Use Any Two Handed Sword
Long back, swords were vital tools of survival, and today that knowledge can still be used. Consider this, one day you are walking through a park when someone tries mugging you with a baseball bat, or you are otherwise attacked by armed opponents. Unless you are a 4th degree blackbelt, you won't win this. But suppose there is a fallen branch by you, or a pipe lying in the ally way. Perhaps this would happen on your way back from baseball practice, and you just happen to have a bat of your own. This guide may very well save your life. Stick with Boffer swords (pvc pipe covered in soft foam), plastic swords or wooden swords when training training with a friend. When training under a master use live steel; it has a more realistic feel.
This article was not written by an expert on the subject, so use this advice with a certain level of discretion and common sense, it may not be the best advice available.
Steps
- Grip your sword with your dominant hand (in this article it will be referred to as the right hand and the non-dominant as the left henceforth). Switch this if you are left-handed) right below the guard and grab the pommel(bottom of the sword) with your left hand. If the pommel is very uncomfortable to grip, stick with the basic two hand grip.
- With the left hand, grip the sword tightly with the pinky, ring, and middle finger, the others should have a semi-tight grip. The right hand is not used for striking!
- Hold your sword so that the pommel is right above your bellybutton (don't rest it on the stomach, keep it a little ways out) and point the tip somewhere between the sternum and throat. Now if they charge full on they'll run into your weapon.
- When striking, stab at the sky, bringing your left hand up past your eye, then come down on them, using your right hand to guide the blade and using the left hand to set the force in to the blade. The right hand should be the axis or pivot.
- Now the footwork. Place your left foot behind your right foot (other way around if you're left handed) and stand on the balls of your left foot. Keep your balance!
- When you strike, you push with your left foot, sliding your right foot on the ground and raise your sword. Now bring your left foot back into position and STRIKE!
- When striking, keep your right arm straight (but not locked, you don't want it broken) and bend it when it reaches your head. Reverse what you just did to strike, but remember, your strike with the hand closest to the pommel, you use your dominant hand to guide.
- Practice your strikes. Don't weakly hit them, keep each and every swing full and powerful. Keep your battle cry strong (otherwise known as your kiai[kee-eye]) so your hit stays strong. After you are good at individual strikes, try them in a string, hit the gloves, then immediately advance to hit the head!
- Don't get set in your ways too much. If you go to get taught by a true swordsman, you will have to throw away all you thought you knew about armed combat and take every bit of knowledge from the trainer.
- And finally, DON'T GIVE UP! If you want to be any sort of blades man you will have to practice daily. If you become rusty, you'll fall behind.
Tips
- Often, when using a weapon, you may be tempted to use just your arms to swing with the blade. Don't do this. Instead, use your entire body to swing the weapon, as this allows much more force to be applied to the attack, and also doesn't damage your muscles as much.
- If you are using a fragile arm (a brittle stick or a baton which will bend on the first strike) be sure to avoid arm to arm contact as this will leave you defenseless. If your weapon is flexible, you can collide, because with any luck it will bend under the opponents weapon and you'll be ready for another strike while he recovers from his.
- Don't be overly honorable. This means your life. If you have no weapon, throw dirt in his eyes and spring on him, doing your best to disarm him. If he will still be mobile after your move, make sure to take his weapon and turn it on him. Otherwise, leave the weapon and RUN!!!
- If you can disarm them, there is no further need of conflict, don't kill unless your life is in immediate danger (like if they pull a gun)
- Strikes to the glove will be the easiest strike at first as it is right below the guard. Cut the glove first, then they will be disarmed or they will flinch.
- Improvise! Just about any long, hard object can be used as a weapon. When you're in a bind, you can't be picky, your object is to disable your opponent before he can kill you.
- Combine attacks, Hit the glove and immediately go for the head or a stab to the chest.
- If you are still practicing use either sticks or feathered dusters to make sure you don't get hurt during practice.
- Don't try to be an anime samurai! Don't use massive monologues, don't try to be badass, it all makes you look pathetic and it wastes too much energy.
Warnings
- Practice alone at first. That way you won't injure anyone.
- Always respect the blade, it is not just a tool to attack with, it is an extension of your body and should be treated as such. It should not be brandished thoughtlessly or swung about without regards to its dangerous nature. This goes for any weapon you decide to dedicate yourself to.
- Be safe, I don't want to be in trouble because you were being stupid and lobbed off an arm!
- Keep your blade in front of you every time you face an enemy, that way they have to go through that to get to you, and at the same time you won't hit yourself.
- Please, do not try this based on this alone, it is still in construction and will never be a complete guide. Get professional training if you really wish to be a great swordsmen.
- NEVER hold a blade to another person unless you are ready to kill and die.
- Live steel should never have to be used unless you're in your own home and someone breaks in with a weapon. The only time you would likely have to use this is in a friendly boffer fight at a Ren Fair.
- Never twirl your blade around. You'll hit yourself in the head, legs, or face.
- Every strike with a heavier blade will leave you unbalanced, strike wisely.
Things You'll Need
- A training dummy
- A Bokken or other sturdy staff like object (like pvc pipe, plastic sword, stick
- A friend to do SAFE practice with (like to have them imitate moves in slow motion so you can parry or block them properly)
- Armor for both of you (if you plan to do real sparring with anything other than boffer swords)
- Common sense, don't do anything stupid!
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