Is A Sword With A Set Safer?
Ok, that is a loaded headline that is going to get some attention. But before we start, what is a “set” in relation to swords? […]
Physics
Will It Zwerch? Landmarking in Video Analysis
Lots of people look at fencing. Lots of people watch videos. What are you actually “looking” at when breaking down someone’s motion?
An Alternative Method for MoI Determination
I’ve harped about Moment of Inertia in multiple articles. Now I try a new experimental method for figuring it out.
“Safe Sword” is made up words
We frequently talk about how to make swords “safe”. Unfortunately unless you can come up with a definition which satisfies a few specific criteria, the word “safe” doesn’t have a lot of meaning.
Two Phases Of a Cut – Surface vs Steady State
From a blade resistance point of view, cutting actually has two distinct phases: the internal and external.
Difficulties with SCA Flex Test and Buckling Test for Measuring Blade Stiffness
Two of the most popular ways to quantify blade stiffness are the SCA Flex Test and the Buckling Test. Unfortunately they both have issues, but we’re suffering for lack of better solutions.
Vector Transformations and the “Wedge”
Vectors are used to describe just about everything in life. And all it takes to win a sword fight is to transform all your opponent’s vectors into ones that can’t hurt you. Piece of cake!
Why n00bs Fling the Sword: A Multi-Part Analysis of Rapier Thrusting Mechanics (Part 2)
In Part1 we discussed what flinging is, why n00bs fling, and why flinging is a poor tactic. But how can we not fling? Before we can start, we need to understand motor redundancy.
Why n00bs Fling the Sword: A Multi-Part Analysis of Rapier Thrusting Mechanics (Part 1)
In Salvator Fabris’ 1606 treatise on rapier, he dedicates an entire chapter on the subject of flinging the sword and in-depth discussion of why this is bad. But what is flinging? And why is it poor form?
Blade Stresses
We are used to thinking about the forces that swords apply on their targets, but we don’t spend as much time thinking about the forces that the targets apply to the swords. Between axial, shear, bending, and torsion there is a lot more going on than you might have thought!