you hold your sword depends on your fighting technique.
The point of EVERY fighting technique is to win with as little effort and exposure to harm as possible. I believe that Roland is showing the absolute best technique for gripping and wielding the Viking sword.
What about using a langseax? Since they have no cross guard i would assume you don't thrust with them since your hand could slip
If you hold it with the pinky half off the end of the handle, you get more leverage on the long handle in delivering a cut, and it lets you throw to a point-forward position that also puts the butt of the knife into the palm of your hand, preventing sliding. This way, you can move between a point-forward and a hammer grip, in a similar way to how you can use the swords of the era. If holding in an ice pick grip, you can put your thumb over the butt of the knife.
You can lock a knife or seax by placing the handle's butt end on the lower part of your palm. Apply an extended grip as you do so. Now the blade is a straight extension of your forearm, and cannot slip back as you thrust.
You don't need to put that much energy into a sword strike.Swords are sharp for a reason.
Where did you get that Viking sword? I would like to buy one.
Can you please tell me where did you get your sword?
It was custom-made by Arno Eckhard of Traumschmiede, alas, he does not make swords anymore.
Sorry, but you need to watch Schola Gladiatoria, by Matt Easton in regard to Viking era swords and proper grip technique. He’s absolutely the best educated and knowledgeable scholar on historical swords and their use.
I know Matt personally and respect him. I also know that he does not examine original Viking era swords on a regular basis, like I do, nor does he get invited to lecture about the topic of Viking swords at academic conferences on a regular basis, like I do, nor does he train Viking sword & shield fighting on a regular basis, like I do. Apart from that, he is indeed very knowledgeable.
The camera person in the background is scarier than a viking.
The Viking Cross Guard and Pommel serve multiple purposes a heavy pommel balances the sword and is good for crushing blows while protecting the hand the short Cross Guard is enough to stop you hand slipping forward and means you can still punch effecticely while holding the Sword without spraining your Wrist. The Sword is for Melee type fighting. The Roman Gladius is almost identical in form Guess they had no idea either. Another expert 😋 without a clue.
The notion that the relatively big pommels on Viking swords act as a counter-weight to the blade is widespread amongst modern enthusiasts. However, all pommels of Geibig construction type II, which dominates Baltic and Scandinavian types of the 9th & 10th century are indeed hollow, which clearly shows that their were other reasons for their size. The Roman gladius is an altogether different type of sword in pretty much every aspect with a totally different context of action.
Wow... it’s actually pretty interesting how the swords just **WHIP** forward and down with little to no energy expended.
Lesson learned: Vikings were smarter than all of us. Seriously, they had trade routers to Asia before the spice road.
Skål
12:22 this teacher trusts his student more than I trust my girlfriend
It is realy easier to handle it like that.
Ulfberth sword
The Boston lag is to busy making jackets and t-shirts..lol nice Letterman Hi school jacket
It would be good if we could try it for real so we all can see that what he is telling is correct..
Pomel goes to balance point
That is a re-enactment tale. The truth is that pommels of original Viking swords are actually hollow, - which does not really indicate a function as a counter weight, does it?
Me after watching Vikings
My 10mm is physics. Lol
🤣
Soooo this is what he does while he isn't leading the Rus Army
I used to love watching these videos but as soon as I thought that Roland looks like Jarl Varg from Netflix's Norsemen (Vikigane) it's ruined it for me.
I've used a machete most of my life and I've always let the machete do the work.
The most common applicable use of this information is how to hold your toothbrush when you brush your teeth. You`re not gonna be in a sword fight anytime soon.