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When learning how to fence with a viking round shield, and a sword, it can sometimes be difficult to makes choices in sparring exercises, and in sparring bouts. Even at greatly reduced speed, you often do not have time to think about what to do, and maybe you do not even know.
Here is a method to improve your decision making. I have been inspired to develop this basic training method from experimentation and fencing with sharp swords at Trelleborg in Oktober of 2022. Especially the interactions between swords and shields were surprisingly enlightening.
One premise is the bind in the center. This bind happens when both fencers approach with sword and shield joined, or in conjunction, by resting the sword edge on the shield rim, at the top, in the center, in order to cover while approaching.
In this simplified training method, the four basic moves can be performed from the bind. This means, that in order to train it, you must allow this bind to happen. Not chase it, but allow it to happen.
The four moves are:
A thrust from above
A cut below
An overbind to the right and a shield strike
An overbind to the left and a shield strike