How to Parry with a Sword - Edge or Flat?

Some practitioners of HEMA and other armed martial arts insist that the edge of a blade should not be used for defensive purposes, and a few even advocate avoiding blade contact altogether. But is it really a matter of parrying exclusively with either the edge or the flat? How about certain angles that fall in between? How about situations, techniques, and intended outcomes that favor one over the other, but not all the time?

In this video I discuss my current view on this topic, based on available evidence (archaeological and scriptural), experiments with sharp swords, and practical experience from sparring. I'm focusing mainly on the longsword and the messer, but the mechanics are the same with a wide variety of edged weapons.


** Sources **

Bronze Age Swordsmanship: New Insights from Experiments and Wear Analysis
https://link.springer.com/article/10....

Connected Histories: the Dynamics of Bronze Age Interaction and Trade 1500–1100
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journa...

Medieval / Renaissance manuscripts about sword fighting:
https://www.wiktenauer.com/wiki/Categ...


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