Why one-handed swords are sometimes preferable to longswords - HEMA

After watching a number of these videos and videos like scholagladiatoria, it seems to me that the best swordsmen are those that have a somewhat varied skill set with swords and are able to choose and effectively utilize different swords and techniques based on what the situation demands.

I do love when you demonstrate the moves you can do with swords. I'm sure they're considered basics, but for a newbie like me they look quite cool. Great video again. As a former history student I find your videos very interesting and well documented. Cheers!

I like to imagine all the nobles wearing their longswords and knocking everything off tables whenever they turn too quickly.

I'm not into HEMA myself, but I'm watching a lot of videos on it in order to write proper swordfighting scenes in my books. It's a very interesting topic!

A one handed sword is better in one hand? Makes sense

Keep these videoscoming Easton! You're educating me.

For me the most obvious reason is the nature of medieval warfare. Unless you have very expensive plate armour, you would be very vunerable to missile fire if you are not carrying a shield.

I am a simple viking. someone mentions the Icelandic saga's i press like!

One reason might be is that it's not your primary weapon - you might prefer a spear with your shield. Rather than carry around a longsword, you could lighten your carrying load whilst you're marching and camping, making you less worn out by the time you reach battle. If you've got a short sword you're not carrying that extra weight, but you still have a side arm in case you lose your spear, or axe, or mace, or whatever else you were using.

"when you use your weapon with two hands you can manage more length" ;)

What about hand and a half swords?

Another alternate grip for 2 hands on a 1-handed weapon is to grip your own forearm. This works particularly well on a backhand strike, where you can really power through on a swing. (I've been nailed a few times with this one while sparring with the senior instructors at my school.) While not something permanent to do, it does seem to work pretty well as a temporary assist on a few shots. You can see a more elaborate version of doing this with some Escrima/Arnis styles, where they tend to slap their own forearms a lot. It's a bit of an affectation, but the underlying principle is that they're using their off-hand as a sort of brake to assist in stopping the follow-through of the strike, and to re-direct it back, or else they're adding a bit of power to the initial throw. The disadvantage being that your off-hand is out floating around in front of you, and can be picked off by your opponent. Also, all the power of the strike still has to go through your lead-hand wrist, so it's not as effective as having a longer grip. Also, it doesn't really work all that well for thrusting - just swings.

Well done, as always, Matt. You do this with such elegance.

"The gods gave you two hands and you use both on your weapon, I can respect that"

one more point on length of the hilt, there are medieval illustrations showing 1 handed swords with slightly longer hilts that were also used in both hands from time to time, even despite having overall 1 hander characteristics.

If they ever did a live-action Tekken film I would cast you as Bryan Fury

You are very good and helpful I loved those video I am thinking about buying a sword but it is hard to chose but after watching this video I think I will get a one handed sword

A good video, as always! I would really like it if you could make a video concerning the messer! Periods, the categorization of the different names(which seems impossible), and the different models. Also the laws around them. I've been told that guilds had a monopoly on swords and that is where the messer comes from, I've also been told that it's from the law against longswords, prices on double edged being higher, all sorts of different rumors are flying around. It'd be very nice to clear things up! =)

Great video as always Matt. I think it depends not only on whether you have a shield, but, what the area you're in is like. Shorter swords are better in close quarters. Yes a long sword can be used, but, with even a buckler the one hander has something of an advantage up close and personal. Weilding a long sword outdoors is great, trying to use it in a low ceiling building of the period (such as a tavern or such) Our ancestors used lower ceilings because it made the building easier to heat in winter. It also made it more difficult to...settle accounts indoors. (not the super rich of course, they liked their drafty great halls and such)

I would think longswords would be better mounted. In the same way that the light cav. 1796 can be more blade heavy than an infantry version, a one handed grip on a longsword will give you more reach and power than a one handed sword would, and the maneuverability would be less of an issue on horseback.