melee combat 1

The Cultural Analyst here.

This is the first chapter from the book I've been writing about melee combat.
Shout out to The Tactician, whose help and advice turned me into a decent swordsman.

Since my youngest days, I have always loved the study of melee combat and weaponry. Though I am a peaceful person, the practice of weaponry, especially the use of the sword, has always appealed to me.
In a world ruled by gunpowder weaponry and automated explosives, the love of antiquated weaponry is the mark of a scholar or hobbyist rather than a warrior. As a result, the finer points of melee combat have become rather arcane, and even more difficult to learn. Even the sword, once a mark of station, honor and power, much to be feared, has become a curiosity sometimes seen in museums and movies. Melee combat has become an art rather than a craft, practiced for personal gratification rather than for violence.
Whether the world has been improved or harmed by the obsolescence of melee combat is a point to be debated. Yet still, the poetry of blades lays graven upon the spirits of many people, and I am one such.
This is my love letter to swordsmanship

Chapter 1
Directionality
A certain understanding of motion and force is fundamental to the use of melee weapons. Every strike, attack, parry and maneuver in a swordfight has a certain qualities of direction and momentum. Every motion has what I call a “directionality.” Directionality refers to the momentum, path, shape of motion, and direction of force in the motion.
In all maneuvers there are two types of motion: Linear motion and circular motion. A slashing attack is an example of a circular motion, while a thrust is a linear motion. A circular motion orbits it point of origin. A linear motion pushes and pulls from its point of origin. The “point of origin” may refer to the person making the maneuver, a part of that person’s body, or point of reference as applicable.
When blades cross, an understanding of the mechanics of circular versus linear attacks is vitally important to using your weapon to its strengths and taking advantage of your opponent.
Three vital observations on circular and linear motion:
1. A circular motion is countered or defeated by a linear motion. A linear motion is countered or defeated by a circular motion. Understanding this is vital to blocking, countering and feinting effectively. For instance, you would be forced to make a sweeping, circular motion in order to parry a thrust. Or if someone pushed into you, you might pivot in a circular motion to unbalance your attacker. On the other side of the equation; if you made an earnest slash at someone, they could quickly stab at you or your arm and beat you to the punch. A thrusting motion typically reaches farther than a slashing attack in as much or less time. In a way, a thrust is effectively faster than a cut. Yet linear force is easily checked or knocked out of path as compared to a circular force.
2. Circular motions can be changed into linear motions and linear motions can be changed to a circular motion. Understanding this allows a fighter to quickly flow from one maneuver into another or quickly accelerate into a maneuver. If you thrust, your arm will be extended. Rather than stopping and making another linear motion to pull back your arm, you could let the motion follow into a curving path to your next maneuver. Or more simply, if you have fully extended your arm, you can move it up, down, left or right so that it describes a curved path. Similarly, circular motions can be converted into linear motions. If you swing a weight around your head in a circle and let it go, the weight will travel in a linear fashion even though it was accelerated by a circular force. Similarly, a circular movement can be used to accelerate a blade into a linear motion.
3. Because we exist in three dimensions (spatially speaking) and a line or circle can be described in two dimensions, a maneuver can have both a linear and a circular aspect. Understanding this is a huge advantage in creating effective attacks which your opponent will be hard-pressed to understand and defend against. It is possible to combine linear and circular motion into an attack which is far more dangerous than a simple slash or thrust.
Though I have attempted to describe them, these principles are meaningless unless you understand them by feel. Only when you begin to perform techniques which depend upon these principles, and physically feel the nature of the motions, will you begin to really understand the application of these principles.