Xiphos Training

[Mokman]

Hi all,

I'd like to ask, does anyone know of any good guides/manuals (can be books, dvds, online pages etc) that would teach me proper techniques in using a xiphos? (The blade carried by greek hoplites as a secondary weapon). I know that there probably isn't anything as in-depth or authentic as an actual treatise by warriors of the time, unlike German Swordfighting which has Liechtenauer and so on, but is there any resources I can plunge for techniques? Advice is much appreciated.

 

[Silverthorn]

There are a few, and I mean FEW sword masters out there who study a lot of the old sword styles.
I don't know if they actually publish anything though.
If your in England I believe there's a gentleman there who is specialized in old weapon combat and combat in armor as well.

 

[Triton]

I'm not aware of anyone that would be able to teach anything that isn't highly speculative (and that's putting it kindly). There just isn't any material to work with other than various heroic epics (typically written down after hundreds of years of oral transmission) and the form of the weapons themselves which may give some insight into the techniques employed. The closest you will probably come are Roman tactics, which were written down.

The debates about for late medieval and renaissance techniques are brutal, and there's at least a few manuals around for those.

 

[slt]

I don't think there would be much on xiphos training, if any.

This is speculative on my part, but as far as I can recall, the Greeks were not a swordsmanship culture like the Germans. The primary fighting style was the hoplite phalanx supported by skirmishers and cavalry. The main weapon was the spear; the xiphos was used if the spear broke. The Spartans allegedly had an anecdote about their swords being short and stepping closer to the enemy - at such close ranges, in the style of fighting that was practiced and the gear that was carried, there would likely be no proper techniques above and beyond thrusting over or under the hoplon shield at the face or legs of the enemy.

Again, that's just speculation based on what I know of Greek warfare. If you do find something, make sure to post it - it would be a great read/watch.