THE HAND BEING A REMARKABLE APPENDAGE CAN DEAL WITH A LOT OF CHANGE AND ADJUSTMENT QUICKLY. THE MIND OF A TRAINED FIGHTER CAN ADJUST QUICKLY TOO SO A FIGHTER TRAINED WITH EVEN A TRIANGULAR GRIP WOULD NO DOUBT LEARN ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS AND TO USE IT WELL. THE IDEAL GRIP IS ONE THAT WILL ALLOW A FIRM SECURE GRIP AND NOT WEAR ON (BLISTERS) OR OVERLY STRAIN THE HAND DURING REPETED USE.
I PERSONALLY PREFER A ROUND SHAFT ON A THRUSTING OR THROWING SPEAR BUT FIND THE OVAL BETTER ON SOMETHING USED AS THE JAPANESE NAGINATA IS.
FOR SLASHING SWORDS I PREFER A OVAL GRIP ESPECIALLY IF USING A ONE HANDED GRIP. WEAPONS NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE AND WELL BALANCED IN THE HAND. THEN WITH PRACTICE THE MIND, EYES AND HAND WILL AUTOMATICALLY TAKE CARE OF BLADE ALIGNMENT IN MOST CASES.
FUNCTION DETERMINES WHICH SHAPE SERVES BEST A ROUND HANDLE ON A RAPIER OR FENCING SWORD WILL SERVE WELL ENOUGH FOR THE THRUSTING AND QUICK PARRYS. BUT ON A BROADSWORD OR KATANA I THINK THE OVAL GRIP SERVES MUCH BETTER FOR STRONG SWEEPING STROKES. THIS DOSEN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS OR COVER NEW CONCEPTS BUT IS MY VIEW.
