by Bhakdar » Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:15 pm
Belegarth fighters gain power as they learn to anticipate what shots their enemies will throw. While there is no exact science to a battlefield, I suggest there are common patterns amongst fighters’ shot selection based on their experience level. Swings are most predictable with the most widely used weapon combo on national event fields: blue & board. Thus, this article aims to characterize general categories of sword/board skill level and what shots those tiers will typically throw. Other weapon styles are beyond the scope of this article. Warriors who intentionally use this knowledge on the field will drastically improve their chances of staying alive longer and maybe even kill vets more frequently. As with any theory, there will be assumptions and generalizations. My aim in each paragraph of this article is to discuss broad themes to anticipate followed by practical ways to counter them.
I suggest that fighter skill levels tier out similarly to difficulty ratings given to ski trails: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced-Intermediate, Advanced, and Most Advanced. Henceforth I will describe each group based on the character of their fighting, what shots they most frequently throw, and what you need to do to defend against them. (Note this article discusses specific exchanges assuming same-handedness, like righty vs. righty sword/board).
Beginning fighters typically swing like using a bat or racket for the first time: horizontal. 70+% of the time beginners are swinging horizontal leg chops or trying to backstab you. Some newbs intuitively stab a lot. If so, practice jabbing away the stab immediately followed by a hammer-like chop on their arm or shoulder. On the field be ready to dodge low, keep the fight at max range, and use feints to open an easy shoulder or leg. Aggressive beginners with athletic ability are the most unpredictable fighters on the field. They may swoop around in unconventional ways so be ready to slide sideways and away. Sparring beginners is an opportunity practice baiting your front leg, dodging low, and counter-swinging their arm.
Intermediate fighters add cross shots, vertical strikes, and feints to the mix. Broadening their spectrum of shots and swinging faster, they still typically have two or three shots or combos that they use 60-70% of the time. Generally they’ve learned to swing at legs, sword arms, and maybe shoulders, ribs, or hips. Intermediates rely on patterns like high-low, back n’ forth flurries, and especially high cross-leg chop and vice-versa. These patterns stick because they work on other fighters of equal or lesser experience. Even if these warriors have fast hand speed, they tend to have underdeveloped offensive footwork. Watch for what their typical opening swings or combos are. Learn their feints and practice patient non-response. A winning strategy on field and in sparring is to be ready to move by sliding or galloping. If they favor swinging inside, practice punching into their weapon as you slide towards their shield side and hit them in the shoulder, hip, or leg. If they favor swinging outside, practice counter-swinging their arm or shoulder. You will win more when you move circularly around them with each strike or block.
Advanced-Intermediate fighters ironically have the initials AI: artificial intelligence. Many warriors plateau in a phase of emulating the most advanced fighters they train with or picking up stronger gear like flails, ultra-lights, and large punch shields to increase their field power. Generally, Adv-Int fighters are competent at swinging, feinting, and using combos to the sword arm, inside shoulder or ribs, outside shoulder, and outside leg. They also tend to rely on about three preferred swings or feints that do well for them. Adv-int fighters will kill less experienced warriors 60+% of the time using high-crosses that reach deeply into the torso. This obliterates beginners who don’t weapon block well. To respond, bait your arm low and forward, ready to pivot your shoulder and hip briefly away from a deep high cross. Practice weapon blocking and returning with one of your strongest feint & strike combos. Many fighters in the habit of crossing will hold their shield under their swinging armpit to preemptively defend against a counter high-cross. Abuse this by weapon jabbing the cross immediately followed by a feint fist pump toward the shield and a vertical arc hammering their exposed outside shoulder. Develop feints & stutters (arm pumps, shoulder jukes, or steps) to dissect how enemies will open up. You’ve got to discern where they’re weak and go for it. Note rapidly developing warriors improve hand speed, shot/feint selection, and footwork that makes them less predictable and more adaptable to any opponent. This is how to get better and break through plateaus.
While advanced fighters have mature precision and personal style to their shots, most would fit into a handful of archetypes. We can still predict our opponents’ most frequently thrown shots if we spend a little time observing them fight. Advanced fighters tend to win with the following strategies:
1) Aggro: Fast repetitive swinging towards kill zones: Throws feints & combos to shoulders & hips
a. Combos rapid Cross/Shoulder/Leg, cross/wrap back-forth; Be ready with A-frame guard
b. Flankers who focus on backstabbing or sideswiping lines; slide away hacking hip/leg
2) Self-Preservationist: Picks fights defensively and at range to stay alive: Throws counter swings, legs
a. Will feint with arm pumps followed by going extremely low or high, to leg or shoulder
b. Will drift away or hang at max range while aiming to counter swing- classic “line” fighter
c. Backstab these people or bait them into a bad move that lets you counter an arm or leg
3) Punch/flail: Overpowers most fighters of equal skill or below with automatic wrap on every shot
a. Combos inside/outside & vice versa 60%; be ready to slide sideways away from swings staying mobile between ranging guard and A-frame guard to protect hips/shoulders
b. Practice pivoting your hips and shoulders briefly away from deep reaching wraps
c. Focus on counter swings or responding by feinting inside shoulder to hit outside shoulder
4) Manipulator: Controls the fight by footwork, baiting, prediction: Throws slots, wraps, scoops, shoulders
a. May execute a number of steps, feints, stutters or shifts in guard to see how you respond
b. May be baiting you (If you’re staring at a target and they’re really good, “It’s a trap!”)
c. They want to hit you in the torso so ultimately always be ready to guard/block your torso
d. Practice staying on the move while maintaining strong guard; never stand still
e. Feint into their bait while aiming to strike elsewhere
Getting stronger at fighting advanced fighters will come from observing, sparring them, learning their patterns, and planning a response to their most common strategies. There are three significant equalizing tactics anyone can learn to use against advanced fighters. If you can’t kill them, limb & leave them.
1) Practice fast, precise counter-swinging to opponents’ swinging arm
2) Practice the simultaneous motion of sliding in as you block and immediately arcing down to chop a leg followed by sliding away and leaving them on the ground
3) Stabs. If they’re stronger than you, they’ll aggress by stepping towards you. Watch for opportunities to stutter and dip low at the knees stabbing into their swinging side hip.
Observant warriors of all skill levels may be able to predict an advanced fighter yet not have the speed or techniques to avoid dying. That’s OK. You’re still developing by getting attuned to predictable patterns and being ready to block their first shot or avoid opening your guard to their feints! Even advanced fighters tend to rely on a few patterns that come naturally for them. Those with the most diverse shot selection, footwork, and adaptability of personal style to fit each situation become truly elite fighters.
Elite fighters perfect killing in their own rhythm. They possess intentionality or personal theory behind why they do what they do. Whether consciously or intuitively they break down what they and their enemies are doing and consider how to perform better against their most challenging opponents. The most advanced warriors consider the meta-game, evaluating what their opponents’ are most likely to do and how to lure people into using predictable patterns so they can respond with safe and efficient strikes. The trademark of truly elite fighters is that they will obliterate you whether you understand how they're swinging or not.
This all boils down to a single key insight: Use your eyes before your sword. Watch what kind of enemy you’re fighting first and you can often predict their two most likely opening moves. You will improve your blocking, dodging, and footwork with this practice. At best you’ll be ready to block and counter with effective limb and body strikes. At worst you’ll stay alive a longer during field battles. It’s a Win-Win!
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