XXL - one size doesn't fit all

[Tim Simmons]

If one fought or attempted to fight, as a gang of say five fighters with a combination of weapons then a variety of length and types working together would present more difficulty to your foe. A hole line may be structured so, I would think combat is more a melee than a one to one act of chivalry, the only problem is the foe want to cut your liver in the same way with a mixture of weapon lengths. Tim

[Ahriman]

You're right... there was a european gentleman who and whose friend were attacked by a gang of 20... the almost-victims had swords, the attackers swords, helmets, suits of mail... So much for the so-called chivalry. Which, again, stands against the "small size means better" thing. Short knives/daggers are good, especially if used combined with other weapons, but relying only on one of those, while the enemy has a full wardrobe handy... is not good.
And if I'd have to chose only 1 weapon, I'd pick a longsword. Handy in distance-keeping, but if needed, lethal in CQ as well... think about halfswording. BTW, did the eastern people invent it as well? I mean, halfswording?

[VVV]

I am not sure that the quote of a smaller blade should be interpreted as extreme as a toothpick against a spear
Weapon size is of course depending on the environment as well as what kind of weapons you expect your foes to use and what kind of protection they will have. In wintertime here in Sweden thrusting in an icepick hold with a knife would usually be a better tactic than slashing with a hammergrip because of the heavy clothing. And I heard a quote from another FMA grandmaster (Inosanto?) that he would prefer a knife to a handgrenade if fighting locked into a phone booth
Other factors could be the principles of your fighting system; footwork vs static stances, counterattack vs blocking, follow or meet the strikes etc...
Another interesting thing I picked up when in Philippines (I hope this doesn't start a FMA discussion on a weapons forum):
To counter the Barong (heavy choppers) in Mindanao the Filipino Marines use shortened down Visayan Ginuntings (light, both stab and slash).
Of course they don't train to block the Barongs...
And from empirical tests I heard it has been proven quite successful.
For more quotes on shorter weapons vs longer try google on f.i. Angel Cabales.

Michael

[Spunjer]

Another interesting thing I picked up when in Philippines (I hope this doesn't start a FMA discussion on a weapons forum):

it's all good . i would assume a lot of members here started as fma practitioner before naturally progressing to collecting swords. i guess it would give us a better understanding and appreciation of our collection.

To counter the Barong (heavy choppers) in Mindanao the Filipino Marines use shortened down Visayan Ginuntings (light, both stab and slash).
Of course they don't train to block the Barongs...
And from empirical tests I heard it has been proven quite successful.

interesting. i know on one of the threads, we were discussing how the barung is still presently being utilized. can our mindanao members elaborate on this?