Combat Excersises Without Clashing Blades?

[Ultoria Kade]

So, now that I've received my lovely saber, I've been doing some practice. I was wondering if there were any specific exercises  that can help with combat without necessarily having to clash or duel with someone else. Any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance!

[MikaelPfeffer]

Depends on what you mean by exercises.....

Movement - move through the woods, keeping your feet stable under you without looking, each tree is an opponent, keep your sword defensively towards it.... then spin to side, still balanced, and defend against next tree..... in this, you practice balance, movement, peripheral vision, and target recognition... can also be done in your house (just watch the blade when you turn....

Hand to eye Coordination - In a garage, hang strings with foam balls at various heights in a wide circle (leave space away from any obstruction)... assume your stance in the center.... slowly, make an attack on the ball ahead of you, then as part of the attack, turn 60 degrees to attack the next, then 180, etc... once struck the balls become harder to hit as they move.... Again, balance, peripheral vision, and target recognition.... if the balls become too agitated, then practice high and low stances, changing your blade positions...

One of the biggest things is become very familiar with your weapon, its balance, heft, and feel.... how easy is it to go two handed, as if for a strong attack? How does it feel bare-handed versus gloved (if you are considering a costume)... things like that....

One thing always remember, your blade is your attack AND your defense... so practice both, don't over extend, and work on fluid multiple moves...

just my 2 credits worth...

[cstoehr]

Watch the TPLA videos at the following link for basic saber combat moves.  All of the techniques shown in the videos are designed for solo practice as well as for combat.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3IsywwpbvOMkkCD2TFMAA

[Ultoria Kade]

Thank you both, I'll definitely keep these in mind.

[Sapherno11]

Wow, both  Mikael and cstoehr have Excellent suggestions

Like Mikael said, you need to become familer with your weapon, its weight, its feel, how it WANTS to move.

I'd also suggest doing "spinning" practices. Just spin the saber around, start slow, and go faster. Once you feel comfortable, close your eyes, and repeat. That'll build your "connection" faster then anything, you'll know where your sword and blade are at all times.

[Genkaku Sho`shyk]

as they have all states.. you saber is your life.. its is an extension of you.. become one with it..

[Ultoria Kade]

Wow, both  Mikael and cstoehr have Excellent suggestions

Like Mikael said, you need to become familer with your weapon, its weight, its feel, how it WANTS to move.

I'd also suggest doing "spinning" practices. Just spin the saber around, start slow, and go faster. Once you feel comfortable, close your eyes, and repeat. That'll build your "connection" faster then anything, you'll know where your sword and blade are at all times.

Yes, I started with Saber spinning, so I think I have a good connection with my saber. Right now, it's just technique that I'm brushing up on.

[Genkaku Sho`shyk]

Yes, I started with Saber spinning, so I think I have a good connection with my saber. Right now, it's just technique that I'm brushing up on.

 in that case, as you work on strikes and blocks, its always effective to assume you are to attack, and defend.. or defend then attack.. i often let my imagination over whelm even myself  lol.... i "Shadobox" my imagination.. had some videos on youtube.. but the lighting is no so great to see my foot work and such..


but here is one of them..  the camera angle was not so good, but you can see im "fighting myself" as if a ghost keeps popping up to attack me...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n002HDvKRUM" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">www.youtube.com/watch?v=n002HDvKRUM</a>

[Ultoria Kade]

in that case, as you work on strikes and blocks, its always effective to assume you are to attack, and defend.. or defend then attack.. i often let my imagination over whelm even myself  lol.... i "Shadobox" my imagination.. had some videos on youtube.. but the lighting is no so great to see my foot work and such..


but here is one of them..  the camera angle was not so good, but you can see im "fighting myself" as if a ghost keeps popping up to attack me...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n002HDvKRUM

Thank you! Like how you incorporated an obi-ani spin I think it was. Nice job. I do the same thing, I fight a ghost.

[Genkaku Sho`shyk]

Thank you! Like how you incorporated an obi-ani spin I think it was. Nice job. I do the same thing, I fight a ghost.

most of my saber trainning was from play fights as a kid, my friends and i would grab all the toy swords we had and duel eachother.. slice off arms, legs, , at one time i was rolling around like the black knight from monty python and the holy grail, ::lost both legs, and an arm:: was like, ill never give in!!.. trying t cut my friends legs off.. lol, so funny.


no i just fight my inner self...   i also learned the back spin hand switch move from the game jedi kight: jedi academy.. in the multiplayer i always ran with a single hilt, and doing the special move i got good at catching others with the spin behind the back and final slash..

[Ultoria Kade]

most of my saber trainning was from play fights as a kid, my friends and i would grab all the toy swords we had and duel eachother.. slice off arms, legs, , at one time i was rolling around like the black knight from monty python and the holy grail, ::lost both legs, and an arm:: was like, ill never give in!!.. trying t cut my friends legs off.. lol, so funny.


no i just fight my inner self...   i also learned the back spin hand switch move from the game jedi kight: jedi academy.. in the multiplayer i always ran with a single hilt, and doing the special move i got good at catching others with the spin behind the back and final slash..

Just a flesh wound.

[arklore70]

I would recommend the 1862 U.S. Cavalry Tactics Manual reprinted by Stackpole Books, copyright 2004.  You can find it on Amazon.com or any any U.S. Civil War battlefield museum. 

Its called moullinets.

Musashi's Book of Five Rings is great philosophically.

The Art of the Two Handed Sword translated by Ken Mondschein P.h.D.

r/
Ark

[Darth Cephalus]

I have to say that the "without clashing blades" part caught my attention. We have a lot of things over in the saber artistry section that deal with that. They are not combat moves but certainly good for developing knowledge of and comfort with your saber as well as coordination. You might stop by and peruse.