I agree. Normal/medium sized two handers seem to pretty much all be designed to allow you greater control rather than to add power (an axe or mace is always going to be better for that).

Wieldyness is much more important for them than power. As Lindy himself mentions in another vid swords like the Katana and longsword are backups and personal protection weapons not primary weapons of war. Convenient to carry around, and handy for parrying blows & grappling but second fiddle to almost any dedicated battlefield weapon (Spears, Naginata, maces etc.).

The most notable exception that springs to mind is the Roman Gladius, but it could be described as a glorified short spear with bonus cutting abilities rather than what most people think of as a sword. Rapiers and scimitars could also be thought of as more like spears and axes respectively in this sense.

And then there's the huge specialised warswords like claymores and Zweihanders but as lindy suggests in yet another vid they are a specialised tool for berserker charges and maybe advancing through a pikewall. Certainly not something you'd want to have a duel with or carry around at your waist.

Longswords and Katanas are like modern pistols. Good side-arms, but almost never a primary weapon of war. (Hollywood fails again)


Also.....Longsword totally > Katana. A well made longsword can hold just as sharp an edge as a Katana, has quillons to hook and lever an opponent and a straight focused point that can puncture steel plate. Katanas can maybe dismember someone easier, but that's about it.(all IMHO obviously)

I was too. http://videosift.com/video/The-Duel-Timo-Boll-vs-KUKA-Robot

The Duel: Timo Boll vs. KUKA Robot has been added as a related post - related requested by Zawash on that post.

It is true that MMA is not the be-all end-all of martial arts,and in fact "two persons of equivalent weight competing willingly on neutral ground" is quite far removed from "actual trouble" (key words: "two", "willingly").

That being said, two things:
1) There have been 'no-hold-barred' fights / underground duels recorded since at least the 1920s, some of them very violent and bone-splitting (famously: Kimura Vs Gracie), and 'soft' aikido-style systems never won anything.

2) More importantly, systema does claim a number of things, including being a martial art in the military sense, and being the product of an elite military force, to which it was reserved (i.e. it was secret). It also claims to have semi-mystical roots dating from the middle ages, and bonker stuff like 'paralyzing soft punch' and 'healing punch' (this is claimed by its actual founder - you can look it up). Of course none of those claims have been substantiated.

So systema is either:
- An elite martial art with Fist-Of-The-North-Star like powers, yet no one heard of it before or beside (not pre-USSR historians, not recognized Russian martial artists, and not actual Russian elite military officers), and was/is super-secret, yet can be somehow taught to anyone.

Or:
- Stuff made up by two guys out of the army.

You decide.

If your goal is "studying" and "bettering yourself", shouldn't that involve something that's honest with its claims?

I agree with Velocity5, it is, indeed, self-deception.

...how about some Dethklok?!? Me want. Or a guitar duel with Brendon Small would do.
Impressed.

I don't think we need a moderator either. If someone is egregiously and personally attacking someone, they can get temporarily or permanently banned by our Benevolent Dictator @dag. Some folks don't like that, but I think it is why the Sift is such a grand place -- the trolls are moderated and if they DON'T self censor, out they go. That doesn't bother me in the least (even though I miss Bone, I get why he is gone.)

What bothers me -- and I have started to write this a couple of times, but I SELF CENSORED -- is when these long "discussions" devolve to essentially two people going back and forth. It ceases to be about the particular video, and becomes about the two Sifters. Nothing wrong with the exchange, but why can't they move it to their personal profiles? Anyone who wants to follow it, can.

But I have learned here on the Sift to never ask anyone to do anything, because all of Holy Hell will descend upon my head, and I will be accused of a host of sins for making a request.

So no request here. Just a suggestion that maybe if you find yourself in a duo-logue (or dueling monologues?), you might consider just sliding over to your personal page.

Or not. Whatever. It's just pixels.

Your video, Mark Kroos Plays Dueling Banjos From Deliverance by Himself, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

"A Tramp Abroad" sits by the reading material in the bath

Ok so the first time I encountered the duel-syllabic pronunciation of "squerl" was with Brits. Sounds more like "skwee-rill" when my mates from Clapham said it.

What i can't figure out is why, "Al-u-Min-i-um?" An extra syllable AND but no extra vowel. I love it though-at least the Brits leave room for coloratura....pas comme les monstres de grammaire de la France

They should have a good ol fashioned duel over this.

Dueling Hats has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

Key & Peele: Slow Brotion has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

*related=http://videosift.com/video/Dueling-Hats
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*related=http://videosift.com/video/Key-Peele-Karim-and-Jahar
*related=http://videosift.com/video/Dueling-Hats
*related=http://videosift.com/video/Key-Peele-Party-Games
*related=http://videosift.com/video/Power-Falcons-Key-Peele

Key & Peele: Karim and Jahar has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

Dueling Hats has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

Key & Peele: Party Games has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

Key & Peele: Power Falcons has been added as a related post - related requested by PlayhousePals.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'key, peele, dueling hats' to 'key, peele, dueling hats, key and peele' - edited by lucky760

Congratulations! Your video, Dueling Hats, has reached the #1 spot in the current Top 15 New Videos listing. This is a very difficult thing to accomplish but you managed to pull it off. For your contribution you have been awarded 2 Power Points.

This achievement has earned you your "Golden One" Level 2 Badge!