Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Halberd technique Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Matthew Gibson




Location: Dallas, Texas
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posts: 2

PostPosted: Fri 10 Dec, 2010 6:11 pm    Post subject: Halberd technique         Reply with quote

I've had an easy time finding some good basic techniques of Halberd vs Halberd, but I'm having trouble getting a good idea of how a Halberd fighter would fight against someone with a sword, or axe, or sword and shield. Google doesn't show much, except for 2 videos that have someone with a halberd that's more akin to an oversized axe.
"The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility"
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
Timo Nieminen




Location: Brisbane, Australia
Joined: 08 May 2009
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 1,504

PostPosted: Fri 10 Dec, 2010 7:37 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Similarly for pollaxe and partisan, most of what you see will be for like-against-like.

Against the short weapons, you have reach. Move to the distance where you can hit them with a stepping-forward thrust. Your opponent won't stay there. If they do, step in and poke them. Feint a rapid close and thrust. They might move back and stop. When they're recovering from that, close and thrust. They might try to block and close, or sidestep and close. You're ready for this, so you loop your point in and thrust. That's all useful basic strategy for long thrusting weapon against short. Works for spear, partisan and two-handed sword. Why wouldn't it work for halberd too?

Try to engage, trap, or immobilise their weapon with the head of yours. Spikes, flanges, hooks etc are there for a reason. This is the way to close with an opponent who has a longer thrusting weapon. Can be useful against short weapons too, especially single-handed short weapons.

Against sword and shield, don't have your weapon pinned for pushed aside by their shield. Be careful! If they rush you, thrust for their face - up goes their shield, and then they can't see very well anymore. Go for the foot, either to thrust/trip, or cut from the side. Hook their shield down and towards you with your blade or back spike, followed by a thrust to the face if they cooperate by pulling their shield back to resist.

If they close, throw them, or grapple standing. You can try to keep the halberd in one hand, or just drop it. Just keep it in both hands if you can throw them without letting go with either hand. Are you wearing armour? Are they wearing armour?

None of the above is specific techniques - the specific techniques will be the specific techniques that are taught in the context of halberd vs halberd. The key difference will be the difference in range. Unless your opponent leaves you safe by just trying to stay out of reach, you will have a very nice window of opportunity to hit them as they try to close rapidly. It might be a very brief window of opportunity. Use it well.

A battlefield would be a different story, fighting with halberdiers to your left and right as well. Opponent tries to close, three of you can try to stop him. One puts a point in the way, that stops him. If the point is merely in the way, instead of in the opponent, number 2 immobilises the weapon (or arm), and number 3 hits them.

"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Chris Kelson





Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Reading list: 26 books

Posts: 26

PostPosted: Sat 11 Dec, 2010 5:27 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

In addition Timo Nieminen's comments which deftly cover pretty much everything I could say from my own experience, I recommend the book Polearms of Paulus Hector Mair, there's a large chunk specifically on halberd use and segment on mismatched weapons such as halberd against spear or rapier that could prove useful.

http://www.myArmoury.com/books/item.1581606443.html
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Halberd technique
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum