Editing Dual wield

{{Short description|Technique of using two weapons, one in each hand, for training or combat}}
[[File:Mongolian Armed Forces 100711-A-CE583-114.jpg|thumb|250px|Mongolian soldiers dual wielding knives during skills display]]
'''Dual wielding''' or '''Macedonian shooting'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parmeniov |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Fire your pistols in 'Macedonian style'! |url=https://history.mk/fire-your-pistols-in-macedonian-style/ |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=History.mk |language=en-US}}</ref> is the technique of using two [[weapon]]s, one in each hand, for [[training]] or [[combat]]. It is not a common combat practice. Although historical records of dual wielding in [[war]] are limited, there are numerous [[Martial arts#Variation and scope|weapon-based martial arts]] that involve the use of a pair of weapons. The use of a [[companion weapon]] is sometimes employed in [[European martial arts]] and fencing, such as a [[parrying dagger]]. [[Miyamoto Musashi]], a [[Japan]]ese swordsman and ''[[ronin]]'', was said to have conceived of the idea of a particular style of swordsmanship involving the use of two swords.

In terms of [[firearm]]s, especially [[handgun]]s, dual wielding is generally denounced by firearm enthusiasts due to its impracticality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlN_4MMTdPs|title = Why Dual Wielding Doesn't Work in Real Life|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> Though using two handguns at the same time confers an advantage by allowing more ready ammunition, it is rarely done due to other aspects of weapons handling. 

Dual wielding, both with melee and ranged weapons, has been popularized by fictional works ([[film]], [[television]], and [[video games]]).

==History==
[[File:dual wielding.jpg|alt=A young boy in a black vest over a white shirt and a black hat raises a pistol high in his right hand and lets another hang from his left hand.|thumb|An urban proletariat boy dual wields pistols in Eugène Delacroix's painting [[Liberty Leading the People|''La Liberté guidant le peuple'']].]]
Dual wielding has not been used or mentioned much in military history, though it appears in [[Martial arts#Variation and scope|weapon-based martial arts]] and [[fencing]] practices.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r0PCAgAAQBAJ|title=Schools and Masters of Fencing: From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century|last=Castle|first=Egerton|date=2012-06-19|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486138756|page=51|language=en}}</ref>

The [[dimachaerus]] was a type of Roman [[gladiator]] that fought with two [[sword]]s.<ref>The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome: Gladiators and Caesars, ed. by Eckart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2000), p. 63. {{ISBN|978-0-520-22798-9}}</ref> Thus, an inscription from Lyon, France, mentions such a type of gladiator, here spelled ''dymacherus''.<ref>{{CIL|13|1997}}</ref> The dimachaeri were equipped for close-combat fighting.<ref name=nossov>{{cite book|last=Nossov|first=Konstantin|title=Gladiator: Rome's bloody spectacle|year=2009|publisher=Osprey|isbn=978-1-84603-472-5|pages=208}}</ref> A dimachaerus used a pair of [[Sica|siccae]] (curved scimitar) or [[gladius]] and used a fighting style adapted to both attack and defend with his weapons rather than a shield, as he was not equipped with one.<ref name=nossov /><ref name="Junkelmann63">Marcus Junkelmann, 'Familia Gladiatoria: "The Heroes of the Amphitheatre"' in The Power of Spectacle in Ancient Rome: Gladiators and Caesars, ed. by Eckart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2000), p. 63. {{ISBN|978-0-520-22798-9}}</ref>

The use of weapon combinations in each hand has been mentioned for close combat in western Europe during the [[Byzantine]],<ref name="Byzantine">{{cite book|author=Tim Dawson PhD|title=Byzantine Infantryman: Eastern Roman Empire C.900-1204|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O14p5hPv8wAC|date=2010|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-105-2|page=48}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Medieval]], and [[Renaissance era]].<ref name="ShacklefordSpiritofSword">{{cite book|author=Steve Shackleford|title=Spirit Of The Sword: A Celebration of Artistry and Craftsmanship|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pkLaMKl09L8C|access-date=12 June 2013|date=7 September 2010|publisher=Adams Media|isbn=978-1-4402-1638-1|page=48}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The use of a [[parrying dagger]] such as a main gauche along with a [[rapier]] is common in historical European martial arts.<ref name="Oxford Medieval warfare">{{cite book|author=Clifford Rogers|title=The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mzwpq6bLHhMC|access-date=12 June 2013|date=June 2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533403-6|page=240}}</ref>

North American Indian tribes of the Atlantic northeast used a form involving a [[tomahawk]] in the primary hand and a [[knife]] in the secondary. It is practiced today as part of the modern Cree martial art Okichitaw.

All the above-mentioned examples, involve either one long and one short weapon, or two short weapons.  An example of a dual wield of two sabres is the Ukrainian cossack dance [[hopak]].

=== Asia ===
During the campaign [[Early Muslim conquests|Muslim conquest]] in 6th to 7th century AD, [[Rashidun caliphate]] general [[Khalid ibn Walid]] was reported to favor wielding two broad swords, with one in each hand, during combat.<ref name="Complete treatise on the war expeditions of the chosen Prophet and the three Caliphs">{{cite book |last=Elcolaí |first=Aburrebii ibn Salim |year=1237 |title=Complete treatise on the war expeditions of the chosen Prophet and the three Caliphs Arabic: الاكتفاء في مغازي المصطفى والثلاثة الخلفاء}}</ref>

Traditional schools of [[Japanese martial arts]] include dual wield techniques, particularly a style conceived by [[Miyamoto Musashi]] involving the [[katana]] and [[wakizashi]], two-sword [[kenjutsu]] techniques he called ''[[Niten Ichi-ryū]]''.

[[Eskrima]], the traditional martial arts of the Philippines teaches ''Doble Baston'' techniques involving the basic use of a pair of [[rattan sticks]] and also Espada y daga or Sword/Stick and Dagger. [[Okinawan martial arts]] have a method that uses a pair of [[Sai (weapon)|''sai'']].

[[Chinese martial arts]] involve the use of a pair of [[butterfly sword]]s and [[hook sword]]s.

Famed for his enormous strength, [[Dian Wei]], a military general serving under the warlord [[Cao Cao]] in the late [[Eastern Han dynasty]] of China, excelled at wielding a pair of ''[[Ji (halberd)|ji]]'' (a [[halberd]]-like weapon), each of which was said to weigh 40 ''[[Catty|jin]]''.

[[Chen An]], a warlord who lived during the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)]] and [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] period, wielded a sword and a serpent spear in each hand, supposedly measuring at 7 ''[[Chi (unit)|chi]]'' and 1 ''[[Zhàng|zhang]]'' 8 ''chi'' respectively.

During [[Wei–Jie war|Ran Wei–Later Zhao war]], [[Ran Min]], emperor of the short-lived Ran Wei empire of China, wielded two weapons, one in each hand, and fought fiercely, inflicting many casualties on the Xianbei soldiers while mounted on the famous horse Zhu Long ("Red Dragon").

[[Gatka]], a weapon-based martial art from the [[Punjab region]], is known to use two sticks at a time.

The Thailand weapon-based martial art [[Krabi Krabong]] involves the use of a separate [[Krabi (sword)|''Krabi'']] in each hand.

[[Kalaripayattu]] teaches advanced students to use either two sticks (of various sizes) or two daggers or two swords, simultaneously.

=== Modern ===
The use of a gun in each hand is often associated with the [[American Old West]], mainly due to media portrayals. It was common for people in the era to carry two guns, but not to use them at the same time. The second gun served as a backup weapon, to be used only if the main one suffered a malfunction or was lost or emptied.<ref name="OldwestFactorFilm">{{cite book|author=Jeremy Agnew | title=The Old West in Fact and Film: History Versus Hollywood | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R_mRcTRYcvsC | access-date=12 June 2013 | year=2012 | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-0-7864-9311-1 | page=170}}</ref>

However, there were several examples of gunmen in the West who used two pistols at the same time in their gunfights: 
* [[John Wesley Hardin]] killed a gunman named Benjamin Bradley who shot at him, by drawing both of his pistols and firing back.<ref>Hardin, John Wesley (1896). The Life of John Wesley Hardin: As Written By Himself. Seguin, Texas: Smith & Moore. p. 20. {{ISBN|978-0-8061-1051-6}}. Retrieved March 30, 2011.</ref>
* The Mexican vaquero [[Augustine Chacon]] had several gunfights in which he was outnumbered by more than one gunman and prevailed by equipping himself with a revolver in each hand.<ref>Wilson, R. Michael (2005). Legal Executions in the Western Territories, 1847-1911: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. McFarland. pp. 43-44. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4825-8}}</ref>
* [[King Fisher]] once managed to kill three bandits in a shootout by pulling both of his pistols.<ref name="ccchaney.com">[http://www.ccchaney.com/Genealogy/maternal/Damron/FisherJohnKing/kingfisher.html Texas Gunslinger, Outlaw and Lawman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903094308/http://www.ccchaney.com/Genealogy/maternal/Damron/FisherJohnKing/kingfisher.html |date=2014-09-03 }}.</ref>
* During the [[Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight]], lawman [[Dallas Stoudenmire]] pulled both of his pistols as he ran out onto the street and killed one bystander and two other gunmen.<ref>Metz, Leon Claire. 1979. Dallas Stoudenmire: El Paso Marshal. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. 162 p.</ref>
* [[Jonathan R. Davis]], a prospector during the [[California Gold Rush]], was ambushed by thirteen outlaws while together with two of his comrades. One of his friends was killed and the other was mortally wounded during the ambush. Davis drew both of his revolvers and fired, killing seven of the bandits, and killing four more with his bowie knife, causing the final two to flee.<ref>[http://www.jcs-group.com/oldwest/pistoleer/davis.html The Spell of the West: Captain Jonathan R. Davis.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113433/http://www.jcs-group.com/oldwest/pistoleer/davis.html|date=March 4, 2016}} Retrieved October 31, 2012.</ref>

[[File:Alison Carroll 20080927 Festival du jeu video 02.jpg|thumb|Model dressed as [[Lara Croft]] dual wielding pistols]]
Dual wielding two handguns has been popularized by film and television.<ref name="GunDigestGuide2010">{{cite book|author=Jerry Ahern|title=Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed-Carry Handguns|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ulWbH-4xtd8C|access-date=12 June 2013|date=5 October 2010|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|isbn=978-1-4402-1767-8|pages=135–137|chapter=18}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Effectiveness==
''[[MythBusters]]'' compared many [[firing stances]], including having a gun in each hand, and found that, compared to the two-handed single-gun stance as a benchmark, only the one-handed shoulder-level stance with a single gun was comparable in terms of accuracy and speed. The ability to look down the sights of the gun was given as the main reason for this.<ref name="Myth">{{cite episode |title=Wheel of Mythfortune |series=MythBusters |date=November 23, 2011 |network=[[Discovery Channel]] |season=2011 |number=177 |first1=Adam |first2=Jamie |last1=Savage |last2=Hyneman}}</ref> In an episode the following year, they compared holding two guns and firing simultaneously—rather than alternating left and right shots—with holding one gun in the two-handed stance, and found that the results were in favor of using two guns and firing simultaneously.<ref name=MythBusters>{{cite web|title=Hollywood gunslingers|url=http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/hollywood-gunslingers.htm|publisher=Mythbusters - Discovery|access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref>

==In media==
* The ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' features dual wielding being done by [[Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Leonardo]] with two [[katana]] [[sword]]s, [[Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Raphael]] with two [[Sai (weapon)|sai]]s, and [[Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Michelangelo]] with two [[nunchaku|nunchucks]]. Sometimes, their arch enemy [[Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Shredder]] dual wields with many weapons.
* ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' features Lady Eboshi dual wielding with a katana sword and a hairpin.
* The [[Marvel Comics]] features dual wielding being done by [[Deadpool]] with two katana swords, [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]] with two [[sabre]]s, [[Elektra (character)|Elektra]] with two sais, and [[Black Widow (Marvel Comics)|Black Widow]] with two [[pistol]]s and two [[Baton (law enforcement)|baton]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Natasha |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Wolverine Vs. Deadpool: Who Is The Strongest |url=https://www.cbr.com/wolverine-vs-deadpool-strongest-marvel-comics/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Volk |first=Pete |date=May 21, 2024 |title=Dual-wielding is cool but tri-wielding is even cooler actually |url=https://www.polygon.com/24156656/three-swords-at-once-tri-wielders-zoro-nightcrawler |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Medina |first=Joel |date=July 27, 2024 |title=Deadpool & Wolverine Gives Marvel Its Best Team-Up Ever |url=https://collider.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-gambit-blade-elektra-x-23/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[DC Comics]] features [[Dick Grayson]] and [[Barbara Gordon]] dual wielding two [[baston (weapon)|bastons]]. 
* The ''[[Star Wars]]'' franchise features many characters dual wielding two [[lightsaber]]s or more including [[Darth Vader]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Paul |date=June 15, 2022 |title=Obi-Wan Kenobi episode five recap: death, deceit and more Darth Vader |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-recaps/obi-wan-kenobi-episode-5-recap-death-darth-vader-3247976 |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Ahsoka Tano]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGlynn |first=Anthony |date=October 9, 2023 |title=Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars explained |url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/star-wars/ahsoka-tano |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=The Digital Fix |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[General Grievous]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minton |first=Turner |date=December 4, 2016 |title=15 Best Lightsaber Duelists In The Star Wars Universe |url=https://screenrant.com/best-lightsaber-duelists-fighters-in-star-wars-universe/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' features [[Palpatine]] and his former apprentice [[Darth Maul]] dual wielding two lightsabers each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Karsten |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Star Wars: Why Emperor Palpatine Has TWO Lightsabers (Despite Hating Them) |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-emperor-palpatine-sidious-lightsabers-hate-reason/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bacon |first=Thomas |date=September 28, 2020 |title=Star Wars: 20 Best Lightsabers, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-best-lightsabers-ranked/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref> Also, characters dual wielding two [[Blaster (Star Wars)|blaster pistols]] include [[Jango Fett]] and [[Bo-Katan Kryze]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zagranis |first=Zack |date=April 1, 2025 |title=10 Coolest Star Wars Blasters Ranked (Chewie's Bowcaster Is #3) |url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/10-coolest-star-wars-blasters-ranked-mandalorian-han-solo/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brizzell |first=Molly |date=September 8, 2024 |title=New Mandalorian Photo Shows A Costume Change That Just Doesn't Make Sense |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-the-mandalorian-din-djarin-costume-change-blasters/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Halo (franchise)|''Halo'' franchise]] allows dual-wielding weapons from ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]'' onwards. 
* ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' features the [[centaur]] [[general]] [[List of The Chronicles of Narnia characters#Adaptations|Oreius]] dual wielding two [[longsword]]s, and also the oppressive [[White Witch]] doing the same. It also features the [[Minotaur]] general [[List of The Chronicles of Narnia characters#Adaptations|Otmin]] dual wielding a [[falchion]] sword and a [[battle axe]]. 
* ''[[Ip Man 3]]'' features [[butterfly sword]]s being dual wielded by [[Ip Man]] and Cheung Tin-chi.
* ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' features the [[Wizards in Middle-earth|wizard]] [[Gandalf]] dual wielding a magic [[Staff weapon|staff]] and a mystic longsword.
* ''[[The Mummy Returns]]'' features the adventurous [[Egyptologist]] [[List of The Mummy (film series) characters#Evelyn Carnahan|Evelyn O'Connell]] and the treacherous [[List of The Mummy (film series) characters#Anck-su-namun|Anck-su-namun]] dual wielding two sais. 
* The ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' franchise features characters dual wielding two swords including [[Jack Sparrow]], [[Will Turner]], and [[Elizabeth Swann]].
* The [[martial arts]] film ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' features [[Michelle Yeoh]] as Yu Shu Lien dual wielding with a [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] sword which split to two, and then with two [[hook sword]]s. 
* ''[[The Three Musketeers (1973 live-action film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' features many characters dual fighting with [[rapier]]s and [[dagger]]s.
* ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'' features [[Tommy Oliver]] dual wielding a sword and a dagger.
* ''[[Robin of Sherwood]]'' features Nasir, a [[Saracen]] [[assassin]] who dual wields two [[scimitars]].
* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' features dual wielding done by [[Zuko]] with two dao swords, Jet with two hook swords, [[List of Avatar: The Last Airbender characters#Suki|Suki]] with two [[war fan]]s, and [[Sokka]] with a [[machete]] along a [[Club (weapon)|club]] or a [[boomerang]].     
* The ''[[Transformers]]'' features dual wielding being done by many characters including [[Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Primal]] with two swords.
* ''[[Kung Fu Hustle]]'' features [[iron rings]] being dual wielded by the humble [[tailor]] of Pigsty Alley.
* ''[[Power Rangers: Jungle Fury]]'' features dual wielding being done by [[List of Power Rangers Jungle Fury characters#Casey Rhodes|Casey Rhodes]] with two nunchakus and also two dao-themed Shark Sabres, [[List of Power Rangers Jungle Fury characters#Theo Martin|Theo Martin]] with two [[tonfa]]s and then two tessan-themed Jungle Fans, and [[List of Power Rangers Jungle Fury characters#Camille|Camille]] with two sais.
* The [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] film ''[[Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]'' features the [[Ten Rings (object)|Ten Rings]], which are dual wielded by [[Wenwu]] and his son [[Shang-Chi (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Shang-Chi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=September 3, 2021 |title=Shang-Chi: What Are the Ten Rings and Are They Actually Magical? |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/shang-chi-ten-rings-explained-mandarin-wenwu |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>
* The musical version of ''[[The Lion King (musical)|The Lion King]]'' features [[Mufasa]] and his son [[Simba]] dual wielding two [[akrafena]] swords to fight.
* [[Lara Croft]], the heroine of the ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' franchise, dual wields two pistols.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Bradley |date=September 20, 2024 |title=Lara Croft wields her iconic twin pistols in new trailer for Netflix Tomb Raider anime |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lara-croft-wields-her-iconic-070712961.html |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[Yahoo Entertainment]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Dante (Devil May Cry)|Dante]], the protagonist of the ''[[Devil May Cry]]'' series, dual wields two pistols, named Ebony and Ivory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2021 |title=20 years on and the original Devil May Cry is still the best one |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/22/20-years-on-and-the-original-devil-may-cry-is-still-the-best-one-15131015/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Kirito (Sword Art Online)|Kirito]], the protagonist of ''[[Sword Art Online]]'', is known for being able to wield two swords of a similar length at the same time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 14, 2024 |title=10 isekai characters with extraordinary and unique abilities |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/10-isekai-characters-with-extraordinary-and-unique-abilities/articleshow/112515880.cms |access-date=April 15, 2025 |work=[[The Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
* [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]] and [[Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)|Roxas]] of the ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' franchise have the ability to dual wield [[Keyblade|Keyblades]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solorzano |first=Sergio |date=June 10, 2019 |title=Kingdom Hearts 3 DLC Trailer Confirms Dual-Keyblade-Wielding Roxas |url=https://www.thegamer.com/kingdom-hearts-3-dlc-trailer-dual-keyblade-wielding-roxas/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref> 

==See also==
* [[Ambidexterity]]
* [[Cross-dominance]]
* [[Dimachaerus]]
* [[Gun fu]]
* [[Swordsmanship]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Combat]]
[[Category:Video game terminology]]