Post
by Peter Dekker » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:13 pm
I am not much into protective gear for test-cutting and have never felt at risk when cutting targets, soft or hard. It is all about carefully visualizing the movement before executing, and using only cuts that are already programmed in one's system. Also, make sure to always prepare to stop the sword right after the target whether you expect to go through or not. Preventing uncontrolled after-swings is fundamental to any kind of sword practice. Getting maximum power into the target should only be the concern of advanced test-cutters, which I don't consider myself to be.
Back to the tengpai, I found this to be a very interesting test which yielded some interesting and unexpected results. Personally I hadn't expected a sword to cut so deep into the shield's rim but would have thought it penetrated more easily. It inspires me to look further into historical methods to strengthen the shields. Looking at the damage on the shield, I realize that the channels in the shield are not totally filled with tung oil yet. Another flaw in this shield was that it was rather unevenly domed, and we saw it collapsed where the bulge was the least graceful. We can conclude that the more even the dome, the more even the distribution of energy through the whole.
I agree that we need to devise a better way to hold the shield. The stand moved a little with the shield but was probably still different than an arm. The best way in my opinion is to devise a good arm guard so a person can hold it.
From a practical standpoint one can wonder about the consequences of these outcomes in a real fight. I wonder, would the swordsman really want to hit the shield? Probably not because the moment the weapon is shield-bound the shieldman knows he is safe and will launch his counter. Contrary to a swordsman, a shield bearer can attack and deflect at the exact same time. When one knows that cutting into the side of the shield will only weaken the shield but will pose no direct threat to the bearer, we can conclude that a swordsman wouldn't want to bother because it may provide the shield bearer with too big a window of opportunity for a counter.
In a later test by a local student, Antoon Kunst, he managed to put a jian through the shield some 15 cm. Amazing that a difference that made with the saber that Scott used. Although it is enough to reach the shield bearer's arm, he probably won't stay still and will turn the shield away and counter. So yes some weapons can get through, but the question is whether you would really want that to happen.
We also need to keep in mind that we are now much looking at it from a dueling standpoint, where fighting in battlefield formations is quite different.
I am looking forward to make better shields, do more tests, and get more experience sparring with shields!
-Peter
