The Man is an IRL Dark Souls character. Picks up any weapon and immediately has a usable moveset

@Lrofmaulol

23 күн бұрын

One does not simply spend most of his life studying fighting techniques without becoming just generally overpowered

@Cheesepuff8

22 күн бұрын

He also turns into a dark souls boss wen he gets a poleaxe

@estripp420

21 күн бұрын

when you realize all weapons are the extension of your hand all that matters is how you use your hands.

@DanielMWJ

17 күн бұрын

​@@estripp420It really does matter how you use your whole body, not just your hands.

@GatekeeperGuardian-wv3cd

13 күн бұрын

That's doing him a disservice. The halberd was something I tried damn near right away in Dark Souls because of how much of a polearm enthusiast I've become. Suffice to say, From seems to think the only thing the halberd can do is stab for what ever reason. Was pretty disappointing. Fortunately Seki Sensei's creativity with the halberd cured my depression.

give him a zweihander next... that would be incredible

@wasumyon6147

Ай бұрын

A real pike too would be a real puzzle.

@andrewprahst2529

Ай бұрын

​@@wasumyon6147Both things I would pay to see

@racernatorde5318

Ай бұрын

Zweihänder would be amazing, but I think that sword is so different from other stuff that they might have a hard time grasping it's full potential on their own

@planken203

Ай бұрын

@@racernatorde5318 maybe, but seki sensei has already shown on multiple occaisions how fast he can adapt to unusual/new weapons, i reckon he would do quite alright with it

@theultimatederp3288

Ай бұрын

*Flamboyant testosterone monster intensifies*

He picked up halberd dueling concepts instantly. A thing to remember is halberds are rarely used alone, it shines best in pairs or groups, this is why it was a common honor guard weapon aswell as its disarming and “nonlethal” abilities

@vennsim71

19 күн бұрын

In East Asian context, halberd, trident, staff, spear and other polearms are also meant for individual fights. Most warriors are also equipped with a side arm, usually a sword or large knife.

@joseluismarin5968

19 күн бұрын

¿"Non lethal skills? ¿Have you ever heard about Swiss mercenaries's battles against Austrian Kingdom in the Middle Age? Therefore this kind of weapons are very effective against pikemen or cavalry. Cheers.

@andrewhalo100

18 күн бұрын

@@vennsim71 most western weapons have a style for single use, but for many its more of a, party trick?

@vennsim71

18 күн бұрын

@@andrewhalo100 actually it’s no so much of a east or west thing. It’s more of the wielder. How the person use it.

@Azuwww

18 күн бұрын

60 DEX

I love the humility shown on this channel, theres no arrogance from "ive mastered everything here, i can easily master this too" but rather just "oh this is cool, heres how i would use it considering my skillset and knowledge, but im curious as to how this would have been used historically"

@peterbear4413

28 күн бұрын

True mastery is quiet, and has no need to boast or brag. Seki-sensei is well-deserving of the title of 'Master'.

@plaguedoctor5145

27 күн бұрын

@@peterbear4413 solidly agreed, people who boast are often trying to prove themselves so its telling when someone is comfortable in their skill level

@easytos

26 күн бұрын

Very true. Once a student of a discipline, always a student of the discipline.

@stingerjohnny9951

25 күн бұрын

@@peterbear4413 Any man who claims to be wise is a fool, and any man who admits to being a fool is at least wise enough to realize it.

@user-rd7mt7cz9f

22 күн бұрын

believe that it is a universal virtue shared by all human beings across borders and around the world.

What is interesting is that Seki Sensei was able to instinctively figure out the exact same technique that western style fighters use when swinging the halberd with a single hand. Joachim Meyer describes the exact same technique in his book written in the 16th century.

@anonperson3972

Ай бұрын

He likely has experience with Japanese polearms and bow staffs, which would build the foundational skills for any other polearm

@LathosZan

Ай бұрын

I have also said this on another of these videos, but an aspect of martial mastery is understanding the intricacies of biomechanics and physics, and such a refined foundation can be applied to quickly adapt to a new weapons. Seki-sensei knows his stuff, but is also a true mastery who approaches the tools of other disciplines with an open and wondrous mind, embracing these new tools with the eagerness borne of a true love for martial arts.

@darthplagueis13

Ай бұрын

A lot of these skills are transferrable. Since Seki Sensei knows techniques with the Yari, Bo and Naginata, he already knows how polearms work, at which point it just comes down to figuring out the minutia that come from the somewhat different shape.

@DackelDelay

Ай бұрын

@@LathosZan so much this. the human body only has so many bones and muscles, therefore only limited ways to use them effectively; adding a weapon of any kind is "just" adding another bone essentialy. if you've figured out how to move them it (almost) doesn't matter which weapon you choose. ofc training with any specific weapon or style will improve your ability, but the basics always apply.

@Laogeodritt

Ай бұрын

​@@LathosZanThat's one of the elements that keeps me watching this channel - Seki-sensei has this great awareness of biomechanics and mechanics (momentum and balance, his aiki, etc.), and is able to highlight it in his teaching on this channel.

I'd love it if someone would provide Seki Sensei with a real Halberd. He truly deserves a weapon of this type.

@kevinmorrice

Ай бұрын

or even just a wooden one which would be more sturdy and should be fine with the strict laws in japan

@jackmcslay

Ай бұрын

Good luck getting a real halberd in Japan given their laws

@assassinlv8274

Ай бұрын

Sadly - for real HEMA weapons - they would have to do a business trip outside Japan - do all the videos there, and return with just foam versions of them.... Might be an interesting collab possible with Shadiversity though - as Australia is 1.5Mm (Mm=megameter) closer than US/Canada (Skallagrim)...

@MrTatiaan

Ай бұрын

you have quite a few types of halberds.

@daxia0

Ай бұрын

Its like extremely difficult to legally get hold of an actual weapon outside of japanese swords in japan.

Seki sensei is clearly a man of taste. His favorite weapon from the bunch is widely considered to be the greatest polearm of all time.

his skill is clear because he is instinctively recreating many well established techniques of western halberd fighting. Most importantly he immediately understood that it's primary use is hooking. The halberd comes from the end of the era before the domination of firearms. It evolved in a battlefield where armor was much more common than in Japan, there was just so much more good steel to work with in Europe that it proliferated. Much more armor on the battlefield and generally more coverage of armor on those who had it. The halberd was a way for footsoldiers to counteract the trend. The tip spike was good for threatening gaps in armor with a quick thrust, the various blades were for hooking and controlling an armored opponent. Force him off balance, force a disarm, get him off his feet. Then finish him via attacking at unarmored places while he's on the ground trying to regain his feet. Their most historically important role was anti-cavalry. They were perfect for hooking shock cavalry off their horses. Mixed formations of pike and halberd were used. Pikes to ward off cavalry and blunt the lance charge. Then as the charge stalled immediately in front of the wall of grounded pikes the halberdiers would rush forward and try to drag them off their horses. The halberd and poleax were counterparts, the two opposite strategies for dealing with the heavy full plate harness that developed in Europe. Halberds were favored more by common troops who were still armored quite a bit more than typical Japanese or Chinese foot troops but not nearly as much as the wealthy full harness wearing cavalry class. They tended to favor the poleaxe which wasn't really an axe. It was a specialist anti-armor weapon, designed for piercing and crushing plate armor. A half about 4 ft long with a short butt spike, a somewhat longer tip spike. Then a head that was a hardened steel pick for piercing armor on one side, and a hammer on the other for crushing plate armor and damaging the body beneath without penetrating.

@EclipseClemens

2 күн бұрын

Excellent and accurate breakdown of the historical and martial contexts in which these weapons evolved, good job.

The Master may never have trained with a halberd but I suspect he may know how to use a Naginata or Yari 😎

@THECHEESELORD69

Ай бұрын

It’s all mostly the same with a few different techniques. At the end of the day you’re just holding a heavier spear.

@ramonessix

Ай бұрын

@@THECHEESELORD69 the hook adds a few extra functionalities tho

@krispypriest5116

Ай бұрын

100%. A polearm is a polearm for the most part. Just figuring out how to use the "bits" on the end is the issue. A master like Seki Sensei would only need time to figure it out. Peace!

@Tolabay

Ай бұрын

If you know bojutsu, you can use all the pole weapons. The fundemental strikes, stances, guards etc are the same. You just need to adapt to the shape, length and weight of the blade. I know bojutsu and naginatajutsu, but I can use halberd, bill and pollaxe. The techniques you see in medieval european treatises are 90% the same with the japanese ones. Biomechanics do not change.

@drecknathmagladery9118

Ай бұрын

there is a video on the channel where he used the naginata and while he says its not something he himself practiced he does own a version of the old manuels for the 8 naginata kata. but yes he does know how to use a naginata. infact that video was a month before this one

It's no surprise that Seki Sensei picked up on the halberd's ability to hook an opponent so quickly. The halberd is designed to hook opponents and unhorse cavalry, and was basically the favourite weapon amongst European knights, along with other, similar polearms. It also comes with all the advantages of a spear, so even a novice could make good use out of it. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best melee weapons of medieval Europe, excellent both for battlefields and single combat. There's a reason it's so iconic, it's just that damn good!

@jonasbarka

Ай бұрын

The knightly favourite would be (in the era of the halbard) the poleaxe. Visually similar, but with differences that place it in a special category among polearms. AFAIK none of the longer polearms (like Halberd) were widely used by knight. That said, it was extremely effective and popular among more lightly armored soldiers.

@JeveGreen

Ай бұрын

@@jonasbarka Now that you mention it, I might've been thinking of the poleaxe... But then again, the differences between the two are fairly interchangable afaik. The poleaxe was more akin to a hammer-axe-spear combo, whereas the halberd replaced said hammer with a hook.

@DackelDelay

Ай бұрын

@@jonasbarka is there really a clear distinction? I mean the general idea behind both halberd and poleaxe is a pointy end (slightly more useful against soft targets), an anti-armour-side (beak or hammer) and an axe shaped depending on what you'd expect to fight against.

@aurelian2668

Ай бұрын

​@DackelDelay i think the polearm is longer than the halberd?

@mercarryn2042

Ай бұрын

​@@aurelian2668No, normally the halberd is longer than the poleaxe.

The concept of examining a weapon through the eyes of a master of a different one is something I think the people would love to see more of. Knowing techniques for one thing and seeing how it can apply to something completely different is such a great and new way to look at old and familiar things. Will keep coming back just to see his eyes light up with the newest “toy” to play around with. Great series!

As a Swiss I'm so happy to see this weapon feature on the channel. Seeing how well the Halberd did through history, it's no wonder it was used by the Swiss during their uprising, their mercenaries after that and in many other conflicts. The halberd was basically the weapon that marked the end of the knight on his horse. Thank you for the amazing video :)

@Tony.795

28 күн бұрын

The pike and infantry squares ended the dominance of riders on horseback. But the knight on horseback didn't disappear, they proved to be very effective if employed correctly. Swiss mercenaries often fought together with french gens d'armes.

@BananaRama1312

27 күн бұрын

​@@Tony.795bavarians aswell💯

@bastiwen

26 күн бұрын

@@Tony.795 Of course knights on horseback didn't just dissapear, but with more and more defeats at the hands of people with halberds or pykes and the rise of gunpowder weapons is sure started a steady decline.

@karstenseterbakken3617

26 күн бұрын

The machinegun marked the end of the cavalry.

@mymemoriesofgoldenricefiel6472

24 күн бұрын

I wonder how someone like this person, who loves Japanese martial arts, Samurai and Japanese history, would feel if they heard the two songs Yasuke isn't to blame and The sin of Thomas Lockly.

A couple of points from a HEMA practitioner who spars with steel polearms: In the context of 1v1 combat you would not hold the polearm, be it halberds and pollaxes, like a spear with your hands at the back and the front extended towards the enemy. The head of a halberd/pollaxe is usually held aloft/back and deployed once you create an opening/deflect with the back, which often had a spike and could be employed offensively. The head is quite heavy so you would have little control in long spear grip, and it would be too easy for the opponent to beat it to the side. Hooking by the backs of the knees and the neck are standard polearm techniques and employed very often against armoured opponents. Also, you are expected to often change the grip and slide the hand along the shaft. Additionally sometimes you grip the pole with hands situated in such a manner that both thumbs point towards the centre of the shaft. Such a grip helps with high guards and allows for a qicker shift between the head and the back spike. Lastly, this training halberd is definitely on a short side as many historical examples were noticeably longer.

@the_inquisitive_inquisitor

Ай бұрын

I believe halberds were mostly used in group formations, so probably not something you'd choose for a 1v1 if you had other options.

@user-jf7iv4mk7o

Ай бұрын

​@@the_inquisitive_inquisitor Using a rifle in army formation does not make it worse 1v1 option. All of polearms thanks to the reach and maneuverability alone are one of the best weapons for all scenarios. Halberd, like pole axes have hooking capabilities as well as blunt force strikes options with axe part against armour (ofc you still can just stab with a spear part). Helberd is probably one of the best solo weapons for all case scenarios. The only possible disadvantage would appear in closed space fights, inside a room for example, or mb really tight tunnel. Even in those conditions if fight wasn't started suddenly and weapon already in fighting position it still has good chances vs many other weapons. Better choice for a 1v1 could only possibly be another (better) polearm.

@crafty_badger

Ай бұрын

@@the_inquisitive_inquisitor I've practiced historical fencing for 2 years. The only thing more effective in 1v1 than falchion/shield combo is any polearm. If you know how to use it - you are untouchable.

@iminumst7827

Ай бұрын

@@the_inquisitive_inquisitor Halberd is a devastatingly good 1v1 weapon. It's even pretty good in tight spaces, because while you may not have the space to swing it, you still have a slightly overweight spear. However, it would be a bit cumbersome to carry around outside of the battlefield. Everyday-life convenience is why short swords are so commonly seen in 1v1 scenarios.

@danny1ft1

Ай бұрын

​@@user-jf7iv4mk7owasn't it also favoured by guards and royal guards?

Historical halberds (and the similar poleaxe) had weighted or spiked metal caps on their opposite ends, specifically to make the jab-swing combos Seki Sensei uses even more effective. The poleaxe emphasized these techniques, as they were meant to be used against heavy armor; keeping the axe in a high/overhead guard would mean you could stun or knock an opponent down with the cap, and you would already have the weapon raised high to split his helmet with the downstroke.

@user-nq4oc5ck4q

Ай бұрын

​@eye1dry138 yes you can't slice through helmet but you can break rivets in helmet or if it lacking one blunt force trauma is not very pleasant too, also halberd hook can be used as makeshift battle pickaxe

@edi9892

Ай бұрын

Sadly, we don't know much about the other end of them. Many halberds were cut down either by users or later people who wanted to keep them in their homes. Plus, wood rots... They often didn't reattach the buttcap/spike, thus I have little to go on about how they looked like... With poleaxes and some spears, we do have more evidence on that matter.

@andrewprahst2529

Ай бұрын

There are even manuscripts that describe thrusting with the blunt end of a spear because how good of a technique the switch is

@phonepoies

Ай бұрын

I've got a 16th century original at home, no end piece. Also: why slice a helmet if you can pierce it with the other side

@efafe4972

Ай бұрын

@eye1dry138 yes but it was effective both at delivering blunt force to armored opponents, hooking them or stabbing into gaps, and cutting down unarmored opponents. there's a reason it became a dominant weapon in the Eurasian continent from Western Europe to China.

Came here from Skallagrim. Would just like to drop a comment and say that these videos are a gem. Watching Seki Sensei's eyes alight with joy when trying a new weapon, just as the weapon itself comes alive in his hands as he seemingly instantly understands how to use it - is an absolute joy.

This is definitely pretty accurate usage for the halberd. With the weight distribution on a real halberd, some of these moves may be difficult to execute but that's something solvable with practice.

That single-arm thrust was actually very interesting: he basically "couched" the halberd much like a rider would with a lance, giving him plenty of stability and forcing the opponent to either retreat or fall on the point pretty hard. Kneeling down also helped him anchor himself, bracing the halberd further. Very cool to see.

@majinkevinci

27 күн бұрын

It's kind of similar how pikes were used to stop enemy formations from rushing in too btw.

@hypothalapotamus5293

26 күн бұрын

Attacks where you have way more range than your opponent thinks you should without signalling it are very dangerous. Japanese practitioners seem more concerned with fighting from a travel or noncombat stance than western practitioners.

@samuraijackoff5354

24 күн бұрын

@@hypothalapotamus5293 Most of the surviving styles came from the era of peace really, so most of these do come from surprise attacks or home invasions. The really ancient stuff are very rare or even nonexistent, many were not written down. But many of the modern styles came from the past.

@TylerMusgrave9

23 күн бұрын

From a crouched position, he could also leap forward to strike if an opponent stopped early enough to avoid the first thrust.

Watching a master mess around with a weapon he’s unfamiliar with but having fun learning how he could use it is sooooo cool and a lot of fun ^.^

@dschehutinefer5627

Ай бұрын

To be fair, he is showing off mostly staff and Naginata techniques that he would be already familiar with anyway.

@jonathanbubley4893

29 күн бұрын

@@dschehutinefer5627what is very interesting tho is how he employed those techniques with the other ideas he gained simply from looking at the weapon. Often even finding the same use cases as it would have been used in the first place in his own way.

@blablubb8615

29 күн бұрын

In the end: Polearm is Polearm. A Master with one should be able to use them all.

@matttamal8332

28 күн бұрын

​@@blablubb8615I think the hooking on the halberd is unique compared to regular polearms

@blablubb8615

28 күн бұрын

@@matttamal8332 Well the Billhook would be similar. But If you are used to Fighting with Weapons you will find ways to use new Weapons effectivly pretty quickly.

The sensi fought with the weapon, mostly correct. A halberd is mostly a mercenary or paid gaurds weapon in Europe. It required a professional soldier to use it correctly. They were nowhere as nearly trained as a knight, but often times had plenty of experience because they used these to protect villages from bandits that were constantly trying to steal food and money from the peasants. The kings guard also used these because they were useful for crowd control. You would rarely see a peasants fighting with a halberd. Most peasants would only have a simple spear and sheild or would use a bow. A peasants However if he gets enough warfare experience and proves himself, he could always become a mercenary or a man at arms. A man at arms is not a knight but is a trained soldier. A knight is of noble blood and has been trained since childhood to kill and maintain his armor. A man at arms often times stole armor and weapons off of the battlefield, along with gold, which was acceptable in Europe. It takes 20 peasants to kill a knight if they are lucky. It would take multiple men at arms to defeat a knight as well, but no wear near as many. I am curious with how you would fight with a loch habor axe. It is a very large axe with a hook on it. My people didn't have knights it was a system similar to Japan which was a tribal system but a clansmen would hook a knight clean off his horse and tear the knights helmet off so he could shove a dagger down the knights throat.

My God these people are so crisp with their footwork and movement. As always, I enjoy how humbly he approaches any weapon.

Seki sensei moves are some Dark Souls boss lvl, always pulls off something unexpected

@zangy3748

Ай бұрын

Imagine him as your training buddy in Sekiro

@kingpanguan

Ай бұрын

The jump and roll are some elden ring type dodges

@hazukichanx408

25 күн бұрын

That sudden halberd throw-thrust would get me. "How in the heck is he stabbing that fast?" Well, now I know how!

I love how Seki Sensei is both taking this seriously by thinking through how he can adapt his own training to a weapon he's never seen before, and clearly enjoying the process of learning something new. He looks like he's having the time of his life!

@Richard-Espanol

27 күн бұрын

Right? It's like giving a kid a new toy and he's like "cool!" Love this channel, Master Seki's enthusiasm is so infectious and love seeing the process of him figuring out the best attributes of the weapon.

I would say the training weapon used in the video is more similar to the poleaxe, a very similar weapon which was similar in length to the one used in the video and had a smaller, more concentrated axe or occasionally hammer head with a rear spike. This weapon is essentially a poleaxe with a halberd style axehead. Real halberds would generally stand well above the wielders head when held straight up, being a mass formation polearm for dealing with cavalry and spearmen, they were much less snappy than the short example here but were highly efficient at dealing with mounted knights. (A lot of nobles were killed by halberds because they occupied the position of knight or commanded knights.) As for the weapon in the video, treating it as a poleaxe based on the size, such weapons were used by men-at-arms and dismounted knights to engage other armored soldiers. A smaller, more concentrated front head meant a lot of force could be delivered to weakpoints in armor with the speed and agility shown in the video, and the spike on the back would often be like a pick and quite effective for punching straight through armor. The deflections and attacks with the butt of the weapon are also well-documented, with many examples having metal or a small spike on the bottom of the haft to enhance blows from it. Treating it as a poleaxe, I think this is pretty good technique, and some of the noted weakness such as the hook being able to be turned against the wielder are less-so in a proper poleaxe, as the axe-head has much shorter gaps for a blade to hook into. The hooks aren't as prominent because as stated, the poleaxe is an anti-armor weapon, and would not be used for hooking at cavalry, a job reserved for halberds as well as things such as billhooks.

As a koryu practitioner I love to see these videos, it shows clearly once you have mastered your own body and the principles behind polearms and swords you can improvise decently with any weapon you find on the way, you are the weapon, the steel is just an extension of your limbs. Is not a coincidence this Master intuitively came with well stablished-manual techniques, it has to do with biomechanics and the abilities I mentioned earlier. That’s why I love Japanese martial arts. The amount of time and dedication masters have codified and transmitted is really an ART, the art of mastering your body and your will.

I'm a HEMA instructor for the Oklahoma State University HEMA club, I will have to make a video response! Polearms are not my specialty, but I can compare and contrast to the historical treatises. Very awesome to see Seki Sensei experiment with more western weapons. Super interesting to see the one-handed swing, that appears in Joachim Meyer's treatises of the late 1500s.

@MastaDRD

29 күн бұрын

Tip to potentially improve that video; you may not be an expert yourself, but see if anyone else in your club (local or even maybe a bit further away but willing to travel/collab) is an expert on the matter.

It could be argued that the Halberd is one of the best weapons ever devised by humans.

@huldu

Ай бұрын

Halberd, glaive, bec de corbin, poleaxe etc are all very specialized and dangerous weapons. Like many pointed out they have a bit of flexibility. One interesting thing about some of these with a flat axe is that they were often blunt by design. I wonder what the reasoning behind that was, they were fighting armored targets so might have been for hooking purposes and make the blade sturdier?

@wasumyon6147

Ай бұрын

I think of the supremacy of the 戟 Jǐ and 戈 Gē of ancient Chinese armies.

@racernatorde5318

Ай бұрын

Considering that the spear itself is probably the best, it's no surprise

@ganymedemlem6119

Ай бұрын

​@@huldu They were often used by city watch groups for managing civilians/crowd control. Blunting then was likely to make them cheaper to produce and less likely to maim.

@huldu

Ай бұрын

@@ganymedemlem6119 I can't recall who talked about the first time I heard about it, maybe scholagladiatoria(?) and I think he was talking about battlefield weaponry. I've always been fascinated in middle-eastern/European history and I assumed they were always sharpened, especially for war.

This man is so joyful and childlike! I would have loved to learn martial arts from him, back in my karate days!

This was a treat beyond anything i hoped for. The Halberd has always been my favorite medieval weapon of choice. Seeing a master from another part of the world adapt to using it with such swift expertise was enthralling. Thank you for this video!

There is something about him holding a halberd that just looks so fitting. That was really awesome to see.

@tatumergo3931

Ай бұрын

I been saying this around the HEMA community, to understand better our European weapons we must study the Japanese applications and approach. The similarities not just in swordsmanship but armour as well, are too big.

@boserboser6870

28 күн бұрын

The Sensei's broud frame is such a fitting pairing with a big weapon. he also handles the staff so lightly but confidently that it really looks like an extension on him

Hemaists: The halberd hits pretty hard, maybe we should only slow-spar with it while wearing half-plate Seki sensei: *unarmored halberd fighting intensifies*

@theendlessskyethereal7380

Ай бұрын

They are slow sparring and it is a practice weapon. I don't see how what they are doing is much different from other martial artists

@stampsu

Ай бұрын

@@theendlessskyethereal7380 Should've propably said that in my initial comment but that was my first impression on the video. After seeing it yeah they don't fight full-speed and the hits never actually connect. However: even a synthetic halberd hits really hard. There's a lot of mass at the end of that pole and when you thrust with it it doesn't flex much. Seki doesn't seem to cut with the halberd much but a couple thrust seemed they could really hurt if they accidentally connected without protective gear. In the end all of this can be boiled down to differences between iaido and HEMA. In HEMA hits are meant to connect in such a way that they would be lethal or draw blood in unarmored fencing with sharps. In iaido hits don't seem to connect that often amd gear is usually lighter. And I'm not saying this as a critique to iaido. They are just to different martial arts with different rulesets and traditions. I wouldn't judge basketball with football rules either Edit: meant kenjutsu, not iaido

@user-pj1ec5om5g

Ай бұрын

@@stampsuwell this isn’t iaido, it’s kenjutsu

@stampsu

Ай бұрын

@@user-pj1ec5om5g ah, my bad. Confused the two for a moment

@user-pj1ec5om5g

Ай бұрын

@@stampsu you can even see Seki sensei himself sparring and man is he intimidating lol

Been training with a Halberd since i was 11. You wouldn't hold the halberd with the head outstretched in 1 on 1 combat, the only time you would grip the end of the haft is when you are attacking someone on horseback. When in 1 on 1 combat you would have a more centered grip on the haft, the actual haliberd its self would have a pointed, capped or sometimes even bladed pommel on the end of it so you would primarily use the pommel to get an opening then strike with the blade or point. It was also common to put langettes on the sides and so if someone got too close there are actually records of jaws, noses and even orbitals being broken because of a double handed haft strike to the face. Extremely versatile weapon. im a machinist and i just moved to japan, if I could find the time id love to make seki sensei a real halberd because even I am interested in how he handles it. 😂

This channel is a god send for animators looking for references on cool fight moves

I cannot help imagining the sheer _quantity_ of joy there would be if Seki Sensei and Matt Easton and a few mates got together in a village hall full of stupidly dangerous stuff.

@PsychoGemini

Ай бұрын

I want this meeting to happen so much.

@radianman

Ай бұрын

Someone should create a Go Fund Me account to make it happen. He could do a tour; Matt Easton, David Rawlings, Federico Malagutti, Bjorn Ruther, etc. or get them all in one place.

@douglasdiogenesmeneses9544

Ай бұрын

You are basically talking about the crossover of the century, that would be neat

@subjectline

Ай бұрын

I'll get the fish and chips in

@praevasc4299

29 күн бұрын

@@PsychoGemini Maybe we could get Metatron to organize it? He speaks fluent Japanese and he is also quite knowledgeable about both Japanese and European fighti9ng styles.

Just to give more details about the Halberd, this weapon is a polearm, mixing both axe and spear, it's good against light armor and heavy armor, the halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft and it can have a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling mounted combatants, there is a japanese halberd version of this, it's called kama-yari (鎌槍) a literal translation would be "sickle spear", i'ts basically a spear in a L shape, it's believed that the kama-yari have been developed by the sōhei monk Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In’ei, who wanted to improve the naginata used by Buddhist priests at his time, historically, it also had a non-military use, in which it was employed by firefighters to pull down the roofs of burning buildings to slow a fire.

@andrewprahst2529

Ай бұрын

That's interesting. I was going to say that the kamayari seems more comparable to the billhook, but actually I believe European firefighters also used halberds in their work. I guess it's a clear use-case that's just lost on our modern brains

@user-pj1ec5om5g

Ай бұрын

tbf an actual Halberd would be WAY longer, something this size would be a pole axe and the techniques here apply way more to a pole axe which fits

@gingainfinity1034

Ай бұрын

Interesting to know, i may have ordered a more stylized and naginata like one of those for my hma training

@elgostine

Ай бұрын

@@user-pj1ec5om5g eh,... it varies... 6-8ft is fine for a halberd, wheras roughly 4-6ft is poleaxe territory you dont want a halberd a lot longer than 8ft unless the head is pretty small and light and then it really becomes very thrust centric even then, seki senseis polearm is a halberd in SHAPE, its modelled off of a 1600s era halberd for sergeants if im to guess based on the shape

@DackelDelay

Ай бұрын

hah, thats funny. as i pointed out in another comment, the halberd was a favourite for european town guard too, precicely because it could double as a tool in emergencies/fire fighting.

Great to see someone try a weapon with no instruction completely out of its natural historical period and adapt it as best they can to their own area of combat. Would also love to see him observe instruction with those weapons to see his take on that too

halberds are one of my favorite weapons to look at and so cool to see used here

As the halberd is one of my favourite medieval polearms, it's really interesting seeing it being examined from a really different martial perspective. I _love_ these videos!

You know he is a pro not only when you see how he thinks of good techniques on the fly, but also the honest assessment of the good and the bad. Top content.

It is pretty important to note that the halberd really shined in instances where it was an infantryman versus a cavalier, it was a improvement on a weapon called the billhook which was a very unique weapon that could have a video all on its own. Halberds are really good at dismounting opponents on horseback and that was one of the major functions of it. It should also be noted that halberds usually had a "butt spike" that would have been basically just a sharp point on the end opposite the usual set of blades at the top. From what I noticed though, Seki Sensei was able to intuit a lot of the techniques that the halberd was designed for. Especially the ability to catch swords.

My favorite thing about this channel is the breath of fresh air as far as people saying "Weapon X or technique Y is the best" They aren't afraid of pointing out flaws or weaknesses. How can someone get better of they believe there is no where else to go!

The more I watch these videos the more respect I have for Seki sensei

@Markbell73

Ай бұрын

Agreed, and seconded.

@SethAbercromby

Ай бұрын

While I think his open mindedness is great, in terms of sparring it kinda irks me a little that he only shows training and sparring against an unresisting opponent. They do a single thing then freeze in time for Seki to do whatever he wants, and even when he strikes the side of the halberd his 'opponent' either greatly overacts or lets his arms go near limp to make the technique seem much more effective.

@DensApri

Ай бұрын

Same

@DensApri

Ай бұрын

​@@SethAbercrombyI remember seeing a true sparring video and he did great. This videos are for demonstration purpose but they probably spar regularly off camera

@ShadowDragon8685

Ай бұрын

Same. He clearly loves to _learn,_ and his preferred way of learning is obviously experimentation.

The problem with a light sparring halberd is that it is light. Pushing away the head easily as demonstrated in the video is a lot less doable with a properly weighted halberd which is way more anchored due to its weight. On the flip side, a properly weighted halberd is also a bit more difficult to swing around and manipulate as easily for the user as well. It would be a pretty different dynamic with a proper metal one and I am interested to see what he'd do with one.

@arx5638

Ай бұрын

I mean Seki sensei himself said it that it would be dangerous to try against a real one simply because the head would be difficult to avoid

@inquisitorbenediktanders3142

Ай бұрын

​@@arx5638and he also said that he wants a real one.

@arx5638

Ай бұрын

@@inquisitorbenediktanders3142 Yeah good luck with that with the Japanese laws

@cegesh1459

Ай бұрын

Wrong, the heavier the tip, desto easier it is to deflect.

@arthurmoore9488

Ай бұрын

​@@arx5638 The trick almost anywhere in the world is knowing what paperwork to fill out and who to talk to. Both of which I can almost guarantee you apply to a master instructor who owns their own business.

I love these. Let’s really give sensei a challenge and get him a gunstock war club or a shepherds axe

I adore seeing experienced martial artists expand their horizons. It is so clear how the fundamentals of distance, footwork, timing, and structure are shared across arts. But also how specialized weapons differ so much. Incredible content

It seems to me that this halberd is a bit more polaxe sized and lo and behold, Seki sensei naturally used some of the techniques taught in polaxe manuals. This shows you he didn't just google how to use a halberd. He really has an intuitive understanding of the weapon. A grand master indeed.

@easytos

26 күн бұрын

Yeah, it's really nice to see him figure that out organically in the video.

"Björn Rüther" here on KZread have Halberd Fighting Techniques on his channel, based on old manuals. They are really good videos.

@nonsequiturm

Ай бұрын

I'd love to see Seki Sensei react to those videos.

@bobskywalker2707

Ай бұрын

Björn is one of my favorite HEMAtubers

@AiasMaior

28 күн бұрын

@@nonsequiturm I'd love seeing Björn Rüther and Seki Sensei in the same room. Get Matt Easton in there, too.

This are like the best martial weapons in medieval times. Poleaxes, halberd, pickaxes etc..the advantage of reach is huge.

As someone with basic knowledge halberds were traditionally used like a shorter pike usually, giving troops an affordable way to combat cavalry, while being more wieldly against ground troops with the shorter grip to use like a spear, along with wider options The spike and gap also helped against armoured opponents, helping to stab/grab at joints while using the momentum to push your heavier target down, allowing you to land a piercing final blow as most dismounted knights used shorter secondary weapons Many european weapons and combat revolved less around the ideal weapon, and actually were more impacted by your economic position, and how to combat others that might be better (or less) well equipped

Whilst I’m not very knowledgeable about western blades. It still is very interesting to see techniques from other weapons come together to do those moves.

@roguishpaladin

Ай бұрын

Sensei is doing a very good job figuring his way to relatively historical western techniques with these weapons. I really wish some western and eastern weapon masters had gotten together in the 1400s and been able to discuss the best way to fight - I think each would have walked away with incredible respect for the other.

@Just_A_Dude

Ай бұрын

@@roguishpaladin Given the number of paintings of European nobility with katanas and Japanese nobility with bits of European plate armor, I'm pretty sure that happened at least occasionally in the pre-Sakoku era.

@matasa7463

Ай бұрын

@@Just_A_Dude Nobunaga absolutely adored Western stuff lol. If he had gotten control of Japan and not betrayed, he probably would've created a Japanese imperial expansion golden age, as he sent ships all over the world to gather trade and knowledge.

Seki Sensei picks up a halberd, instantly becomes as intimidating as Lu Bu (do not pursue)! This video was a joy to watch. I love polearms and halberds especially have always been dear to me - so to watch him combine his techniques with the advantages of the weapon and HAVE SO MUCH FUN is just amazing to see.

@MansMan42069

Ай бұрын

Seki sensei: *swings halberd one-handed* IT'S... IT'S LU BU!

@Just_A_Dude

Ай бұрын

Ah, I'm having Dynasty Warriors flashbacks. First time I played was DW3 or DW4, I forget which, and when I ran into Lu Bu I thought he was straight-up programmed as an unbeatable boss.

the papal guard never stopped training with the halberd ever. they passed the skill, technique and knowledge through all generations. i hope you get to habe an exchange with a veteran from switzerland. you have a great peaceful spitit of a true warrior too. best regards from the alps.

I've been away for a while, I really like the new intro! Very slick, very clean!

the halberd is a very versatile weapon that often gets overlooked in favour of longswords and spears, its an axe, spear, hook and big stick all in one

@foldionepapyrus3441

Ай бұрын

I'm not sure if it is so much overlooked as just too dangerous to play with for most.

@groff8657

Ай бұрын

@@foldionepapyrus3441 That's how you know it's a good weapon, if it's dangerous to play with.

@Just_A_Dude

Ай бұрын

Indeed. Swords are overly romanticized in the modern era when, for the most part, the kinds of arming/bastard sized blades you see depicted in fiction as legendary weapons would've been a knight's backup for if something happened where they couldn't use their halberd. It's right up there with the "muddy brown peasants" trope in things that annoy me when people do medieval/fantasy media.

@micahlittles774

Ай бұрын

@@Just_A_Dude literally, like the magic glorified daggers they have in LOTR, its the equivalent to pulling out your pistol in a firefight, u do it when u have no other options .

@WolfFireheart

28 күн бұрын

@@micahlittles774 Hrm, that's a interesting statement. Would you mind giving me a example of this glorified daggers from LOTR? Watched the movies many times but never felt daggers where being glorified so would love to take a look at it!

I love watching the masters both smiling, laughing, and chattering about the weapon while sparring. Their eyes are so bright with passion for martial arts and appreciation for the weapon, it's infectious

@WolfFireheart

28 күн бұрын

Mhm! This is a man that has mastered so much because he enjoys doing it.

This guy could single handedly mow down an entire zombie apocalypse

If i Remember correctly, the idea behind the helbard is to try stabing with the spike, if missed you can then use the blade (usualy angeld straight edge) to hook the oponent from the back and tip him over forward to then deal a finishing blow with the spike The hook on the other end is for anti-armour, easely piercing helmets (This comment is not a good source for anything though)

06:35 Tsukada Sensei's face after the blade flew was hilarious, what a great video!

I love how the halberd expands the concept of ‘grappling’ so far beyond the arm’s reach. The axe head isn’t just for brute force, but maneuvering and control.

@Darwingreen5

24 күн бұрын

honestly, that's pretty much the reason it has all of those spiky and hooky bits. Otherwise you'd either just have either a glaive/spear or a great axe.

@RainbowThoth

21 күн бұрын

​@@Darwingreen5 Also, using them like a pickaxe to break open heavy armour

@laurencefraser

20 күн бұрын

Ayup, they're designed around the idea that somewhere between some and all of your opponents will be wearing some approximation of full plate armour. which makes the ability to grapple very important... along with the ability to get a spike into the gaps in the armour if you could manage it, or to smash a spike or axe blade into, and through, plate using the full power that the reach of the shaft allowed... and, of course, one needs to be able to defend oneself as well. Oh, and to deal with the fact that sometimes the other guy is on a horse. In mass formations a block of pikes is better at that last one, but when the formations break down, or you weren't in one to start with, the halberd doesn't have the pike's weaknesses and the halberd's other strengths come into play as well.

Amazing techniques! Thank you for video!!!

I can tell these guys are having so much fun and I absolutely loved watching it!

Tsukada is a god of mobility I am convinced

Tsukada Sensei is the real mvp of these videos.

It’s crazy because the halberd is usually used fully extended to utilize it’s distance, but being raised with no and katana he trades the advantage of the reach to use it’s momentum up close and deliver kill blows much more openly

It really is incredible seeing him adapting his techniques to work so well with the western weapons. I mean I'd expect someone who lives and breathes weapons like that to be able to figure out how to use them, but he does it so fluidly and gracefully.

It's great to see Japanese martial arts master to have so much fun with a weapon deeply connected with my country's history! Halberds and similar polearms were primarily weapons of war, used by foot soldiers, often recruited from citizens of medieval towns or willage peasantry, and they enabled them to stand against even heavily armoured opponents, knights and men at arms, both on horses and on foot, reach them, stop them, hook them, pull them to the ground and finally overcome their superiour armour either by heavy blows of the axe or by finding gaps in the armour with the spike. The halberd is one of iconic weapons of the era in which cooperating infantry became more and more important, and also an iconic weapon of social change - the Swiss uprising, the Bohemian Hussite wars... But heavily armoured knights on foot and men at arms started using them too, of course, in the form of polearm for war, and also in the form of pollaxe, shorter heavier polearm for both war and tournament on foot. The use of halberd is less documented in European historical martial art manuscripts, that focus mainly on the sword, but there are some. I would say that the approach of Seki sensei - use the reach, hooking and pulling, use the shaft and the end is very similar to actions presented by medieval masters. Their roots, fundaments of their combat style were a bit different, so the actions and movements looked differently that movements of Seki sensei, that are rooted in his combat style, but the basic ideas would be very similar...

We are grateful that Sensei has been so patient to put up with our very childish requests. We wish him and your whole team more good times. Cheers from the Philippines 🇵🇭 ♡

So funny to immediately see him doing every cool halberd move I've ever seen.

It would be interesting to see a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard do a collaboration with Seki Sensei on the use of the halberd.

Poleaxe is the Europe's mightiest weapons in the medieval and even during gunpowder era. Where its weapons have become a truly tested of time. It has a long spike which is a spear (usually at maximum of 1 foot long) An Axe (which is for breaking shields) A hook (which is for pulling out cavalry men from the horse) Sometimes Hook is replaced with Hammer which serves as a hook and armor breaker. A pummel which is used for both hammering and pummeling opponent when your axe is away. And a strong leather handguard for parrying attacks. This is a weapon of all trades, the AKM of Medieval era. Even an untrained farmer in formation can defeat heavy cavalry with this weapon. If foes closed in, you can just pull the poleaxe close and fight like a bayonet. 6:00 Although you can pushout the blade of the axe, halberd axe is pointed at an angle and not on a flat to reduce chances of "pushing" the head. And with angles, this makes uses of it's hook viable for both disarming and counter attacks. Hence at 7:36, holding the halberd at an angle makes it viable for strong counter attacks and disables. Unlike sword where it has its own concentration of force on the arms, upper body and footing. Halberds spreads forces evenly where it makes it a "farmer's weapon".

@badart3204

Ай бұрын

Idk, about mightiest considering it was abandoned in favor of the pike. Still a top tier weapon though

@Real_OSHA_Unsafety_Engineer

Ай бұрын

@@badart3204 Poleaxes were extensively used in mixed armies and were often paired with pike formations as a secondary line of defense. Unlike pikes, which were specialized for large-scale battles, poleaxes were more versatile and preferred for city defenses and crowd control. Spanish Tercios and Switzerland's Landsknechts used pikes effectively in large battles, but poleaxes remained relevant into the Gunpowder era, as the Spanish Tercios evolved to incorporate mixed armies. Over time, pikes were shortened, and poleaxes replaced axes and hammers for flag bearers, who served as rallying points rather than using them as main offensive weapons. The use of poleaxes continued until the 1700s for guard duties in German and Central European cities.

@Alias_Anybody

Ай бұрын

@@badart3204 The Pike is an anti-cavalry specialty weapon for large formations or at least decently sized groups. Halberds and related poleaxes as well as Zweihänder however are more flexible universal weapons, being effective against infantry like said pikemen, cavalry and even any ranged infantry relying on short swords as sidearms or bayonets, at least if they can close the distance.

@SilverforceX

Ай бұрын

The pummel often has spike on it as well so it was a devastating weapon on both ends.

@siosilvar

Ай бұрын

@@badart3204 Abandoned? The halberd (or pollaxe) is contemporary with the pike and musket on the battlefield and outlived it in city guards (since it doubles as a fire axe and a big stick in addition to being a weapon). It's nicely complementary to a pike formation, but significantly less effective against a cavalry charge.

New life achievement: Seki Sensei also likes your favourite weapon

Great video! I'm in a Meyer based HEMA club, but none of us, instructors included, have worked halberd. Thanks, Shogo.

A very good video, you picked up a lot about it and what would translate to its use extremely well! Halberds are fantastic, along with all their relatives and derivatives. Staffs and polearms, like two handed swords, and also interestingly enough grappling, are very limited in what can be done and work effectively! This means that techniques and capabilities tend to be very similar no matter where they hale from, give or take some local specifics, and the halberd is no exception, similar in use to staff or naginata. The extra emphasis on hooks, pushes, and pulls comes from the greater availability of heavy European armor, requiring extra options to set up to get around it. One of the things that training halberd can't convey is the sheer mass of a true one. Which is a common problem for polearms, as the great length can make it hit harder than is safe for sparring even with blunts and armor. Halberds were particularly heavy, and Halberdiers occasionally had reputations not dissimilar to that of someone who would likely be wielding a kanabo in Japan. Things like trying to slap the halberd away or disarm it are so much harder, as it's typically around 3 times the weight of a sword, and often in the hands of some of the biggest men at arms. Dueling Halberds (the shorter, man-height length like the one you have) were second only to the greatsword/nagamaki for preferred weapon of specialty bodyguards!

Seeing him with a sword and shield would be fascinating

@Sbv-25

Ай бұрын

He already did a buckler test

@Just_A_Dude

Ай бұрын

@@Sbv-25 Right, but not something like an arming sword and heater.

@Aaa-vp6ug

Ай бұрын

@@Just_A_Dudeyeah, but fairly similar fundamentals

@sihilius

Ай бұрын

Round shield and vendel period sword.

@Just_A_Dude

Ай бұрын

@@Aaa-vp6ug Possibly, but a shield that covers you from neck to hip/knee is very different than a small buckler in how those fundamentals manifest.

Watching Seki-sensei having such fun trying out new weapons is a unique kind of joy.

Björn Rüther has an great (and brief) video series demonstrating many ways halberd's were used. The last video of his playlist is a great summary of each play and counter with slow motion. For sparring videos, Virtual Fechtscule and RobinSwords have both recently uploaded some halberd sparing (in half-plate armor). As Seki Sensei has picked up on, hooking is used frequently to control your opponent and it's fun to watch

Be very interesting to see how seki sensei would respond to a sword and shield set up. Due to the variety of both it could even be its own mini series of each notable pairing (even spear and shield could be fun)

I love how Seki Sensei's knowledge and insight into personal combat is so at once focused and open that he can apply all he knows from his own traditions' martial systems to any weapon. That is beautiful, and an end to which any dedicated martialist should aspire.

There's no denying it. Seki-sensei is what I would call a truly wise fighter.

First time seeing this channel but I have to say, it's a delight seeing passionate people exploring their passions like this. It's really neat to see the way people quickly pick up and adapt to new things, weapons in this case, basing it off of their previous experiences. That complete disarm was a treat to watch and I think even they were surprised when it happened so smoothly! Wonderful video, thank you for sharing!

This is amazing and Seki Sensei is wonderful

@mymemoriesofgoldenricefiel6472

24 күн бұрын

I wonder how someone like this person, who loves Japanese martial arts, Samurai and Japanese history, would feel if they heard the two songs Yasuke isn't to blame and The sin of Thomas Lockly.

@simonmagid4205

24 күн бұрын

@@mymemoriesofgoldenricefiel6472 I am really impressed. I didn't even know all that about myself. I just saw the video and liked it. O.o

Using the Halberds own hook points against it. I gotta try this with my Polaxe. Subarashi Seki-Sensei.

I would have guessed that there possibly would be some overlap with how a masakari is used and with how a juumonji Yari is used with the halberd

@damnyankee3558

Ай бұрын

Took the words out of my mouth

@velazquezarmouries

2 күн бұрын

​@@damnyankee3558there are also masakari axes outfitted with a yari blade aswell

Please do one of the Master going through the Talhoffer manuscript. I would love to watch his reaction.

Watching a master pick up a foreign weapon and developing techniques and strategies as he handles it is so cool! I could already feel how excited the HEMA folks are with this video!

As much as I love Seki Sensei's enjoyment of a variety of weaponry that he was previously unfamiliar with, I must admit that Tsukada Sensei always manages to make me smile too. He has this continuous facial expression of surprise. Even before Seki Sensei unleashes a move it just seems like Tsukada Sensei is surprised.

@peterchristiansen9695

Ай бұрын

I think Tsukada Sensei is always really, really focused - he also seems to have a great sense of humor! 😁 They both seem to have a good time; it’s rather infectious. ☺️

@hazukichanx408

25 күн бұрын

Perhaps he has learned from his time training with Seki-sensei... that it is better to begin surprised, and then just focus on quickly reacting to whatever sudden technique ends up happening. If you wait to be surprised by the technique, you might not dodge in time...

This is the first time I saw Sensei so enthusiastic about a western weapon! Hope he gets a real one soon! 🙌

@sihilius

Ай бұрын

In Japan any weapon but a katana is illegal to own.

@bluebottle1449

27 күн бұрын

@@sihilius wow for real? and in Japan the land of katana you are not allowed to own one?

@sihilius

27 күн бұрын

@@bluebottle1449 Please read again. Also, the Katana must be traditionally made. "cheapo" 1095 don't count!

I like how as well-learned Sensei is with Japanese weaponry, he displays appreciation (even enjoyment) with weaponry from other parts of the world

The way he used a halberd was somewhat correct to different central European fighting styles, of course it is an art of distanced fighting and can also be used to trip, or knock and hook your opponents weapon away from you. It is more of a weapon to disarm or make the opponent’s job harder to actually get close or get a successful strike. But, Halberds can also be used in large groups like pike formations where it is effective against mounted opponents or just to keep opponents away from your group Impressive Seki! and thank you shogo for your narration :)

Seki Sensei looks like a kid in a candy store. His techniques and enjoyment of the weapon are beautiful to see.

Some halberds have a smaller blade or point at the bottom of the handle allowing a small jab to be thrown into a mix

I can hear the heavy breathing of Kruber mains in my apartment. Help.

The pole arm and long spear have been universal weapons across almost all cultures since the beginning of recorded history in most major civilizations. Its very very cool to see how quick and natural his positioning is.

Let’s Get Master a Real one. ❤

@BattleCattleSA

Ай бұрын

Yeah!!

@JustClaude13

Ай бұрын

I'm sure that would be highly illegal in Japan, where even pocket knives are banned.

@BattleCattleSA

Ай бұрын

@@JustClaude13 we are watching a video about a sword school.

@matasa7463

Ай бұрын

@@JustClaude13 Probably not, actually. They only really go after their own traditional weapons. A halberd cannot be easily hidden, and only skilled people can really use it.

one of the best channels on youtube

- It is always a pleasure to learn Seki Sensi opinions, his expertise with weapons is nothing but impressive, what a great man. - Halberds where often used in large unit formations in Europe, though there were also techniques for 1 vs 1 fights. There is a Chinese variant but I am not familiar with its history. It was a mix of a spear plus a axe, plus a beak (on the opposite side). Actaully the word comes from old german "helmbarte" helm (handle) barte (axe). it was a popular weapons amongst the Germans during the 15th century, but the Swiss later made great use of it. The weapon was effective both against footmen and cavalry. It was often used as an intermediate range weapon between the longer spear and the shorter sword. Seki Sensei showed it when doping swing attack, the halberd had a lot of inertia. Seki Sensei mentioned "slow fast" in another video. Seemingly making slow calm moves, but reahing the enemy very fast indeed. Can you please give me the japanese word he used to describe this slow-fast concept?

Halberd is one of my favourite old weapons. A axe and a spear combined .... simple and logic love it.

Moving from the shoulder is a great concept. We have this in our art as well, though it is done quite differently.

Seki Sensei is a true budoka. Love watching him work with unfamiliar tools

The halbard is quiet a handy tool. In matters of a weapon of war or in a dual situation. The techniques you showed are very similar to those of un armored combat from Paulus Hector mayers manual. It is always a matter of context. In a 1v1 situation in armor the mordaxt or other staff weapons were popular. Would be interesting to see these ones too.

It's interesting watching him have fun exploring a new weapon, almost like a kid that got a new toy