Medieval Weapons: The Pollaxe (AKA Poleaxe)

The medieval pollaxe (or poleaxe) is a very important weapon which reached peak popularity in 15th century Europe. It is optimized for armored combat and is as complex as the longsword in its construction and techniques of use. It can be found in many medieval fighting treatises. RELATED VIDEOS:

The Roman Spear and Shield used together – Triarii

The Roman shield (scutum) is most famously paired with the sword (gladius), but they were commonly paired with the spear in the earlier and later periods. Here we have a little look at the Roman shield and spear used together.

Paramerion sabre trainig - Academia Leontes

Academia Leontes: this is how Byzantines fought

Georgios Georgas is an instructor of historical martial arts in the Academy of historical European Martial Arts “Leontes” – club focused on late Byzantine and post-Byzantine period of history but they also study and practice ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern swordsmanship. “As far I remember myself, I grew up with the epics stories and poems…

Introduction: Tahtib

Tahtib is an ancient art, possibly dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. Engraved tomb walls at the archaeological site of Beni Hasan on the eastern bank of the Nile appear to show stick fighting practice resembling Tahtib. Although modern Tahtib practice tends to be friendly (and there is a heavily stylized Saidi form that…

Introduction: Bastone Siciliano

In Bastone Siciliano the stick is kept in constant motion, travelling around the head in various serpentine circular movements known as Muliné until it is time to execute a strike or parry. As an interesting aside, this constant, circling motion of the stick around the player’s head may provide possible insights into the ‘Frequens Motus’…

Introduction: Bâton Français

The baton was systematized in France during the 1800s and during the mid 1850s baton practice was one aspect of a gymnastics curriculum for French soldiers established at the Joinville military academy. Practice with baton was also popular in 19th century Savate salles. It is likely the baton was popular among various 19th century European…

Fighting a longstick

Various native forms of stick fighting including: Singlestick (British) Greatstick (British) Jogo do Pau (Portuguese) Juego del Palo (Spanish) Makila (Basque) Bastone Siciliano (Sicilian) Scherma de Bastone (Italian) Stockfechten (German) La Canne (French) Bâton Français (French) Bataireacht (Irish) Shillelagh (Irish). […] Examples of arts involving longsticks include Hutton’s Greatstick, Jogo do Pau, Juego del Palo,…