In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common ways to hold a sword, and a few you might not have heard of yet. If you’ve ever seen a movie or a TV show with a sword fight scene, you’ve probably seen a variety of ways swords are held.
Use your dominant hand to grip the handle (the hilt). Position your hand so that your thumb and index finger meet and hold the hilt. When using a larger sword, such as a two-handed sword or great sword, you may need to use both hands to hold it.
Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, with your rear foot at a slight angle. From this position, the first movement of the blow is a downswing. The sword should travel from left to right, at a slight downward angle.
How to hold a sword is totally up to preference. As long as it feels natural and comfortable for you, that’s the best way to do it. However, if you want to try something different, these pointers will be helpful, read on.
How to Grip a Sword
I don’t think there is one single way to grip a sword, sword grip is like the way you hold your hand to shake hands. It’s different for everyone.
The first instinct when you pick up a sword may be to grip the sword like you would a hammer. When you do this, your sword will be much stiffer and you’ll have a harder time moving the sword in any other direction.
You can’t hold a sword correctly unless you grasp it at the right angle. It’s best you hold the sword near the center of the handle so that you can grab it firmly.
The hammer grip is often used for short, single-handed swords known as arming swords. You can use this grip combined with a shield or a shield and a longsword.
The most commonly-used grip is a handshake grip. It provides a tight hold. The fingers are bent at the first joint and the second joint of the fingers is held straight and firm. The tip of the thumb should be curled over the sword handle and the wrist should be relaxed. This is a very powerful grip, but also makes it easier to move the sword into various positions.
Still, you need to be careful with the form, as if you are not relaxed enough, you can injure yourself. When you are not relaxed enough, tension will build up in your shoulders, arms, and wrists.
When this happens, your form is breaking down and you are likely to injure yourself. To prevent this, make sure that you start in a comfortable position that is easy to maintain. This way, you’ll be able to focus on the details of the movement.
The correct way to hold a sword is to hold it like you’re giving someone a handshake, and then slide the hilt through your hand, making sure to put all of the pressure on the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Wrap your fingers around the hilt with middle, ring and pinky fingers and apply firm pressure while leaving pointer finger & thumb open. Your thumb should be pointing forward.
One Hand Sword Holding Techniques
The best way to hold an arming sword is with the index and middle fingers extended along the sides of the hilt. If the two-handed grip is used, your hand fills about 2/3 of the entire grip. Additional grips will allow for more surface area of the sword to come into contact with your hand. The cross-guard is a triangular (or could be any shape) metal piece which is used to protect your hand and is placed under the fingers of your dominant hand. You will often find that the guard is shaped in a curve to better fit your hand.
There are two main styles of wielding the longsword, the grip known as the “handshake grip” or the “cross-grip.” One allows you to use the longsword with greater flexibility, while the other offers greater power.
Tips on How to Use a Two-Handed Sword
There are many kinds and types of swords that come in single-handed or double-handed varieties. A greatsword is a large sword that requires two hands to use properly. A longsword is best used with two hands. If your strength is sufficient, you can use it single-handedly.
You’ll likely need two hands for two-handed swords, so if you’re using your dominant hand on the hilt, be sure to keep your other hand on the blade. Make use of the “handshake grip” on this hand. Place your thumb down the center of the hilt, and the index finger on the outside edge of the hilt. The other three fingers should point straight down.
Your rear hand should rest on the pommel or just above it on the hilt. Your rear hand will change grip frequently between a handshake and hammer grip depending on what you need to do at the time. You need to put a good deal of effort into this hand. This hand must provide the force in each blow, and your front hand needs to guide the weapon.
So if you are attacking your opponent with your sword, your front hand should aim the blade, and your rear hand should move to grip the pommel. Then, with great strength, you should push the sword forward.
Keep your wrists rolled inwards, just like you would hold a golf club, and hold the sword straight in front of you. The sword is meant to be held in a specific manner when you’re holding it, so be sure to get the grip right.
Keep your wrists straight and in line with the blade. Your wrists will bow or roll outward if your wrists are weak or in a position where they’re not strong enough to absorb the energy from the impact.
Wherever possible, your thumb should be over the hilt. When holding a two-handed sword, you may need to grip it with both hands. However, it’s important to keep the grip stable and firm, so you don’t drop the sword. If you’re going to hold a sword for more than one minute, you’ll want to warm up your hands before holding the sword. This will help you to hold the sword correctly.
How to Hold a Two-Handed Sword Holding a two-handed sword requires the same hand positions as holding a single-handed sword. However, you’ll also need to hold your hands on the two-handed sword differently. The first thing you should do is to grip the sword with your dominant hand.