links for the fighty types

[swan_tower]

These have been piling up for a while, so I might as well put them all in one post:

• Guys in actual armor demonstrating how well you can move in it (I especially like the heel-kick)
• How does Thibault cancel out Capo Ferro (spoiler: it’s a lot less fancy than the movie would have you believe)
• Fact-checking fight-books: comparing historic injury patterns to strikes in modern European sword arts (the percentage breakdowns for different weapons are especially interesting)

Originally published at Swan Tower. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[via_ostiense]

Interesting, I would not have expected such a range of motion with plate armor on!

[swan_tower]

Which is pretty much why that video was needed!

[sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com]

Are you familiar with John Clements?

http://www.thearma.org/

I've seen him in a number of documentaries. Also, he's cute :)

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

That study looks fascinating. Thanks for the linkage!

[templarwolf.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks for the links

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a well-made suit of armor is quite easy to move around in. It's designed to balance well and move with your joints, and doesn't feel terribly heavy (for shorter time periods).

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I would dearly love to wear a suit of plate armor at some point, if I can find one that fits me well enough to give a sense of what it's like. It's one of those physical experiences that I'm intrigued by, and could probably write better if I tried it out.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Ideally you'd get one made to fit you, but given the cost that's not worth it just to try it out. I don't know of anyone your size who is currently fighting, but I'll keep my eye out and let you know if I find anyone the right size who'd be willing to let you try theirs.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

Please do! I figure a close-enough loaner set would be enough to give me a sense of the thing -- I won't spring for my own armor unless I end up writing that "medieval lady knight" project or something. :-P