Saber Forum

So, last night for the first time, i took my saber out in the back yard at dusk.  I soon found myself in a flurry of spins, flourishes, slashes and dashes.  What i started to realizes is that i was gettin a workout.

Now i'm not out of shape or anything, but i recently lost 50 lbs, but gained 10 in the last month (due to new job serving delicious food *shakes fist*)

I was thinking of how much of a sweat i was building up, then thought "Hey! Why not incorporate saber training into a normal workout?"

The idea is relatively simple.  I'm sure everyone has heard of the concept of intervals before.  Well in interval training, you exercise at different intensities, alternating between rest and work.  You do these in timed intervals (e.g. On warmup 3 mins, rest 30 sec, on 2 mins, rest 30sec, on 3mins, rest 30sec etc....cooldown 3mins).  Why not apply that saber work?

In it you spin, flourish, whatever, but most importantly keep your feet moving.  This is better in a wider, open space, but you can get creative in a smaller space.  Eventually near the end i started to do some jumping flourshes with downard slashes.  Whatever you do though, for those 3 mins keep that intensity up, then ACTIVELY rest, meaning don't sit down or stop moving, just jog a bit, or do some slow spinning while walking.

The result of intervals is that your body will be burning calories well past the time you stop working out.

Obviously this isnt a full workout, just maybe a supplement, to an existing workout.

Disclaimer: This is not to be misconstrued as medical advice. As with any new exercise program, consult your physician before starting a new program.

I smell what you're steppin' in I'll throw some music on and do this.  ;D

Point!

This is pretty good! I did something similar to this last week when I started working on the Form I velocity in 'The Jedi Path'. After getting it down as it was in the book, I started playing with it and modding it up to vary my training. I wound up alternating between the standard velocity, right and left hand versions of two single handed variants (1 with makashi footwork and one without), and finally I got crazy and did a running variant. I kept alternating the versions right hand and left hand through all of them for around a half hour and I can tell you when I finished and went to cool down..... I KNEW how Luke felt on Dagobah sweating to death from training. That was a GREAT work out! Highly recommended!

Thanks much!  It also really helped that i could see my reflection in my bedroom window that faced the back yard.  Mirrors and reflective surfaces of the like can help you assess your form, and intensity.

My brother GF has a Huge mirror in their room with one of those bars ( she does ballet)

I'm in their all the time doing my spinning.

I've incorporated saber work into my P90X workout... specifically the bonus exercises on the Plyometric work out.... great Ataru training lol. Basically I just tweaked the sports moves to work with blocking and striking while jumping, and BAM! You've got world class saber exercises, I'm convinced that lightsabers and martial arts are the only reason I'm not fat and out of shape.

Yea i had the P90X in mind when i thought of this, although i should go though it again to try what you do and see what i can incorporate.

But i subscribe to Mens Health, and i get a lot of tips from that about designing your own workout.

I need to practice Ataru is there any way you could PM me a little more about what kind of exercises you do?

What he's talking about is plyometrics, aka jump training,  Which we all know Ataru is the most acrobatic form, but on the plus side, it lends very well to plyometrics.

Alright awesome. Ima fatty lmao so I don't know your strange lingidy.

PM sent good sir!  ;D

I could talk about it all day, but thats another topic, for a completely different forum. 

lol unless you're modifying your workout routine to compliment your saber technique. Plus stamina is a big factor if you spar a lot, I don't mean to brag but I can duel for a solid 5 and a half hours without a break... and part of that is because I do plyometrics... another part of that is because I'm a former Marine.

Ive lost about 18 lbs since i started working out with my sabers on a regular basis. Sabers have been good to me!

Guess they can market these things differently.

Ultrasabers, for combat and health!
or
Ultrasabers, not just lightsabers, but a way of life.

lol I love it... slap it on a shirt and merchandise it!

Exactly, Imperial Knight!!

*NOW* does everyone understand WHY I'm trying to put together a NATIONAL saber camp for 2012?  :)

Hope so...

Too bad the slogan T-shirt race is over.


What part? the actual post? or the slogan thing?

I would guess your post.  You were saying how great saber dueling is as an aerobic exercise, which is one more reason to attend Nova's camp ;)

Or maybe he plans to build an army of super fit jedi and sith, to battle Star Fleet.  Either way it promotes US and overall health  :D

Take on starfleet? ....I'm down with this idea LOL!

*silently whips out sabers and stabs Imp and Grave through the hearts from behind*

Naaw, I don't think we're doin' that..... ;D

I had a feeling that was coming, i remember seeing a post about you being a trekker and all.  Luckily i believe in a non-discrimination nerdism.  I just brought that up to poke fun.  I harbor no ill will for my brothers in a different galaxy.

No one calls Han Solo a B****! - Fanboys

Manroon you make me giggle.

Thank you, Kham.

Imp, that's good. But one thing. It's Trekkie. I've always thought that 'Trekker' was a load of poodoo. If your that concerned about the nickname sounding girly or something, then you're putting your image before your fandom and I *raspberry* so there. LOL Stupid pet peeve of mine.

wow, i'm behind on that.  I've known them to be Trekkies, then i heard they changed to trekkers because the -ies made it sound derogatory.

But we're way off topic.   :D

*shrug* I'm always off topic. I'm surprised the mods don't have probe droids tracking me. LOL Yeah, there's all this crap cause a bunch of people decided (after the show went off the air in like 69 I think) that Trekker was cooler, but Trekkie wasn't cool. That's why I don't like it is because the original fans were Trekkies. Trekkies saved the show after the second season. Trekkies tuned in every week to watch. Trekkers were there for syndication and comic books and decided to change the name. Not that they are lesser fans or have any less right to pick the name, but I've always thought the original was proper. I was raised a Trekkie, by a Trekkie, and I'll die a Trekkie. Simple as that. :)

Live long and prosper my friend, live long and prosper

Peace and long life. 8)

To return this to topic, i will return to my physical training on monday, also incorporating my saber exercise system.  Gonna be fun.  Time to loose weight!

Man I hear what you're saying I was just practicing some flourishes in my house last night (I don't really have the room for actual saber combat training since I live in the city), and after about 30 minutes my forearms were not very happy with me. Now I just need to find a space to practice in that's big enough so I can actually do more of a real workout. I need to lose a few pounds anyways. :D

        well well well...i guess i'm not the only one doing this yeah i incorterated it into a 3 part every other day exercise i'm sure nero does it mav is probably more of the boxer type, yeah my advice to add to imps point is get a two hand style i use my redemption the dsi is way too smooth                               great job knight point for you

I need to start doing my hour of blade work on top of my workout routine... My shoulders and wrists thank me for it.

with saber spinning, long sweeping slashes, and stopping blades, it really does a workout on the wrists, forearms, shoulders, upper back, and chest.  you start to feel it after a while.  ouch

I do it until I hurt then stop, wait till it goes away, then start again.

The muscle memory that builds up IDK it just feels so fluid.

Yea i'm starting to get a feel for dual wielding.  But the spinning i'm still gettin used to.  That space between my thumb and my index on my right hand, the bone is getting worked from all the spinning. 

Exactly!

Make an O with your Index and Thumb and grip the saber.

Then just do your spinning and let the saber just roll around in there.

Forget about griping the hilt with a full hand, when spinning all you need to focus on is that O spot.

My wife said doing it like that really helped. ;D

gettin a little off topic, but, i dont exactly do it that way.  i do the open hand style of spinning.  i'm thinkin about wrapping those common spinning points with some leather wrap or something padded, like tennis wrap, or bat wrap.  I am adverse to it cause i dont want to make any "permanent" alterations to my saber.

Remember friends, exercise is only half the battle to weight loss/maintenance.  Good diet is the other half