Weight training for saber play

[Dave of the Sith]

So I've been doing different things at the gym to add both flexibility and speed to my saber sparring sessions. My routines include more plyometrics now so I can get more speed and height to my spins and jumps. (gymnastics training in the Fall hopefully) Weight training for more power has been an interesting challenge as I go Sith all the way and I needed to add power to my swings and also add speed. The trick to adding just enough to show you're applying force to a bash without ( in my case) cracking a Heavy grade polycarb blade.

I'm getting better at reining in the power while ramping up the speed thanks to Nova's advice.

Something that has really helped out has been the cable column machine at the gym. I've been setting a light weight and torque-ing my core in imitation of swings and twists. It also allows for weighted swinging motions. I used to just grip the cable in my hands but lately I ordered this bad boy.

http://www.exercise-equipment-parts.com/sports-specialty--attachment-handle.html

My brother is my sparring partner and he is in amazing shape as he has been doing P90-X for a few years. Matter of fact, he just started up the P90-X Insanity routine. (Don't know how he finds the energy.) he also has taken up Brazillian Jiu-Juitsu, Muay Thai boxing and Kitchu-Do Karate.

With all of that, I think we'll be a lot more visual in our performances as well as being in much better shape than we were when we started getting into saber-play.

Big thanks to Masters Novastar and Caine for giving us the saber choerography systems and Forms for us to adapt to and put on a really great show for a few people who wandered into our sparring session at the gym. 

How about everyone else? What do you do to limber up and make your performances more real?

[ThreadJack]

I don't do much saber play or sparring, but I do have a workout that I do(or did, until the old dumbbells I was using decided to go kaput). If you want a workout that'll kick your butt, here ya go:

http://www.menshealth.com/spartacus/workouts/

[Qui-Tom Helms]

Not much advice I can give except keep working at it.  If you smoke-Quit!  Or you might be like me and end up using enhaler...I'm hopeing for the incorporation of Force Choke and Force Push in the routines to give me a fighting chance (haha).  Good luck, and don't quit the training!

[Enzayer]

I do live steel sword fighting, and to reign in the power of my strikes I actually break my wrist at the moment of impact.  It takes a lot of the power from the strike while not sacrificing speed, or a good show.  I will admit that this method is a little trickier on some two handed strikes, just to let people be aware before they go and smack someone too hard by accident.