| The Myth of the Invincible Sword Nearly | | | | and cumbersome. The tang of the sword, |
| all cultures throughout history have | | | | the blade's extension into the handle, |
| been subject to the myth of the | | | | receives most of the impact when |
| all-powerful sword. China's history is | | | | parrying and can be prone to breaking. |
| filled with legendary swords and | | | | Many styles of the sword offered little |
| swordsmen some of whom even rose to the | | | | hand protection and so the hand of a |
| levels of gods. The Japanese have the | | | | swordsman was a primary target. To |
| legendary Samurai with their world | | | | counter this, some swords were built |
| famous katana, often referred to as the | | | | with elaborate basket-like guards to |
| Samurai sword. Cossack, Moor, and other | | | | protect the hand. There are accounts of |
| Muslim cultures are often remembered as | | | | the basket-hilt broadsword of Scottish |
| mounted, saber-wielding warriors. In | | | | highlander fame having to be pried off |
| Western Europe the medieval knights were | | | | of the Highlander's hand after battle |
| in no way an exception to the sword | | | | due to its collapsing under the pressure |
| culture. The sword's symbolic | | | | of enemy blows. The sword is |
| connection to the heraldic nobility | | | | complicated to learn, time consuming to |
| remains to this day, although in | | | | make, and generally an expensive arm. |
| ceremonial form only. For most cultures | | | | In medieval Europe, a single-handed |
| around the world, the sword still holds | | | | broadsword could cost as much as 25,000 |
| a position of reverence. I have dueled | | | | dollars by today's standards. The |
| and sparred with and against swords for | | | | Japanese katana was, in its own fashion, |
| many years and yet I am still amazed | | | | an equally high-priced weapon. One can |
| when the first words out of almost every | | | | see the obvious reasons why, during |
| new student are, 'I want to learn how to | | | | Eastern and Western sword histories, the |
| fight with a sword.' I explain that | | | | weapon was really more of a class and |
| unless your armored and riding a horse | | | | power symbol than a mainstream weapon |
| whenever the sword is pitted against | | | | for war. There is a Japanese house code |
| nearly any other ancient weapon of equal | | | | that states "Do not yearn for katanas |
| length or longer inevitability it comes | | | | and tantos created by famous masters. A |
| up wanting. However, the invincible | | | | katana or tanto worth 10,000 pieces can |
| sword myth is so deeply ingrained in | | | | be defeated by 100 yari (spears) each |
| human culture that such warnings are | | | | costing a 100 pieces. It is better to |
| rarely heeded, and predictably, the | | | | purchase 100 spears and arm 100 |
| sword becomes most students' first | | | | spearmen, in this way you can defended |
| focus. The sword's true combat nature | | | | yourself in time of war." (Toshikage |
| can only be revealed through the | | | | Jushichikajo, 1480) Today the |
| handling of the real thing, authentic | | | | sword and Samurai have nearly become the |
| replicas, and precise training weapons | | | | same word. Yet during the height of the |
| that are meticulously designed for | | | | age of the Samurai, the bow, naginata, |
| proper accuracy and use. With the aide | | | | and spear were the main focus for war. |
| of such training tools the myth of the | | | | The bow is found in the earliest history |
| sword can be unlocked, not just from a | | | | of Samurai warfare and the Yari-Samurai, |
| historical approach but from a hands-on | | | | elite spearmen, mounted or on foot, were |
| approach as well. Sadly, often schools | | | | among the highest valued warriors in a |
| do not follow an accuracy policy with | | | | warlord's army. The katana was more |
| training weapons or when sparring with | | | | often used as a backup weapon and for |
| weapons. This is one reason why there | | | | personal ritualized dueling. In most |
| are so many misconceptions about genuine | | | | cultures during the age of battlefield |
| sword combat. The Japanese sport of | | | | dueling, duels were fought on horseback |
| kendo is commonly believed to be a | | | | with bows or lances. If the warrior |
| martial art based on dueling with | | | | lost either of those weapons, he then |
| katanas. Nothing could be further from | | | | used his sword as a last ditch effort to |
| the truth. The two are as different as | | | | save or take his life. Around the same |
| kickball and baseball. The kendo | | | | time the drafted peasant soldier of the |
| sparring sword called a shinai is a | | | | late nineteenth century came into full |
| straight sparring sword meant to be a | | | | force, the sword, due to its impractical |
| safe representation of the katana. This | | | | functions on the battlefield, was |
| very light weapon averages anywhere from | | | | eventually reduced to an ornamental |
| 35" to 47" in length and is made of | | | | symbol of authority. During the Second |
| several straight strips of bamboo bound | | | | World War the ancient Samurai sword that |
| together with leather. With the | | | | was made using the secrets of a holy |
| exception of the lengths, the balance | | | | swordsmith still remained among the |
| and design of this sparring tool from | | | | upper class, but the sword for the |
| its tip to handle holds absolutely | | | | average officer was a 1933 mass-produced |
| nothing in common with the Samurai's | | | | weapon. This 1933 version was designed |
| curved katana. The shinai blade is | | | | so that the older traditional katana |
| straight and its handle is long, round, | | | | blade could fit into the handle and |
| and wrapped in a soft leather sheath. | | | | replace the standard contemporary blade. |
| The katana blade is curved and its | | | | Because of the entertainment industry |
| handle is long and somewhat egg shaped | | | | from ancient times to the present, the |
| but a little more flat along the sides, | | | | myth of the swordsman's abilities has |
| and it is braided. The hits and points | | | | always been far beyond any true feat of |
| scored in sport kendo have more in | | | | real swordsmanship. The western |
| common with European cudgel play or | | | | broadsword has followed the same path as |
| fencing than with a katana duel. Points | | | | the eastern swords, only it has been |
| are most often scored with snapping hits | | | | even further reduced into a simplistic, |
| as opposed to the drawing cuts that come | | | | shining hip-hanger used only for parade. |
| naturally with a curved blade. Though | | | | The Chinese straight sword has not |
| snap cuts are also a part of the | | | | escaped this symbolism either. It has |
| katana's arsenal they are not a staple | | | | been reduced to a lightweight flimsy |
| of attack as in kendo. A closer | | | | show piece far more suitable for fast |
| representation would be sparring with | | | | acrobatic Wu-Su routines then actual |
| curved wooden bokkens, which are | | | | combat. What the general public has |
| considerably more accurate reproductions | | | | been led to believe almost entirely |
| of the katana and were the traditional | | | | through the media is that the sword was |
| training weapon of the classical Bushi. | | | | the most powerful dueling weapon of all |
| The bokken offers a close though not | | | | times. There are many reasons why the |
| completely accurate representation of a | | | | sword could not actually hold this |
| bladed katana duel and was often used | | | | title. First as mentioned is reach; |
| for dueling as a replacement for real | | | | second, arch versus thrust; third and |
| swords. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably one | | | | most important, exposure. To better |
| of the greatest swordsmen in Japanese | | | | explain the realities of sword combat |
| history, by his own account won several | | | | and the troubles a swordsman would have, |
| duels against katanas with a bokken. As | | | | consider facing a spearman with a sword. |
| with shinais, the same problem arises | | | | To start the swordsman's troubles, the |
| from modern and the ancient western | | | | spearman need only keep the swordsman |
| forms of cudgel play. The rattan or | | | | the distance of a spear thrust away. In |
| other wooden forms of broadswords are | | | | doing so, the swordsman is put in danger |
| bulkier, unbalanced, poorly weighted, | | | | of spear attacks while his target, the |
| and often have no obvious flat side to | | | | spearman, remains out of reach. Being |
| parry with. Because of these design | | | | out of reach of the attacks of his |
| flaws cudgel play can only be considered | | | | opponent, the spearman has many |
| a sport not a form of combat. One | | | | advantages added to his hopes of |
| should not compare these sport-related | | | | self-preservation. A spear, or even a |
| styles of combat to the real thing. A | | | | lance of ten feet or less, can both cut |
| comparison cannot accurately be made if | | | | and thrust like a sword and so deliver a |
| for no other reason than the sparring | | | | variety of attacks without fear of |
| weapons are so dramatically removed in | | | | immediate counterattack. For the |
| weight, shape, and design from the | | | | swordsman to survive, he needs to close |
| weapons they are supposed to replicate. | | | | the distance on his opponent while |
| When a student reaches a high enough | | | | trying to ward off thrusts and cuts from |
| sword skill to spar against other types | | | | the attacking spear. The spearman need |
| of weapons, the design flaws of the | | | | only keep attacking while retreating or |
| sword as a singly competitive weapon | | | | circling a few steps if necessary. This |
| become painfully obvious. It is not | | | | is comparable to a man with an empty |
| long after this realization that the | | | | eighteenth-century musket fighting a |
| sword student fades out of the picture | | | | ten-pace duel against a man with a colt |
| along with dreams of becoming an | | | | revolver. Unless an act of God occurs, |
| invincible swordsman. The few | | | | the musketeer is in for hard times. The |
| persistent sword students who remain | | | | next problem is the issue of arch versus |
| quickly find the value of an added | | | | thrust. Everyone has seen a movie where |
| weapon to their free hand. Shields, | | | | the hapless spearman comes charging in |
| maces, flails, daggers, or other swords | | | | with a stiff-armed thrust at the hero, |
| become the new order of training. With | | | | who is always a swordsman, who jumps to |
| a little more sparring, the student | | | | the side and chops the oncoming spear in |
| begins to see the ultimate truth behind | | | | two. This is a perfect example of the |
| the myth of the sword. Even with the | | | | mythological power of the arching sword |
| aid of another weapon, it is a very | | | | stroke in its full absurdity. If the |
| difficult task for a swordsman to defeat | | | | swordsman were to attempt a wasted |
| longer-reaching weapons. When a | | | | motion like trying to cut the assaulting |
| swordsman is matched up against a weapon | | | | spear in two, it would be an ill-fated |
| that is longer and therefore holds | | | | move for two reasons: it seriously |
| greater reach capabilities that | | | | exposes the swordsman to a |
| swordsman's chance of survival drops | | | | counterattack, and it is an almost |
| dramatically. Without the aid of a | | | | impossible cut to make. It is one thing |
| companion weapon, even a highly skilled | | | | to cut in two a shaft stuck firmly in |
| swordsman finds it difficult to defeat | | | | the ground, it is another thing entirely |
| lesser skilled opponents with longer- | | | | to try and cut in two a free-floating |
| reaching weapons. The sword master | | | | shaft that deflects on impact. Try |
| Miyamoto Musashi, victor of sixty | | | | hanging a spear-like shaft in the air by |
| life-and-death encounters, was in a | | | | attaching a rope to the butt of the |
| famous duel of record against the | | | | shaft and attaching another rope at a |
| long-swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro | | | | halfway point. Then try to chop that |
| called his sword 'clothes pole' because | | | | shaft in two with a single or several |
| of its unique design: a long, straight, | | | | strokes. When you are through shaking |
| blade quite the contrary to its | | | | your head, all those great movies will |
| contemporary, the curved katana. When | | | | be ruined forever. The easily imagined |
| Musashi dueled Kojiro, he was not | | | | results of this simple test are exactly |
| wielding a curved katana of his own or | | | | like the real results of such a cut. |
| even using his famous two-sword style. | | | | The reader can see just how unlikely |
| Instead he wisely used a large, carved | | | | performing that cut actually is. Some |
| boat oar to defeat his opponent. This | | | | Arthurian legends claimed the sword, |
| boat oar gave Musashi two very important | | | | Excalibur, could cut a boulder in two as |
| advantages: first he did not have to | | | | though the rock was made of butter. |
| concern himself with the angles of his | | | | Strangely, no sword culture can deny |
| cuts, and second, he did not have to | | | | having myths of an equal nature to that |
| worry about parrying with his sword and | | | | of Excalibur's. There is also a |
| having it destroyed by a big boat oar. | | | | Japanese legend of a katana so sharp |
| It is no mystery why Musashi won this | | | | that when it was left stuck in a stream, |
| duel. When two duelers meet and are | | | | floating leaves were not sliced in-two |
| equal or even close to equal in skills, | | | | by it but actually purposely avoided the |
| the odds go to the dueler with the | | | | sword's edge. Legends of this nature |
| technological advantage. I know the | | | | have always led the populous into |
| entertainment industry would have us | | | | believing that in the realm of edged |
| believe otherwise, but when it comes to | | | | weapons, the sword holds full royalties |
| sparring or dueling with weapons, you | | | | on slicing and chopping abilities. This |
| can't change the math behind the design | | | | is simply not true regarding personal |
| of the weapon, techniques, and the | | | | combat. All of the elite |
| movement the weapon's nature requires. | | | | warrior-based cultures knew and used the |
| George Silver, an accomplished dueler | | | | advantages of thrusting and slicing with |
| and prizefighter who wrote two treatises | | | | a spear as well as other long-reaching |
| on combat in 1599, Brief Instructions | | | | weapons. The difficulties of getting |
| and Paradoxes of Defense pointed out in | | | | past that deadly reaching spear would be |
| his works, and I paraphrase, "He who | | | | no small task for a swordsman. In |
| moves in the least amount of space and | | | | addition to this reach advantage, even a |
| time, moves ahead of his opponent and so | | | | moderately skilled spear fighter can |
| stays out of harm while being able to | | | | deliver several thrusts or cuts to an |
| inflect harm." To make Silver's point | | | | oncoming swordsman before that sword can |
| consider the story of David and Goliath. | | | | reach its target. History has shown us |
| Goliath is unrivaled on the battlefield | | | | that one of those many spear cuts would |
| and no Israelite can stand against him | | | | be to either to the swordsman's lead |
| in single combat. He holds several | | | | knee, hand, arm, or foot. A good hit to |
| advantages over his opponents: he is | | | | any of these areas would end the |
| stronger and so can attack and defend | | | | swordsman's attack promptly. A common |
| with more power than his opponent; he is | | | | misjudgment is that a large portion of a |
| taller which gives him the ability to | | | | weapon's edge needs to strike the |
| both outreach and outstride his | | | | surface to do any real damage. An edge |
| opponents; and he is undefeated, which | | | | need only penetrate the depth of three |
| gives him a psychological advantage over | | | | fingers in the right areas of the human |
| his opponents. Goliath would likely | | | | anatomy to be a fatal hit or lead to |
| have been armored and have the | | | | one. Though the stroke to the knee is |
| contemporary weapons of the times, | | | | not a fatal blow, worldwide |
| bronze or leather armor, a bronze or | | | | archaeological finds from battle sites |
| wicker shield, spear, and according to | | | | involving ancient weapons have |
| legend a great sword. On the other | | | | consistently shown that such a wound led |
| side of the dueling scale is the boy, | | | | to a final lethal blow. In these |
| David. David is a mere sheep-herding | | | | archaeological digs, large percentages |
| child, not even a warrior in the | | | | of the fallen were first struck at the |
| traditional sense. David's only weapon | | | | bend of the knee, or other exposed |
| is a sling. It would appear that the | | | | appendages, and then delivered a fatal |
| scales tip heavily in favor of Goliath, | | | | blow while they lay prostrate from the |
| but a more detailed look reveals the | | | | first injury. By studying the results of |
| opposite. The sling is a formidable | | | | many years of full-contact dueling with |
| weapon in this realm of single combat, | | | | training and blunted weapons, I have |
| especially single combat on an open | | | | rarely found this cut to a charging |
| battlefield that offers room to | | | | opponent's knee, ankle or foot to fail. |
| maneuver. Bearing in mind the nature of | | | | An equally successful tactic is |
| the ground in the Middle East, David | | | | thrusting into the opponent's oncoming |
| also had plenty of rocks to choose from | | | | feet. When infantry used swords and |
| while maneuvering. Out of necessity as | | | | shields against lance-carrying cavalry, |
| a sheepherder, he would have been a | | | | the results nearly always ended in |
| well-practiced slinger and skilled at | | | | disaster for the foot soldier. When |
| keeping predators away from the herd | | | | foot soldiers replaced swords with |
| with endless days to spend flinging | | | | spears and lances, the disaster fell on |
| rocks with his sling to pass the time | | | | the heavy cavalry. It was so effective |
| away. With those skills he could have | | | | that infantry pike units became the |
| continually launched a rock at Goliath | | | | standard for hundreds of years. Pike |
| for every other step Goliath did or did | | | | units were not removed from the |
| not take, all the while staying out of | | | | battlefield until the advent of |
| reach of Goliath's weapons; thus | | | | efficient firearms sporting bayonets, |
| fulfilling Silvers' recipe for victory. | | | | which was not the demise of the pole |
| Due to its translation through time, the | | | | weapon but rather a merger of pike and |
| story has led us to believe that David's | | | | gun. When the sword is pitted against a |
| sling was both laughable and ultimately | | | | spear, the swordsman also has to |
| a shock to Goliath. Neither would be | | | | overcome the issue of too much exposure. |
| true, the sling has been around for a | | | | Combat manuscripts of old break the |
| long time and was a commonplace weapon | | | | sword down into sections depending on |
| in early biblical warfare. It is | | | | the type of sword. The first third of |
| reasonable to believe that Goliath was | | | | the blade from its tip down was for |
| defeated because of the nature of the | | | | cutting, the next third was for soft |
| weapon's reach, the terrain conditions, | | | | parries, and the final third above the |
| and the psychological effects of the | | | | hand guard was for heavy parries and |
| whole scheme of things, i.e., the | | | | coming to grips with your opponent. The |
| undefeated war giant versus a | | | | old masters from the East and West also |
| sheep-herding boy with everybody | | | | wrote that the preferred method of |
| watching. How much time would Goliath | | | | defense with a sword was simply to avoid |
| spend hiding behind his shield from a | | | | your opponent's attacks physically and |
| boy while the Philistine and Israeli | | | | through footwork. This method was |
| armies watched? Let us assume that | | | | preferred over jeopardizing your sword's |
| Goliath, like every other solider during | | | | cutting edge and its structural |
| biblical warfare, has seen a sling in | | | | integrity by using it to fend off blows |
| action before, as opposed to the common | | | | from other weapons. With exceptions, |
| belief that he thought it laughable and | | | | the sword length averages from 20 to 42 |
| fell victim to his overconfidence. | | | | inches. On the contrary, the smallest |
| Goliath could hide behind his shield and | | | | battlefield spear is around six feet in |
| try to close within sword range, but in | | | | length with a shaft designed for warding |
| order to hit David he has to be able to | | | | off blows from other weapons. The |
| see him. When Goliath exposes his face | | | | swordsman must also overcome the limited |
| to look, David only needs to time his | | | | range of his defense, referring not only |
| next rock for impact into that exposed | | | | to the sword's reach but also the axis |
| moment. It is nearly impossible to | | | | with which one can parry and so defend |
| successfully time a parry against a | | | | the body. Take into account the |
| missile weapon launched at close range. | | | | mechanics of the human body and the |
| The smaller the projectile, David's | | | | length, manner, and design of the weapon |
| rock, the more difficult it is to see, | | | | being used. The nature of the sword |
| calculate its speed, and accurately | | | | creates a problem when defending above |
| react to defending the target area of | | | | or below the waist. The problem is to |
| its destination. Also added to David's | | | | defend one's body above or below one |
| advantages is he can launch his rocks | | | | must, by the nature of the sword, expose |
| continually. With the sling David can | | | | the opposite of what is defended. This |
| follow a familiar formula: he can attack | | | | is true with all weapons but to a higher |
| repeatedly while remaining out of reach | | | | degree with sword and similar weapons. |
| of his opponent's assaults. At best | | | | The pole arm offers considerably more |
| Goliath would have had the opportunity | | | | options. By tipping the weapon |
| for one spear throw at David, but again | | | | vertically, horizontally, or diagonally |
| at the cost of over exposing himself to | | | | out from the body, one can readily |
| David's faster sling attacks. After | | | | defend and strike from any axis of the |
| that spear throw its back to sword | | | | body. The pole arm fighter does not |
| range. Whatever tactic Goliath used we | | | | even have to resort to this guard until |
| all know the result of it. Musashi | | | | the swordsman gets in close enough to be |
| used a similar technique to David's | | | | a threat. The swordsman, on trying to |
| against the chain and sickle fighter | | | | close, has to defend too much exposed |
| Shishido Baiken. Again, rather than use | | | | area and so is subject to attack at |
| his sword and face the extra challenges | | | | several areas on his body. To a large |
| that comes with it, Musashi opts to make | | | | degree this is why the shield was |
| a close range throw of his tanto, a | | | | developed. In most cultures, the shield |
| Japanese dagger which hits and kills his | | | | was developed for war and not dueling. |
| unsuspecting opponent. In the West, one | | | | The shield was designed to be part of a |
| seldom hears of duels pitting a sword | | | | wall of shields used as a defensive |
| against another type of weapon. In | | | | battle tactic as demonstrated by the |
| Europe it was considered an unfair | | | | front lines of a Greek phalanx, the |
| advantage to mix weapons during duels. | | | | Roman turtle formation, and the Viking |
| The European duel was as often a matter | | | | shield wall. In a duel or single |
| of righting wrongs and maintaining honor | | | | combat, the shield is used in a |
| as it was about issues of martial | | | | considerably different manner than in a |
| skills. In the East reasons for dueling | | | | melee or mass melee. Regardless of how |
| ranged from matters of honor to testing | | | | it is used, the shield can only |
| martial skills. One dueled with | | | | effectively protect one side of the body |
| whatever weapon one specialized in, and | | | | during a charge and so forces the |
| it was believed if you were a warrior | | | | wielder to defend his opposite side with |
| you should be able to defend yourself | | | | the sword. Because of the leverage that |
| with your weapon regardless of what your | | | | can be placed behind a thrusting or |
| opponent was using, the only true rule | | | | sweeping pole attack, the sword and its |
| was to win. This is a much harder test | | | | wielding arm cannot compete with the |
| of skills than to be protected by the | | | | impact of an oncoming pole weapon As |
| equality of weapons. Knowing this, one | | | | mentioned earlier, this is especially |
| must question why dueling with the | | | | true when a sweeping spear cut or a |
| katana did not reach its peak until | | | | thrust is delivered to the swordsman's |
| after the age of elite Samurai warriors. | | | | stressed knee, ankle, or foot. Such an |
| After the dismantling of the Samurai | | | | attack forces the swordsman to bring the |
| class, an action that turned the once | | | | tip of his sword down; the arm position |
| proud warrior class into living archives | | | | would be the equivalent of completely |
| of an age gone for good. During this | | | | emptying a drinking mug gripped in your |
| later era, most Japanese field weapons | | | | hand. Doing this simple motion the |
| became obsolete and where impractical to | | | | reader can see how the position is both |
| carry in public. With a major decline | | | | awkward and weak; furthermore, the |
| in the use of most battlefield weapons, | | | | position also exposes the upper torso. |
| the time for the sword to shine was at | | | | The lower guard that could be used |
| hand. The katana became the Samurai's | | | | exposes even more of the swordsman's |
| last symbolic hold on an ancient warrior | | | | body. A high or low, well-timed thrust |
| system soon to be completely outdated by | | | | or cut to this weak side will put an end |
| cheaper and more efficient guns. The | | | | to the charging swordsman. Though I |
| replacement of the elite warrior class | | | | have used the spear here as the |
| by the gun was not a phenomenon known | | | | swordsman's nemesis, one can see that |
| only to the Japanese. The gun in its | | | | any weapon of greater length or weight |
| own time systematically brought about | | | | would prove technologically superior. |
| the dismantling of the elite warrior | | | | It becomes obvious why the swordsman's |
| classes worldwide. The Chinese Boxers, | | | | survival is so unlikely. The sword has |
| the Scots Highlanders, the Zulu, the | | | | come to stand on a solid throne where |
| Aborigines, and the American Indians | | | | its powers are more mythical than the |
| were among the last holdouts of the | | | | sword-wielding heroes themselves. We |
| warrior elite, and they all fell victim | | | | have come to believe the sword and its |
| to the gun. For most of these warrior | | | | powers as the staple of all the |
| cultures the sword became a symbolic | | | | classical warrior societies. Swords |
| relic of an age far more romantic then | | | | have been given names and positions of |
| it actually was. Since the end of the | | | | power; some were even believed to be |
| elite warrior classes the facts | | | | magical. The right person with the |
| regarding the sword and its value as a | | | | right sword could smite injustice, slay |
| weapon have been exaggerated far and | | | | the wicked, and restore kingdoms, |
| away beyond its real functions as an | | | | assuming that is no one else shows up |
| instrument of war. The sword has | | | | with a spear, halberd, pole-flail, rake, |
| several weaknesses as a combat weapon. | | | | pitchfork, or sling. The entertainment |
| Due to its limited reach or in the case | | | | industry may keep the sword on a throne |
| of the great sword, excessive length; | | | | of power and awe, but for those who have |
| one has less time for reaction to an | | | | fought with and against the sword in all |
| opponent's attack. The sword's edge is | | | | its manifestations, it's a translucent |
| fragile and easily damaged so parries | | | | and mythological throne. By Larry L |
| need to be made with the flat of the | | | | Andrews Find much more at spearduel. |
| blade, making defense both complicated | | | | |