Spears are better than swords (longer version)

Lindybeige・2 minutes read

Training with Matt Easton focuses on historical combat skills like rapier, sword, buckler, longsword, and saber, highlighting the overlooked effectiveness of spears compared to swords in combat scenarios. The importance of shields, teamwork, and individual skill in determining combat effectiveness is emphasized, with a conclusion that there is no clear superiority between spears and swords, depending on the user's expertise and strategy.

Insights

  • Swords are popular due to cultural perceptions of heroism, overshadowing the historical significance and effectiveness of spears as a universal weapon used by diverse civilizations.
  • Combat effectiveness depends on individual skill, experience, and strategy rather than a clear superiority of one weapon over the other, highlighting the complexity of combat dynamics and the importance of adaptability in different scenarios.

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Recent questions

  • What is the focus of Fight camp with Matt Easton?

    Historical combat skills training

  • Why are swords more popular than spears?

    Cultural perceptions of heroism

  • What is the importance of shields in combat?

    Significant advantage in closing distance

  • What determines combat effectiveness in historical battles?

    Individual skill, experience, strategy

  • What are the advantages of using a spear in personal combat?

    Versatility and reach advantage

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Summary

00:00

Historical combat skills: swords vs. spears experiment

  • Fight camp with Matt Easton focuses on training in various historical combat skills like rapier, sword, buckler, longsword, and saber.
  • The spear is highlighted as a universal weapon used by diverse civilizations throughout history, often overshadowed by swords in modern interest.
  • Despite the spear's effectiveness, swords remain popular due to cultural perceptions of heroism associated with wielding a sword.
  • A practical experiment is suggested to test the effectiveness of spears against swords in combat scenarios.
  • Various combat scenarios are enacted, showcasing the advantages and disadvantages of using spears and swords in different situations.
  • The importance of shields in combat is emphasized, with shields providing a significant advantage in closing the distance against spear-wielding opponents.
  • Different techniques and strategies are employed, including using shields, different sword grips, and one-handed spears, to gain an advantage in combat.
  • The effectiveness of spear and shield formations in historical battles is acknowledged, highlighting the importance of teamwork and coordination in combat.
  • The outcome of the experimental combat scenarios shows a mix of victories for both spears and swords, indicating the complexity of combat dynamics.
  • The conclusion drawn from the experiments is that combat effectiveness depends on individual skill, experience, and strategy, rather than a clear superiority of one weapon over the other.

20:24

Combat effectiveness of swords vs spears

  • Participants in an experiment showed varying levels of expertise in using swords and spears, affecting the fairness of the scientific evaluation.
  • Those familiar with swords struggled when using spears, and vice versa, impacting their combat effectiveness.
  • In personal combat, the speaker highlights the advantage of using a spear over a sword due to its versatility and reach.
  • The combination of spear and shield proved effective in combat scenarios, with the ability to switch to a sword if needed.
  • Spears historically were favored for their effectiveness in combat, especially against armored opponents, due to their rigid structure and mass.
  • The reach advantage of a spear allows for striking opponents with swords from a distance, but spearmen need to be aggressive and use varied attack angles effectively.
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