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The conclusion of the knight vs. samurai debate.
Comments
Keep in mind that Liechtenauer's martial art is all about making strikes which defend you at the same time as striking, though. A weapon as complex as the longsword is nearly useless without a martial art to back it up.
I don't know if it'll be on again, but last night I saw a decent documentary about Talhoffer's fightbook on the History channel. Or perhaps it was Nat Geo? It doesn't spend a lot of time on the longsword, but it does give a demonstration of how this kind of combat was done.
Axes are okay. I dislike their lack of versatility, though.
Also, for the sake of validating all the above, I train with the Glenn Lachlan College of Arms.
Also:
Axes are quite difficult to wield properly in combat, being really heavy.
Yeah, and you think the Kanabo is light and easy to use in battle? The Axe is way more convenient, lighter, and deadlier than a Kanabo and if used correctly, doesn't open its user up to a vulnerable position nearly as much as the Kanabo.
If not, www.wiktenauer.com.
Near ward seems to borrow from later stuff, though. Can you describe it? There's a few different guards out there that could be considered "near ward".
It's more well-discussed in the backsword manuals, where it's more primary.
my biggest reasoning for this is that samurai are able to switch between using long range weapons and close range weapons due to their armor being more flexible and helmets less vision restrictive. knights can use crossbows to a degree, but their main method of attack is to close in on horseback. a proper arrows flies with enough velocity to penetrate armor (just look at their history) even though later armorors designed their armor to naturally deflect arrows from their shape, it can only do so much, and better armor is rediculously expensive.
That knight in the video had the advantage of suprise on his hand. I think in a real battlefield setting samurai's are more adaptative and would be able to take advantage of a knights weakness initially would give them an edge.
of course, when a knight is in close combat with you, you're in some deep shit... katanas and such aren't really as great as the internet would make you believe... especially in fully armor clad opponents.
this is just coming from what ive seen explained to me on the discovery channel, but from what I know high quality knight armor is like... really expensive. a career knight would spend half their lives just saving up for a pair. maintenance is another problem too.
knight armor is shaped to deflect penetration, and thick enough for most cutting and bludgeon weapons to be innefective. but every system has it's flaw, and the knights is that their armor isn't suited for battles of attiration. it only takes one arrow to incapacitate. maybe not kill, thanks to the armor, but an arrow inside you is a serious enough issue that if you don't get medical attention for it, it's going to be lethal. not to mention the pain of it moving around, being stuck in the armor and you at the same time.
of course I'm talking out of my ass here, im not trying to prove anyone wrong or whatnot, just giving my 2 cents. I can't back up anything I'm saying right now.
on an unrelated note, why is it giving two cents, when it's a penny for your thoughts?
Longbows were essentially massed artillery and may not even have line-of-sight to your adversaries.
And then plate armour became more advanced.
Knights beat Samurai, NO EXCEPTIONS
European Power for the win.