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These Medieval Combat Techniques Still Shock Experts

Modern History TV

307,022 views

Warlord, Jason and Dr. Guy Windsor look into a medieval fighting manual and discuss how one part of it might work when done in practise.

Guy blogs about it here: https://guywindsor.net/2019/10/mounte...

Follow Jason on Twitter @RebellionJason

Credits:

Warlord
Dr. Guy Windsor
Direction, Camera, Sound, Editing Kasumi
Presenter Jason Kingsley OBE

Twitter: rebellionjason
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Music licensed from PremiumBeat.
Can medieval fight manuals be applied to mounted combat? Join us as we test techniques from historical texts with expert Guy Windsor.

I invited foot combat specialist Dr. Guy Windsor to my arena to bridge the gap between our disciplines. While Guy is a master of martial arts history and foot combat, my expertise lies in horsemanship. Together, we put medieval fight manuals to the test to see how specific techniques translate when one combatant is on horseback and the other is on the ground.

This experiment focuses on interpreting historical fencing sources through a practical lens. We examine the tactical mismatches that occur when different combat styles meet, providing a unique perspective on how these ancient systems might have actually functioned in practice. Whether you are interested in HEMA training or the evolution of mounted combat, this analysis offers a grounded look at martial arts history.

Subscribe for weekly historical martial arts breakdowns, and let me know in the comments if you want to see us test more techniques from these manuals.

20 Comments

@emilyb4583 6 years ago

"Warlord, this is not dangerous. Or edible." This is a pretty good summation of a horse. lol.

@PromethiaSHADOW 6 years ago

"We're volunteers. Warlords a conscript" that line had me roaring

@Dylfunkle 6 years ago

This is like watching two blokes debate Ikea instructions, only with stabbing things.

Thank you for this.

@Arlene-crafter 6 years ago (edited)

The info is fascinating, but Warlord steals the show, such an intelligent and well trained horse.

@cristinagarrasi3792 6 years ago

My 7 year old son is absolutely addicted to you and your horses and all of your videos and he loves the Middle Ages too. I am an archaeologist and I would like to thank you for being so realistic about the way life really was at the time. Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹
Cheers

@nathanplunkett1633 6 years ago

Amazing! I swear that Warlord is studying just as hard as you guys are. He's constantly checking on his companion and considering how to protect him against the ground attack. He didn't show any signs of concern for his own well-being. He would have been a fine soldier, that horse.

@RegisTraiter 6 years ago (edited)

Jason: "Right, we're going to invite this chap over to VERY GENTLY show him how we fought back in the day."
Warlord: "Master COME ON, we could kill this clown ten times over with THIS VERY STICK if you'd just let me go a bit faster. Oh ALL RIGHT I'll behave, I'll behave."

@guestuser1671 5 years ago

“I don’t want to run you over because you’d clog my horse’s feet.” Ouch 😣🤣

@alvick353 6 years ago

The secret to success " read the whole book".

@-smp-scientificmethodpersp838 5 years ago

The most fascinating part is that the horse must now be trained deal with more things than just running in a strait line for a joust. It's like the horse effectively is learning martial arts as well, in its own way and participation.

@Bezmerleklezmer 6 years ago

-"Gentle contact"
BONK goes the head
-"... Perfect !"

@reeepingk 6 years ago

Makes me realize how important horse training back in those days must have been. Not every horse would be cut out for this sort of stuff.

@TheOne-tz6kj 6 years ago

Im only 10 minutes into the video. I really like how your showing how you two are reading the book & figuring it out on camera.
Thanks for sharing, very interesting stuff.

@jomess7879 6 years ago

So I am a real-life martial artist, I even used to teach karate. Ive been in many classes with many instructors, with people of various experience ranging from complete novice to expert. How you guys approached this subject is exactly how all real martial artists approach fighting and likely how the knights and men at arms face it as well. It usually starts with something simple, in this case you guys looked at a parry-counter, a very easy concept that can be taught in about 5 minutes. From there questions get asked which leads to more questions. Ive been in classes and taught classes where only one technique was taught, then people started playing with it and asking questions and soon everyone had something completely different from the original lesson. I think this is one reason the old fight manuals were so vague at times. They werent a comprehensive guide to fighting, but rather an overview of concepts and strategies that fighters then took and played with and came up with their own things unique to them.

@33rdNightfall 5 years ago

I imagine a group of ancient warriors all standing around having the exact same debate upon their first few battles with concentrates cavalry force. Quite the image to have.

@cvernon5256 6 years ago

My favorite part: "Get out of the way, you stupid man!" Good advice from the war masters of ages past :)

@afaultytoaster 6 years ago

"we're volunteers, the horse is a conscript" lmao
i love the rapport between them

@adamant4107 6 years ago

It should be mandatory for Hollywood directors to watch this video!
I can see so many things that need to be changed in movies.
REAL combat, I think, would look much more interesting than movie nonsense.
There is a lot to learn here!

@ericaugust1501 6 years ago (edited)

Agincourt would have been a line of horses charging. no where to "step" when that occurs. I always figured they dismounted because of the muddy terrain which is often mentioned?
one things for sure, warhorse training must have been a very important career, much in demand.

@Pancakes1121 6 years ago

This is great, just watching u guys work through all of this. No fancy camera edits, or crazy music, it's as if I'm literally sitting there next to u guys just watching all of this.