Another video from the ARMA. It's bound to be controversial, but here it is: http://www.thearma.org/Videos/swordshow121.htm

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Every cut from 360 degrees can be intercepted on the flat.

Cool video! It's also nice to see the Albion practice longswords in action!

Great video. I think QuickTIme can open the video fine. John Clements is a little bit hyper isn't he.

I can't understand a word they're saying -- it echos so badly.

M.

Of what I know of ARMA and from what I have seen of them here in Texas, hummm...how do I say this?
They pose a lot.

Combat, real combat is very different.

Not again, please. :(

I don't care how other people parry at this point. It's their perogative if they want to gradually or rapidly destroy their swords by making deliberate edge contact in a parry. I'm just here to point out that there's another way of doing things.

Don't issue challenges or call people out. Don't put each other (or someone's organization) down. Act like adults or play somewhere else.

Also, note how efficient these defenses are in the video. Between Ochs, Hengen, Pflug, and Nebenhut on the left and right sides, you can essentially receive the cut while in the guard and deflect it. And, if you cannot transition into one of these guards, you can always counter cut and still finish edge on flat. As John points out, it literally takes more effort to get your edge into the line of attack to block it.

Randall,
Thank you for your response to my statement.
I was on board with you until the last sentence. It seems like you just made the "we're right and everyone else is wrong" statement. I may be misinterpreting what you said due to the inability of the internet to convey true meaning well. If so then no worries.
Of course edges will get damaged in sparring, duelling, or on a long gone battlefield. The edge is the most fragile part of the sword and edge to edge makes for alot of concentrated force. The edge is a "force muliplier". For the Liechtenauer tradition I see no way to meet an attack with a serious counter attack with intent to hit the other person, in single time, without at least obliquely (45degree) making edge to edge contact. Key words are "with intent to hit the other person" i.e. my attack being my defense as well. No great damage is done to the sword's edge.
I understand and appreciate the fact that you guys are coming out against hard edge to edge parrying as used by stage combatants. Perhaps it is that idea carried too far in my opinion.
In a way I enjoy the absolutism that comes from ARMA because too many people pander to relativism in order to get along with others.

Mr. Smith

The last line was added just to point out the part of this issue (that serious damage can and will occur) that really is beyound any debate. Of course, we can debate things like is serious edge damage acceptable or at what angle is the likelyhood of serious damage decrease to an acceptable level, etc.

Ran Pleasant
ARMA DFW

Again?? We're doing this again? :)

I'd like to toss some familiar names out there to use for an example; Tony Alvarez, Toshishiro Obata, James Williams, etc.

Go ahead and try to parry one of their diagonal overhead cuts on the flat of your blade. Take time off of work in advance though. A month should do it, you'll be out of your cast by then. :)

EDIT: Yes, I know that some cuts naturally fall onto the flat in some techniques, and in others, they naturally fall on the edge, and that NO cut is fully on the flat or edge, but some combination of both. The above is reference to zornhau and catching it on as much of the flat as is possible.