Post by bladesparks on Jul 12, 2014 11:44:10 GMT -6
Expert slices through sword misconceptions
By Georgia Sparling | Jul 12, 2014
Original Story Link
Photo by: Georgia Sparling - Jeff Lord, left, and Jeff Goodkind battle it out at the Mattapoisett Library.
Mattapoisett — If you want to hold to the idea that the pen is mightier than the sword, Jeff Lord just might challenge you to a duel. After all, a sharp rapier doesn't need more than one pound of pressure to slide right into an opponents' "squishy parts."
Lord, who holds a master's in medieval history and is the head fencing coach at UMass Amhurst, shared his knowledge at the Mattapoisett Library on Friday afternoon with a lively discussion and enough swords to start a battle worthy of the Dark Ages. Assisted by fellow swordsman Jeff Goodkind, Lord also gave a number of demonstrations.
The first swords appeared in Turkey during the Bronze Age and were only two feet in length.
"What's the difference between a sword and a knife? Not much," said Lord.
And while physically speaking the sword can do more damage than a pen, most of what is known about medieval sword fighting comes from books.
The first known manuscript depicting Western swordsmanship dates to 1350 and shows priests and scholars in Northern Germany.
Why were priests fighting?
"There are no police in 1350," said Lord. "You had to defend yourself. Medieval Europe was very libertarian."
Unlike the fanciful swordplay in movies and TV shows, the main goal of carrying a sword was to stay alive, not master fancy footwork, said Lord.
A book in 1570 was the first to outline specific techniques to deal with an opponent.
Through the years, technique evolved as did swords – from one handed to two handed long swords, the pointy rapier and later the curved saber.
Along the way, several words trickled into language still used today.
Pummel is a word directly descended from the German word pommel – a rounded knob on the end of a sword used to, well, pummel people.
Swashbuckling is a word whose meaning has taken on a more romantic feel (think Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean") than the original meaning of a punk looking for a fight.
And the word defense came from the word for fencing.
While historic documents give a better sense of how and why swords were used, Lord said there are no longer people who qualify as sword masters. Anyone with hand to hand sword combat died around World War I.
"If anyone says, 'I am a sword master.' Laugh at them and walk away," said Lord, jokingly. "No one actually lives or dies by the blade."
Jeff Lord demonstrates a pose called roof in the German swordsmanship tradition. (Photo by: Georgia Sparling)
By Georgia Sparling | Jul 12, 2014
Original Story Link
Photo by: Georgia Sparling - Jeff Lord, left, and Jeff Goodkind battle it out at the Mattapoisett Library.
Mattapoisett — If you want to hold to the idea that the pen is mightier than the sword, Jeff Lord just might challenge you to a duel. After all, a sharp rapier doesn't need more than one pound of pressure to slide right into an opponents' "squishy parts."
Lord, who holds a master's in medieval history and is the head fencing coach at UMass Amhurst, shared his knowledge at the Mattapoisett Library on Friday afternoon with a lively discussion and enough swords to start a battle worthy of the Dark Ages. Assisted by fellow swordsman Jeff Goodkind, Lord also gave a number of demonstrations.
The first swords appeared in Turkey during the Bronze Age and were only two feet in length.
"What's the difference between a sword and a knife? Not much," said Lord.
And while physically speaking the sword can do more damage than a pen, most of what is known about medieval sword fighting comes from books.
The first known manuscript depicting Western swordsmanship dates to 1350 and shows priests and scholars in Northern Germany.
Why were priests fighting?
"There are no police in 1350," said Lord. "You had to defend yourself. Medieval Europe was very libertarian."
Unlike the fanciful swordplay in movies and TV shows, the main goal of carrying a sword was to stay alive, not master fancy footwork, said Lord.
A book in 1570 was the first to outline specific techniques to deal with an opponent.
Through the years, technique evolved as did swords – from one handed to two handed long swords, the pointy rapier and later the curved saber.
Along the way, several words trickled into language still used today.
Pummel is a word directly descended from the German word pommel – a rounded knob on the end of a sword used to, well, pummel people.
Swashbuckling is a word whose meaning has taken on a more romantic feel (think Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean") than the original meaning of a punk looking for a fight.
And the word defense came from the word for fencing.
While historic documents give a better sense of how and why swords were used, Lord said there are no longer people who qualify as sword masters. Anyone with hand to hand sword combat died around World War I.
"If anyone says, 'I am a sword master.' Laugh at them and walk away," said Lord, jokingly. "No one actually lives or dies by the blade."
Jeff Lord demonstrates a pose called roof in the German swordsmanship tradition. (Photo by: Georgia Sparling)