Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Obviously shields reigned supreme on historical battlefields, at least until the height of plate armor. Bucklers and parrying daggers dominated off-hand use in civilian self-defense and formal dueling. And dual wielding swords is the edgelord king of fantasy combat. But what about something more unusual?
Sometimes we see spears and swords paired in fictional scenarios. You may think of using the spear in the main hand, but what about the other way around? Let's do a deep dive into parrying sticks, off-hand spears, and hooked / spiked bucklers!
To explore how practical this is, David and Clark from @SellswordArts make an appearance, testing the effectiveness in full-contact sparring. Thanks, guys! It's been a fun collab.
*** Sources & Credits ***
For more info about African martial arts, check out @DaMonStith
traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/africa/nguni-south-africa.html
johnnyclegg.lima-city.de/artikel/zulu_sticking_fingers.htm
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_turtle_formation_on_trajan_column.jpg
ashokaarts.com/regions-tribal-regions/rare-indian-steel-shield-with-spike-and-hook
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Gladiatoria_(MS_KK5013)
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/22978
Outtakes music:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
Obviously shields reigned supreme on historical battlefields, at least until the height of plate armor. Bucklers and parrying daggers dominated off-hand use in civilian self-defense and formal dueling. And dual wielding swords is the edgelord king of fantasy combat. But what about something more unusual?
Sometimes we see spears and swords paired in fictional scenarios. You may think of using the spear in the main hand, but what about the other way around? Let's do a deep dive into parrying sticks, off-hand spears, and hooked / spiked bucklers!
To explore how practical this is, David and Clark from @SellswordArts make an appearance, testing the effectiveness in full-contact sparring. Thanks, guys! It's been a fun collab.
*** Sources & Credits ***
For more info about African martial arts, check out @DaMonStith
traditionalsports.org/traditional-sports/africa/nguni-south-africa.html
johnnyclegg.lima-city.de/artikel/zulu_sticking_fingers.htm
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_turtle_formation_on_trajan_column.jpg
ashokaarts.com/regions-tribal-regions/rare-indian-steel-shield-with-spike-and-hook
wiktenauer.com/wiki/Gladiatoria_(MS_KK5013)
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/22978
Outtakes music:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
