Spear techniques

tedwca

tedwca

Joined
Dec 10, 2005
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After reading a thread about using swords for home defense I became interested in spears as one of the posts mentioned using a spear instead of a sword and had some pretty valid points. Used for jabbing in a confined space, hard to take away and be turned against you.

Also, the spear historically has proven to be a very deadly weapon in battles around the world.

Does anyone have any links to training techniques? Not that I want to try and learn myself, but I'm curious on the different ways spears have been used in combat.

Thanks
 
Ted,

I don't have a link offhand, but spears ARE easy to use, powerful, quick, and hard to stop. The easiest- and the also the initial- kata I know starts facing an opponent with a sword, who holds the sword tip up, facing you.

Your target is the lower forearm to back of the hand. Using one of the three types of thrusts (1, think of a pool cue; with your lead hand palm up, slide your rear hand back, grip, and use your rear hand to slide the spear forward. 2, Think of a bayonet thrust: with the same lead hand up, rear hand down grip, bring your hands up and forward while stepping forward. 3, is the reverse of 1: instead of bringing your rear hand back and letting the haft slip through the lead hand, bring the lead hand back, and let the spear slip through the rear hand. For some reason, this is really disorienting to watch), attack.

Your opponent will either move to evade your blade, or not. If he doesn't evade, take that forearm or hand. If he does evade, instantly switch targets and thrust your spear into his body. That's it. Takes much longer to explain than to perform. Just use 2 of the 3 tsukis, attacking with one style thrust and continuing with another. It's great practice, and you can demonstrate the incredible effectiveness of the spear to an unbeliever in about 10 seconds.

J
 
I haven't done a ton of research on the use of the spear, but some historical readings about the various types of spears developed over the... thousands of years of use has shed some light on how its form follows its function.

Bottom line, the longer the spear, the smaller the head of the spear, and the more it was used for simple thrusting or puncturing.

The shorter the spear (if not used as a javalin, for throwing) the longer and more bladelike the head so it could be used both for thrusting and for slashing, like a knife or short sword on a shaft.

A short, stout spear usually had a long, leaf shaped head, and some sort of a crossguard just below the blade socket to prevent whatever got punctured from coming on up the shaft to the user.

Use of a short spear with slashing/stabbing head is basically the same as the use of a bayonet; point forward, the shaft can be used as a quarter staff (so long as nobody is standing next to or behind you!).

If you google the "use of spear in combat" you come up with some interesting reading....

Andy
 
Swords? Spears? You being assailed by Mongol hordes or marauding Vikings? They've got this stuff nowadays called gunpowder. Worth looking into, you can bet every thug out their on the street knows about it, and makes pretty effective use of it. Sigh, I would that we were living in nobler times when courage and sharp steel solved most problems. :(

Sarge
 
I'm a fan of spears myself, although I don't own one for home protection. I have one here at the office that i play with made from an old cold steel bushman and an aluminum shaft off a pool broom. Fun to throw, and given the right thrust, will puncture a pine pallet board with no problem.

Jake
 
I would never for a minute deny that a spear is a very deadly and effective weapon, but in the context of home defense the last thing I'd want to offer an armed intruder is a fair fight. When it comes to the safety of my friends and family, I am entirely unchivalrous. BANG see what I mean? :D

Sarge
 
Let's see...I know I had those danged instructions here somewhere....


Oh yeah...here it is...









Jab
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat

Lotsa steps, kinda complicated.
 
I think in confined hallway space, or around furniture, a short sword might be better.
But I'm a member of the gunpowder clan.



munk
 
You stick your big spear in
You take your big spear out
You stick your big spear in
and you shake it all about...

:rolleyes:
 
Yeah, if someone is in the house it's either the Benelli M1 Super 90 or Glock 22 time. I was just curious about a weapon form I hadn't considered before. Notice I mentioned that I didn't want to necessarily put to use any techniques, just wanted to expand beyond the obvious use of the spear. I seem to recall one of the bujitsu(sp?) guys using it like a staff at close range to devastating effect. It might have been Dale on sword forums, can't remember for sure.

Thanks for everything so far... well, except for Bruise's braggin:D
 
There were a zillion different kinds of spears, one for every occasion. If you want one for inside-the-house protection, then a short spear would be in order. (an uchi yari) about 4 feet long.
Of course, a gun is best these days, but since you asked...
A spear is like an arrow, the tip just makes a hole for the shaft to drive in through.
A single thrust to the chest will kill a man easily.
So, dont think that this is going to be a less-than-lethal option.

Personally, I'd recommend an "accidentally broken" stick of some kind with a sharp point. Farm tools are also good.
Don't try to learn techniques, just keep the other guy on the point of the weapon at all times and remember that you have a big distance advantage.
 
...and then repeat.


Bruise...I have awarded you super-secret Mod chicklets.

Save enough up and you can trade them for some number of green stamps.
 
Get a frog gig trident head and attach it to a broom handle.No slashing but plenty of gigin.A cheap spear.
 
Dadgum Ted, why didn't I think of it sooner? Get you an M-1 Garand, SKS, et cetera, fix bayonet, and you got you a spear that goes boom!! If you really want to just rub their nose in it royal, smack 'em in the head a few times with the butt of that there spear-rifle after you've shot 'em and bayonetted 'em. Guaranteed attention getter. :D :D :D

Sarge
 
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