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ILONA ANDREWS

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  3. Lindybeige… WOW! I just watched the video and I checked your YouTube channel, you have incredible videos about tanks, DNA testing, ambushes, bows and arrows in addition to the swords and how they actually work and not as you see in the movies, besides he is very nice and I love your accent. I also love it.

  4. They love doing this in anime as well. Cross blades, evil banter, push apart at inhuman speed to land further apart. But damn does it look good!

  6. Wow I absolutley love this stuff …manything to do with history and sword play is something that is lostnto the masses. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Ankles it was the ankles. I love how he pointed out that is not dastardly to stab him with your dagger, because he’s trying to kill you!?

  12. Let me be a contrarian here. i do not dispute the premise that the clashing of swords at such a close distance is a movie thing and not a good idea in “real” life but I disagree with something he keeps repeating: that the contact point can be used as a pivot. I just don’t see how you can generate enough force into your slash or thrust (whatever you choose to do) from that pivot point. If you consider the sword to be a lever with the fulcrum at the contact point, you are holding the short end of the lever and trying to generate enough force (by snapping the arms back from the pommel maybe) seems to lead to a cut more than a slash (as I try to imagine this in my head with zero experience of using a sword). Trying to absorb the blow or redirect it makes more sense to me but then it becomes about the style of swordsmanship (agility vs strength based) and the kind of sword you have (broadsword vs katana). The dagger thing makes the most sense but you’d have to have the dagger in hand already to use it. Otherwise, switching from a two-handed hold of the sword to a one-handed hold while trying to block the other guy feels weird. It almost feels like you’re hoping the other guy will give you time to take out the dagger or relax the thrust he is making on your sword which will make you fall if you go from 2-handed to 1-handed.

    I have written a really long (possibly unnecessary) paragraph on a disagreement with a youtube video regarding a hypothetical sword fighting move… Yeah, that just happened.

    • I think a more likely result of that situation, which I think takes a bit of trick getting into in the first place, is both people attempting to slash away and down. It would force both people to step back, letting you gain some distance from your opponent while making it dangerous for them to step in after you. With both swords in play it’s equally a problem for both sides, though whoever’s sword is on top might have more control over the movement…?

      Fun to think about though 🙂

    • Your missing the how he was moving the sword. Half swording, holding the blade, is actually a very common technique. It gives you a very good control of the point. Very useful when fighting armored opponents or in close quarters. so the leverage is applied higher up on the blade and with a much greater precision.

    • Nah, he’s basically talking about winding in the bind. If you look up, I dunno, German longsword winden you’ll probably get more info about how it works.
      In this context we’re probably looking for a draw cut, like a slicing movement, maybe to the neck for example, which doesn’t need a lot of force, although if the leverage difference is signicant enough, ie the point of contact is close to his guard and far from his opponents, he could potentially throw bigger cuts.
      Anyway, he shows other options too.
      Interestingly you do see this kind of push in kendo from time to time, but crucially kendo limits the number of legal techniques, and it’s a very momentary thing. Two kendokas get too close together to perform their techniques very effectively so they shove each other off and bounce back to a better range for fighting. They don’t stand there pushing against each other while issuing threats.

    • Personally, I was thinking, just kick him. Fighting is fighting. If you’re fighting to not die, everything is fair, so dagger, kicking any part of the other person, head bashing (I believe Curran has done this!), etc. is fair game! And I agree with what some of the others have said – all these movements are to give yourself some space, not necessarily a killing stroke especially if both people are armoured, etc, etc!

      • I agree. When Curran was fighting Hugh, Hugh had his sword, and Curran not only kicked Hugh in the knee, he almost tore off Hugh’s arms in the head lock. That was after Hugh got a few swipes in with his sword with Curran. I think Curran would’ve killed Hugh if the Mishmar vamps weren’t coming after all of them on the bridge.

  14. This dude has great vids on youtube. “Hitler wants historical accuracy.” ? Priceless.

  17. Ok …. now can we have Maud use that move on Seveline and Maud bring out her dagger to stab Seveline in the neck. I know the dagger isn’t a fork, but it would still good.

      • “Why a spoon?”
        “Because it’s dull, you twit. It will hurt more.”

        Sorry. Word association. 😉

        • Rink, I too LOVED that line!! The Sheriff of Nottingham was an AWESOME villain in that movie, wasn’t he?! ??

          • Think, NOT “Rink” – stupid autocorrect!! I do occasionally know and want what I have actually typed myself. Aaarrrggghhh!!!! This is the result of a generation or more of people who can not spell correctly on their own. So sad!!!! And frustrating to those of us who CAN spell, but have our words changed by a program that “knows better”. ???

            • Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

              Tink, NOT Think!! I guess I just have to go back and check every word to make sure this doesn’t happen. ?

        • That my favorite quote of all time!!!! I love that movie. That was my childhood/teens

          I have said I kill you with a spoon, but sadly the person had no knowledge of the film and quote and didn’t get it. I think I actually frightened him. ?

        • My favorite quote of all time. I love that movie! I grew up watching it with my mom. We loved the spoon bit.

          I said once to a boyfriend: I’ll kill you with a spoon ( kidding, of course). But he didn’t get it. Didn’t know the quote and I think I frightened him. ?

        • Oh my goodness!!!! I can’t believe I forgot that quote from Robin Hood. Best sheriff ever! Thanks for reminding me……

          • “Well at least I didn’t use a spoon” was the sentence the sheriff used when he killed his second in command using a sword of all things. 😀

  18. Oh the line, “he’s trying to KiLL you!” Priceless. I can so see the authorlords nodding their heads, yup! Now about that cliffhanger? Is it Friday yet?

  19. Many years ago, my sisters and I loved to watch the swashbuckle movies on television. You know, the ones with the thrilling sword fights and all the fancy foot work. One day, my father decided to spoil it for us. He had fenced as a teenager and even reached regional or semi-national finals in it. He went to great pains to explain that those thrilling sword fights we all enjoyed so much were choreographed dances with set slash moves: one, two, three, four, repeat.

    We all presumed he was trying to spoil the movies for us. Instead, he made them better because we would sit there during the thrilling sword fights and critique the dance moves. They were a LOT more fun once we knew how fake they were.

    • Yup! I did theater for years and years, and I have a substantial dance background. Given that our small, rural group didn’t have much in the way of fighters, guess who was always cast when we needed a sword fight? That’s right, us dancers, because it was choreography! Fortunately, I enjoyed the sword fight parts.

      • Makes me think of Princess Bride = Cary Elwes vs Mandy Patinkin. Awesome choreography and repartee!!!

  20. One of my hobbies is fencing with the SCA. I’m not very good, but I know enough to make cinema sword fights hilarious. Or to watch them and think, “I could take you both one-handed! Ha!”

    My favorite is fights where the bad guys conveniently wait turns to attack. No… no. Even in a “every man (and woman) for him(her) self” situation, opponents don’t wait turns; they may team up temporarily or they may just take advantage of an opponent’s pre- occupation with another opponent, but they don’t just wait patiently in a circle. And the evil Bad Guy (who is strictly not adhering to the Good Guy Code of Ethics that says you shouldn’t stab people in the back) isn’t going to be inhibited by “my opponent is not paying attention.” The “He’s trying to kill you!” Comment applies. It’s battle, not a dinner party.

    “Anyone ever tries to kill you, you kill ’em right back”

    Granted, when I “kill” my opponents, they get back up and laugh and “kill” me back later. And for safety reasons we have rules about ways people cannot be killed. you can’t stab someone in the back. But you can lay your sword on their shoulder from behind and inform them that they are dead.

      • This is an issue my husband and I have noticed. One actor who has addressed this better than anyone is Jackie Chan. Not a sword fighter but his opponents don’t wait for “their turn”, but at the same time his fights probably have more detailed choreography than anyone else’s. You know it is fake but it is poetry in motion.

  22. Was I the only one thinking that when you’re that close, you can knee the bad guy in the nuts? Why doesn’t anyone ever do that? He’s trying to kill you — knee him!

    • I always wonder why they don’t punch or knew or elbow … I mean even a bite … yeah, it’s gross but you’re fighting for your life (or honor or to save ppl or save the cheerleader, save the world or Whatever) … soooo yeah … there are no rules!!!

      • Because all (most) film and tv is directed and choreographed by men. If a woman were to do it, choreograph the fight scene, they would totally go for the nads. Men don’t even consider it an option!

      • There is the occasional head butt. Rachel Weisz’s character did that in the “The Mummy Returns” or whatever the second mummy movie was called. She could have gone with the knee, but the head butt was funnier in this case, since she said she learned the move from her husband.

  23. Another weapons enthusiast on YouTube is Shadiversity. I love his fantasy rearmed series where he takes fantasy creatures and suggests what would be the most effective medieval style weapons. Such as grappling hooks for merfolk to utilize the fact that a land based foe isn’t normally effective under water.

  25. Brilliant. Thanks for sharing that research. I’ve now subscribed to his channel. Really good. And makes sense to me from a basis sword fighting drill pov 🙂

  27. I’d never really thought about this, except for why not take a dagger or any other weapon at hand and finish your opponent, but Hollywood heroes must be ‘good’ 🙂
    Awesome video, I really enjoyed it, thank you! xx 🙂

  28. Thank you. Never heard of Lindybeige before but I’ll subscribe now ?
    And thank you Kelticat – I’ll look at Shadiversity on YouTube too …

  29. Fabulous link, thank you for sharing and pointing it out. I can foresee watching more of his videos in my near future…

  31. Interesting. I came across the article cited below, which purports to be by a man who teaches swordfighting from manuals written by old sword masters. He says we get it all wrong.

  34. Point taken. (Pun intended)

    (Amidst loud groans from everyone) – I know, I know, but someone had to say it! ?

      • Isn’t it? I can just picture someone chuckling with an evil grin while rubbing their hands together when I hear the word dastardly. SUCH an expressive word. ?

  36. For fun commentary on movie sword fighting, look for Cary Elwes’ book, As You Wish, which is about the making of The Princess Bride. He devotes a chapter to his and Mandy Patinkin’s sword fight. That being said, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the authorlords get it right. That’s because they do the research and they pay attention. (And if you’re going for the lower extremities, go for the knee. It has a more lasting effect, and men are less likely to automatically defend it.)?

  37. I LOVE THIS!!! One of the MANY reasons I adore you and your books. Your fight scenes are the best I’ve ever read and I read a lot.

    Also, I love when he pulls the dagger abd says that in the movies that’s a dastardly thing for the good guy to do. But it’s not, as he says: He’s trying to kill you.

    It reminds me on the Cat and Bones and Jeaniene Frost. I remember Bones training Car and explaining that there isn’t dirty moves when you fighting to the death. It’s the kick when they are down and no pity. I wholeheartedly agree.

    I hope things are better for you guys and that the fans are done. You guys are saints posting new innkeeper installments with everything that’s going on. I respect you both so much, but please take care. The BDH will wait.

    Thanks for brightening my morning!

  40. I was sitting there wondering why you wouldn’t pull out a knife and stab him in the neck or ear or SOMETHING, for pity’s sake

  43. Love your research. XD He’s quite funny and brings good points about stage/movie fights but he lost me on “pivot point”. Re: pushing/locking swords, Japanese Kendo uses a similar technique. Here is a link to a Kendo bout. The contestants are marked “red” and “white” by the fabric scarf tied to their backs. To score a point, one must hit with proper spirit and form in one of 4 places, the top of the head, the wrist, the side of the torso or middle of the throat (black belt only). You can gain a point if you can push your opponent out of the ring. (And for the record, those bamboo swords can really hurt!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL_3vJuvkVg

  44. ‘she broke his arm just like this, just as I taught her’,
    Lessons to be shared, remember when Helen said,
    ‘we killed them back’,
    The sanctity of a child, the alligence of a mother . . .

    And now ‘you’ ll go awaltzing, . . . is running thru my mind

  45. I have always wondered about how swords are used in a (movie) fight against a large, opposing force (ala the Draziri). If you are outnumbered and you stab someone with a sword and then have to work to pull the sword out of a large, armored dead body, isn’t the time that it takes a big disadvantage? Surely, defense with a sword and strategic dagger work be more effective?

  47. Loved it! Whenever two swordsmen get close I always wonder why one doesn’t head but the other one.

  48. I am years from the dojo, but I do recognize some techniques for joint locks, breaks of elbow, knees etc
    in authorlord non weapon fight descriptions. I trained Okinawan goju ryu, there are applications of all kata movementsand fight techniques broken down. I wonder if they trained in a martial art?

  49. wow, this brings back my fencing lessons at NYU. Went to NYu for the library and you could take fencing as your gym requirement. Only took 2 semesters, and we used foils. It was hard just learning where to position your body correctly, never mind trying to hit someone. And I tended to apologize after I struck someone. But I love all sword fights and marvel at the dexterity and the staminia.

    Love the Princess Bride,and I dearly miss Alan Rickman, wow he could act and delivery a put down like no other. He caressed,snarled and roared.
    Thanks to you I am enjoying all of Kate Daniels sword fights, and now Arland and Maud.
    And I hear Curran snarling just like Alan Rickman.

  51. This makes so much sense and shows how people who know almost nothing about weapons and fighting are the ones usually writing the scripts!

  55. The society for Creative Anachronism has sword fighting tournaments and frequently they have sword fighting lessons. The lessons are for people who want to learn to fight. In my area it is mostly sword and shield fighting.
    The SCA is all pre-renaissance. We used to do this when the kids were young. It was a lot of fun. Camping, making period costumes, learning to do hand crafts, and of course my husband was into the fighting. Antoine can go to the events. They post them on their website.

  56. This is so fun…and informative. Thanks for sharing. It has different moves than fencing with foil where you disengage when you are in an untenable position.
    I’m off to watch the other videos now! It’s a good way to pass the time until Maud makes an appearance again.

  57. So I’ve been fencing/teaching fencing for awhile and it’s actually not that inconceivable that new/young or particularly rattled or tired fencers do this. There is a bit of an instinct that oh I can just use more force than the other guy. Part of training is encouraging other responses that require planning and brain power. People do do this kind of stuff when aggression is high and they aren’t using their heads as much.

  58. Stupid as it may be, movies will continue to use this fighting position because when have movies ever been about realism, right?

    But it is an amusing video nonetheless.

    • Haha yes!! I just took a huge biology test for my teaching license, I won’t know for weeks if I passed. I can’t wait to read the next installment… let the brain relax and enjoy the fantastic story telling genius of the author lords. Refresh, refresh refresh… ?

  61. LOL Yea, this!
    I was part of a swordsplay group in my twenties and we ALL thought scenes like that were hilarious for the obvious reasons mentioned in the video. (And some more reasons…) It is just plain stupid. We never did anything like that in any of our choreographed fights for any medieval fair…
    (We had however a scene where the female cook did beat the bad guy when her weapons were just a cast iron pan and a rolling pin… Never underestimate a good and heavy cast iron pan.)

  62. I’m not sure what it says about me, but I couldn’t stop thinking “Dude, you forgot to fold your collar down” the whole time I was watching. 🙂

  63. Oh wow – two of my worlds just collided. I watched this a couple of days ago then tonight my OH showed me a YouTube video about his old school… also by Lindybeige!

    I do love me a nice coincidence 🙂

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