Win a Swordfight

Although mostly a relic of the past, the sword and the art of sword-fighting still fascinates and inspires. But this is not a fantastical art. The main point is to win your fight, or at least survive to fight another day. Here are some key concepts in succeeding:

Please note: Reading this article will not make you an expert swordsman. While this article attempts to sum up the basics of swordsmanship, the many intricacies of handling the sword cannot be taught on paper, computer screen, video, or WikiHow article. If you are truly interested in learning, find a local martial arts studio, fencing school, SCA chapter - whatever suits your fancy - and leave your training to an expert teacher. Remember things will be different from style to style and school to school and sword to sword some things in this article may not apply to you.

Steps

  1. Be aware of your melee scenario. Situational awareness is key to winning the fight. Your mind needs to not only be aware that you need to prepare to fight, but also to quickly take in your surroundings and calculate how to turn the environment to your advantage. If you are taken by surprise, you may be beaten before you had a chance to draw your sword.
    • Trust your "uh-oh" gut feelings. Having a feeling that something is just not right? That you are being watched? It is just too quiet, or something is out of place, or you hear something but not sure what? Honor your intuition; it may well save your life.
    • Be aware of threats. If you are not aware of attackers, you are already at a disadvantage. This includes being observant of odd or suspicious behavior, awareness of your surroundings, and often just your "gut feeling".
    • Be aware of your fighting situation. A fight by two thugs in a darkened alley is different from a tournament fight. A tournament fight is controlled and done with a code of honor. If you are attacked "on the street" (for some reason) you are likely fighting for your life, and should not hold back on "dishonorable" tactics such as kicking, throwing sand in an opponent's eyes, or trickery.
  2. Assess your melee environment. Every sword fight takes place somewhere. Awareness of where you are can help access possible disadvantages, and be able to turn the physical environment to your advantage. If you can maneuver yourself so that you can attack and/or protect yourself more effectively--prepare an ambush, force your opponent against a dead end, hide behind a boulder--you are more likely to win. Some sample environmental elements to consider:
    • Bright sunlight can blind, if it is at the right angle and the right blindness. Forcing your opponent to have the sun in his or her eyes may make it much harder to see you.
    • Dark environments can conceal, either you or your opponent.
    • Forests have a host of opportunities for concealment. Trees makes it difficult or impossible to execute massed defenses such as "shield walls" or offenses like typical battlefield formations.
    • Natural barriers such as cliffs, ocean, or walls cut off mobility and escape routes.
    • Swordfighters (especially in armor) do not typically do well in mud, marshy areas, ice, or deep, soft snow.
    • Battlefields require acting as part of a team, even more than an as individual. You will depend on the people around your for survival, and to act rashly alone means likely death for you and your comrades.
    • Urban environments typically encompass enclosed spaces, such as rooms or streets.
  3. Draw your sword before you engage. A trained sword swing takes a fraction of a second, so drawing your sword can take precious time. Also, your sword is of minimal value hanging in its sheath.
    • On the other hand, if your sword and scabbard are suitable for a quick draw, and you practice, this can be a great surprise attack. It can also intimidate by showing you are a highly trained fighter.
    • This is especially applicable to the Japanese sword which has styles for attacking people while drawing the blade called Iaido and Batto-jutsu.
  4. Relax! The natural reaction to sword combat is panic. However, if you are tight, in a frazzled state of mind you cannot act with speed, control, or mental clarity. This can be fatal. With practice, you will learn to achieve a state of calm concentration in the midst of danger. Your mind will learn to focus on what is.
  5. Balance, keep your body balanced so you can strike or parry without being hit. Always have your feet shoulder wide and when you move, move so your legs spread apart. Never have your feet close to each other. Hold your sword so you can handle it with ease. Watch your opponent's movements and learn when he moves in to attack and launch a preemptive strike (counter).Be quick. When you parry you keep the blade close to you so you don't stretch out to block and always try to counter your opponents attack. Your footing and proper foot placement is key for balance. The more of the sole of your foot touches the ground the more grounded you are giving you greater strength in your attacks. To keep your balance try to slide your feet rather then lift them up and stepping. Leaning forward lifting up your heel also reduces your grounding so be cautious with how your feet are placed and used during each strike because you give great opportunity for your opponent to knock you over. Keep your posture straight and your chest and torso forward which will keep you from losing your balance during your swings and allows you to avoid with a simple twist any blows with ease rather then having your torso turned sideways locking yourself to only be able to evade an attack in only one direction.
  6. Engage with care. If you charge in recklessly, especially against a trained fighter, he may just wait and let you impale yourself on his sword. By engaging carefully, you are able to maintain control and focus at all times. This also will allow your best defense which most of the time is just sidestepping (or side sliding) your opponents attack potentially saving your life and allowing the opening for your winning blow. Dodging works extremely well in an open space or if you are quick, an indoor room.
  7. Have a strong defense. Missing just one block or parry can be fatal, so protect yourself well. Maintain your sword in a position that runs from the bottom of your torso to the top of your head. This is a middle position, suitable for any skill level, that will enable you to respond to an attack with reasonable speed, and also gives you many angles for your own strikes.
  8. Keep your weapon ready. Generally, your sword should be extended a comfortable distance away from your body, and toward your opponent's throat, or perhaps his eye. This is referred to as putting him "on point". It serves as a ward against an opponent (who must, after all, get through your sword first), and can be quite intimidating, especially to an inexperienced fighter.
  9. Keep your elbows bent, and close to your body. An inexperienced fighter tends to stretch out his arms in order to keep his opponent further off, but this will hurt your ability to thrust and parry quickly. Extend your sword towards your opponent, not your arms.
  10. Make the first strike count. Although a skilled fighter can keep up combat for extended periods, a real sword fight is quite often determined by the first blow--often decided in less than 30 seconds. Be sure of your attack, for it is likely that if you miss with your first strike, your opponent will take advantage, and end the fight himself with a fatal blow.
  11. Find and maintain a distance based on a balance of your reach and your opponent. One's "reach" is the weapon plus the length of the sword swing. A long arm with a short sword could equal the reach of a shorter arm and a long sword. What is comfortable will be based on a number of factors: your height, sword length, sword style, and fighting style all affect your proper distance.
    • If you have a shorter "reach", generally get in close and stay within his or her guard. Do not let him or her push you away. An opponent with longer reach will not be as easily able to get a good swing in, and you can usually swing faster than a person with a longer "reach".
    • If you are using a longer sword, keep your distance. A longer sword makes it possible to keep the opponent farther away and thus less likely to make contact.
    • If about the same, generally stay about where it would only take one large step forward to attack.
  12. Remain calm and confident. Poise can decide a fight as surely as the sword, and is an effective stratagem. If you are nervous or frightened, your opponent may try to take advantage of your lack of confidence and attempt to goad you into making a fatal mistake. Cool warriors tend to make others wary, unsettled, and ideally fearful.
    • You can still stay calm, but prefer to show aggressiveness and intimidate your opponent instead, or even pretend to be scared, or even make him or her laugh in the hope of lulling your enemy into making a fatal error.
    • Each strength has a weakness. For example, a tall fighter may have longer reach--but it may take longer to throw a shot, and height is a disadvantage in an area with a low ceiling height.
    • Each weakness may have a strength. An inexperienced fighter is also one that is difficult to predict.
  13. Once the fight begins, find the flow of battle and attempt to control it. This is just a fancy way of summing everything else in this article up in one sentence but its very important in it's own right too. If you succeed in finding the flow and controlling it you have a very good chance of almost directly influencing the entire fight directly through you actions. It is a difficult concept to grasp but try the next time you spar during practice.
    • Find the patterns and flow from one move to the next and try to control your opponent. Generally fighters fall into strikes, defenses, and tactics that are most familiar and comfortable to them. It takes many years and lots of practice to accomplish this but if you do this then the battle is already half yours.
  14. Drop the dramatics. Most sword fights are won with simple, well timed and well placed blows and parries. Flashy elaborate moves are generally best left to martial arts movies. There are practical purposes to certain showy maneuvers in the right situation in the right opportunity. However, unless you are an expert you are more likely to leave yourself open for an embarrassing defeat. For instance, do not spin in a circle. It may look cinema-ready but leaves your hard-to-defend back open to blows.
    • One possible useful purpose: intimidation. Showing a less experienced fighter that you are able to easily pull off fancy maneuvers can crack the other person's confidence. Making the opponent question his or her abilities against you is a huge psychological win.
    • Another good tactic: distraction. If your opponent is busy watching you dance around, that might be the time you need to find an opening in the defense.

Tips

  • Never dodge like a maniac. Look to where your opponent is aiming, and move as little as possible. If he lunges and you sidestep you will most likely have a clear shot. Take it. And don't be afraid to carry an off hand sword. Its not cheating, just practical.
  • Positioning of the body is important. Keep your body perpendicular and the shoulder of your sword arm pointed toward your opponent (like fencers do). This makes your torso a smaller target and will protect many of your vital organs.
  • Training is vital. If you practice very hard, perhaps 10% of what you know will be available to you during combat. You must be able to act instinctively, without thought. Basic techniques lend themselves well to this, which is why they are called 'basics'. Be sure to train yourself constantly in these essentials, for much of the time, they will be the only things you have to fall back on. It generally takes about two months to learn a technique fully, but only one month to lose it.
  • Accuracy is more vital than power.
  • Remember that every part of your sword is a weapon, including the point, each edge, the handguard, and the pommel. Along with this your body is a weapon and anything around you can be a weapon. There is no reason a sword fight should be restricted to your blade. Use whatever you can to win.
  • If possible, know beforehand the weapon your opponent is using. If going against an opponent with a smaller faster sword, do not let its appearance fool you. A weapon like that probably has a moderate amount of bend and specializes in squeezing in between openings. On the other hand, If your opponent is using a large heavy sword, he/she is probably planning to end the fight with one or two strikes. Stay as far away from your opponent as possible and wait for him/her to tire.
  • Be aware of the terrain around you and use it to your advantage. Sending an opponent tumbling backwards over an obstacle behind him/her will surely help. Also, placing your back to the sun can cause your enemy to be momentarily blinded, thus opening him/her up to a fatal strike.
  • Take good care of your equipment. Well-maintained weapons and armor are far less likely to let you down when it matters most.
  • If at all possible, avoid fighting more than one person. If you must fight many opponents, try to maneuver them so that they interfere with each other, and thus enable you to deal with each one individually.
  • Conserve your energy. It is well-known among veterans that a fight to the death takes an incredible amount of effort, so don't waste your time with fancy maneuvers or unnecessary motion. Your survival may depend on this.
  • Use weapons and techniques you are familiar with, and that cater to your particular strengths. Trying something new during combat is a good way to get killed.
  • Where you are standing isn't worth dying for. If you always move in a linear fashion, or just stand still, you limit yourself, and a cunning enemy can take advantage of this. Be prepared to utilize the terrain fully, and move in whatever fashion the situation calls for.
  • Examination of eyewitness accounts show that many sword duels were won by gashing the opponent's arms or thighs, then waiting until blood loss made them faint, at which point they were at their assailant's mercy. Hands, feet, arms and legs are legitimate and useful targets, and will often be easier to strike than the torso or head.
  • Know your sword and sword style, and what both are designed for and capable of. A sword is a tool and is designed to do a certain task. They are not magical and will not exceed their design. Plan ahead based on this knowledge. Is your sword light and nimble, designed for stabbing? Or a heavy one capable of a single body-severing, but potentially slower stroke? Or a razor blade made to cut? Each has weaknesses and strengths, as do the styles accompanying them. Knowing the limits and abilities of yours and your enemy's sword and style is the key to winning.
  • Friends can be a big help, or a great hindrance. If you can, train with others, so that you can function together as a group. Also, try to pick allies, weapons, and techniques that complement each other, such as using a polearm from behind a couple of friends using shields and swords.
  • A common mistake is presenting one's legs as an easy target - such an opportunity should never be missed. If one of the opponents goes down, then the fight is usually over.
  • Watch your opponent carefully. Notice where he/she is looking - this may be the area where he's/she's preparing to strike. When your opponent is about to attack, his/her fists and shoulders may tense for a second.
  • In defense, when it's enough to only move your wrist, move just the wrist. When the wrist is not enough, move the elbow. When the elbow is not enough, move the shoulder. When none of this is enough, retreat.
  • Maintain your balance. Keep your weight evenly balanced on both your feet; only ever have one foot not on the ground at a time. Never cross your feet as this will throw you off balance; only the slightest bit of force can knock you over. There is a reason that almost all martial arts stress balance (except for one or two weird ones where you're constantly falling and recovering) - it gives you more options to move.
  • Combination strikes are more effective than single blows. In an extended battle, a good fighter will attack with more than one attack. This gives a much better chance of success than just one strike. Keeping an opponent under pressure increases the possibility of a mistake on his/her part.
  • When facing any opponent, even if he/she is a weaker fighter, then try to get any edge on him/her you can. This includes a mental edge as well. Using sand in the eyes or insults or anything else that will make him/her weaker. Don't get cocky because he/she is weaker; he/she can still harm or kill you. Accumulating many of these small advantages is a mark of a good swordsmen. Also, be aware that your opponent will attempt the same. Rather than getting flustered by this, think of how to counter and remove his advantages and try to prevent him from the onset of even trying.
  • Remember if you're pointing your sword while facing them be ready to tilt your sword and block or dodge or it could leave a weakness.
  • Practice exactly as you would fight, because you will fight the way you were trained. If you impose a limitation that wouldn't normally exist in combat, you risk developing a bad habit that could ultimately prove fatal.
  • Most fighters tend to separate defense from attack, which limits their technique severely. The best warriors combine the two, so that a block or parry turns into a natural counterstrike. Their fighting becomes a smooth, flowing progression of movement.
  • Always remember that any of these tricks can be used against you.
  • Let your opponent do all the jumping and running around; if you do you will wear out fast which is extremely fatal.
  • Know the length of your sword. If both fighters are correctly judging length, you'll only ever have the opportunity to hit with the top six inches or so. Keep your eye on your sword and that of your opponent at all times. However, focusing just on the opponent's sword is not advisable, since you can be misled. A skilled fighter should be able to judge the direction of the opponent's next blow by examining his/her posture.
  • If you need practice with sword fighting or are new at it, it helps if you practice with sticks, wooden swords, or bunted metal ones. You can also have friendly competitions with your friends for practice.
  • If possible, wear armor. Anything that extends your life past the first cut is a good investment. Be sure that it is well-fitting and durable. Be aware that while light armor gives you more freedom to maneuver and is easier to fight in, heavier armor can absorb more punishment. Be aware that heavy armor such as plate steel changes everything: the way you move, see, and even how you should hold your weapon.
  • When parrying use the flat of the blade as not to damage the blade.
  • Don't stare. It may sound counter intuitive but looking too intensely can offer a "tell" to your opponent so they can predict what you are doing more easily. It may also cause you to hyper focus and miss peripheral movements.
  • Usually your sword is thin and light. You should only need one hand on it unless it is designed for two.
  • Never be intimidated by your opponents constant forward steps and swings. I call this the "death step" when an opponent has more force and an intimidatingly fast swing and are charging forward forcing you to step backwards. Always remember, it doesn't matter how hard they can swing, you can always block and defend. Even if their weapon is larger or stronger (like some giant axe) you can use this and step forward into them and deliver a fatal attack.
  • In fencing (fighting with a sword designed to thrust, as opposed to cut), always keep your sword point directly at your opponent; if you parry (block) exactly to the end of the side of their body, they will not be able to hit you. Overextending yourself (parrying past that point) will leave you vulnerable.
  • If your sword is properly balanced, it will work as a lever. Use your off-hand to guide it, and your strong hand to lend the force to the attack or parry.
  • If you don't need to block, don't - it is a whole lot easier to get out of the way than use brute force. Your opponent(s) may be stronger than you, but they can't hurt you if you're not there. That being said, a proper parrying form is also necessary, since you cannot possibly dodge all attacks. Learn to parry while exposing as little of the vital targets on your body as possible. You need to know what your sword is designed for as well. Some swords cannot block effectively without being ruined (Katana) and some are mainly to block. For this reason there are little blocks in Japanese sword fighting as a apposed to Chinese or European sword fighting. Also remember that stepping out of line of an attack and then pushing the opponent's weapon off to the side is not only an effective defense, but allows a good opening for an attack.
  • Choose your weapons carefully, and if possible, carry more than one weapon. Weapons bend, break, or become wrong for the circumstance. Be sure to carry a combination of weapons that can serve in multiple situations, and that complement each other as well as your strengths. Don't combine things such as two long swords and a bastard sword, try carrying a rapier and bastard sword so they complement each other.
  • While this may not be true 100% of the time, use smaller and lighter swords. Great Swords and claymores are heavy and not very agile. They will tire you out faster than shorter, single-handed swords which are lighter and much more maneuverable. In a sword fight agility is everything. Having a big sword just tires you out and is meaningless if you can't hit anything. Remember, these are swords, not clubs: they cut, not crush, so having a big heavy sword is unnecessary.( keep in mind that although bigger swords ARE heavier than one-handed swords, bastard swords and two-handed swords still only weigh in at less than 8 pounds. Real two-handers are made for a reason, and their weight and balance are spectacular: they're specialised weapons. see the ARMA essay on the two-handed great sword in the sources for more information)
  • If you're using both hands to grasp a sword (as with a so-called "bastard" or a hand-and-a-half sword), keep your strong hand right under the guard and the other hand (the off-hand) right above the pommel. Keep your arms flexed at the elbows (but not stiff), with your strong fist in front of your solar plexus and the sword positioned as described above. When defending, your strong arm should not move far from this position.
  • The art of the sword is this: to kill or incapacitate your opponent in the shortest possible time, with the least amount of effort. Once you have engaged in combat, fight to win. Compassion, chivalry, and good sportsmanship are wonderful concepts, but if it's a choice between you or your enemy, the choice is obvious. Often, the fighter who is more willing to be merciless will be the one left standing after a battle. Sad, but true.
  • Never jump or take both feet off the ground. Try for {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} at all times. While jumping may look cool, it will get you killed as you cannot change direction in midair and your balance is gone. You are using a sword as well and therefore you need extra stability and balance. Keeping your feet planted and on the ground is very important. Also, when stepping slide your feet instead of lifting them, this way you can change direction or plant them quickly.
  • Practice on varied terrain. Wet grass, gravely roads, twisted vine covered forest trails, corn fields, sandy beaches, rocky hillsides, mud, sand dunes, etc, etc. All may happen at one time or another. Having experienced footing in each will give a good advantage.
  • Practice in various environmental conditions. Learn to either ignore the weather and/or use it to your advantage.
  • When you fight an opponent, you should be alert of your surroundings enough to be able to hear other enemies creeping up on you.
  • This might sound like a surprise to some but "holding your blade in the air still" is a great way to get your very own sword stuck through your side, never block still. European men-at-arms or knights never blocked as such but always kept an offensive parry and always advanced on their enemy. Thus resulting in a combat tactic tome written and reproduced as a popular command.
  • A good grip on your sword is as important as the sword itself.
  • If your using a GreatSword, your strikes should be long and far. It's OK to twirl, but you'll have a back-up attack, perfectly in line. Using your GreatSword Handle for a quick stun is highly recommended.
  • Never let your opponent distract you.
  • Most of the time people are defending their upper body, occasionally strike for the legs and feet to either disable standing, or even to just induce a small amount of pain.

Warnings

  • Remember that there are no awards for 2nd place in a sword fight. 1st place means you are still standing when the fight is over. 2nd place leaves you dead. This means that, once you set out to fight someone with a sword, or indeed, any weapon, your ultimate goal is survival, not a prize.
  • When fencing (for fun, like kids with sticks), the #1 mistake most people make is they try to hit the sword instead of the person. If you keep that in mind - hitting the person (his hand, body, or head), not his sword - you can more easily defeat someone who is attacking your sword (or stick). Plus you find your posture and confidence change, and that usually spooks an amateur.
  • It's a cliché, but always expect the unexpected. There never were any clearly defined rules of sword fighting other than survival. Your opponent could kick at you, throw dirt in your face, or any one of a thousand other things to distract you. Remember that these are tactics that you can also employ.
  • When using a two-handed blade, keep your arms from crossing. You lose much of your maneuverability, which can be disastrous. Use the "lever" grip described above.
  • Never, ever turn around. Although flashy and cool, it is largely ineffective, and doesn't work. Turning your back to your opponent, even for a second, can have fatal consequences, so don't do it!
  • Sword twirling is usually reserved only for drum majors leading a marching band. In combat sword twirling can result in losing the grip on your sword, as well as leave you exposed to attack. That said, doing a "windmill" or figure-eight with a two-handed blade can leave a less experienced fighter intimidated - though it is tiring, and is not advisable against a more experienced opponent. Even Darth Maul couldn't get away with twirling.
  • Staying on the defensive is only partially effective. In historic German fencing, keeping your opponent on the defensive is the best way to keep them from attacking. Use with care.
  • In an actual combat situation, the rules in a competition don't apply. There are no points or time-outs, and that honor codes except personal ones don't apply. This is a case were you may gain advantage over your opponent by knowing what kind of person he is and playing off of personal codes of honor or ego.
  • It is said that the greatest warrior is the one who never has to draw his sword. This can mean that a swordsman has only himself to compare to, and doesn't need to test himself against an opponent. More practically, if you are in a true sword fight, seriously consider running away. Sword fighting is a good way to get killed, and is very hard to explain to the authorities (hence why duels are illegal). A three inch thrust or slice in your neck/face area is fatal or debilitating, 80% of the time. This means that the most likely outcome of a real sword fight is that the "loser" dies fast, and the "winner" dies slow. If you survive a sword fight without injury, consider yourself lucky, and try to avoid such things in the future. If the unfortunate does happen, and you are hurt, seek medical attention immediately.
  • The most important thing to remember is that swordplay is not "play". It is very serious business to draw a sword. Swords were designed for killing, no other purpose. Treat a sword with the same respect as a firearm and others will treat you with respect.
  • Never, ever let go of your sword. A single blow on an airborne sword will send it flying, making you defenseless. Unless you've got more than one sword to waste, keep your hands on your weapon.
  • Expect to be cut, or worse. A warrior who is worried about his own skin tends to freeze up in the middle of battle.

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Sources and Citations

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