Historical Middle Eastern Martial Arts

Lately I've been geeking out on historical martial arts, in particular that of Iran and Turkey. The videos that I've found have a good, direct martial arts instruction. Videos on Arabic sword arts are focused more aspects for dance and performance than applied combat (get at me if anyone finds otherwise). This provides a good visual reference for combats in the setting, and what's involved in the training of fighters for Sharafkhaneh.

This is a demonstration of Razmafzar, Iranian martial arts.

https://youtu.be/nEI-AVpvJs0

This is a demonstration of close quarter techniques shamshir techniques. Scimitars aren't often thought of as thrusting weapons, but as you see here, it can be [i]really[/i] effective with the curve enabling reach over shields and setting up some great angles.

https://youtu.be/fHohWBb1KEU

This is just a cursory exploration of sword techniques, and doesn't scratch the surface of the martial arts of the Middle East and Iran, for example, wrestling of which the Iranians and Turks really excel at and is the base for their weapons systems.

Al-Sahra

Dusting of this blog to kick me into devoting laser focus on developing this setting. I've been sketching out sites for a mini sandbox in the southwestern corner of the map. During this time, I've been mulling over the greater context of this region. The region is right on the borders of Al-Sahra, The Wilderness, beyond which are leagues upon leagues where the forces of Law are weak and Chaos holds sway. Beyond that are the infidel lands of the old Imperium. Al-Sahra was once a more touch more civilized until the armies of the Basileus and the Caliph clashed in a series of catastrophic wars. As the armies of Law are weakened as trying to rebuild their strength, the armies of Chaos marshall their strength while bands of adventurers motivated by faith or greed brave Al-Sahra whether to combat Chaos, for plunder, or to carve out a holding of their own.