Spear Master Rates 9 Spear Fights in Movies and TV | How Real Is It? | Insider
Insider・14 minutes read
Matt Easton teaches historical weapon use, emphasizing the importance of thrusting with spears over swinging and highlighting the efficiency of pike phalanxes in combat. Historical treatises mention tactics like targeting the foot or crotch in battle, while leveraging reach and leverage are key advantages of using spears in warfare.
Insights
- Historical treatises emphasize the importance of precise thrusting over flashy twirling when using spears in combat, highlighting the efficiency of direct, targeted attacks.
- Leveraging reach and leverage, along with the ability to block with various parts of the shaft, are key advantages of spear implementation, showcasing the versatility and strategic depth of spear combat techniques.
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Recent questions
How were spears used in historical combat?
Spears were primarily used for thrusting, not swinging like a quarterstaff. Leveraging reach and leverage were key advantages, with tactics like stabbing the foot or crotch mentioned in historical treatises. Surrounding opponents with spears involved keeping spear points forward for maximum effectiveness.
What is the advantage of using tridents in combat?
Tridents were effective weapons in combat, especially against armored opponents. Their design allowed for versatile offensive capabilities, combining thrusting and slashing movements to overcome adversaries in battle.
Why were pike phalanxes effective against cavalry?
Pike phalanxes were effective formations against cavalry due to their long spears and shields providing protection. The pikes' reach and the shield wall's defense made it challenging for cavalry to penetrate the formation, giving the phalanx a strategic advantage in battle.
How did glaives differ from other polearms in combat?
Glaives were heavy polearms that combined the reach of a polearm with the cutting and thrusting abilities of a sword. This unique combination made glaives versatile weapons in combat, allowing fighters to engage enemies effectively at various distances with both slashing and stabbing motions.
What was a common tactic to defeat a phalanx in battle?
A common tactic to defeat a phalanx in battle was peppering it with arrows. Shields in the phalanx did not cover the entire body, leaving gaps for arrows to penetrate. By showering the phalanx with arrows, attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities and weaken the formation's defense.
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Summary
00:00
"Spears in Historical Combat and Movies"
- Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria teaches historical weapon use and evaluates combat scenes in movies.
- Historical treatises mention tactics like stabbing the foot or crotch in combat.
- Twirling a spear like a snooker cue is ineffective in combat; thrusting is more efficient.
- Surrounding an opponent with spears should involve keeping spear points forward.
- Spears should be used primarily for thrusting, not swinging like a quarterstaff.
- Tridents were used in combat, especially against armored opponents.
- Leveraging reach and leverage are key advantages of using spears in combat.
- Spears can be used for blocking with any part of the shaft, primarily with the pointy end.
- The effectiveness of spears in combat surpasses swords, especially in shield walls.
- Pike phalanxes were effective formations against cavalry, utilizing long spears and shields for protection.
12:57
Effective Weapons in Ancient Warfare
- Shields do not cover the entire body, leaving gaps for arrows to penetrate, making peppering a phalanx with arrows effective advice.
- Pikes move slowly as they rely on the speed of the pike block, limiting their motion despite their appearance of quick travel.
- Glaives, a type of heavy polearm, combine the reach of a polearm with the cutting and thrusting abilities of a sword, making them effective weapons in combat.
