[Jean Thibodeau]

[Jesse Eaton]

Different strokes for....

I think we need a little clarification in terminology here because I think 'steel blunt' is being equated with 'federschwert'. To be clear, a steel blunt is built to be just like a real sword but with the edges blunted. A federschwert is blunted as well but it is shaped so that the mass distribution is concentrated at the hilt, the blade is more flexible and the impact of strikes is blunted as well.

Between the two, the synthetic was compares more closely with the federshwert. Federschwert weigh closer to the live steel but have a very different mass distribution. The synthetic wasters are designed to lessen the impact of a strike, like a federschwert, but do so in a different way. IMO the synthetic waster is a better option, though it clearly has its limitation, because the hilt is safer for sparring purposes. The mass os steel at the hilt of a federshwert makes closing techniques dangerous.

Steel blunts are great for armored sparring, but far too limiting for unarmored sparring or free play. Steel blunts are probably the best thing for beginers who want to lear the techniques. By necessity, the beginer has to go slowly through the techniques and they need the weight and feel of a real sword to learn the techniques properly. Live steel canbe dangerous for beginers or even more advanced students as they pick up speed while practicing new techniques. But as students advance, they need to progress towards an understanding of edge alignment as well. Blunts, by design, offer little in the way of an edge. Eventually you have to take the training wheels off and go all the way to live steel, if you want to learn the art in full. But, jumping into the deep end with live steel can be hazardous for skill development as well as safety. So we need another tool. Both Federschwert and Synthetic wasters can fill that void. Between the two, I'm leaning towards the synthetics.

[Craig Shackleton]

[Sander Marechal]

Thanks Craig. You're using an entirely different kind of steel blunt then we do. What we use are what Jesse describes as "steel blunts". Not training weapons but unsharpened/rebated swords. We use these MRL swords for free play and high speed training so we don't need that much armour.