Burmese Dha/ Thai Daab...why Guardless????

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Hello all,

I think this is kind of a basic question...but I was wondering if it has ever been questioned why Daab/dha do not have a guard to protect that hands?

Plus just the over all question of the functionality(I think I made my own word) of guards...some are very small...such as those on Chinese jian...others cover the whole hand.

I just thought I would pose this question to see what people think

Hi Nathaniel,

Very good question.
I'd always assumed that its because the 'fencing' style of these weapons doesn't call for blocking in the 'western' sense (I use inverted commas ther because I do realise how inapropriate the term is), but blocking by allowing the opponents blade to run up the length of your own until it hits the guard allows you to deflect their lunge while aiming your own counter-attack.
Its a really classic move in western fencing, the point of their blade goes past your shoulder while you (at the same time) step/lean into their attack and land the point of your sword square in their chest/throat.

I'm going to look a prize one if I've got this totally wrong but I'd always assumed the style for the weapons you mention is a 'closer' pull-cut form, so a guard could almost be a hinderance?