There are a number of glorious things about fighting short pole arm (or long sword). First of all, you don't have to lug around a shield. That makes transport so much easier. Secondly, it's more intimate. Third, it's even more crushing. With my glaive at least, when I hit someone they know it (I've used light thin pole arms where this wasn't true). Finally, there's the learning curve. I had a successful pole arm career, fifteen years or more, wherein I relied on just five trick shots. For a decade I used only one. So this time between Crown and Pennsic, when Im concentrating on polearm and spear, is a lot of fun. 

WORKOUTS

It was a great workout week for me. I biked a couple of days. I ran three miles once. I did ten times rounds on the heavy bag (great workout). 

TECHNIQUE

Right now I'm trying to stay at a medium distance and cutting as they step out from behind their shields. 

FIGHTING

Southern Army Sunday's had some great scenarios. We even played capture the flag. 

A short polearm, like a partisan, is a sergeant's weapon. It's good for keeping your guys in line, and is only useful as a weapon when one side has charged. Stand in the shield wall, or get into the spear duel on a bridge, you'll get gacked . But when the lines crash into one another and units start to break, that's when you rack up the kills. 

This is what I did on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. 

It's two weeks until Pennsic. My next time in armor will be Pennsic.