Fighting 101 (SCA)

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:48 pm

Howdy guys

Due to some recent problems in our group, myself and another of the more experienced fighters of the group decided to have a fighting roundtable to see what the newer folks were getting out of practice and to see what they might like to change.

The consensus was the newer fighters want more hands on, one on one training and they want it in the form of drills/repetitive work..

Being the helpful guys we are we decided to oblige them and split them up into two groups so the two of us could work with them in pairs.

Now as long as I have been fighting, our practices have been winner lose the field scenarios for at least half the practices. I love this style but since the newer guys want to try something new we are doing so. I think that getting on the field and getting into actual combat is much more beneficial than off to the side, non fighting drills but I am willing to admit that I may be wrong and try something new.

My question to you is, these guys want to be run thru basic drills. I have a few in mind but was wondering what some of your guys's styles might lend so I am asking you all what are some basic drill you teach your newbies? If it helps any they are smaller individuals and I am looking for drills that will help them increase their strength and ability to throw solid shots.

Any input/advice is appreciated!

Halvgrimr

Cunian · Post by **Cunian** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 7:07 pm

Do you have a pell at practice, or a break-down type one of you can cart in? Teaching people blows on the pell often seems to help a lot with newbies, since you can see the form problems better than when you're blocking, and since some of them are less timid about working up power when it is against inanimate objects.

Ummm, practicing "Block, Check, Strike". Let newbie block an incoming blow, "check" it - ie make sure it stays harmless by moving it off to the side or transferring the block to the shield where you can keep track of it, then make their own strike. Then you "block , check, strike" after they through a blow.

Footwork drills - advancing, retreating, ways to not go straight in and out.

Dealing with wounds - practicing being on your knees and dealing with it, practicing dispatching your legged opponent, similarly with arm wound.

2 on one drills. Teach your newbies to buddy up and work together to defeat you - maintaining 60 degree angles so you can't hit them both at once, etc.

That's all I can think of right now, sure there are more.

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 7:52 pm

You might also try letting the loser hold the field. And don't bring out your superduperfyrdmanfighting skills on them all at once.

Magmaforge · Post by **Magmaforge** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 pm

have them practice blocking in place with only a hip twist to power their action. This will force them to become better at using hip torsion power. Once they figure out how to use their hips properly, they can easily block a walloping blow comming in.

Also, have them figure out how to step away from or into a blow with a block to decrease the blow's power. Stepping away to the side, or on a diagonal towards the attacker but away from the blow ensures the blow can only hit after it's past it's prime arc of power, while stepping into the blow and smothering it with a block stops the blow from developing it's full power. As defender, wait to step until the attacker's blow has been thrown, don't jump the gun when there's no blow to avoid.

You might also encourage them to drill threatening a thrust to the face when someone winds up for a big swing at them. This uses timing to throw the attacker off. Attacker then can attack the outthrust weapon, of course. Then the newbies have something else to learn how to deal with!

Lastly, have the newbies throw blows at the trainer, trainer blocks well in any manner they choose. Then have newbies make a second attack immediately, trainer following up their own block a little slowly. Newbie overcomes a failed original attack to strike successfully. Trainer increases speed of followup gradually.

DanNV · Post by **DanNV** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:35 pm

Try going to http://www.bellatrix.org/ and follow the fighting school link. Lots of really good, basic stuff there (and a bit of advanced, too.)

Dan

Christoffer · Post by **Christoffer** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:39 am

Let me ask you a question Halvgrim, how did you learn to swim? Did it take the throw you off the dock sink or swim style or was some instruction given first on how to cup your hands and kick your legs? Many people want and/or need more instruction then the get out there and mix it up style of learning.

Now please don't take offense,as I am only going on what you have said, and I have a tendency to offend when it is not my intention. If your students are telling you that the way you are teaching them isn't working, then the way you are teaching them isn't working. It doesn't matter that it worked for you, it isn't working for them. The fact that they told you is very admirable. The fact that you were paying enough attention to realize that some thing wasn't working and asked them about it is amazing.

I only hope that I made some sense and didn't come off as an idiot, even if I is one. I always liked the block strike drills to get the muscle memory in place.

sarnac · Post by **sarnac** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 9:40 am

There are a bunch of great training articles here

http://www.legiodraconis.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=listarticles&secid=4

Halvgrimr · Post by **Halvgrimr** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 10:17 am

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Christoffer:
If your students are telling you that the way you are teaching them isn't working, then the way you are teaching them isn't working. It doesn't matter that it worked for you, it isn't working for them. The fact that they told you is very admirable. The fact that you were paying enough attention to realize that some thing wasn't working and asked them about it is amazing.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

--no offense taken

to truely understand the scope of this situation you would have to know all the details, and since that is a long and twisted story, i wont go into it.

just know that over the years I have taught or had part in training alot of folks and this is the first complaint I have ever had on my methods.

Halvgrimr
the squeaky wheel gets the oil

Alexander of Derlington · Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:58 am

Havgrim
A useful 2 person drill I was shown is the 3 and 20 drill, where one person has 20 shots and the other has 3. This enables one fighter to practice offence and one to practice defence. The reason the defensive fighter can throw shots is to ensure that the offensive fighter keeps a good defense.

Regards

Alex

[This message has been edited by Alexander of Derlington (edited 10-29-2003).]

lyonnete · Post by **lyonnete** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 4:48 pm

When I as a newbie, (not too long ago!)
we started off with footwork, lined up opposite Master Callum, (hrm... then not a Master yet) he would retreat and advance in front of us, the line of newbies mirroring his action, and he would move down the line, checking us one at a time to see we stayed in guard as we moved.

Then, after graduating from footwork 101, Sir Alaric lined us new fighters up in a line and then called out "Head, leg, head, return, leg, return..." mixing it up. He would watch us block these imaginary blows, and walk down the row, throwing the shots at us one at a time.

Then, after graduating shieldwork 101, I worked on strikes, one-on-one.

One of my favorite drills was learning to throw a gliding block when fighting single sword, Alaric and I just took turns hitting and blocking, got into a sort of rhythm. The mechanics stayed with me afterward and won me my first ever fight.

The 'line 'em up' is great if you have, say, five new fighters and one trainer. And moving your shield in one hundred imaginary blocks or throwing one hundred slow blows will really improve your shoulder strength. It's as exhausting as doing one hundred punches in Jui Jitsu.

Just my two cents, as a recent newbie. I loved the drills my instructors set for me and wouldn't hesitate to use them if/when I reach the state where I could train another.

Hope this is helpful,

Lyonnete

theodrik · Post by **theodrik** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:49 am

Lyonette, one of the problems with the called drill will be demonstraited by this "no shit" story. Back in '81-'82, I attended the Rockridge Bart practice in the Mists, West Kingdom. In this particular bout, Sir William the Lucky was fighting Sir MacEnrug. Lucky, loudly called out "leg" and then head snap, pasting Sir MacEnrug cleanly. This brought a laugh from both of them. Next Sir MacEnrug pull ed the 'call the shot' gag, calling "head" and then pasting Sir William with a head snap. You see He fought Lucky so often, that He 'knew' William would figure that the shot called would be fake and so blocked the opposite of what was called. Not only did this generate more laughter, but demonstraited the weakness of this training method.

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Sir Theodrik of Skane,
West, Mists, Blackwood Company
'Lude Fortier, Lude Juste, Nemini Damnum!'

Red Dragon · Post by **Red Dragon** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:21 am

I have no problems with a called shot drill, as long as it is only used with newbies. Let them get the feel for how to move the shield, and then move on to uncalled shots.

It is not a drill that should be used for very long.

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Conor
Red Dragon Armoury
I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!