Peasant Flail Combat 2

[Roger N]

More good stuff to enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a839l7fIYBU

[Shay Roberts]

That is a scary weapon! I wonder how easy it is to arrest the momentum if you miss? Or perhaps you just preserve the momentum? Has anyone sparred with these?

[Roger N]

Comparing with the Mair illustrations, his fencers appear to use a bit wider grip, which ought to make it easier to control the whole weapon. Still with a full weight flail, I bet you would have to work pretty dynamically with the grip.

An interesting aspect of the illustrations, that become apparent with the flails, is that the fencers are posing and are not caught with a snapshot of actual fighting, at least judging from the hanging flail heads. I have to look into these when I get back to my own computer.

[Roger N]

A question regarding the third play of Flail 3 at 2:25, where the fencer on the left defends with an upper hengen on the right and then moves the flail to the left and strikes from the right: I interpreted the text as a schnappen from hengen to a strike from the left. It seems quicker, but perhaps it doesn't work with the original text?

Edit: Going through it again, I can see the difference in interpretation of text. It says to parry his staff and then bring it up to the left, sort of like Eusern Nym. Solid work, guys!

[James Head]

Hi Roger. As is mentioned in the video's description, everything shown is just a working interpretation. The are many confusing parts in the Flail section. We do our best to make sense of the text, but there are plenty of segments that could play out in an entirely different way. I am very excited to see other people taking interest in Mair's Flail material. The more minds the better! I welcome any and all discussion about this crazy weapon.

As you noticed yourself, sometimes it seems intuitive to perform a particular action, but instead Mair tells us to do something very different. So far, this is our best idea of how one is supposed to take a strike from your right side and deflect it to your left side.

As an aside, I've never heard of the term Eusern Nym. Could you give some clarification?

[Roger N]

In English the term Eusern Nym could be translated as "Outer Taking". One example would be when both points are off line and you are bound from above. Your opponent moves his point on line and you follow but continue moving your point on line instead, into a bind from above. Thus moving from a bind on the outside to a bind on your inside and continue with whatever attack is appropriate. Other similar techniques could be done from a bind with, for example, a zwerhau or schrankhut/upper hengen/kron. It is a principle, not a technique.

Have to run off, so I can't respond more right now. Again, great work guys. And I completely agree. Mair can be more than a bit challenging to read and interpret!

[Frederico Martins]

This looks great, would love to try it out, I like how he call it staff, i guess it do is like a staff but you have to be extra carefull with your distance.

A tournament of flail would be fun to watch!