Big Shields

[Lanceari]

How would you know that? There is too much original "research' (sic) on these forums, with people imagining how it might have been, 95% of the time, utterly incorrect. now, I do not know about you, which is why I ask.

I am not sure what "original research" and "people imagining" means. Clearly none of us have a time machine. But just in case...

I have over twelve years of martial arts experience in the system I currently practice, plus another year in a different system. I am a 3rd degree black belt. I have been teaching martial arts for over six years. I also took fencing lessons many years ago.

The ideas I propose here are not based on "imagination" but they are variations on standard techniques used in many oriental martial arts. I have practiced and taught these stances and techniques to both children and grown ups for many years.

The side back stance is the basic fencing stance (except I propose inverting it to place the shield up front). If you ever watch a fencing match, you will notice how quickly these guys move using the very same stances I proposed in the charts attached in a prior post.

The side back stance is also what we call in karate a Kokutusu Dachi. My 10 year old students spend hour long sessions doing katas in this and similar stances. If my 10 year old students can do this, fully grown tough legionaries should have no problem.

Because of my training, I am familiar with hand to hand combat. I am also familiar with the use different artifacts in self defense, whether weapons or other tools. Furthermore, I draw on the accumulated knowledge of the many martial artists that contributed to the development of the style I practice. When you train and subsequently teach martial arts you become quite familiar and conscious of how your body moves, what is possible and what is not possible. This in turn allows you to draw insights that may not be obvious to others. Your are welcome to accept or disregard these insights, but, please do not characterize them as "imagination".

When I say that a Roman Soldier most have found a way to brace the top and bottom of his shield, I am not imagining this. I know in hand to hand combat you need a good firm grip of your tools. You cannot allow shield or weapon to be leveraged against you. A poor grip of either shield or sword was not an option. And, upon studying the scutum, you are left with remarkably few options to achieve a good grip. Again, you may accept or disregard these insights, but, the underlying facts won't go away.

Finally, I should add I tried the techniques and stances I propose here. I found I could advance, retreat, parry and attack with great ease and speed. Of course, I used props instead of real scutum and gladius. And, of course, I am well trained in these stances, but Roman soldiers would have been just as well trained.

In case any of you is interested, you can find fencing videos here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...3914238877457#


You can find a demonstration of oriental figthing techniques based on the Kokutsu Dachi here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STg3QjQyxH8