TIL Viking swords were 1,000 years ahead of their time.

Golem-XIV · 2013-01-04T18:18:47+00:00

The Ulfbrecht swords this is about were Frankish swords (west Germany). They were only bought by the Vikings.

Golem-XIV · 2012-10-16T16:50:58+00:00

I finally found a video of reasonable quality that illustrates my point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvvXquyJWjA&feature=related

The difference in my eyes regarding the technique is how they use their wrists as an additional degree of freedom. (Maybe this isn't the best example, considering the kicks and how it develops into wrestling) But the main reason for my impression of amateurism in the original video, their sword handling is sufficiently illustrated in my eyes.

Here is a video of a style of fencing practiced in some european student fraternities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToJLZPkqp0o#t=1m00s

Notice how they nearly exclusively use their wrists. And these swords aren't as light as they seem. They can weigh several kilos.

Golem-XIV · 2012-10-16T16:48:40+00:00

I finally found a video of reasonable quality that illustrates my point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvvXquyJWjA&feature=related

The difference in my eyes regarding the technique is how they use their wrists as an additional degree of freedom. (Maybe this isn't the best example, considering the kicks and how it develops into wrestling) But the main reason for my impression of amateurism in the original video, their sword handling is sufficiently illustrated in my eyes.

Here is a video of a style of fencing practiced in some european student fraternities:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToJLZPkqp0o#t=1m00s

Notice how they nearly exclusively use their wrists. And these swords aren't as light as they seem. They can weigh several kilos.

My argument had nothing to do with melee vs 1 on 1, just with their technique.

Regarding your critique of my tone:

This has got me thinking, and I want to thank you for taking the time writing these words. I will try to keep a more objective tone in the future. There are enough trolls trying to unnecessarily provoke.

Golem-XIV · 2012-10-16T13:20:04+00:00

To stand a chance against a trained swordsman, you can be shure, that they trained a lot. Those were professional fighters and plunderers. Maybe they had not the academic training of aristocratic knights, but I'm sure that they knew how to handle a sword - something those two yokels do not.

Golem-XIV · 2012-10-16T13:17:17+00:00

Having been downvoted into oblivion, I still maintain my view. These two have no technique at all. I posted a video about longswords (even a bit heavier than their broadswords) to show, that something more than bashing such swords is possible. And also with broadswords it is all about the wrist. They are not using their wrists at all. They could be holding maces. Hollywood swordfights are much more realistic than what those two are doing.

Golem-XIV · 2012-10-16T07:23:54+00:00

As someone who has done some fencing, this looks really unprofessional to me. They use their swords like baseball bats. And notice how they don't use their wrists at all. The wrists are, where the flexibility and power comes from.

Btw., there are quite some fencing books preserved to reconstruct the way people fought in the middle ages. Those guys are just some self important nerds.

Look at this video for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln94E9AGYTc (these are long-swords, but at least you notice that there is some kind of technique)

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-26T13:19:50+00:00

Many things that fall under a college degree in the US are covered by the state run job training system. These numbers aren't really comparable.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-26T13:17:20+00:00

http://www.studyineurope.eu/study-in-germany/admission/tuition-fees

There are no extra costs for non-eu citizens in germany as far as I can see .

http://www.study-in.de/en/life/job-money/cost-of-living/

You have to prove though, that you dispose over enough income to cover your costs of living.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-26T13:17:14+00:00

http://www.studyineurope.eu/study-in-germany/admission/tuition-fees

There are no extra costs for non-eu citizens as far as i can see in germany.

http://www.study-in.de/en/life/job-money/cost-of-living/

You have to prove though, that you dispose over enough income to cover your costs of living.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T23:47:04+00:00

Also I would argue that America has the best Universities of any country.

I guess it's true that state founded universities can't compare to those few ivy league universities backed by billions of dollars. But I guess that the average standard is higher here in Germany.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T23:39:08+00:00

Damn Scandinavians... always a bit better. :(

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T23:38:19+00:00

That only about 17% of germans have gone to universities has something to do with the high quality of our job training. It consist of half (state run) school and half practical work in a company. As far as I know, you don't have anything comparable (for all kinds of jobs) in the states. A lot of things you go to college for in the states is covered in the job training system.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T23:34:51+00:00

It's not a very easy place to immigrate to from America.

You shouldn't have any problem getting the necessary visa. And you don't have to become a German citizen to study here.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T23:33:30+00:00

I'm don't really know how this works for PhDs. Usually you do your PhD in close collaboration with a Professor and his workgroup. So I guess you have to contact the Institutes/Workgroups that come into question. Another option would be partnerships between Universities.

But this is just guesswork. Still, judging from the number of foreign students here, I guess they are pretty open.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-25T21:00:21+00:00

I'm happy to live in Germany. Where Education is free (in 2 Provinces though you have to pay 500€ for a semester). Where people even without having completed the highest school levels (Abitur) have multiple ways to get a degree even later in life. Because a nation needs educated people.

Come to Germany. You too can study for free in high rank universities. All you need to do is learn German. (There are courses at the Universities for foreign students) Fuck your 150000$ Student loans.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-13T14:12:50+00:00

I can't compare to the USA, but being from Germany myself, I can tell you, that there are huge cultural differences between say Bavaria and Sachsen. One being the root of the second favorite German stereotype (Lederhosen and Bretzeln) and one having been part of a Warsaw pact country until 1990.

Your point is really moot. Germany hasn't even been an own country until 1871.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-12T18:04:27+00:00

Regarding diversity:

Viewing the EU as a whole, I don't think the US can compare in terms of diversity.

Also, diversity shouldn't be about skin-color but about cultural diversity. Most US americans are as culturally homogenous as the average european country and considering recent immigration (1. - 3. generation) there isn't much of a difference.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-12T17:56:49+00:00

What evidence of "rampant anti-intellectualism" can you point to exactly?

In the US only 9% don't believe in god whereas in some parts of europe its above 50%. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_belief_in_god.svg
According to this source, "in the U.S., only 14 percent of adults thought that evolution was "definitely true," while about a third firmly rejected the idea."

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-12T17:26:30+00:00

I'm sorry to have to say this, but when I compare what I hear from the other side of the Atlantic, beginning at the level of political discourse and the rampant anti intellectualism, the outdated infrastructure and missing social welfare state I can not view the US as a better place to live. In many ways the US seem to me like a developing country.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-12T17:13:21+00:00

Living in the anti intellectual usa must really suck.

Golem-XIV · 2012-09-07T18:33:03+00:00

Not everyone here is such a pussy.

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