Many cultures have diversified the simple techniques and some of the advanced ones. Every country or religious following has evolved it's own way of using weapons and strategies to approach battle.

The Viking Way

The way the earliest Nordic heritage way of fighting is a very brutal and simplistic way of using a blade. Vikings use rage and sheer primal instincts to drive their fighting style. The early people of Nordic heritage were usually much taller and of a bigger build than the average person. This suits them positively as most of the damage inflicted actually isn't through rendering of flesh. Crashing into the opponent full force inflicted a lot of blunt force damage resulting in broken bones and other internal injuries. In other words the broad side of the sword is as deadly as sharp side. Vikings were trained at a young age sometimes as soon as they could hold a blade. They mainly fought other vikings and the price of losing could result in death.

The Samurai Way

In early japanese times the royal families and many groups of warlords were in need of protection...this is where the samurai were born. The Samurai belief is that a educated warrior is far deadlier than physically advanced warrior. Training was intense in many ways, such as fighting opponents while blind folded to having to meditate while being put through intense amounts of pain. I have attempted this type of training I had to meditate while being struck across the chest and back with a sycamore cane and not show any sort of reaction and continue to meditate. If you became a samurai honor was to be valued above all else if you ever lost a battle you were to sacrifice your life for dishonor.