There is almost as much variety within the types of two-handed swords as there is within weapons as a whole; broadswords, katanas, zweihanders, and more are all part of this subtype of swords, and while there is a broad range of weapon-specific techniques there are also a few basic skills that will help anyone looking to learn how to wield a two-handed sword, and that might even apply to a few other weapons.

The first thing you should learn is an appropriate grip. A key to a powerful sword swing is similar to a powerful punch; you want to make sure your wrist is lined up well with the cutting edge much like how a straight punch is more powerful. You can achieve this by lining up the back edge of the grip so that it crosses diagonally from the base of your index finger. Both hands should have this grip.

This might feel awkward at first; both wrists should be twisted somewhat outward, placing your wrists directly behind the edge of the blade. Your second goal is to get good leverage; this involves placing your hands a decent ways apart from each other; in fact, on swords with pommels that make it reasonable, curling your lower hand's pinky under the base is often a good idea. Your goal is to get enough leverage to allow quick snap motions, allowing for quick attacks and defense.

Most of your attacks with a two-handed sword are going to be slashes. A quick wrist snap should start your attacks, and you should be slashing, not chopping; you want to sort of drag the blade powerfully across your opponent, in theory creating a deep and long cut; a chop is less effective and risks breaking certain kinds of swords.

And don't broadcast your attacks; there is no reason to raise a sword far above your head for an vertical slash, etc. Similar logic holds with regards to thrusts; less is more. You shouldn't be aiming to run someone through like you see in movies; you'll overextend yourself with absolutely zero practical effect.

For defense, you should still aim for a minimal movement, and avoid direct blocks, as they slow your counterattacks. Defensive movements differ from attacks in that where with an attack you want to move the tip of the blade, with a defense you should move the base and handle first. You want to keep the blade in line as much as possible, and for low attacks where this is impossible you want to drop the blade straight down your center before rolling it outward to block.

What do you think of when you think of a knight in shining armor. Bravery? Valor? Chivalry? Well, chivalry was indeed a part of the knight's code, but this same chivalry and code of ethics (political correctness of old) got in the way of their becoming effective fighters. I have several good reasons for this take:

#1 - Heavily Armored Knights Had Every Inch Of Their Body Covered With Metal Protection - This indicates to me that the most heavily armored knight, who was also the wealthiest, had very little confidence or skill in attacking or avoiding getting hit. How could they execute much movement and agility in these heavy and clunky metal suits? In fact, the suits weighed about 50 or 60 lbs., and there was not a lot of mobility and flexibility at the joints.

Sometimes when knights in heavy armor were knocked down on their backs, like cockroaches with their feet twirling desperately in the air, they couldn't get back up on their feet. This really made them sitting ducks to an opponent who may have been more agile, quicker and dressed with little or no armor.

#2 - Only Rich Noblemen Could Afford Fancy Armor - Armor was very expensive and took sometimes 3 to 4 years to build. Much of the shiniest armor was decorated, very ornate and showy. Having a finely decorated suit of armor in your household was indeed a status symbol and a "babe magnet" for all of the fair maidens in the land. Only the very rich could afford the most elaborately decorated and opulent metal suits.

Why would anyone go to so much trouble to create flashy armor if its true purpose was to get it all banged up in battle by someone who is out trying to kill you! The wealthy have never been the type to go out in battle versus sending the real fighters and soldiers first to do battle for them.

#3 - Flashy Armor Was Used A Lot For Sport And Jousting - The parallel to this is the modern-day Mixed Martial Arts sports fighter and the trained reality-based fighter of today. One looks good in the sport. The other knows how to survive in a life or death struggle.

#4 - Medieval Knights Had To Fight Under A Code Of Restricted Rules Of Chivalry - A knight, before being a warrior, was a gentleman who had to follow the politically polite correctness of chivalry. This meant, for example, that if a knight was lucky enough to knock his opponent to the ground, in many cases, he would not be allowed to continue attacking or be allowed to leave him on the battlefield to die.

So, from this historical perspective of medieval fighting and warfare, we could say of the romanticized knights of old that, the flashier the armor, the less of the warrior.