Please don't get smart with me man. Actually, Mr Prizefighter, hand to hand - yes. I'm in the military, remember??? I usually go for a front or rear blood choke to end those though. I've fought guys bigger than me(which is most) and faster than me. I didn't necessarily lose when the guy was simply quicker than I was. USMC martial arts training is based upon being weighed down with gear, and not having much mobility. Now, that aside - with swords and armor - negative, I have no experience. Has anyone here, as a knight or samurai, engaged the opposite??? Stick and move - come on pal, sounds like someone watches too much sports center. This isn't two guys wearing glittery trunks and pretty gloves. With the evidence that soren brought up with the weight of Japanese swords - he ain't exactly running around naked with a Ka-Bar in his teeth. So this samurai will be able to avoid all blows, because his armor isn't sufficient, and his sword will not be able to absorb damage of the sort that a european sword could, so that is another strike. I don't buy the better trained argument, as the knighthoods were professional warriors as well. I don't believe that a samurai could withstand a heavy mounted knights' charge, even armed with a yari. There's a distinct difference between heavy and lighter cavalry. There's some credence to the bow, but let's say that since this samurai is the 2nd coming of Christ, this knight has high quality armor and the arrows are not too effective. The knight engages the samurai at close range, both are on horseback - how does this superhuman samurai defend against the Knights charge???
Hmmmm I don't remember getting smart with you.........thats not how I opperate. I would of thought you would of known that by now.....you have been here for a while. All I asked was if you actually ever fought hand to hand....not sure why you thought that was rude. If you took as rude I am sorry for that....it was not intended. Posting and emails often lose a person real intent......then it can be taken wrong way. (thats I why I put down, "just asking" trying not to be rude)
Prizefighter? Never called myself that, just have trained in full contact MMA for years. Unless someone actually has done that they don't realize some things.....training without full contact or just sparring is not the same. Fighting full contact round after round is extremely tiring no matter how good shape you are in.
I have reviewed and watched military hand to hand....yes.
You sparring with guys who have a speed difference than you will not be much difference in speed. Fighting someone wearing heavy platemail vs someone wearing padded armor is a much bigger difference in speed.
Samurai armor not being sufficeint is a matter of opinion, you are looking at armor from one point of view only........how thick it is and how much can it stop. Some armor was not made for that point.....it was made to be more mobile, flexible....able to protect vs slashing attacks....not vs piercing attacks. Knight armor was made to protect vs blunt and piercing attacks, of course it also protected vs slashing attacks. But it was built for major stopping power, I am sure you would agree. But of course, it came at a cost.....less mobility and much heavier.
I never argued about knights charging, I never argued about them fighting on horse back......someone else perhaps but not me. I agree with you on the calvary charge point. Western Knights charging was a nearly unstoppable thing force......unless you had polearms.
My point about Ali vs Foreman is still valid and a perfect example.