[mamelukesabre]

a ha!

There’s the answer. If they were using real unsharpened steel swords there would be dead people and permanently maimed people at every gathering, I would say.

[PapaBear3625]

I’ve been with the SCA for over ten years. We’re strange, but not stupid. 8-)

[PapaBear3625]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCVQrYFYWi0

SCA “heavy” fighting

[Ramius]

In ARMA we train and spar with wooden wasters as well as steel blunt swords, with and without armor, but definitely with full intent. We rarely have serious injuries, though some bruises and minor bloodletting are just part of the fun.

A 3-weapon mask is required. Lacrosse gloves, or similar, are optional. That’s pretty much it for equipment. Intensity needs to rise and match the fighter’s training and control, but it can definitely be done at full intent.

[taxcontrol]

1 and 1/2 rattan sword has very much the same weight as a real sword. There is a very common misconception that real swords are very heavy - they are not. Yes it does take practice to build up the wrists and forearms but there is not that much arm throw with swinging a sword. If you are putting a lot of arm into it, you are telegraphing too much.

A good training regimen can have an average healthy male swinging HARD enough to dent 14 gauge steel in 4 to 6 months