First attempt at some saber choreography

[TheDarkOpossum]

Hey everyone! I'm still getting used to my Dark Apprentice and the difference in weight distribution as compared to a contact staff, but I thought I'd record a little bit of the practice I got in today. There's definitely some kinks to work out, but I'm having fun with the process!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vDlPit-mxg&amp;feature=share" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vDlPit-mxg&amp;feature=share</a>

[Darth Cephalus]

Definitely a good start. You have a theatrical style that speaks to the heart of what the saber artistry section is about. As a word of advice, if you are used to doing contact staff and are planning to try contact moves with a saber, I strongly suggest a yari pike extension, to expand the staff's sweet spot, and some grip tape. I use Duck brand self fusing fix it wrap; it is a cheaper alternative to contact silicone.

[TheDarkOpossum]

Definitely a good start. You have a theatrical style that speaks to the heart of what the saber artistry section is about. As a word of advice, if you are used to doing contact staff and are planning to try contact moves with a saber, I strongly suggest a yari pike extension, to expand the staff's sweet spot, and some grip tape. I use Duck brand self fusing fix it wrap; it is a cheaper alternative to contact silicone.

That's great advice, thank you! To be honest I'm still pretty terrible at contact moves, but I wonder if the pike extension would make the weight distribution and momentum a bit more similar to what I'm accustomed to with my other staves. As for grip tape, that's definitely going to have to happen ASAP. I'll see if I can find some of the Duck brand tape locally!

[Master Venturous]

Very graceful and smooth. Would love to see more to some faster music maybe or with other saber types. Keep it up.

[Rapine]

Awesome TheDarkOpossum!

I can really see how your previous experience translates.  So smooth, and I like how you always had a decent hand-hold on the weapon. At no time did it look like someone could come along, and disarm you with a blade of grass.

Darth Caphalus, and Master Venturous are spinning gurus.  Heed their advice  - it's been invaluable to me.  (Even though at times I wish I could reach through my screen, and punch Venturous for making it look so damned easy...sigh.)

Points to the lot of you!

[Master Medwyn]

That's how a saber is enjoyed properly
I like the music too!

[Master Venturous]

Awesome TheDarkOpossum!

I can really see how your previous experience translates.  So smooth, and I like how you always had a decent hand-hold on the weapon. At no time did it look like someone could come along, and disarm you with a blade of grass.

Darth Caphalus, and Master Venturous are spinning gurus.  Heed their advice  - it's been invaluable to me.  (Even though at times I wish I could reach through my screen, and punch Venturous for making it look so damned easy...sigh.)

Points to the lot of you!

It just takes practice and time. The more you put in, the more you'll get out, which is true for everything really. Everyone has the potential to spin these glowsticks. 😉

[TheDarkOpossum]

Thanks so much for the advice and the compliments everyone! It's very much appreciated. I definitely have plenty of things to learn still (I still need to get a better grasp of many transitions, as well as working more two-handed spins into my repertoire), but now that I have a prop that doesn't require fire to be impressive I have a little more incentive to practice more.  

Very graceful and smooth. Would love to see more to some faster music maybe or with other saber types. Keep it up.

Yeah, I'm still looking for the right music for this particular act I am developing -- currently this one speaks to me the most, but I would like something more uptempo.  I have a lot of work to do in order to get comfortable with dual wielding, but my hope is that I can work out some sort of quick-connect apparatus so I can move from dual sabers to staff fairly seamlessly; before that can happen, though, I need to wrap my brain pan around the idea of tricks like the alternating obi-ani (having each hand in a different part of the same pattern still fries my circuits!).

[Rapine]

It just takes practice and time. The more you put in, the more you'll get out, which is true for everything really. Everyone has the potential to spin these glowsticks. 😉

I know Master Venturous,

I do practice diligently, whenever I can, and remind myself how easy you do make it look.

I watch your videos constantly, and will only practice the correct way of doing things.

I went straight for the obi/ani, and pretty much have it, but once I got to Plum flower, realized that I didn't have any sort of upward figure eight base at all.

Lesson learned.  I'm presently getting good at BOTH figure eights.

I've highjacked TDO's thread with this rambling quite long enough though.

Points for all - again.

[TheDarkOpossum]

I know Master Venturous,

I do practice diligently, whenever I can, and remind myself how easy you do make it look.

I watch your videos constantly, and will only practice the correct way of doing things.

I went straight for the obi/ani, and pretty much have it, but once I got to Plum flower, realized that I didn't have any sort of upward figure eight base at all.

Lesson learned.  I'm presently getting good at BOTH figure eights.

I've highjacked TDO's thread with this rambling quite long enough though.

Points for all - again.

Hijack away, there's no harm in it! It's amazing how muscle memory doesn't always translate when you start trying to master the move from a different position. And then there's other times where it might take you months of trying to nail a particular trick, then one day it just clicks and seems like the most natural thing in the world and you wonder why you had so much trouble with it. Brains are weird!

[Darth Weinstein]

I really enjoyed the video. You are very smooth and fluid. I look forward to watching your skills develop. Thanks for sharing. Point.

[Master Venturous]

Thanks so much for the advice and the compliments everyone! It's very much appreciated. I definitely have plenty of things to learn still (I still need to get a better grasp of many transitions, as well as working more two-handed spins into my repertoire), but now that I have a prop that doesn't require fire to be impressive I have a little more incentive to practice more. 

Yeah, I'm still looking for the right music for this particular act I am developing -- currently this one speaks to me the most, but I would like something more uptempo.  I have a lot of work to do in order to get comfortable with dual wielding, but my hope is that I can work out some sort of quick-connect apparatus so I can move from dual sabers to staff fairly seamlessly; before that can happen, though, I need to wrap my brain pan around the idea of tricks like the alternating obi-ani (having each hand in a different part of the same pattern still fries my circuits!).

If you're looking into dual wielding, Darth Cephalus is more the source to follow for that. He's pretty much the dual wielding guru around here. Another source of videos to check out would be ch3m1st videos (another member on here). As for the quick connect apparatus, you will definitely have to let me know if you find or make something like that, because I would very much love something like that. Hint hint Ultrasabers!

I know Master Venturous,

I do practice diligently, whenever I can, and remind myself how easy you do make it look.

I watch your videos constantly, and will only practice the correct way of doing things.

I went straight for the obi/ani, and pretty much have it, but once I got to Plum flower, realized that I didn't have any sort of upward figure eight base at all.

Lesson learned.  I'm presently getting good at BOTH figure eights.

I've highjacked TDO's thread with this rambling quite long enough though.

Points for all - again.

I try to make videos in the order I think will help people progress the fastest, where each video is a prerequisite to the next. I know when I first learned, the upward figure 8 was the most annoying move I learned. And as TDO said, you can practice a move over and over for a month and then one day it will just click for you and you'll realize how easy it feels. It's kind of cool when that happens actually because you'll get a sudden burst of feeling badass when you can suddenly do a move.

[Rathayatra]

This is very sith . thanks for sharing your moves and look forward to more spinning .  point.

[321]

You probably already know this but be careful not to get too close to the blades with the hands; if it appears you touched a blade it breaks the illusion of danger.

That was a pleasure to watch.  Keep it up!