I'm doing this quick and dirty, so please – it will be replaced later by better written article with pretty pictures.
Many years ago I did a course & the provider noted that I helped a lot of people, so offered me the chance to teach CLAIT basic computing course. Sounds easy? Ok, look at your mouse. Now explain how to use it. So, if I'm not clear PLEASE give me constructive criticism.
I learnt this style at the first Bandits, Brigands and Buccaneers show, where several weapon classes were run. I've used this style several times to good effect. Like everything, it takes practice.
Swash buckling is the term for a form of defence designed for close in fighting on dangerous ground. This form was common with medieval travellers who carried a buckler over their arming sword as basic kit. Much as a cowboy wore his gun. It is different than most sword & buckler fighting as that in an offensive style(s).
Image you are in a dark, narrow alley (we still have these in Poole, I can arrange--) with a running sewer down the middle. You're an English late medieval archer faced with a lot of French in full plate, on a muddy field covered in corpses, bits of corpses and bits carried by corpses, that you want to persuade from further aggression. Now you're aboard a ship, betwix decks in the dark, cramped, narrow spaces. This style has evolved for the short, sharp and dirty combat these situations warrant.
You need a single handed sword or short sword plus buckler, pistol* or dagger.
A similar method can be used with a short(ish) staff.
Basic stance. Put your kit on now.
You need to be able to draw your sword using the wrong hand. Buckler, dagger or pistol by your dominant hand.
So your sword on your “off” hip gets drawn and used by your “off” hand, the wrong way. If you're using a suspended buckler grip it in your dominant hand first.
Grip your sword as if stopping it swinging. Blade down. Little finger down by the guard, thumb by the pommel. You'll notice that this grip is akin to that used on a mace, axe or similar. This grip can also be used to (hopefully) parry or respond to a surprise blow.
Have a waggle. Get used to the tension and using the heel of your hand against the guard. First thing you'll notice is that your non-dominant side is your best protected.
You can fight like that- a good thing to learn if you lose your dominant hand. If you have the chance, fight like this. As always note your swords balance point and the difference different parries make. You'll see this in Japanese films, where the (usually second) sword is gripped by the usual thumb & forefinger grip and the sword is swung in slashing attacks.
Next step. Adding the second element. The point is to make a “T” so you can parry as high as possible. All this sounds counter intuitive but with practice--.
Whatever element you want to use in your dominant hand. Try using separately at first.
Comfy? Now make a “socket” with your bottom 2 fingers and grip the sword pommel. It feels weird, but positive pressure helps. Get used to keeping your elbows down and and arms in tight. Have a few swings and parries. You're crouched down like a bare knuckle fighter.
This is Western martial arts. Every thrust & parry should be accompanied with a step forward. Every parry develops into an attack. Offensive parrying, leading to a thrust to shin or ankle, groin or throat/head. A sweeping attack to the armpit or throat. Obviously you cannot do all that, but be careful – it will happen. Practice indoors, around children, dogs and furniture.
Now the real deal. Arms in close, top weapon covering your face, sword tip covering your forward leg. Blade your groin. This is primarily a defensive style, so you want to parry your opponent as high as the combination allows. Now lay off the strike. Higher you can parry the more options you have.
If you want to strike, think of the preying mantis, a quick stab or slash to injure and open your opponent, of moving past and slashing. Bash, shove, stomp to get off balance then surgically strike.
Against a sword and shield you have 2 hands to stop shield to your left & below the grip, then parry that low blow. Step in pass the point and sweep sword into your opponent. You can also hit high with buckler then bringing sword point down into groin or leg.
Spear and shield, parry spear and step in. Block shield with body, sweep sword up.
Sword. Catch, use the momentum of the blow to deliver your point.
Axe or 2 handed weapon, aim your“T” to intercept and control the forward wrist
Horse. Shove the buckler in its face and slice its neck or parry the leg and stab/slice.
Rider. Parry, lay off or avoid the blow as high as possible, now bring your sword through the horse and twist away.
Advanced. On dangerous ground the sword could be used as a walking stick to aid in slips and locating trip hazards. You advance or retreat all slow and quiet like
If you encounter something “squishy” on the ground, give it a couple of tickles as friend or foe a grabbed leg or a dagger from below is not nice.
On ship or down dark alley. Stick your elbow out. Locate the wall and follow. Crouching helps. In fact everything the opposite of your stand up tall sword waggler!
* If you're using a party popper style larp pistol, this style lends itself well, as you pull the cord with the off-hand.
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