Any tips for two-weapon training in LARP?

Question

At my local LARP I have a character with a skill called Ambidex, which lets him swing two weapons round like a boss. It doesn't however help me with fighting, and I'm just not that great.

I've seen a load of youtube videos, but they all cover real fighting, where the blade will travel through the bamboo, bottles of water etc. Unfortunately my foam swords just don't hold that sort of edge...

Our system has Life and Wound points, meaning when we strike in combat, we pull our blows but still make contact. It's not a loccing system, where you take out a location with one hit.

We play Amtgard style, with 'real' looking weapons. Contact is allowed but people are expected to pull their blows so they don't hurt...too much. Stabbing is not allowed, only slashing. I wield a pair of these: characterkit.co.uk/WEAPONS/Swords/Fey-Sword-33-/prod_90.html

Are there any tips or guides people know of to help with dual wielding in a LARP context? Youtube videos, books, blogs etc.

Preferably with an oriental/eastern style.

Answer 1

You should probably begin by focusing on maneuvers that are executed with a particular hand. Once you have those down, learn the same maneuvers, with your off-hand. At that point, start learning maneuvers that require both hands to be active. Then, just make sure to keep practicing. You don't need anyone else with you to practice, but sparring is important as well.

The following videos are applicable in a lightest touch LARP, but are intended for a LARP where your swings have to be hard to be effective. The most important difference in a lightest touch LARP is that you can focus on speed and you can swing with your wrist, if your sword is light enough.

Almost all of the videos below are taken from BrennonEH's youtube channel, which I found linked from LARP Ohio back in 2010. Most of these videos show shots or guards performed with just one sword, which is understandable if you remember my first two pieces of advice.

Here are some miscellaneous, relevant videos:

• An example duel between florentine and sword/board
• Blocking drill
• Slow motion florentine vs florentine battle
• Florentine vs Two Handed Sword
• How to Close
• Fast but light sparring

Holding your weapons

There are three ways that you can hold your weapons:

• One up, One down. In this style, your off-hand weapon is down, preferably completely vertical (possibly with the tip further out than the handle) or completely horizontal. You will do most of your blocking with the off-hand weapon and most of your striking with the "up" weapon.
• Two up. In this style, you will parry blows or block with the pommel of your weapon. This is my preferred style when fighting florentine, as I can block with either weapon and strike with the other.
• Two down. I don't understand the point of this style, but I've been told it offers you additional defense. I disagree, as your shoulders and wrists become an easy target.

Stances

• On Foot
• Off Foot

Grip

I imagine you should be using Modified Saber or Saber Grip.

Guards

• Range
• Lazy
• Denial
• Bait

Shots and Wraps

You will want to learn and practice a variety of shots with both hands:

• Straight Stab
• Slot
• Hook Stab
• Hack
• Flat Cross
• Wraps - Same Side Shoulder
• Wraps - Hip Scoop (Same Side and Cross)
• Wraps - Flat (Same Side Outside and Cross Outside)
• Florentine Left Side Hip Wrap Bait From Range

Pulling Blows

It's important to know that pulling your blows does not mean your swings have to be slow. There are a few main ways that you can swing quickly without hurting your opponent. This video shows a particular fighter (Blue) swinging fast, but soft.

1. Swing quickly but without any force behind your swing. This is easy if you use your wrist or if you just swing with your arm relaxed. In this case you don't have to pull your blow because your swing is already soft.
2. Swing with any amount of force that you want, but just before your blow would be connecting, start to pull back. The blow will still land and you can continue to pull back to start another attack.
3. If your weapon has enough whip, you can swing for just in front of the person and the blow will still land.

I personally use an ultra-light long sword with a carbon fiber core that does not whip. Since the sword is light enough, I'm normally able to get away with only using technique 1, but if someone complains I will also start to use technique 2. This is likely true for you as well - use technique 1 for most swings, and then use technique 2 when it is not sufficient.

Practice swinging softly but quickly whenever you practice the above shots. It will make it even easier.

Sparring

You should spar against the other three styles - weapon and shield, two weapons, and single weapon. You may want to spar using the other styles against an opponent using two weapons in order to better see what both of the style's weaknesses or strengths are.

Answer 2

There is only one rule of LRP fighting: be a safe fighter.

You get the idea. A good LRP fighter is a safe one. So, make sure you follow the safety rules of your system and you will improve as a fighter. Do not think that Renaissance rapier and main gauche techniques will help you. They will hinder you; you cannot stab with a LRP sword. Rapiers are all about stabbing.

Two-weapon wielding allows you two things: A parry & attack, two parries, or a feint & attack.

The parry & attack allows you to block a blow and respond in kind. This is fast and if the opposition has only one weapon, you will make contact.

The two parries allows you to block incoming blows from more than one source. This is really useful if you are crewing and are outnumbered 5:1.

The feint & attack allows you to trick the opposition into worrying about one weapon while the other hits them. Very similar to the parry & attack but you are taking the initiative there.

Depending on your system, you may want to go more cinematic with the weapons. But whatever you do, throwing one weapon at an enemy is not as stupid as throwing your only weapon but still ranks high on the "Why did you do that?" scale.

Edit: If you can get stab safe weapons, then stabbing is possible. If you know of good source for swords that are stab-safe, please let me know!

Answer 3

Step one: practice off-hand until it's comfortable. Step two: practice with both.

The first step in learning florentine or case (the rapier term for two-weapons) is becoming capable with the off hand.

The sequence of learning for SCA training, both light weapons and heavy, is often:

1. footwork
2. parries.
3. basic attacks, including
   • for heavy: a downswing, sideswing, and wrap.
   • for rapier: thrust, demilunge, lunge
4. riposte and/or molinet
5. shieldhooks, rising J, and other specialty shots
   • for heavy, this is where Pokeys usually come in.
   • for rapier, this is where tip-cuts and Cut & Thrust go.

Get to being able to do ripostes and/or molinets off handed, THEN start with the sequences of parry with one and strike with the other.

Given the question poster's limits of no thrusts, once you can routinely parry with either hand, you then:

1. practice parrying with a weapon in both hands, using whichever is closer. no counterstrikes, just mastering parry selection.
2. practice parry with A triggering a strike with B.

In each step, I recommend starting with slow-work, then working up to full speed.

Answer 4

If you actually want to learn to fight Florentine I suggest you find your local Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) group, and talk to the heavy fighters. They practice various fighting styles including Florentine (two weapon fighting) and since it actually hurts to be hit with a ratan sword, they tend to have practical advice. There are also some good video examples on YouTube.

Example of Florentine

Note that these maneuvers (head shots in particular) may be LARP unsafe and you should carefully consider the rules of your game.

Answer 5

Practice. Against a real person is best, but even just practicing your attacks, blocks, and parries can be helpful. Most martial arts have routines of these called 'katas' (in Japanese MAs, anyway) meant to reinforce the skills practiced as well as the need to flow from one movement into the next.