Most (if not all) Historical European Martial Arts groups consider the word "longsword" to mean the two-handed sword used primarily from about 1350 to 1550. This comes from the contemporary German term "Langschwert", which directly translates to "longsword".
Cruciform-hilted swords with a straight blade like a longsword are generally called arming swords, single-handed or one-handed swords.
While I would say there isn't anything wrong about working with S&D on the side, I feel that it is very important to start with the longsword. You would think of it at first but the majority of the principles of longsword correlate directly to rapier, or any other weapon for that matter.
Everyone in ARMA starts their studies with the longsword, which is characterized as having both a long grip and a long blade. Often they are light enough to be used with one hand, but best controlled with two hands. These are not to be confused with true two-handers - doppelhanders, bidenhanders, zweihanders, schlachterschwerters. See this article for more info about sword types - http://www.thearma.org/terms4.htm#Sword%20Parts
The reason for this? The study of the longsword is the key to unlocking the martial content of the our source literature. While the masters agree that all fighting is based on ringen (wrestling) they found the key to the art of fighting to be in the use of the longsword.
I'm too hungry to search for quotes right now.
BTW - many of us in the ARMA fight with weapons other than the longsword, however the basis of our armatura is blossfechten with the longsword.
Christine Churches, Scholar-Adept
Forum Moderator
ARMA Las Vegas
do anyone know if its possible to start studies in ARMA but whit sword and dagger or rapier and dagger instead of the longsword?
The longsword is the base weapon, but once you develop a level of competency with that you can certainly branch out. Our local study group just had a very fun rapier sparring night. I now have many dime size bruises. The reason to start with longsword is it serves as a feeder for skills that are readily transferable to other weapons (and unarmed skills) in a way that doesn't happen in the reverse manner. It is the key that unlocks the rest of the art.
im interested in the sword& dagger and rapier & dagger practice because its very similar in motion, principals and concept to jeet kune do art that i am and i do.
does anyone know good resource about sword&dagger or rapier and dagger?
If you haven't actually studied sword & dagger before then how do you know it's similar to jeet kune do? You should be careful not to cross-pollinate between two arts of such different origins if you want to learn them as they were intended. I would recommend Di Grassi as a starting point, his single sword and sword & dagger are a good transition between the older cutting swords and the thrusting-only rapier style. Silver and Swetnam also cover it. Get comfortable with that before moving to rapier, for which there are many manuals.
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Stacy Clifford Free-Scholar ARMA Houston, TX
Just to get this straight. Bruce Lee only briefly studied Olympic Fencing. It only gets a passing mention in his books, he certainly never spent years dressed in white playing parry-riposte in a fencing salon.
Olympic Fencing is NOT what we do. Nor did anyone do what we do when he was around. I would guess the elements of fencing that actually entered the martial art he invented would be minor at best. I doubt any of the core principles of what he taught had anything to do with Olympic Fencing.
Have no fear, longsword has the same qualities: Intercepting, economy of motion, aggressiveness, even sticky hands but in this case the press drill and most of all reality through sparring. From the way I've seen ARMA guys train and examine the longsword you will be right at home.
The reason to start with longsword is it serves as a feeder for skills that are readily transferable to other weapons (and unarmed skills) in a way that doesn't happen in the reverse manner. It is the key that unlocks the rest of the art.