Sunday, May 11, 2014

Spear Tips Gleaming


Spear Tips Gleaming

Sunday, May 11, 2014
Considerable discipline, cohesion, and confidence were critical to Close Order Combat, particularly in Close Combat. Teamwork was required in both rank (left and right) and file (front and back).  Files were organized like a batting order with battle drill to coordinate defense and attack from the enemy.  This is why so many units were drawn from the same home towns including the specialists and mercenaries.


Templar Shield wall against another’s armed the same way. 


4

 Getting too close prevents the front rank from using their weapons effectively, and has often led to butchery as on Senlac Hill, 1066.


As orderly as I have rendered these images, the reality of disorder outranks order every time.  In the Medieval close order formations, crowding was a potentially lethal mix, given the contagion of a Startle Response.


The top/bottom views show how important a 45 degree stance is to allow full range of motion for the arm with the weapon while covering the soldier on the left or shield side.   In addition, the lead ranks did not blindly stab upon each other, but had the same kind of moves found on a basketball court, football field or pitch, or golf.

 The same kind of body mechanics in battle are the same as in competitive sports.  As a matter of fact, games which replicate the same body mechanics began to appear as they disappeared from the battlefield.  This includes running, blocking, hitting, and throwing.

The difference between stabbing vs throwing is that the weapon is retracted by reversing the sequence of actions.
Sort of like a golf club (the club, not the Club)
As Sergeant Grimm would say:

 The Temple versus the Sith.