Simple fighting system for close distance spear use

By Arttu Peltoniemi


Coloured depiction of the Trajan column pointed to us by Martin Lysen when discussing the suggested system.

We originally presented this Idea of fighting in this video: Techniques with scutum and spear , and in this blog post: https://hirdmenn.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-martial-art-around-center-grip.html  We have written about the sparring gear in this post: https://hirdmenn.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-martial-art-around-center-grip.html


I often hear people saying that the spear's advantage is reach. This is true. It is often paired with the thought that the spear fighter should therefore maintain the distance. This is situational. My argument is that in fighting, one wants to be able to close the distance with any weapon they are using, as one wishes to have the ability to stand their ground. I am therefore claiming that in many situations the main benefit of the reach of the weapon is not that the enemy can't reach you, but that your longer reach gives you the initiative.


About the reach of different weapons. I can reliably throw my short spear 10 steps away. I am dangerous from 5 steps away. My axe throws in comparison are not really dangerous before I am 3 steps away from the target. My throws with a long spear are not really an issue for any one, but they match the reach of an axe throw and the long thrust with a step. 

Then again using a short and light spear shaft, as so often seen in iconography, I feel I can use the spear like I use a rondel dagger from a wrestling position. Just like one can use an axe if one lets the grip slide to the axe head.


The talk about distances covered, we can talk about taking the initiative. The opponent is forced to act on a threat that is credible. If you have the longer reach, you are the first to create threats and thus the first to gain initiative at the start of every exchange. This to me seems to be the greatest benefit of the spear, compared to swords and axes, when one is fighting in a system that involves shields and little to no armour.


As long as the opponent is reacting to the risk of injury, the longer weapon can be used to decide the moment where the spear gains control on the opponent's shield. When this is coupled with the advantages of the reach and initiative, the spear user can get in and out of the engagement relatively safely.


Combining these tactical ideas with how sharp spears interact with the authentic shields, we have suggested a simple method of combat for the shield and spear against a shorter weapon. In a nutshell, the method can be divided into two phases:


Phase 1: Boxing your way in.

-Take initiative by creating a credible threat forcing a reaction. The easiest way is to project a threat to their face, since it needs to be visible if the opponent wants to be able to see (and react to) you.

- Aim your spear with off-line footwork (through their shield, they need to offer it to defend) towards their centre of mass and push the shield towards their weapon arm.

-Lock the shield in place with your own shield strike, while realising your spear from the bind.

-Stab with the spear while maintaining the shield bind.


Phase 2: Boxing your way out

-As the control of the shield goes wrong and the opponent closes in, one (tries to) stop the closing-in using a shield strike.

- While stepping away the spear can again be aimed towards the centre of mass maximising its stopping power.

Tip: Going around your opponent is often stronger than going backwards.


See our video here:

Spear vs Sword tutorial. Closing in with onehanded spear.


All of this takes a rather delicate grip on the weapons. Also, handling accurate historical reconstructions gives you a sensation of very responsive weapons which do their job both in the defence and in the offence. A light grip on the spear enables you to change the angle of the attack and to initiate threats both during the closing in and during the breaking of the distance. For accuracy, lining up the elbow for the spear attacks seems to do the trick, and the relaxed grip is useful in not choking the power available that your body can generate with a throwing motion.


A light grip on the shield enables you to respond to the threats by covering your head and to find the opportunity for striking with the shield either to release your spear or to control their weapon arm (or to attack their head). Also the lightness of the grip lets you to more or less point your fingers or your knuckles in the direction you are using the shield, helping you to line up the rest of the bones for proper power generation (it’s a lot slower to do this if your grip on the shield is too stiff).


The footwork we propose is rather simple. Simple weight shifts to adjust the distance and the angle in order to use weapons at the short distance. On the other hand there has to be the ability to turn the hips in order to project force along the spear shaft and to turn and strike with the shield. The steps also need to be well grounded and simple enough that you would want to use them on whatever surface. For now, simple boxing-like footwork with a lifted back heel ticks all the boxes. Some amount of forward tilt seems to be very beneficial for the shield use, though, and it does not interfere with the spear use either.


We presented this idea in a workshop in HEMAC Dijon 2023. We were lucky to have fantastic martial artists and experienced HEMA veterans attending our workshop. To name three with most feedback I wish to thank Jack Gassman, Assante Lawla and Colin Richards who all had such a beautiful enthusiasm to give strong and complimenting feedback. We edited a short video clip from the sparring session after the workshop: https://youtu.be/JqPnhytbwFE


There were also other videos posted on social media of our workshop. The one that adds most value to this post is the one where you can see us demonstrating how the spear interacts with the authentic shields. Thanks to Jack for that video. You can see it here: 

https://www.facebook.com/Hirdmenn/posts/pfbid0rTLpqVEV6u6LLiYMVyXexaUoBW9VMMWfpPPPPsutFtxQNGcs9ggMJE1FGQsMeFtCl?notif_id=1685029839318106&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

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