Fighting Technique
Technique
Written by: Kolfinna kottr, Originally published at http://www.swordmaiden.com/
It seems that whenever someone talks about female fighters, the topic of their disadvantages always comes up. Usually that they aren’t big enough, strong enough, aggressive enough, etc. I really disagree with this mode of thinking, I don’t think of women as having disadvantages, they just don’t have some of the bonuses.
I have fought against men who have been smaller, slower, weaker and less aggressive than I am. How do they fight me? With Technique. You can make up for the lack of bonuses with the use of proper technique. Earl Brion Thornbird is a 5′4, 140 lbs Count of Caid. Just from his stature he lacked some of the bonuses, but yet he was able to use technique to rise and win crown tournament.
Technique can be taught to you by your mentor, other fighters, or from various books on the subject of fighting. Below are a few drills that we can recommend to help with your technique.
Drills Without Armor
No Armor Slow Speed Melee Every one should have a sword and shield (or preferred fighting form) and no armor on. This drill is in Slow Speed, slow in walking, slow in moving, slow in blocking, and slow in attacking. All fighters are on their own team, with no alliances or team mates. Walk around the field slowly attacking other opponents, concentrating on form and technique when doing so. When some one “dies” they should walk off the field for a count of 20 seconds, then they come back on the field. If anyone moves in normal speed for any action (besides talking) they should be considered dead and take a 20 second break. Killing from behind should be handled in the fashion of putting your sword lightly on the person’s back and calling them dead. The primary purpose of this drill is to really stress proper form (i.e. putting the hip into the blow), while having to deal with different people in various positions. Please note that all the blows you throw in this melee are not “fairy blows”, they need to be thrown as if you were throwing in full speed.
Numbered Pell Work by Duke Jade
Take your pell and divide it into 6 section like the image to the right, taping the lines with duct tape. Also tape the numbers onto the pell. Now every shot you will throw will be a two shot combination. You begin by throwing the first shot of the set to the 1 section and the second shot to the 1 section. Then you start your combo over again and throw the first shot to the 1 section and the second shot to the 2 second. You continue in the pattern throwing 1,1 – 1,2 – 1,3 – 1,4 – 1,5 – 1,6 – 2,1 – 2,2 – 2,3 – 2,4 – 2,5 – 2,6 – 3,1 – 3,2 – 3,3 – 3,4 – 3,5 – 3,6 – 4,1 – 4,2 – 4,3 – 4,4 – 4,5- 4,6 – 5,1 – 5,2 – 5,3 – 5,4 – 5,5 – 5,6 – 6,1 – 6,2 – 6,3 – 6,4 – 6,5 – 6,6. Now that you’ve got the basic idea down, you can do this drill in 3 shot combination or any variation you’d like. Remember that pell work can be tough on the elbows, so do this in moderation.
For more ideas, check out the Pell Work by Konitessa Mari Alexander, OL, OP.
Drills In Armor
Counted Blows This drill is played in many variations, but here is a standard one. One fighter is declared the defensive fighter and they are only allowed three shots. The other fighter is declared the offensive fighter and they are allowed unlimited shots. Once the defensive fighter throws their three shots (without successfully killing their opponent) the offensive fighter is then allotted 10 blows. If the offensive fighter doesn’t kill the defensive fighter in those 10 blows, the the defensive fighter wins. This is a great drill for getting defensive/offensive fighters to work on other ways of fighting. Play with the amount of blows to tweak with the drill.
Critiquing
This drill is designed so you can get constructive feedback from your practice partners. One fighter is designated “it” and they go stand in the middle of the fighting area. All the other fighters line up in order of time they have been fighting, and the newest fighter in that line goes and fights the “it”. It is a standard fight, fight until someone is dead. The “it” remains on the field, and the next person in line challenges them. The “it stays on the field until they have fought every person in that line. Then everyone takes off their helmets and starting at the newest member in the line, they critique the “it”. The “it” isn’t allowed to say anything until the most senior fighter in the line has critiqued them. Then the “it” gets to say their piece. Wash, rinse, repeat with a different person being an “it”, until everyone has been the “it”. Be honest when you are critiquing the “it”, explain what you really mean. i.e. “You seem really defensive when I attack you, if you move more latterly perhaps you could gain ground on me.” or “I always know you are going to throw to my leg, because you always look intently there, perhaps you can learn how to target without looking.” Also, you don’t have to critique the “it” from what you saw in just your fight with them, but critique them with any knowledge from their fight with anyone in the line. Another good benefit of this drill, is that not only do you get to hear what you could work on, you also get to critique other people. Watching how other people fight and understanding them, helps you to become a better fighter.
Standing on the Sword
Place a rattan sword in the middle of the field. Each fighter needs to put one foot on the sword. A 3rd party calls start and the fight is to first blood. If I can hit you in the leg before you can hit me, I win. This drill promotes reflexes and spotting openings. You can also play the variation where it is not first blood, but Counted Blows (see above).
Fighting Practice Variants
Winners/Losers Field At practice you get two fighting fields going, a winner’s and a loser’s field. The winner’s field is the same as the “king of the hill” concept, two people fight on that field until one dies (double kills are refought). The victor of the match stays on the field to fight the next person in line (and does so until they lose), the loser heads over to the loser’s field. The loser’s field is designed to help the newer fighter have a more of a chance to lay stick on people. The 2 opponents face off on the loser’s field and the fight until someone dies (double kills are refought). Except that this time the person who lost the fight stays on the loser’s field, ready to face the next opponent. The loser stays on the loser’s field until they win a fight or have been in the rotation for more than 3 consecutive fights (replace the 3 with whatever number you feel is necessary). Once off the loser’s field head back to the winner’s field to start all over again.
