Personal Training

[Vrohi]

Hey there guys I have kind of a broad question and was wondering if anyone could give me a very specific answer. Ive read through the Fighter Fitness resources and what not and I find lots of useful things to help build myself up, but I was wondering if there is something like drills or group work I could do like just myself and another fighting partner. Something that would really build up speed and skill. All opinions are appreciated!

[Slagar]

The Duke U youtube vids with Gaston and Baldar cover the principles behind constructing drills. This is useful because you can take those principles and apply them to your needs when creating your drills. The House Agard website hosts several videos which may be of use to you in building practice drills as well. Hope these help.

Links for the lazy
Duke U vid w/ Gaston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsiOAU4hLMc

House Asgard Vids (look under the 'movies' section download anything that looks relevant)

http://houseasgard.com/files.php

[Slagar]

It's worth noting that the shots they're drilling are not Bel shots (for the most part). These are useful only for the theory. Use 'em to make your own.

[Vrohi]

Thanks Slagar I will check that out, however Im still willing to take more advice if it comes!

[Kyrian]

I'm a little biased but there are some interesting drills from the Filipino martial arts (FMA) such as sinawali (weaving):



Notice that for many of the drills they're also incorporating footwork and aren't just standing still. And the sky's the limit as to the kinds of patterns that you can come up with. In case you've never heard of FMA, it is one of the few martial arts that starts you out training with weapons, in this case rattan sticks. The reasoning is that the basic techniques are the same whether you have a stick, sword, knife, or open hand. Once you learn how to do a particular attack or defense with a stick, you can then transition over fairly easily to a different weapon while using the same technique.

It's something I like to explain to people how you can apply basic techniques, regardless of weapon style. For example, you can do a similar technique whether you have one sword, two swords, or sword and board. If I throw a three-shot strike-check-strike combo, the same basic movements can be applied.

Single sword:
1) Short cross to opponent's sword.
2) Step in and check opponent's hand with your hand.
3) Follow up with wrap shot, stab, or shot to the leg.

Two swords, the same basic technique applied using the specifics of the weapon style:
1) Short cross with right hand weapon to opponent's sword.
2) Step in and strike opponent's forearm with left hand weapon.
3) Follow up shot with right hand.

Sword & board:
1) Short cross to opponent's sword.
2) Step in and pin opponent's arm with the shield.
3) Follow up wrap or stab.

[Vrohi]

Ok that was pretty useful thanks Sir Kyrian!

[Soo Ma Tai]

Hey Kyrian, have you done FMA much? I use many of the FMA concepts I learned in my teaching of sword fighting, along with my foundations in Kenpo.

[Kyrian]

Hey Kyrian, have you done FMA much? I use many of the FMA concepts I learned in my teaching of sword fighting, along with my foundations in Kenpo.

Not as much as I'd like, just some basics. Like you, I found stuff I thought would be good for training people and adapted it. One of my favorites is using the FMA angles to teach basic shots and for chaining together combos.

[Soo Ma Tai]

Yeah, I use the 12 strikes (inosanto) as a basis. I had modified it somewhat for Bel, but with the reintroduction of stabbing tips in greater degrees, I am going back to incorporating the whole 12, minus the overhead shot (12).

[Vrohi]

Hmmm also as a drill Ive been going over the things Sir Kyrian showed me at Oktoberfest. Those twelve strikes have been helping as well.

[Arrakis]

Block-Strike.

[Soo Ma Tai]

Vox, show someone else those same 12 strikes and then have them start doing them on you, while you are just defending, learn to block each shot in succession. After he does 12 shots, switch attacer and defender. Go back and forth for a while like that. Then start mixing the orders up, this will help greatly with spontaneous blocking skills.

[Vrohi]

Thats what I've been doing it works out pretty well for the most part. Thanks guys