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Sparring Weapon Typology (proposed) 
Author: Jean Henri Chandler 
Posted: 04/24 11:14 AM 
 
This is something I've been working on and has been under some discussion with some HEMA people I know. I would like to see what people here have to comment.

The ultimate goal of creating this typology is to put sparring equipment in a more useful context and facilitate the development of what I would call "FOURTH GENERATION" sparring weapons.

(PLEASE NOTE: Those uncomfortable with the term 'sparring' please mentally replace it for whatever term you are happiest with, assaulting, fencing, freeplay, bouting etc. etc.)

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GENERATION ONE
Weapons which were not intended for Pre-1700 HEMA but have been adapted by some groups. These weapons are only marginally suitible for pre-1700 HEMA, either due to inaccurate or unrealistic performance or realism, and / or poor safety characteristics.

Boffers
http://nerolarp.com/larpgear/images/EA_Boffer_Heavy_Group.jpeg
http://www.practice-swords.com/images/products/se3909.jpg
http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Boffer/Images/Boffer-Weapons.jpg
Safety: High - Suitible for unarmored free play
Performance: Poor - unrealistic weight , no balance, often very bendy and whippy
Realism: Poor - no discernable edges, bouncy, unrealistic or nonexistant cross and pommel
Appearance: Poor
Reliability: Medium
Cost: Very Low - $5 - $10 if you make them yourself, up to maybe $50 commercially manufactured
Period: No
Still used by a lot of EMA groups and by some HEMA groups for a small amount of sparring, especially with beginners.

Rattan Sticks
http://www.scholasaintgeorge.org/bayarea/even...uckler.jpghttp://www.yamamoto.at/images/eskrima_stick_gruppe.jpg
Safety: Medium - Lighter than hardwood or metal, won't shatter like hardwood
Performance: Medium
Realism: Low - no edges, no pommel, balance is usually way off
Appearance: Poor to fairly Good depending on hilts etc.
Reliability: Good
Cost: Low - $10?
Period: Sort of
Still widely used by SCA and Escrima groups

LARP Latex covered weapons
http://www.badgersden.com/ExC/PLNTK/Swords/1108-900-X-X3.jpg
Safety: High - Can be used with no protection
Performance: Poor - very unrealistic weight & balance, bendy
Realism: Medium - Good shape, generally very flimsy, unrealistic fantasy shapes
Appearance: Medium - The commercially made ones look professional but they also look, well, LARPy
Reliability: Medium
Cost: Medium - $50 - $150
Period: No
Used by LARP groups, not used by any HEMA groups that I know of.

Shinai
http://www.karatedepot.com/sites/karatedepot/...-ke-03.jpg
Safety: Good - Good for striking, not as good for thrusting
Performance: Poor - too light, wrong shape, no edges, no cross or pommels
Realism: Low
Appearance: Good to Medium - they look EMA but at least don't look home made or LARPy
Reliability: Medium
Cost: Low - $10?
Period: Yes and no
Widely used for Kendo. Used by some HEMA groups.

Olympic style Foil / Epee / Saber
http://www.ntnui.no/fekting/img/div/epee_pistolgrip.jpg http://www.student.seas.gwu.edu/~poste/blog/i...g/foil.jpg
Safety: Good for thrust work only, requires fencing mask, gloves and gorget are a good idea too.
Performance: Good
Realism: Medium - Good for thrusting weapons of a certain type, too short and wrong weight for rapiers etc.
Appearance: Good
Reliability: Excellent
Cost: Medium - $50?
Period: Yes?
Used by some groups for rapier training as a stop gap, the Foil, and the Epee in particular are actually a good simulators for 17th-18th century smallsword fencing, and when used for this type of martial arts could be considered THIRD GENERATION sparring weapons.

(The olympic style saber, by contrast, is very much an abstraction of a real saber and is unsuitible for realistic simulation of saber combat)

Early Aluminum Weapons
http://www.karatedepot.com/sites/karatedepot/...-sw-77.jpg
Safety: Medium - Lighter than a steel blunt, Requires use of gambeson, mask, gloves and some joint protection but can be used close to full speed for cutting only, not suitible for thrusting without heavy armor.
Performance: Medium, fairly accurate weight and balance
Realism: Good, realistic cross section and blade geometry, realistic binding characterisitc
Appearance: Excellent
Reliability: Medium- Tend to get chewed up with heavy use
Cost: Medium $40 - $100
Period: No
These have been used in movie stunts since at least the 60's. They are used by some EMA groups. Some individual HEMA practitioners use them as well.

GENERATION TWO
Designed for pre-1700 HEMA or EMA use but either limited realism and / or limited contact (thrusting-only or cutting-only)

Flexible steel Rapier
http://www.dondeleo.com/images/emporium/produ...PC1098.jpghttp://grendelscave.net/armory/swords/swrap1098-i/sw1098-04.jpg
Safety: Medium - Requires fencing mask and gloves, pretty safe for thrusting, not for cutting without armor
Performance: Good
Realism: Excellent (not quite stiff enough in many cases but they are pretty good)
Appearance: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Cost: High - Not certain of the price, over $100
Period: Yes ?
Used by many HEMA groups and SCA Rapier for thrust work

Hardwood Waster
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en...asters.jpg
Safety: Low / Medium - Lighter than steel blunts, Ok for light free play only, dangerous for thrusting without armor
Performance: Good - Weight and balance vary by quality of manufacturer but generally good
Realism: Medium - Cross is often too big, no flexibility, thick cross section
Appearance: Good
Reliability: Good
Cost: Low or Medium depending on the quality, $40 - $200 or more
Period: Yes
Widely used by HEMA groups for drill and freeplay

Steel Blunts
http://www.dondeleo.com/images/emporium/produ...PC2106.jpg http://grendelscave.net/armory/i/swch2106/swch2106-01.jpg
Safety: Poor
Performance: Excellent
Realism: Good, not identical to sharps at the bind, can be heavy
Appearance: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Cost: Medium to High depending on the brand (Hanwei are in the $100 range, others up to $500 or more)
Period: Yes!
Used by many HEMA groups

Aluminum Sparring Waster
http://phoenixswords.atthefaire.com/galleries...swords.JPG
http://www.kuksoolwon.com/Merchant2/graphics/..._BLACK.jpg
Safety: Medium - Lighter than a steel blunt, Requires use of gambeson, mask, gloves and some joint protection but can be used close to full speed for cutting only, not suitible for thrusting without heavy armor.
Performance: Good, accurate weight and balance
Realism: Excellent, realistic shape
Appearance: Excellent
Reliability: Good - Can get chewed up with heavy use
Cost: Medium to High - $100 - $300
Period: No
Used by some large HEMA and EMA groups and by many individual practitioners.

GENERATION THREE
Designed (or rediscovered) specifically with Pre-1700 HEMA/ WMA sparring in mind, are at least somewhat realistic in shape and handling and allow at least close to full-contact sparring

ARMA style padded Waster
http://www.armanorthhouston.org/images/teachnew1.JPG
Safety: Very Good - Suitible for full contact sparring with mask and gloves
Performance: Good - Correct weight and balance can be achieved
Realism: Medium - Good for striking and thrusting, not good at bind. Can bend on hard impact
Appearance: Poor
Reliability: Poor they seem to break constantly
Cost: Medium - They have to be home made generally and the materials can be a bit expensive $10 - $30?
Period: No
Still used by some ARMA groups, possibly other HEMA groups

Slum-Fu style padded Waster
http://www.iregames.com/jr/finished168.jpg
Safety: Good - Suitible for full contact sparring with mask and gloves, somewhat painful
Performance: Good - Correct weight and balance
Realism: Medium - Good for striking and thrusting, not good at bind. Can bend on hard impact
Appearance: Poor
Reliability: Good
Cost: Medium - They have to be home made generally and the materials can be a bit expensive, roughly $30
Period: No
These utilize Sch 80 pvc cores and orthopedic foam for flat edge geometry and thin cross-sections.
Used by a few ARMA groups and individuals and by a small HEMA group in New Orleans

Lance Chan's RSW
http://www.rsw.com.hk/double-pad-swords.jpg
Safety: Good - Suitible for full contact sparring with mask and gloves
Performance: Good - Correct weight and balance
Realism: Medium to Good- Good for striking and thrusting, Medium at bind with use of lubricant.
Appearance: Medium - Better appearance than other padded weapons due to use of covering material.
Reliability: Medium - Can break with heavy use
Cost: Medium or High depending on shipping distance ?? Not certain of the exact price.
Period: No
These have a very professional looking silver synthetic covering.
Used by many HEMA and some EMA groups, mostly on an individual basis

Modified Shinai
http://www.the-exiles.org/essay/Pics/assembled.jpg
Safety: Good - Safe for striking, less for thrusting, weighted cross unpadded.
Performance: Medium - Bouncy, too light in the blade, all wieght concentrated near the cross, slippery hard surface makes them excellent for binding and winding
Realism: Medium - No discernable edges, unrealistic cross, no pommel
Appearance: Good? - A lot of people seem to like the appearance
Reliability: Medium - they seem to break fairly regularly
Cost: Low - $10 - $30?
Period: Arguable
The precise makeup of these is still being experimented with but they are very popular.
Widely used by HEMA groups in England and Continental Europe. The standard weapon for the Dijon tournament

Longsword Foil / Fetherfechter
http://www.chicagoswordplayguild.com/c/media/...d_foil.jpg
Safety: Good - Requires use of gambeson, mask, heavy gloves as well as arm and joint protection to be used close to full speed.
Performance: Excellent
Realism: Good, somewhat bendy
Appearance: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Cost: Very High - $300 - $500 or more
Period: Yes!
Used by many HEMA groups. These are based on Renaissance era originals.

Nylon Waster
http://www.thearma.org/images/plastic_wasters2.JPG
Safety: Good - Requires use of gambeson, mask, gloves and some joint protection but can be used close to full speed.
Performance: Good - accurate wieght, not sure about balance
Realism: Good - Realistic shape
Appearance: Medium - white color and clearly artificial
Reliability: Good
Cost: Medium to High?
Period: No
Lighter than wasters, they bend on hard impact but can be bent back.
These are used by some of the top HEMA groups, but current availability is limited.

Hi Christian,

I look forward to your review. I have not had a chance to ever handle one of Lance's swords, I'm basing my evaluation on reports from other people, and from what I can see in the many of Lance's sparring videos. The new performance models look excellent. I have actually been talking to Lance privately about developing a "FOURTH GENERATION" sparring weapon. Your ideas on the latter would also be welcome.

Jean

EDIT: If I have said anything incorrect in any of my general assessments, about the RSW or any other weapon, please correct me. I hope I have been fair and even handed but my knowledge is not alas, universal nor my judgement infallibale.

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Author: Eric Myers 
Posted: 04/24 12:40 PM 
 
I think you have miscategorized "Olympic foil/epee/sabre".

The three "modern" fencing weapons have been essentially the same for more than a century. Except for the blunted point, today's epee is pretty much the same as the late 19th century dueling swords. The foil was used as a training weapon and sport weapon for a long time. The modern sabre is lighter than the old dueling sabres, and has a straight blade, but is still a valid simulator for much of the repertoire. A modern epee or foil with a French or Italian grip is just as good as an old one, and a sabre with an S2000 blade is a good start.

These weapons all meet your criteria for Generation Three: "Designed...specifically with...sparring in mind, are at least somewhat realistic in shape and handling and allow at least close to full-contact sparring." Just because some folks misused them as rapier simulators doesn't negate what they were originally intended for. The epee blade (and its derivative the double wide epee blade) are very good simulators for use as small sword blades. I suggest you only list what things are good for, and not what they aren't. Otherwise you may as well add that these blades are lousy simulators for longswords, halberds, and maces too

All three weapons are good for thrust work, and the sabre is good for cutting, if used correctly.

Also, why reinvent the wheel? A standard mask, glove, and fencing jacket (or equivalent) should be all you need if you are correctly using these weapons. An underarm protector is required for competitions, due to the increased vigor and poor distance judgment that is likely in that setting. Additional protection like a gorget is only important if these weapons are being used inappropriately.

---

 
Author: Jean Henri Chandler 
Posted: 04/24 12:59 PM 
 

Eric Myers wrote:

I think you have miscategorized "Olympic foil/epee/sabre". The three "modern" fencing weapons have been essentially the same for more than a century. Except for the blunted point, today's epee is pretty much the same as the late 19th century dueling swords. The foil was used as a training weapon and sport weapon for a long time. The modern sabre is lighter than the old dueling sabres, and has a straight blade, but is still a valid simulator for much of the repertoire. A modern epee or foil with a French or Italian grip is just as good as an old one, and a sabre with an S2000 blade is a good start. These weapons all meet your criteria for Generation Three: "Designed...specifically with...sparring in mind, are at least somewhat realistic in shape and handling and allow at least close to full-contact sparring." Just because some folks misused them as rapier simulators doesn't negate what they were originally intended for. The epee blade (and its derivative the double wide epee blade) are very good simulators for use as small sword blades. I suggest you only list what things are good for, and not what they aren't. Otherwise you may as well add that these blades are lousy simulators for longswords, halberds, and maces too All three weapons are good for thrust work, and the sabre is good for cutting, if used correctly. Also, why reinvent the wheel? A standard mask, glove, and fencing jacket (or equivalent) should be all you need if you are correctly using these weapons. An underarm protector is required for competitions, due to the increased vigor and poor distance judgment that is likely in that setting. Additional protection like a gorget is only important if these weapons are being used inappropriately.

I was comparing Olympic style Foil / Epee / Saber (generation 1) with shinais (generation 2), in fact. I don't see why they are in different generations. To me the trade-off is similar, and the fact that the shinai is used in Japanese martial art does not justify the generation gap in my opinion.

In fact, if I compare the two weapon styles I'm most familiar with:

katana ~ rapier
padded boken ~ flexible rapier (I think padded bokens did exist at a point in some schools?)
shinai ~ foil

Not a 100% association of course, but I hope you get the idea. So that would either make shinai generation 1 or sport fencing weapons generation 2. I'm not sure that's clear but it's late at night in my corner of the world, please forgive the obscurity

On the broader subject of categorization:

It's interesting because when thinking of classes of sparring weapons I split them into three categories as well.
1) Period training tools. They can be used for limited sparring but full-contact is off-limit. Those were interesting in period, because full contact was then... the real thing, and you would have taken more risk in training. Things like Fetherfechters, wasters, perhaps with a little padding, blunt blades with little flexibility
2) Sporting implement. Designed to make sparring almost completely safe, and for competitions where control cannot always be expected from participants. The trade off is the impossibility of being realistic in terms of weight, because in general weight alone can be devastating. Also, some undesirable whippiness. There are sport fencing weapons, shinais, boffers...
3) Modern sparring weapons. They are build to address the need for safe yet realistic full contact sparring. They are not period in general, because they were not needed as much. This would be your generation 3

I think your generation 1 is almost my second category, and your generation 2 my first.

Beware though, that employing the term "generations" could lead to mistaken assumptions. All three have their place and their good use, maybe sorting them into generations is a little pejorative for the tools in generation 1 (seems to imply that they are less sophisticated in a way). And they were not developed sequentially either, except perhaps generation 3 which is quite new. Although I understand that since you are interested in realistic sparring, sport weapons are less important to you.

Great subject anyhow, best of luck with your classification!