FNG seeking advice

[michaelbarnard]

A little about me before I ask the question, and I am sure if I dig around in here enough I will eventually find my answers, however:

I have become more interested in swords and swordplay recently, although I guess in some ways I have always been interested but I have never taken an approch towards it as a "hobbie" or Martial Art. I did at one time take Kempo Karate and was studying for my Green Belt before I ended up moving around and forsaking it all together. I always enjoyed the stick and staff drills. Presently I am in Iraq with what seems like a lot of time on my hands, and I would like to learn more about sword fighting all around.

Let me specify my stance some more: I have known a few SCAdians the last few years and although throwing on some pads and "armor" looks like great fun and a good beating, there seems something fundamentally wrong about walking out onto a field as a first timer not knowing a thing about what your doing. I agree that practice improves your skills, but not having any forethought into the movements seems dumb if not lazy to me. No offense to any SCAdians, because there are some talented folks and I realize that being part of the SCA mandates self study and practice. (and I am sure there may be few lurking in here too!)

I guess I am developing a passion for swords, maybe it's too much RA Salvatore, but it goes beyond fantasy; I am not a youngster-at 33 years old I am not old by any means either. I have ordered some books and built some one-handed practice swords (because I can swing them in my office while no one is around) to work on muscle strength, dexterity, coordination, and precision of my movements. From what I have read thus far and the few excercises I have been doing, I can feel the movements in all of my upper body and especially my wrists and forearms. If I can get away with it-I'll get the long broom handle off the push broom and go outside where I have some swing area.

What I would like to know is if there are some good techniques I can prctice alone to begin to hone my perception without a partner. Keep in mind I would mostly be using a 36" wooden sword. I am also interested in the history and manufacturing of swords, so any source suggestions would be great. I will be here a better part of this year-so once again, I have a lot of time on my hands. (Also, I am not permitted to have in my posession weapons or anything that resembles weapons. If it comes down to it, I may lose my homemade swords. Company policy)

[ChristineChurches]

Welcome to the ARMA Forum.

Please change your profile name to your real first and last name as mandated by our forum rules.

Thank you.

[Stacy Clifford]

For exercise with a one-handed sword I would check out Di Grassi, who has a section in the rear of the book on how to exercise:

http://www.umass.edu/renaissance/lord/p ... i_1594.pdf

You'll need to read through the front parts on footwork and cutting as well to understand it, and of course you'll have to wade through some old-style English, but it's good stuff. Don't have time right now to write more than that, but others here can give you plenty of advice as well. Welcome to the forums.

[Sal Bertucci]

I do a lot of solo stuff, (but less and less of it now ) and i think that if you could find some regular time to do some pell work that would be great. Apart from that, just prectice doing the cuts over and over again, with focus on form before speed. Reading the manuals, and the translations is a nice way to keep your intrest up when you don't have time to swing things around. It also help teach the theroy behind a technique, and fighting in general. Eventually work up into floryishing. Without a partner there really isn't that much that you can do, but if you can get the basics down (correctly) it will make it easier to learn more techniques in the future.

[Benjamin Smith]

First I should mention that it absolutely essential to find a partner if you want to develop real skill.

Having said that, as someone who is currently seeking for a regular training partner, I feel your pain. I have two recommendations.

1) Practice footwork and the cuts and thrusts that you understand over, and over, and over again. Try to think of different ways to use them, and don't be afraid to try something new. Look through online manuals and see what you can puzzle together. I'm confident you will find quite a bit.

2) Get yourself a pell. We have a great article on them in the Articles and Essays page. Without a training partner this is the next best thing. It will help you learn distance, timing, intensity, and most importantly provide a resistant target.

[CalebSlagle]

If I can get away with it-I'll get the long broom handle off the push broom and go outside where I have some swing area.

I seriously wonder if everyone started off on the broom handle without realizing it.

[Jason Taylor]

If I can get away with it-I'll get the long broom handle off the push broom and go outside where I have some swing area.

I seriously wonder if everyone started off on the broom handle without realizing it.

Let's see, for me it was the broom/umbrella/bent hanger/stick/dowel/other stick/yet another stick/piece of whatever....

[Joshua Hintzen]

If I can get away with it-I'll get the long broom handle off the push broom and go outside where I have some swing area.

I seriously wonder if everyone started off on the broom handle without realizing it.

Let's see, for me it was the broom/umbrella/bent hanger/stick/dowel/other stick/yet another stick/piece of whatever....

Same here. My little brother and I would "sword fight" with the broom and rake sticks and whatever we could find that was long and thin. We would raid the shed for the rake handles because they took the most beating, but we had to be sneaky-sneaky about it because our mother threw a fit when she caught us. makes sense with us being only 10 and 8.

[Peggy Sue Coates]

My boys do the same, they however have been allowed to do so from the time they were tiny (the favorite then being 2 liter pop bottles). Now I simply make them (and their friends) safe padded ones which I replace or repair as needed. I knew there was no way especially with me swinging a sword to stop them from doing so, I try for some form of safety and to keep them from destroying the house. Personally I recommend to my friends let them...at least they aren't sitting in front of the TV.

I think our hired hand sword fighting up and down the isle of the grocery store with my brother using French bread is probably the strongest memory of the type from growing up... mom would have killed them if she knew...we could and did play at home all we wanted but never "in public"...she still is horrified at what I do.

[CalebSlagle]

That reminds me. When I was 4 years old I was fighting another kid. We both had sticks and were swinging them like swords and the jerk stabbed me in the eye with his stick. I remember the feeling of the doctor pulling chucks of wood out of my eye socket with rubber gloves in the emergency room. I wish I could have a rematch with that guy now. I don't suppose any of you other stick swingers remember a similar showdown at a preschool in Alabama do you?

[Jason Taylor]

That reminds me. When I was 4 years old I was fighting another kid. We both had sticks and were swinging them like swords and the jerk stabbed me in the eye with his stick. I remember the feeling of the doctor pulling chucks of wood out of my eye socket with rubber gloves in the emergency room. I wish I could have a rematch with that guy now. I don't suppose any of you other stick swingers remember a similar showdown at a preschool in Alabama do you?

Well, I grew up in CA--but if I had been the guy, I doubt I'd come clean about it now.

Jason

[Dave Rogers]

[...]

What I would like to know is if there are some good techniques I can prctice alone to begin to hone my perception without a partner. Keep in mind I would mostly be using a 36" wooden sword. I am also interested in the history and manufacturing of swords, so any source suggestions would be great. I will be here a better part of this year-so once again, I have a lot of time on my hands. (Also, I am not permitted to have in my posession weapons or anything that resembles weapons. If it comes down to it, I may lose my homemade swords. Company policy)

Welcome!

You sound a lot like me. Though, you've discovered your interest about ten years earlier than I did. I'm 40[cough] something. I'm still pretty much a FNG at this too, but in the last year plus that I've been studying and practicing I know I have come a very long way in that short time.

While it's tough to improve without a sparring partner, there's still a lot you can do by yourself. In fact, I felt there was a lot of solo groundwork I had to do before I could begin sparring and get any value from it:

-- Footwork, footwork, footwork. Stance and steps.
-- The guards: Vom Tag, Alber, Pflug, Ochs...
-- Tip progressions: Moving from one guard to another and another, with intent. Notice that this is starting to look a lot like cuts...
-- 8 cut and 16 cut drills.
-- Floryshing

There's lots of material here that you can do even without an opponent. And who knows? Maybe you'll find somebody else that has an interest and you can work out together? I believe there have been several ARMA members over there in Iraq and one time or another. Maybe there's somebody closer than you think.

With regard to swords... in a pinch, any stick will do. A good wooden waster would be ideal (See New Stirling Arms for that). You might even be able to convince your employer that it's really just a wooden stick and not a weapon. Because, well... it *is* just a wooden stick. One thing that matters is to somehow be able to distinguish between the edges and the flats. It's essential to start out with that basic awareness of cutting with the true or false edge, or to always parry with the flat, or else some bad habits may develop.

There's lots of excellent people here that are more than willing to help. I hope this is helpful...

Regards,

Dave
ARMA Seattle