fandomhigh | Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks; Friday, Third Period [07/19].

"Last week," Gladio said, "we talked about a lot of the basics of sword work, had some time to sort of play around with some different sizes and styles to get a feel for it, and also try a few standard moves and stances. Now, we're going to put some of that together with a few basic fighting techniques against each other.

"Now, we've got a really wide range of experience and skills in this class, so some of this is going to be really rudimentary for some of you guys, but I still want you to really focus on it and treat it like it's a new skill for the first time. A lot of times, when we're doing something often, we lose track of some of the mechanics on those little things that we believe to be second-nature by now. Really focusing on them is a good way to sharpen thing back up and fix any little bad habits that may have been developing in the meantime. And if you haven't done it in a while, it's a great way to bring those good habits back. And once I go over the instructions, I want you to find a partner and give it a try. We've an uneven number, so I'll be happy to jump in there myself. Try to find someone who matches closely to your own experience level, though. I've no doubt you more experienced swordsmen'll help out our newbies, but I don't want anyone feeling too overwhelmed, and I want this to be a collective learning experience, you know?

"So, today, we're going to learn about a simple overhead strike from above, the defensive tactic to counter it. Then, a counter to the counter, and then two different methods of a strike to perform if your opponent, instead of countering your initial attack, takes a defensive maneuver instead.

"We'll go over the techniques, practice some of the moves on your own as I lead you through them, and then partner up and try to recreate them, taking turns on who has the first attack. If you start to feel you've got it down pretty well, feel free to try other approaches if your sparring partner is comfortable with that, otherwise...practice makes perfect. It might be boring and repetitive, but it's helpful in building up muscles and muscle memory so that, in the moment of a real attack, you can think fast and let your body to most of the work on its own."

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Ready to spar!

Follow allow with the demonstration, interrupt to ask questions, have Gladio go over that one move again, clearly for purely research reasons, ahem....

Find a sword, find a partner, and get to practicing the basic sparring moves Gladio had just lead you through! Even if they're fairly rudimentary for your skill level, Gladio would really like everyone to take the time and dedication to run through them at least a few times with their partner (or even with several partners, to get a feel for different opponents even with the same moves) before trying anything else, although once you've managed to really get it down several times in a row, he'll be open for more playing around and other kinds of practice.

It's the danger shop, so he's not worried about anyone getting hurt, but he is keeping an eye out for anyone being stupid.

Nell Ingram

Nell looked around for a partner. She'd some some sword work, but truly was just a beginner.

"That was fun," Nell said once it was down to just the two of them. "I'm really enjoying this class!"

"Oh, that's definitely a sign that I'm going way too easy on you guys, then," said Gladio, with a snort of a laugh that turned into a grinning kiss as he leaned in to officially conclude class by passing that kiss on to Nell. "Next week, I'll really have to start pushing."

This was Nell after all who could spend the day being pummeled by her Warrior Women friends and come back breathless and aching, but ready for more.

"I'd enjoy that, but I'm not sure about some of the others," Nell said with a smile. And kissed him again because she could

"I just feel like I'm slacking if at least half my class isn't whining or complaining."

But at least Jon had Prompto's lack of constitution on lock, and Gray could probably fit into Noct's need for constant napping pretty nicely!

"Although I'd be surprised if you'd ever be in that half," he admitted, and not even because Nell would probably keep some of complaints to herself, too.

Nell was not a whiner or a complainer in general and just her sheer joy in being free to do these things made that sort of thing even less likely.

"I could pretend if you want," she offered and twisted her mouth into a pout.

"It's so hard and now I'm all sweaty and look, see I'm getting a bruise right here. And here too!" she mock whined, then grinned at him.

Ben Skywalker

Steve McGarrett

Gray

And that's when Gladio discovered that Nell could pretend all she wanted, because no matter what, it wasn't going to br the same, and he couldn't pull being a complete and total hard ass on Nell like he would with the guys.

In fact, all he could do was laugh and utterly fail to give her a sympathetic pout right back. "You poor thing," he said. "Probably more bruises than just that, too. Maybe you need someone to give you a good, thorough check."

Edited 2024-07-19 15:42 (UTC)

Ben was definitely not a beginner, but the lightsaber he'd wielded for years didn't have any weight to it, so the sword was still a bit of an adjustment. "Want to pair up?" he asked.

"Absolutely," Nell said. "Just warning you, what few skills I have lie in hand to hand."

"I know," she said with a wicked twinkle in her eye. "I think I'm bruised everywhereand I'll probably need someone to kiss them all better."

Ben's eyebrow arched up a little at her using the word "warning." "Well, if you've moved to hand-to-hand in a sword fight, something's gone disastrously wrong for you," he said, moving his sword to his left hand and taking an opening stance. "Let's go through what Gladio showed us."

Nell laughed. "Oh definitely. Disastrously wrong indeed."

She took a deep breath and focused on the moves Gladio had just showed them. "Do you want to attack or defend?"

"Defend," Ben said with a little smile. "I have a lot of experience in dodging."

"Good to know," Nell said with a smile of her own. "Okay..."

She began the overhead strike, keeping in mind the response to the counter that Gladio had showed them. She wasn't very good, but she'd clearly had at least a little practice with this.

"Mmm." Gladio hummed with his thoughtful, decisive nod. "That's probably true. You know, you were working so hard out there, too, that it might not be a bad idea for you to take it easy, on the way home. Maybe have someone carry you, just to be safe."

Arden Finch

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Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks; Friday, Third Period [07/19].

Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Listen to the Lecture - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

OOC - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Class Activity: Basic Sparring - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.

Re: Sign In - Big Sharp Sticks, 07/19.