[Krist Martens]

Hello

I'm a member of a local swordfighting guild. We practice with steel swords (mostly albion liechtenauer or meyer's).

I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice on protective gear for sparring sessions. I own a sallet, mitten gauntlets and a gambeson for protection.

I especially find the gauntlet mittens very cumbersome. Is there a alternative which offers more manoeuverability and a good protection of the hand. I learned from the agilitas dvd's that hockey gloves work well. Sadly hockey isn't a popular sport in my country so I haven't had any luck finding a pair.

Additionally, I see a lot of people wearing a fencingmask for head protection. I understand that this gives a great faceprotection, but doesn't it leave the back/side of the head unprotected ?

Thanks for the info.

Regards
Krist

[Jared Smith]

I've been interested in the idea of an escrima helmet (padded, face grill, and has a back flap that I think is padded) for padded waster sparing. For live steel blunts, you should probably use a real helm. (Some SCA types with fixed bar grill and regulation openings not larger than 1/2 inch can be found for less than $200, which is in the neighborhood of expense of better three weapons fencing masks.)

[Alex Spreier]

[Dustin R. Reagan]

I don't entirely agree with Alex.

Of course, as he said, the number one factor in sparring safety is control!

I have had great success with a specific type of lacrosse glove. Please see this great hammaborg video for a list of the safety equipment they rely on. I found it very useful. I understand that in this video they are showing their sword and buckler gear, but they have successfully used the exact same gear for longsword and even polearm sparring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqY6Imy5K0Q&am...annel_page

Dustin

[Nat Lamb]

Honest question. has anyone tried (or, alternately, know why it is not worth trying) motercycle armour? it seems to me that the types of impacts it is designed to stop are not unrelated to what would occour in sparing, and the armoured portions would seem to be similar. Thoughts?

[Steven H]

[Alex Spreier]

[Ed S.]

I use a pair of Lacrosse gloves myself and like them more than anything else I've used so far (which isn't that much). They do have padding on the outer side of the hand, but not the inner. That said, I do not use metal weapons, all wood and nylon.

[Hendrik De Coster]

steel fingered gloves for me, works just fine on the training court,aswell as on the battlefield

[Bill Tsafa]

Hello Krist.

I think you already realize that YOU and only YOU are responsible for your own protection. Most WMA groups use very light controlled hits, but that does not mean a hard hit never slips in or is off target. You can not control what anyone else is doing. Furthermore, your own actions may effect what someone else does. For example, a controlled thrust will feel much, much harder if you step into it. Jumping into one will feel that much harder.

You mentioned the back of the fencing mask is open. For this reason, it is not a good idea to turn your head to your opponent. There are certain shots that are designed to reach to the back of the head too. They are not commonly used in WMA groups but at some point someone might come to visit your group who does know how to use it. All in all, the back of the head is a low risk in the WMA world because the mask does extend back and it also has flap that extends down to keep the mask in place. If you still do not feel comfortable you can easily rig a hard cover for the back of the head.

What you should probably be more concerned about is getting a good gorget to wear around your throat. The bib on the fencing mask provides very minimum protection and I once got jacked good enough with a RSW padded sword in the throat that I turned blue. This is a high risk area in WMA sparring.

Wear a cup. This is a high risk area. You don't want to catch a good thrust there.

Wear elbow pads. Preferably hardshell ones. Your elbows are out there and exposed as you make cuts and move from guard to guard. Even a light shot hurts like hell! I hard one can break bone. I consider elbows a high risk area.

Knees are a medium risk area because legs are mostly out of range in WMA, but hits do happen. I would wear hardshell kneepads for any serious sparring.

The biggest risk to the body is a thrust. I have rubber tips on my blunts with a washer on the inside. If everyone else would follow this practice, the risk to the body would be minimum. Gambsons offer very little protection. I own a gambeson and I find it more useful for regulating body temperature and using as an arming coat rather then protection in itself. A coat of plate would be better suited for serious sparring. I once had one of those blunt tips piece thought the leather suede that was holding the plates together. If at all possible get your partners to put rubber tips on their blades. The gamebson is a good place to attach shoulder pauldrons, elbow cops and vambraces so they stay in place.

Hands are very high risk. Protection is probably the most debatable subject. Fingers break easily and when they break you can't do much with your hands. Thick padded gloves are common in WMA. The are about $60 but I don't trust them for serious sparring, especially against people I do not know. Hardshell plastic mitten gauntlets that are sawed into gloves offer the best protection, but limit agility somewhat. They cost about $150 and you will probably need swords with longer handles to accommodate them. You will also have to settle for keeping your fingers more fixed on the sword. Good finger gauntlets will cost upwards of $1,000. They pretty much need to be custom made to your hand. Off the shelf finger gauntlets rarely fit right because peoples hands are so different. You will likely need a longer handles on your swords. It is up to you to decide how much risk you want to take and how much money you will spend.

Hokey gloves (as stated by Alex) give a very false sense of security. The protect a lot in some area, but leave the others very exposes. Particularly the pinky and index finger. Alex also made a good point that 3 weapon masks are not designed for realistic blows. If your group plays hard, follow Steven's advice and look into SCA armor. You can get helms with preferably eye slots that will protect your eyes and you will be able to see. If you are interested PM me and I will tell you who to contact to have one made to order.

I use padded street hockey gloves for light drilling. They are cheap ($35). My only complaint is that the finger tips are exposed as the padding pulls back. The easy solution for this is to buy them a size larger. For serious sparring, I have plastic clamshell gauntlets. As I mentioned earlier, they do limit finger agility somewhat, but that is the compromise I make to assure I don't break my fingers.

The point still stands that YOU and only YOU are responsible for your own protection.

[Krist Martens]

Thanks for the responses, they're really informative.

I think I'm going to order a pair of lacrosse gloves. Some models indeed seem to offer sideprotection for the fingers. I'll use them for our 1 on 1 training drills. For sparring I'll stay with my gauntlet's and accept the lesser manoeuverability.

The fencing mask is a definite no go. For now I'll stay with my sallet and bevor. I never conscidered the troath as a vulnerable area, just as the elbows and crotch

Indeed control is very important, but medieval fencing requires two combatants and sometimes fatique and enthousiasme takes over. And I speak from experience, a thrust from a sword through the open visor in the face, is no laughing matter. In time I'll consider a 14th century klapvisor with aventail which seems very protective for the head and throath.

again, thanks for the responses, this is a great forum

[Krist Martens]

@ hendrik De Coster,

I see you're from Belgium to. Where are you from ? I'm from bruges and we train weekly in a medieval gothic building "de kruispoort"

[Steven H]

[Bill Tsafa]