Q&A for How to Win a Swordfight

What you are describing may be a "boffer" sword, which can be a good training tool when learning to swordfight. However, the weight is not usually similar to a true sword, so it is not a true stand-in for an actual sword.

If he breaks the blade, he is asking to be stabbed. If he removes his Pommel, you need to run.

This can be achieved through lots of hard work and dedication. Train with a wooden pole first. When you can swing fast and accurately, switch to a heavier metal baseball bat. Then use and actual sword. You will swing faster.

Don't let him hit your blade, when he tries, move it. Due to the amount of force, he will most likely be off balance. That would be the time for a well-placed thrust.

The best way is to consult someone who is knowledgeable about swords, because different swords need different approaches. For example, a katana is different from a Scottish longsword, which is different from a scimatar. Also, a sword's effectiveness is not really in a razor-sharp edge. The real skill is in how it is handled.

Almost anything can be made into a weapon, and a stick would certainly work provided it is sturdy enough.

Some fairs and events have vending booths with swords, or you can check for a knife store in your area. But you'll most likely have to get it online; Trueswords.com is a good website that has a variety of different swords both battle-ready and for practice.

Try to swing it powerfully, but also carefully. You don't want your attacks to be so slow it gives your enemy a chance to attack. You may want to attack with moves that travel horizontally, and if its heavy because its big and long, try to use that long blade to your advantage with some distance from your enemy so he/she can't hit you.

Armor would be a good defense tactic, but wear light armor, as this allows decent body protection and mobility. As for sword defense, find your opponent's attack pattern. If he throws mostly low slashes, you can counter accordingly. Learn how to block and counter every possible move you can think of, so that you know how to respond accordingly when your opponent throws these attacks.

In Japanese literature and movies, you generally see the katana. In stories about Ancient Rome, you would see the gladius. In most depictions of the Middle Ages, you would see the broadsword.

If necessary, in a desperate situation--although a sheath is unlikely to do much damage.

If you are more skilled, you have an advantage. You can also attempt psychological techniques, like distraction. Although a fictional and sci-fi/fantasy example, the battle between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker shows how psychological manipulation of a superior opponent can produce victory.

Practice with both sides of your body, and against left-handed and right-handed people as often as possible. That way, you will get practice with both sides of your body. It should be the same techniques and style as a right-handed person, but mirrored, meaning your block and counter attacks should be mirrored too.

For a Japanese Katana, the tip of the blade should be around two inches from the ground when held at rest.

Likely highly ineffective. Pommels are not designed to come off easily, so there would be a lot of fumbling with a sword piece that in a functional sword is not designed to come off without tools and a vice. Then comes the question of hitting the opponent if the pommel is removed. Finally, the sword is now unbalanced and harder to weld.

Hit mid-high, then swipe their blade with yours down and around. This twists their wrist, forcing them either to spin or drop the blade.

You need to be precise with ANY sword in order to be effective. The speed and the recovery you will have after each movement in combat will often depend on the size and the weight of the weapon. if you want a light weapon that can make fast and precise thrusts, maybe a rapier is what you are looking for.

You shouldn't do that. It won't be very stable and could actually end up hurting you instead of your opponent.

Probably a figure eight that, at the end, knocks the sword out of your opponent's hand. Of course, this takes lots of practice and is a move that exposes your lower body.

For starters, if the attacker has a much larger sword it means that they most likely are off balance after a swing or thrust, so after your opponent attacks with a thrust sidestep to whichever side suits you and attack from there while they are off balance.

Possibly as a distraction or projectile. For the most part, keep your sheath to the side because sometimes it gets in the way of your footwork.

That depends on what culture of a sword you want. If you want a sword that is of a Japanese origin, but you don't want it to be heavy use a tanto. If you want it to be heavy, use a katana. Other swords include the knights sword, shortsword, greatsword and longsword.

This appears to be just a basic guide on sword fighting. There are many styles of sword fighting, such as Japanese and European styles, which do revolve around the type of sword. However, this would not be a guide to fencing, as it utilizes very thin swords and involves a lot of stabbing at the opponent.

Yes, as the swords are different lengths, shapes, and weights. A sword such as a rapier, which is commonly used in fencing, is mainly used for stabbing. This is due to its light weight and slender shape. However, a sword such as a European broadsword would be used more for slashing.

You can find online resources, but just as you can't really learn to swim using just books or YouTube videos, you need to be taught by someone face to face with actual knowledge. Failing to do so at best in ineffective, and can be dangerous and cause self-inflected injuries.

It depends on the sword, the child, and the teacher. Consult a qualified teacher to get a sword appropriate to your's child's needs. A qualified teacher means a fencing instructor, martial arts sensei, or someone of that nature.

A greatsword's advantages in such a situation is that you can get opponents from getting too close in - this weapon will give you reach and distance over opponents.

If they grab the blade, pull it out of their hand. This would cause the blade to cut their fingers.

A sword fight can be called different names such as a battle, a melee, or just a fight. Swordsmanship refers to the study of sword fighting as a martial art. The sport version of a sword fight is called fencing and is an internationally recognized sport. It's even in the Olympics!

Japanese sword fighting started with the samurai, a warrior class in feudal Japan. The sword fighting art of the samurai is called Kenjutsu, which translates as "the art of the sword." The training version is called kendo, which means "the way of the sword" and uses a bamboo sword for practice.