Makashi at the park!

[TheHobbitofDune]

So I spent about an hour at the local park playing around with my lightsaber. I watched some fencing tutorials on Youtube that explained the stances and such prior to doing this. So I headed out to the park, found myself a nice secluded area, and I just practiced what I would like to think was fencing but with some form II influences.

It was great fun, even though I ended up drenched in sweat, panting like a dog, haha  Definitely a great workout. And of course, a family walking their dog saw me. The children were hollering, "Oh my gosh!!! That man has a lightsaber!!!" LOL. I ended up getting a few people staring at me and I felt so awkward that I ended up leaving. Plus, I was too tired to go on anyway. I made sure to tell the people there that if they wanted the best in top-quality lightsabers to go to the US website.

So with that I walked back home with my Initiate V3 on my belt. Thank you Ultra Sabers for this amazing lightsaber 

I decided not to do a review on my Initiate V3 since I assume most people already own it. However I will say that it is balanced extremely well, the Obsidian soundboard is out of this world, and the sounds blew my mind. I could go on a huge rant about how amazing this thing is so i'll stop myself before I can  Because trust me, I will if given the chance 

Thanks again Ultra Sabers!!!

[Master Nero Attoru]

Glad to hear you're enjoying your saber!  Plus your favoring of Makashi earns you points from me

I'll see if I can find some good videos of footwork drills you can do.  That way you can work on distance manipulation and maneuvering, two very important aspects in Makashi.

[TheHobbitofDune]

Glad to hear you're enjoying your saber!  Plus your favoring of Makashi earns you points from me

I'll see if I can find some good videos of footwork drills you can do.  That way you can work on distance manipulation and maneuvering, two very important aspects in Makashi.

Thank you Master Nero 

[Master Lucien Kane]

MD dude that is great!!! and if people are staring it's because they are impressed, don't feel awkward just dig it! Seriously though great job! Wish I could have been there with you!

Glad to hear you're enjoying your saber!  Plus your favoring of Makashi earns you points from me

I'll see if I can find some good videos of footwork drills you can do.  That way you can work on distance manipulation and maneuvering, two very important aspects in Makashi.

Do you guys do the glove game or drills?

[TheHobbitofDune]

MD dude that is great!!! and if people are staring it's because they are impressed, don't feel awkward just dig it! Seriously though great job! Wish I could have been there with you!

Do you guys do the glove game or drills?

Thanks Lucien  Haha, I hope they were impressed. I had the feeling that they thought I had no idea what I was doing. Thats kind of true though. I was just making it up as I went along. I'll definitely work on that next time. I'm a shy guy by nature but I won't let it get to me!

I wish you could have been there with me, haha.

[ZequarX]

Thanks Lucien   Haha, I hope they were impressed. I had the feeling that they thought I had no idea what I was doing. Thats kind of true though. I was just making it up as I went along. I'll definitely work on that next time. I'm a shy guy by nature but I won't let it get to me!

I wish you could have been there with me, haha.

I had a similar experience lol. A couple teens we're kinda poking fun at me, but its whatever because I love my saber and going out and doing my thing..the more you get into it MD, the more you'll be like, "Yes! Ana audience! Thou shalt blow their minds!" ...

Or something like that 

Keep it up bud and have fun man

[TheHobbitofDune]

I had a similar experience lol. A couple teens we're kinda poking fun at me, but its whatever because I love my saber and going out and doing my thing..the more you get into it MD, the more you'll be like, "Yes! Ana audience! Thou shalt blow their minds!" ...

Or something like that 

Keep it up bud and have fun man

Haha, indeed Thanks man. Once they see my sweet moves, they'll stay amazed 

[Master Nero Attoru]

Do you guys do the glove game or drills?

Both actually!  Glove games are good for learning how to maintain and/or manipulate distance.  You don't necessarily NEED them to work on these things though, as there are other drills you can use to practice.

Of course, it helps to have a partner for these... so it'd be good if you could find someone interested!

Once you get the footwork itself down, you can really start doing stuff like this (although  you don't necessarily need a weapon in hand, a glove will suffice):

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBDc14GJ0Wg" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBDc14GJ0Wg</a>

Each person gets essentially one step forward and a lunge to score a touch, whereas you can move as many steps back as you like.  The idea here is that you want to use your footwork to get within proper range to execute a fast and decisive attack.

[TheHobbitofDune]

Both actually!  Glove games are good for learning how to maintain and/or manipulate distance.  You don't necessarily NEED them to work on these things though, as there are other drills you can use to practice.

Of course, it helps to have a partner for these... so it'd be good if you could find someone interested!

Once you get the footwork itself down, you can really start doing stuff like this (although  you don't necessarily need a weapon in hand, a glove will suffice):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBDc14GJ0Wg#ws

Each person gets essentially one step forward and a lunge to score a touch, whereas you can move as many steps back as you like.  The idea here is that you want to use your footwork to get within proper range to execute a fast and decisive attack.

That footwork was what I was working on earlier. However I had my offhand behind my back rather than off to my side. I'm guessing thats not the right way to do it? Also i'm not really sure what you mean by one step forward and one lunge. It seems like they move forward constantly?

[Xanedan]

Nero is obviously going to have a more accurate answer, but in the interim; I believe the difference between a step forward and a lunge is basically "Step Forward" = raising both feet from the mat, and moving forward, while "lunge" is the extension of your leading foot far forward in the process of delivering a thrust.  The rear foot gets drug a little bit on a lunge, but doesn't step.  And stepping has no intent to attack.

Neat drill. ^_^

[TheHobbitofDune]

Nero is obviously going to have a more accurate answer, but in the interim; I believe the difference between a step forward and a lunge is basically "Step Forward" = raising both feet from the mat, and moving forward, while "lunge" is the extension of your leading foot far forward in the process of delivering a thrust.  The rear foot gets drug a little bit on a lunge, but doesn't step.  And stepping has no intent to attack.

Neat drill. ^_^

Well that would make sense. Thank you

[Waxman]

I should do that sometime this week.  Just take my sabers and twirl them around.  If any spectator wants to try them out; what better way than to get a light duel out and help spread the word of the Ultrasabers.

[Xanedan]

Well that would make sense. Thank you

Worth noting, I have no experience with fencing.  That was just my opinion on what I saw of the footwork.  Nero is the go to guy for accurate fencing terminology.

[Master Nero Attoru]

Worth noting, I have no experience with fencing.  That was just my opinion on what I saw of the footwork.  Nero is the go to guy for accurate fencing terminology.

You pretty much hit it dead on though!  Thanks for that.

A step, or advance, is actually a single unit of movement towards the opponent.  It refers to the method of moving forward to close distance, which sets you up for a lunge.  A lunge is when you propel your body forward using the power from your back leg.  As Xanedan said, your back foot may drag a bit but generally that foot stays planted.

In short, a step forward or back is used for movement (to set up distance) whereas a lunge is an offensive movement used to execute an attack.  I'll try to find some more vids that explain it (though Youtube seems to suck in this regard lol)

[Solinus]

Took my son outside at night last weekend after getting our sabers and were only there for about 20 minutes. But the brightness of our blades brought out some curious onlookers. One lady came out and said nice light sticks and asked us to turn them back on (we had turned them off because we were a little wary of the onlookers). But other than that, no one said anything. I think we'll be outside a little longer this time.