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fandomhigh2009-07-16 07:06 am
furious-maximus.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2009-07-16 07:06 am
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Basic Sword Skills [Thursday, Period Three]
The large collection of weapons was gone this week. Instead there was a rack of oddly-shaped practice weapons. There were a few variations in size and length and shape, but all of them were too thick and oddly rounded. Not all that blade shaped, really. Max stood in a stance of relaxed attention, his hands grasped loosely behind his back and his eye critical as his students began to arrive.
"This week," he announced loudly, "we will be examining the skills involved in footwork. I talked about this with some of you," he shot Serena a quick glance, "last week, but today it will be our primary focus. Sword work, like most forms of fighting, is heavily dependent upon your ability to move in the direction you need to whenever you want. Of course most effective attacks require you to push most of your weight in one direction or another to either provide power or reach or both."
He looked around to make sure everyone was listening. "For today, however, we're going to focus on simply staying centered and mobile. Which is why we have these." Max's grin as he waved at the odd practice weapons was the sort of darkly amused expression that tended to be found on people who were dearly anticipating getting a good laugh at everyone else's expense. "The reason each of these blades looks odd is that they're designed to shift their balance points unexpectedly. As you move the blade you'll find that it is highly unpredictable and you'll have to both pay close attention and maintain a centered stance in order to keep it under control. Extend yourself too far on a strike and the blade may very well pull you over."
"So everyone grab a blade and find some space. I'm going to go over a few standard movements and you're going to practice them, remembering to focus on the way you move your feet and commit your weight."
Once everyone had a blade Max ran through a half dozen or so very general attacks. The sort that would be at least somewhat useful with any weapon. "Now practice those," he ordered as he began wandering among the students correcting their mistakes.
"This week," he announced loudly, "we will be examining the skills involved in footwork. I talked about this with some of you," he shot Serena a quick glance, "last week, but today it will be our primary focus. Sword work, like most forms of fighting, is heavily dependent upon your ability to move in the direction you need to whenever you want. Of course most effective attacks require you to push most of your weight in one direction or another to either provide power or reach or both."
He looked around to make sure everyone was listening. "For today, however, we're going to focus on simply staying centered and mobile. Which is why we have these." Max's grin as he waved at the odd practice weapons was the sort of darkly amused expression that tended to be found on people who were dearly anticipating getting a good laugh at everyone else's expense. "The reason each of these blades looks odd is that they're designed to shift their balance points unexpectedly. As you move the blade you'll find that it is highly unpredictable and you'll have to both pay close attention and maintain a centered stance in order to keep it under control. Extend yourself too far on a strike and the blade may very well pull you over."
"So everyone grab a blade and find some space. I'm going to go over a few standard movements and you're going to practice them, remembering to focus on the way you move your feet and commit your weight."
Once everyone had a blade Max ran through a half dozen or so very general attacks. The sort that would be at least somewhat useful with any weapon. "Now practice those," he ordered as he began wandering among the students correcting their mistakes.
Re: Practice time
"I think maybe we should continue this another day," he suggested.
Re: Practice time
"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger."
As soon as she could stop singing, Karla sagged against a wall, looking pained. "Maybe you could loan me a sword instead?" she asked. "Falling onto one sounds like a remarkably good idea right now."
Re: Practice time
Re: Practice time
Oh well. At least she couldn't get any more humilated, forgetting that
her terrible munFandom didn't work that way."Thank you for today's lesson, sir," she said with a bob of her head. "I think I'm going to tell valor to bugger off and enjoy a nice long bout of discretion in my cabin."
Re: Practice time
And hoped he didn't end up doing something similarly embarrassing himself.