So, I got a job in order to have money for events; it turns out getting that job directly lead to me not being able to make practices at any local realms for six months, with no access to a pell, due to small apartment spacing.

Now that I finally have time to fight after settling in, I feel like I'm a little rusty. There were some things I have sorta unlearned, and some things I feel like I didn't learn right in the first place.

Because of this, I'm posting some videos from my most recent practice; I would very much appreciate it if you could totally tear into me with criticism.

Seriously, though, help a brother out.









I'm the dude wearing Horde garb.

My own critique so far; Sword and board, my shot mechanics are sloppy/ advice?

Guard is floating way too high, need to learn to reset when holding a shield.

My Florentine bait guard is derpy as hell, I need to adjust it in the mirror.

What else do I need to work on?

Thanks guys!

PS. Any way to make it so these videos don't all start at once on my side so you guys don't instantly get bombarded with my bad fighting?

Ya might try shaving the porn 'stache; that'll at least make you look like less of a dirtbag.
You should probably stab more. At 1:16 you throw a pretty hoopty shot and I don't know why considering you're a southpaw.
Your guard's high, bring it down to hip level. Stop crossing; I don't think you get a single kill when you cross. Or at least fake 'em then throw the cross. Maybe practice a backhand ritique for a quick 1-2 fake; fake/feint to the leg, sell a fake cross then ritique with a back-hand to their sword-side shoulder/arm.
Otherwise you're not doing bad; practice block strike, that's where you're gonna need to focus; strike to get them to return, block then riposte. That's what I'm working on right now.

Stache too manly, must keep.

I've been working my stab game a lot more than usual, lately, but I think I'm still getting comfortable with it; got a long way to go, there. Do you have any advice on promoting stabs, and increasing the opportunities in which to throw them?

I'm thinking I may experiment with some more lateral steps toward sword side in order to get that hip more; I've seen Dogboy do it with plenty of success.

I noticed my guard was high; enough so that it really bugged me as I first went through the vids. I'll have to make a conscious effort to force that into my muscle memory.

What do you think about using the quick flat cross in order to provoke a response to my sword side, blocking that, and popping the shoulder; I've been trying to practice with that line, and I think I have some success in the videos above. Should I continue the behavior, or find something else that works?

I have been trying to limit throwing that fake to cross that I fell back on a lot when I first started improving, and that's why you really don't see it here; I'm liking the idea with the double feint, the people in my realm are definitely used to that fake to sword side shoulder pop, so that would mix it up nicely.

Mouse and I have been doing block strike as often as we can, but as much as you can is never enough; I'll keep on it!

I'd love to hear what others have to say as well! Thanks for your response Remy, and let me know if you come up with some more notes!

Your crouching down a lot and looking up. Try standing up straighter and keeping your sword pointed at the opponent's sword side shoulder. This will help improve your high guard. It also has a tendency to cause your opponents guard to drift up allowing for that sword side step hip pocket stab. Bring your sword back if you are having trouble closing against a tall opponent it will give the illusion that more range was created and bait him to step in. Your shots are nice quick pops quickly returned to a defensive position, if you are having trouble with raising your guard maybe check and see where your sword returns too after the shot. You may be raising your guard as part of your block strike training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHjjI-2L7Rg

Here's a link to a video of me sparring with wrothgar. I switch to lefty around 35 seconds and start dorking around. 1:15-1:20 is an example of the stab I was talking about.

Hope this all helps, and good luck!

I hadn't noticed the posture mess-up until you pointed it out again; It was something I tried hard to fix before the break, and almost had down. It looks like I gotta start back from square one, there.

I like that hip stab, that's the one Dogboy does, and I'll definitely work it today.

Thanks Delfino!

Alright, What I've got so far:

Remy: Stop throwing crosses without good reason
Shave the Stache
Bring down your guard
Get more creative with your technical strikes.
Practice blockstrike

Delfino: Fix yo broke * posture; bait guard correctly.
Pay attention to where my sword returns after an attack, reset to a PROPER guard, not just a guard.
Play with your opponents perception of range in order to close the gap.
Stab some hips.


I have a practice today, and I'm gonna aim to get some video up with these improvements in mind.

I appreciate your guy's help so far, and look forward to further advice; I'd love to hear from even more fighters if possible! The more the merrier!

Honestly I'm not to familiar with how to fight southpaw S&B, I mostly use it single-sword and flo. I know that throwing a short cross to their sword side works well for me when I fight righty S&B but it seems counter-intuitive fighting lefty. You're throwing to their strong side, opening up your weak-side making it so you have to cover yourself with your shield, which is a fairly small surface to start with. If you decide to block low, it's gonna be easy for them to stay in cover and straight chop you.
I don't know, coming from flo and s-s I just never ever cross unless I'm fighting a lefty and that's to chop arms.
*shrug*

SnB
Learn to use angles. You may step at angle at the beginning, but then just lean that direction. Keep those feet moving.
Dont stand square. Ever.
With that, if someone gets up in to face, push the around. That shield isn't jsut something to sit on your body. Use it. Punch, push, hook. All the good offensive shield work.
When not using it offensively, dont move you shield as much. You're compensating for bad footwork with your shield.

I'll keep it to a few simple, actionable, fundamental things:

1. You have a tendency to square your feet. Don't do that. One should be in front, one in back, about a walking step apart.

2. You tend to put too much weight on your lead foot.

3. When you close, you lead with your shoulders, which is a huge telegraph. Get your chest up and let your feet and hips lead the way.

4. You don't have very good shot mechanics. Watch BrennonEH's 10 Basic Shots series on Youtube, and practice them on a pell and your friends.

5. Block first, block last.