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Sword Training
Facts and
interesting information about the life and times of the
Medieval Knights of England - Sword Training
Description of Sword
Training called Pell Training
The weapons practise during the Medieval times included Pell Training
specifically used for sword training. The
description of Pell Training provides basic facts and information about
the device as follows:
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The Pell - used as a
target weapon by a knight when practising with the sword
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Description - The Pell
consisted of a wooden post which was planted firmly in the ground
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The origins of the pell
was a simple tree trunk
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The knight would
practise striking his sword against the pell target
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Knights used wooden
swords during pell training - these were often double the weight of
the actual weapon ensuring that Medieval knights built up their
upper body and arm strength
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The Baton - Batons, were
the names of the swords which were used in Tournaments or training
and were made of whalebone
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A Rebated sword is one
that has had its point and edge blunted for training or tournament
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Behourd was the old name
of the training ground for young knights and squires
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The Behourd was also
used as a friendly tournament to be held at special occasions such
as weddings, knight ceremonies and coronations
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Sword training also
included practise related to striking with a shield
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Sword training allowed
knights to practise various vicious strokes and manoeuvres such as
thrusting, cutting, and slicing without imposing an injury on his
opponent
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Hilt and shield strikes
were also practised
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Pell Training also
included spear throwing
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Other Medieval weapons
were also practised during pell training - battle
axes, hammers etc - in fact any form of short arm weapon
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Effective Pell training
required knights and other men-at-arms to take sword practise
and sword training extremely seriously. The Pell was attacked as if it were a real
opponent. Sword training demanded hours of practise to increase
skills, strength and agility
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Rigorous and regular
sword training on the Pell resulted in precision, focus, and force
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The sword training post
measured about 6 feet in height and the diameter of the post was
between 6 - 12 inches
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The pell was originally
a plain post but as time went by the pell was embellished to
resemble the figure of the enemy - especially popular during the era
of the crusades when the pell figure resembled an infidel or Saracen
The Medieval era was an
extremely violent era in history featuring battles in both Europe and
the Holy Land when the crusades, and the crusaders who fought them, were
numerous. Feudal Lords and Knights were expected to be expert in the use
of medieval weapons - sword training on the pell was essential. The quest for power led to invasions of
lands and territories which had to be fought for. Warfare during the Medieval times called for a variety of weapon expertise. Knights and men-at-arms, or foot
soldiers, used a variety of different weapons. Sword Training was
predominantly used by a Knight but other soldiers would also practise at
the pell. Knights also had to practise additional weapon training - use
of the lance was practised at the
Quintain
Pell Training -
Scoring system
Training Combats using a baton
instead of a sword were
settled by either a set number of counted blows, or until one or both
combatants had been “satisfied” i.e. had enough. A Medieval scoring
system where certain blows or manoeuvres using batons were allocated set
numbers of points as follows:
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Thrusts to the body,
shoulder and face counted as three points
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An immobilization or
disarm was counted as three points
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Thrusts to the rest of
the body or wrists counted for one point
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Strikes made with the
use of the pommel or quillons also counted for one point
N.B. The quillons was the
crossbar on the hilt of a sword. The pommel was part of the hilt which
acted as a counterweight to the blade.
The
Origins and History of Pell and Sword Training
Sword
Training devices, similar to the pell were used by Romans. The word 'pell'
or 'pel' derives from the Latin words palos meaning 'stake'. From this
Latin origin the English word 'pale' was derived meaning a stake
or a pointed stick. From this the word 'palisade' was derived meaning a
fence made of wooden stakes, used in early English Castle building.
Another spin-off from Pell Training is Pell Mell.
Sword Training
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about
knights of old which scatter the Medieval History books including the
subject of Sword Training. The Medieval Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.
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