Get a Horse

This Forum is a place for students of swordsmanship to ask advice from moderators Paul Champagne & Scott M. Rodell on how to practice test cutting in a manner consistent with how swords were historically used in combat. Readers use this Forum at their own risk.

Moderators:Scott M. Rodell, PaulC

Post Reply
User avatar
Linda Heenan
Rank: Chang San feng
Rank: Chang San feng
Posts:617
Joined:Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:58 am
Location:Australia
Contact:
Get a Horse

Post by Linda Heenan » Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:02 am

Who has tried cutting from horseback? The dao seems made for this. However, in the absence of horse ownership, here's a workable solution. Perhaps you have to be Australian to appreciate this, but have a look anyway :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifWc94XeIo
Contributions welcome at the Chinese Swords Guide - now with RSS http://www.chinese-swords-guide.com

Nik
Rank: Chang San feng
Rank: Chang San feng
Posts:292
Joined:Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:06 am
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Nik » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:56 am

The ultimate orsome aussie force would be a dao wielding kangaroo cavalry. ;) Just imagine the "wtf ???" look on the other force faces. :)

Scott M. Rodell
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:1364
Joined:Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:50 pm
Location:Virginia
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:11 am

Image

Charging Chinese cavalry armed with dao (1937).

From: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... ujidui.jpg

Nik
Rank: Chang San feng
Rank: Chang San feng
Posts:292
Joined:Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:06 am
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Nik » Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:23 am

Was this a good idea in 1937, with the existance of machine guns ? I somehow can't agree with the tactics "we don't have anything better, so let's throw at them what we have". Exception would be at night in a terrain where you cannot see the cavalry coming and cannot react in time. Was still done also in Europe in WW I.

User avatar
Linda Heenan
Rank: Chang San feng
Rank: Chang San feng
Posts:617
Joined:Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:58 am
Location:Australia
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Linda Heenan » Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:45 am

There were machine guns around in the 1860s. In 1918 there was a battle in France where mounted swordsmen charged against machine guns. I think only two of the calvary came out of that one alive, and very few horses. So no ... not a good idea at all. Still, in these days where we do our training for reasons other than winning battles, it would be excellent fun to train on horseback :) .
Contributions welcome at the Chinese Swords Guide - now with RSS http://www.chinese-swords-guide.com

Scott M. Rodell
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:1364
Joined:Wed Jan 28, 2004 4:50 pm
Location:Virginia
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:44 am

Nik wrote:Was this a good idea in 1937... machine guns ?...
Of course not... then again, there isn't much sense in my flying around the world teaching people how to use a jian, like the old say goes, "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight." Then again, I love it & doubt I'll stop anytime soon, that is, so long as there are people to meet up with who love it as much as I do...

Nik
Rank: Chang San feng
Rank: Chang San feng
Posts:292
Joined:Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:06 am
Contact:

Re: Get a Horse

Post by Nik » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:32 pm

I meant, a good idea of the commanding general to send his troops "charging" with swords in full daylight with no cover, unless it's 100% guaranteed there is no gatling gun waiting down the road. The chinese army slaughtered the whole tibetan troops in a matter of hours (if that much) with high power mounted machine guns when they managed to get in their backs with the help of this guy who was paid off. I saw short docu clips of that, it was just awful. Like a slaughterhouse, just with no beef.

Sword play is at least fun, which is not a bad reason to do things. Maybe the most honest reason in existance. :)

xingyi24
Rank: Yang Chenfu
Rank: Yang Chenfu
Posts:34
Joined:Mon Mar 02, 2009 2:45 pm
Location:Greenbelt MD

Re: Get a Horse

Post by xingyi24 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:39 pm

September 1, 1939. Jokes about submarines with screen doors aside, the Polish were still using lances, sabres, and horses quite effectively. (Yes, they had rifles on their backs.) Some terrain just wasn't suitable for mechanized warfare, and, when the tanks showed up, the Poles had to turn tail and run, but they still put in a good hit on some infantry first, and they managed some damage to the German armor. Don't let the stories about lances and tanks stand as an absolute slaughter. They were running between the tanks to escape most of the time, not to fight them, but it does explain where the jokes came from. It's a great way to make a leader look unprepared for modern war.

Post Reply