10-03-2011, 04:10 AM
Aargh ... RAT ate my first two replies by logging me out.
Thanks for the information on the Sikh arts. If any African spear-and-shield traditions survive, they don't seem to be taught outside of rural Africa. I'm not sure if the New Guinea highlanders use shields?
Right now I'm exploring the sources and available traditions for a few hours a month. The first step is to become a competent fighter in some traditional martial art that covers a variety of forms, and that takes several thousand hours. I'm about a quarter of the way there on Fiore's art. Then I can pick an ancient form and start compiling visual and textual evidence.
I think most sport fighters, like steel reenactors or the SCA, have rules which prevent a lot of historical techniques ... the SCA don`t allow fighters to attack the hands or shins, and steel reenactors heavily limit attacks to the face and neck and sometimes the forearms or shins. As a result, what works for their games isn't the same thing which worked for a 16th century Italian trying not to get a pike through the face.
Thanks for the information on the Sikh arts. If any African spear-and-shield traditions survive, they don't seem to be taught outside of rural Africa. I'm not sure if the New Guinea highlanders use shields?
Right now I'm exploring the sources and available traditions for a few hours a month. The first step is to become a competent fighter in some traditional martial art that covers a variety of forms, and that takes several thousand hours. I'm about a quarter of the way there on Fiore's art. Then I can pick an ancient form and start compiling visual and textual evidence.
I think most sport fighters, like steel reenactors or the SCA, have rules which prevent a lot of historical techniques ... the SCA don`t allow fighters to attack the hands or shins, and steel reenactors heavily limit attacks to the face and neck and sometimes the forearms or shins. As a result, what works for their games isn't the same thing which worked for a 16th century Italian trying not to get a pike through the face.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
