How to fight single combat with the viking shield | 6 - Shield Binding

Welcome shield combat enthusiasts to the sixth episode. The last time we learned how to properly defend ourselves in the nach with the help of active shield parries. In this first video about binding we will learn the very basics and how to apply them in the four. How to get from nach into four using the shield bind and what to do with your sword in the meanwhile will be topic of the second video. As I already mentioned in the fourth video about the offense, you can only safely attack your opponent when you are in control of the encounter or he or she temporarily lost control by hitting out of range or into your solid cover. We learned how to control our opponent in time by speed and deception. But there's a second way. With an ideal shield bind we try to gain the dominance and thereby control over his or her weapons, arms and if possible even movement. The control in space. Based on that approach I strongly agree to Roland Wartzecha's theory that most of the weapon contact and offensive actions were done with the shield and that the bind played a vital role in single combat. There are four important principles which you really should internalize to master the binding with the flat center grip shield. First, the fighter with the shield on top of the opponent's one has the best position to gain dominance due to the muscle groups involved and of course gravity. And yes, taller persons will have an advantage here, the smaller person should stick to the fourth principle. Second, the edges of the flat shield with one central grip can be easily levered by the edge of the opponent's shield. Third, you can apply the most force over the face of the shield by placing your thumb on the grip and pushing with the thumb and thereby along the grip in the desired direction. With your grip pointing to another direction as your intended way of force you are pretty vulnerable to being outlevered and thereby dominated. Fourth, use weakness against strength. There's simply no sense in investing time and wasting your strength by pushing into a position you simply cannot win. If the opponent has an equal or even slightly lower level of fitness than your own, there's no chance in winning by pushing through. Even if you are stronger, the opponent can use the time you need to overcome his or her dominance by doing other stuff. Control of time ladies and gentlemen. Instead, give in to the force. Use the momentum to either make a step back and now place your own shield on top or if the force goes to your right side, make a step to the side in a 45 degrees angle and swap your shield over, thereby not only gaining the top but also better angle in comparison to your opponent. I will now illustrate these principles by showing you how There are three different end positions of control depending on the reaction of the opponent and his or her weapon movement. Two work great, one can work depending on the situation. First, use the old reliable thrust to the face. If he or she parries with the shield and push your sword to the side, you proceed to the same position as before. Let the sword glide along the pressure over your shield with the grip upwards. In the same time, do a shield punch to the shield edge and perform an overbind. You change from applying force via the edge to the flat while staying constantly in contact with your opponent's shield to avoid him or her escaping from the bind. Ideally, you want to get in control of both weapons before you initiate a strike to a gap, but you should concentrate a bit more on controlling the sword or axe and the weapon arm. As you will notice, they are slippery bastards and they flee the bind more often than you would like. Therefore, aim the shield grip and your thumb to his or her right shoulder for optimal control. In theory, you can already start an attack when you have just obstructed the weapon's way without direct control, but this will only grant you a little control and time instead of space and will probably result in a lot of double hits if you are greedy for the kill. During the whole process, it's of utmost importance that you maintain the correct posture with the low stance and stretched out arms. This will especially protect your legs if the opponent's weapon escaped your control. We end up in the second position of control if the opponent applies pressure to our right side. Either he or she parries with the sword instead of the shield and pushes your sword down, or if he or she applies too much force with the shield edge in an active parry. In this scenario, give in to the force, step to the side and swap your shield over. If your left foot is forward, simply do a half step to the side. If your right foot is forward, do a full step to the left and follow with a rotational step. If he or she reacts too slow, place your shield boss on the opponent's weapon arm and the inner shield edge. If your opponent turns the shield with your movement, overbind on top. Strike to the head from the left. If the opponent successfully defends, you hold at least a better position. The third position or scenario, as I said, can work but is often quite risky. If you were too slow and your opponent already recovers after parry, or both of you initiate with a shield punch, you can press open his or her shield at the edge and push onto their chest. You will notice that there's only minimal control of both weapons. If you are lucky and got the weapon arm obstructed and your shield is large enough to block the opponent's shield, you can use the short control in time and space to land a hit. If you are unlucky, you may get a shield punch in your face or a double hit with a sword in your leg. Okay, that is all for this video folks. You can best internalize the four principles in a partner exercise. Both of you only use the shield and try to overbind each other. Keep it slow at the beginning and let your partner win from time to time when he or she does a nice overbind. It's a learning opportunity, not about winning. And of course, I have a nice drill to practice at home. Thrust to the face. In reaction against a parry with a shield, let the sword glide at the outside of your shield while doing a shield punch. Perform the overbind, followed by a forward step. Finally, strike or thrust to the face and go back to a safeguard. Enjoy the exercises and we see us next video when we talk about how to apply binding and counter techniques and how the sword can support them.