Hitting Things With Big, Sharp Sticks; Friday, Third Period [08/02].

[sword_chocobro]

"Alright, everyone," said Gladio, with the expected nod and a moment to sort of crack his knuckles before really getting into today's lesson, "we've been learning a lot of stuff so far, and it's great, and I've been seeing a lot of you taking some of this training outside the classroom with supplemental workouts, and I can't even tell you how good it is to see that! After all, there's only so much that can be done once a week in a classroom; I try to give you the tools to really excel in swordwork like this, and some of you are taking those tools and using it to build something great, and I love to see it.

"And the thing with building on something is that you add a little bit each time while making sure the foundation's still strong. So, today, we're going to do a small bit of recap to really keep driving in those basics before we move onto something a little more focused. Specifically...well, we called it something else where I'm from, but here, it's been known as a Meyers Square, which you can see I've got a few mock-ups behind me. The goal of this exercise is to teach you to swiftly cut through and along the line of your previous attack, a little one-two move meant to work against your opponent's defense. It might seem a little technical and complex at first, but once you start to recognize the trick of the pattern, it should start to flow much more easily.

"But we'll get to that in due time. For now, we've got warm-ups and review, then we'll learn more about the Square, and then hopefully still have time for some sparring in again this week, too. Anything in particular you want to go over before we get into it?"

Comments

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 08/02.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio nodded, grinning faintly as Nell prepared herself, and then, stepping back a little more just to be on the safe side, he settled into his stance once again. Breathed in a moment, pictured an enemy before him, and then executed his Maelstrom technique, which involved lunging into a deep, mighty cyclone of a swing of his greatsword, which then lead into a quick spring up into a flip that wouldn't be out of place in any of those gymnastics competitions taking over the television lately, bringing the sword overhead and swinging it down mightily in front of him. This landed him in a deep crouch with his arms between his knees, which he stepped out of quickly, swinging the broadsword to his left, and calling out, "Go!" as his other hand jutted to the side as he demonstrated, open to catch the second sword.

And once he had it?

It flowed perfectly into a sequence of slices not unlike those they'd just been practicing, but made all the more a deadly flurry with the incorporation of that second sword.

With another forward flip tossed in there somewhere, too, for good measure. And even when he pulled back, there was still one more charge forward with the blades crossing as they slashed out, and then, finally, he pulled back, twirling the broadsword over his shoulder again and letting the katana just settle at rest at his side, and he grinned at Nell.

"Well?"

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 08/02.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell watched, torn between sheer awe and so much pride she couldn't even begin to express it.

A beat.

"God, that was hot."

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 08/02.

[sword_chocobro]

And Gladio barked a laugh, grinning back broadly, because, well...she did say she'd say that, didn't she?

"Yup," he agreed, with a wink. "Still got it. So...what were you saying? About dragging me somewhere and twinkle lights?"

Re: Talk to the Teacher - Big Sharp Sticks, 08/02.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell looked at him for a moment, then just reached out and grabbed his hamd and started out the door. "Let's go, Tall Man. The twinkle lights are waiting."