Lafayette C Curtis wrote: | ||
That's what I believe too. Later 16th-century treatises on the two swords seldom require that the swords ever be crossed at all; the vast majority of attacks and defences are along parallel lines or on two separate, non-crossing lines. |
Only against long weapons is it a good idea. Against short weapons, I don't like it.
However, see http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?94732
Lafayette C Curtis wrote: | ||
I've tried this against somebody who's pretty good with polearms (he mostly studies PHM's short staff and earlier quarterstaff/polearm works). Most of the time I get the spear's butt in my face or ribs; using both ends of a polearm is a really good way to deal with somebody who thinks he can get away with anything once he gets past the spearpoint. |
According to the standard jo origin myth, in Musashi vs Gonnosuke 1, Gonnosuke had a bo, and Musashi won using a cross-block/X-block (jūji-dome?). For Musashi vs Gonnosuke 2, Gonnosuke shortened his bo, inventing the jo, and when Musashi tried the same thing again, Gonnosuke was able to bring the butt around and strike. (Of course, the jo was already invented by then, but that's origin myths for you.)
With two-handed spear, I think spear still has a large advantage (so somebody good with polearms should defeat you). But what else are you going to do with short weapon(s) and no shield against spear? Keeping the weapons "independent" just gets you poked.
Well, there are other things you can do (but I think X-block is easier to learn, and needs less skill differential to work). Reach forward and place your weapon against the spearhead, step forward in a spin. You want to roll along the weapon haft, keeping in contact. Arrive at spear-wielder, and hit them. Works best with sword and shield, can work with two weapons, and even with single weapon. Here's a Chinese sword form with some spins that I think are intended for closing with a spear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4musSC80EcY (also at about 0.55 is a nice walking in with repeated blocks).
One end-of-Edo Japanese description of a real fight had successful anti-spear (3 against one, one of the attackers having a spear - not a duel, an assassination attempt). Defender draws katana, cuts into yari haft leaving katana embedded in it, to immobilise it. Draws wakizashi, kills spearman, then goes to kill the other two. (One escaped.)