Perhaps just as important as selecting the right weapon for you, you also want to make sure to choose the right unit. This article will provide some advice and things to consider for new fighters looking to find their first unit.
So, you're new to Dagorhir and want to find a place to call home, a unit with which to identify. For some people, this is an easy process. Yet, for others, it can be a painstaking process. Still others end up attempting to start their own unit because they don't find one they like. Allow me to help a little bit...
Finding A Unit
Choosing a unit can seem like a daunting task to a newer fighter, especially if the local realm has a lot of units contained within it. My suggestion is to not join the first unit that you like or that approaches you with an offer to join. Take some time and get to know all of the units in your local realm and see what each has to offer. Watch how they fight on the field, how they interact with one another and the other units, and how they present themselves in general. Just because a unit has awesome fighters or a badass logo doesn't mean it's the right one for you. Talk to each unit and ask as many questions as you can. The more information you get, the better.
Some things to ask/consider when searching for a unit:
Average Age: Does the unit seem to have more older adults, younger adults/teens, or a combination of both? I personally would recommend going with one with a combination of both, but this will be entirely up to the age group in which you fall. Older adults and younger adults/teens can certainly mesh well together, but remember that older adults and young adults often have different ideas on what's fun and acceptable and what isn't. Go where you'll feel most comfortable.
Conduct: How do they conduct themselves at practice, events(if you've been to one), and in the general public? Are these behaviors something you can deal with or do they bother you? If in a Dagorhir setting, make sure their behavior isn't just in character as quite a few Dagorhirim roleplay while at events. Everybody is unique and different in their own way. Remember this and don't form an opinion without all the facts and information.
Fighting: Find out how they handle training for new fighters. Look for a unit that trains together and teaches their new fighters instead of utilizing the "baptism by fire" type approach. While some people learn better on their own, others need teaching, so a unit that trains together and emphasizes the use of drills would be a good choice. Not all units teach or use drills, but that doesn't make them bad.
Also find out what their philosophies for fighting are. These will vary from unit to unit, so find out about "house rules" and determine if these are acceptable for you.
Specialized Unit: Some units fight with only specific weapon types, or are made up of only a specific type of character, like elves, orcs, or dwarves. Is this something you're willing to accept to be part of the unit, and if not, are they willing to fit you into the fold anyway? Don't change something about your persona or way of fighting just to join a unit. Only do it because you're genuinely willing to do so.
Core Values/Beliefs: Are the core values and beliefs of the unit and its members similar to yours or are they different? Are they willing to accept and respect your personal values and beliefs if they differ from those of their own? You don't want to join a unit that forces their beliefs on you or disrespects your values and beliefs. Join a unit where you're appreciated and respected for who you are.
Expectations: Most, if not all, units will have certain expectations for what they want out of their members. For example, some units are big on volunteering at events(weapons check, heralding, troll etc.) Are these expectations something that you are willing and able to live up to?
These are some of the more important things you want to consider when searching for a unit to join.
Starting A Unit
When you're new to Dagorhir and don't have prior fighting experience in other fighting systems(Belegarth, Amtgard, SCA etc.), I recommend not starting your own unit right out of the gate. Join an established unit, learn the game and the proper fundamentals, have fun, and sit back and watch how a unit works and what it's like to run one. As a unit leader, you'll be responsible for teaching the game to new fighters and training them, establishing and overseeing a ranking system, run a camp at events, and discipline problem members among other things. With and without the proper experience and knowledge, these responsibilities can be overwhelming and stressful. New fighters should focus their time on learning and soaking up knowledge so that they can be ready and able to run their own unit one day. Study as many units as you can and that will allow you to do so. Having several models from which to learn can provide you with some fresh perspectives. Learn first, teach second. Don't get ahead of yourself. And remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Hope this article was helpful, and thanks for reading
Durrok Thunderaxe
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Selecting The Right Weapon For You
In this article, I will be discussing the importance of selecting the right weapon for you. This is geared towards new fighters who are ready to make their first weapon or are in the process of choosing, as well as unit and realm leaders to assist them.
Selecting A Weapon Type
When starting out, new fighters tend to choose a weapon based on what they see and like on the field without the proper knowledge of the weapon, and often times also without the proper fighting foundation and fundamentals...
New Fighters
I know that Red weapons and spears and even bow and arrows offer a high appeal, but unless you're a cross gamer with prior fighting experience, your first weapon should always be a blue sword. It's vital for new fighters to understand the importance of learning and training single blue. It's the most commonly encountered weapon on the battlefield: a Two Stick fighter has 2 blues, a Sword/Board fighter has a shield and a blue, a Red weapon is just a long blue if two hands aren't used, a lot of Spear fighters carry a side weapon(usually a blue weapon), and some archers also carry a side weapon. And if a Florentine, Sword/Board, or Red fighter loses an arm, they only have one weapon. Situations like these are where single blue training are very important and come in handy. Sure, single blue may be boring and unappealing, but it will teach you the most. Since you only have 1 weapon, it serves as both your offense and defense and careful planning is often required to know the right moments to attack and when you should be on the defensive. You'll often be outclassed by the other weapon types, but single blue is a valuable learning tool that not everyone pays enough attention to. See my first article here for training drills to improve your single blue fighting.
Unit/Realm Leaders
I realize most of you probably already know this, I'm just emphasizing the importance. When a new inexperienced fighter chooses a weapon type other than a blue, don't discourage them, but rather stress the importance of building up to that weapon type. Yes, the basics can be boring, but ignoring them can prove costly. Whenever there are new fighters present at practice, try and run a few Single Blue battles so the focus will be on single blue fighting and they'll be able to learn and won't feel so outmatched and overwhelmed on their first day. If everybody is fighting single blue, the new fighters will most likely feel more comfortable, and the more comfortable they feel, the more they will likely learn.
(Note: It is not advised to head onto the battlefield armed only with a blue sword. Single Blue is meant as a training tool and should be limited to personal training sessions and practices)
Also, unless yours is a specialized unit fighting with specific weapons, don't force a specific weapon on a new fighter, let them choose for themselves. And even if yours is a specialized unit, but the new fighter doesn't want to fight with the specific weapon of the unit, it may still be worth your while to try and fit them into your plans anyway because you never know, you just may be turning away an awesome fighter in the making over a specific weapon type, or just an awesome person in general. Plus, fitting them into your units plans and strategy will make them feel important, and stepping out of the norm may greatly benefit your unit and add more options in your strategies.
Things To Consider
As a new fighter, you don't want to choose a weapon simply because it looks cool or because other people fight with it. You want to choose a weapon that's best suited for you, so there are some things to consider when choosing the right weapon for you:
Your Body Type: Are you a small fighter? A large fighter? As a small fighter that isn't the strongest, I favor lighter, quicker weapons as they best suit my physical build. You should always strive fight with weapons that complement your physical build, not work against it.
Fighting Style: Are you an aggressive fighter or do you prefer ranged fighting? Are you an agile, mobile fighter or a stay at home type? These kinds of questions will take some time to answer if you're a new fighter starting out, so it will come down to personal preference and trial and error. But these questions must be considered because they will help ensure that you get the most out of the weapon in your hands and don't end up frustrated because you're not seeing the results you would like.
Weapon Size: The size of your weapon can make a very big difference. Make sure that you are fighting with weapons that you can wield safely, comfortably, and effectively. Safety is more important than cool/flashy. If someone in your local unit or realm has a weapon that appeals to you, ask them if you can test it out. Chances are, you'll need to adjust the length and weight of the weapon or shield to fit your body type. Remember, YOU should be controlling the weapon, NOT the other way around. If it's controlling you, then it's too heavy and you need a lighter weapon. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone by wielding a big heavy weapon that you can't safely wield. Again, this will come down to trial and error and personal preference.
Environment: Different environments/scenarios require different weapons. Once you've been to a larger event(100+ fighters) and have experienced different scenarios, you'll see what I mean. That's why you should strive to make varying sizes of your chosen weapon type to accommodate for different environments, specifically with Reds and Spears, but also blues. Tight quarters can make fighting with large weapons difficult. This is also why you should learn to fight with more than one weapon type as certain weapon types are at a disadvantage in certain scenarios.
A lot of this is common knowledge, but I want to do my part to help new fighters excel. I hope this article was helpful.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Durrok Thunderaxe
Selecting A Weapon Type
When starting out, new fighters tend to choose a weapon based on what they see and like on the field without the proper knowledge of the weapon, and often times also without the proper fighting foundation and fundamentals...
New Fighters
I know that Red weapons and spears and even bow and arrows offer a high appeal, but unless you're a cross gamer with prior fighting experience, your first weapon should always be a blue sword. It's vital for new fighters to understand the importance of learning and training single blue. It's the most commonly encountered weapon on the battlefield: a Two Stick fighter has 2 blues, a Sword/Board fighter has a shield and a blue, a Red weapon is just a long blue if two hands aren't used, a lot of Spear fighters carry a side weapon(usually a blue weapon), and some archers also carry a side weapon. And if a Florentine, Sword/Board, or Red fighter loses an arm, they only have one weapon. Situations like these are where single blue training are very important and come in handy. Sure, single blue may be boring and unappealing, but it will teach you the most. Since you only have 1 weapon, it serves as both your offense and defense and careful planning is often required to know the right moments to attack and when you should be on the defensive. You'll often be outclassed by the other weapon types, but single blue is a valuable learning tool that not everyone pays enough attention to. See my first article here for training drills to improve your single blue fighting.
Unit/Realm Leaders
I realize most of you probably already know this, I'm just emphasizing the importance. When a new inexperienced fighter chooses a weapon type other than a blue, don't discourage them, but rather stress the importance of building up to that weapon type. Yes, the basics can be boring, but ignoring them can prove costly. Whenever there are new fighters present at practice, try and run a few Single Blue battles so the focus will be on single blue fighting and they'll be able to learn and won't feel so outmatched and overwhelmed on their first day. If everybody is fighting single blue, the new fighters will most likely feel more comfortable, and the more comfortable they feel, the more they will likely learn.
(Note: It is not advised to head onto the battlefield armed only with a blue sword. Single Blue is meant as a training tool and should be limited to personal training sessions and practices)
Also, unless yours is a specialized unit fighting with specific weapons, don't force a specific weapon on a new fighter, let them choose for themselves. And even if yours is a specialized unit, but the new fighter doesn't want to fight with the specific weapon of the unit, it may still be worth your while to try and fit them into your plans anyway because you never know, you just may be turning away an awesome fighter in the making over a specific weapon type, or just an awesome person in general. Plus, fitting them into your units plans and strategy will make them feel important, and stepping out of the norm may greatly benefit your unit and add more options in your strategies.
Things To Consider
As a new fighter, you don't want to choose a weapon simply because it looks cool or because other people fight with it. You want to choose a weapon that's best suited for you, so there are some things to consider when choosing the right weapon for you:
Your Body Type: Are you a small fighter? A large fighter? As a small fighter that isn't the strongest, I favor lighter, quicker weapons as they best suit my physical build. You should always strive fight with weapons that complement your physical build, not work against it.
Fighting Style: Are you an aggressive fighter or do you prefer ranged fighting? Are you an agile, mobile fighter or a stay at home type? These kinds of questions will take some time to answer if you're a new fighter starting out, so it will come down to personal preference and trial and error. But these questions must be considered because they will help ensure that you get the most out of the weapon in your hands and don't end up frustrated because you're not seeing the results you would like.
Weapon Size: The size of your weapon can make a very big difference. Make sure that you are fighting with weapons that you can wield safely, comfortably, and effectively. Safety is more important than cool/flashy. If someone in your local unit or realm has a weapon that appeals to you, ask them if you can test it out. Chances are, you'll need to adjust the length and weight of the weapon or shield to fit your body type. Remember, YOU should be controlling the weapon, NOT the other way around. If it's controlling you, then it's too heavy and you need a lighter weapon. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone by wielding a big heavy weapon that you can't safely wield. Again, this will come down to trial and error and personal preference.
Environment: Different environments/scenarios require different weapons. Once you've been to a larger event(100+ fighters) and have experienced different scenarios, you'll see what I mean. That's why you should strive to make varying sizes of your chosen weapon type to accommodate for different environments, specifically with Reds and Spears, but also blues. Tight quarters can make fighting with large weapons difficult. This is also why you should learn to fight with more than one weapon type as certain weapon types are at a disadvantage in certain scenarios.
A lot of this is common knowledge, but I want to do my part to help new fighters excel. I hope this article was helpful.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Durrok Thunderaxe
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Ambidexterity and Hand Matching
This article will cover ambidexterity and hand matching and their usefulness and how they can help you become a better fighter. Enjoy...
Not everyone has been gifted with the ability of growing up ambidextrous. Most of us use our dominant hands for everything and the off hand is left hanging around like "hey, what about me?". Not only is this true in the mundane world of everyday life, but also in our fantasy world of Dagorhir. Most fighters do all of the fighting with their dominant hand and never learn how to fight with their off hands. There is nothing saying that you have to be fighting ambidextrous, but it certainly has its advantages and can really take your fighting to the next level.
Ambidexterity
For those reading this that are newer to the game and just starting out, I would recommend that you first learn proper weapon control before learning to fight with your offhand. If you can't properly control a blue sword with your dominant hand, it will be even more difficult to do with your offhand. For most people, the motor skills in their offhand are significantly lower than that of their dominant hand. Low motor skills and poor weapon control don't make for a good pairing.
Moving on, allow me to discuss the advantages of becoming fighting ambidextrous:
Say you're a Sword/Board fighter and you lose your sword arm. While the shield is a useful tool and can keep you alive, it won't get you any kills. And a Red fighter can come along and break your shield, then what do you do? If you learn how to fight with your offhand, you'll have a chance to stay alive and keep fighting. Now, in a team scenario, that shield can still be beneficial, but in 1v1 combat you would be better off with the sword than the shield.
Learning how to fight with your offhand will also help you to better read opponents who's dominant hand is opposite of yours because you will have fought from the perspective of a fighter of the opposite dominant hand. As I stated in my previous article, found here, "Becoming The Obstacle" can help you overcome it, and learning how to fight with your offhand can teach you how those fighters fight. You'll know what shots they throw and how, and you'll be better able to visualize where their attacks will come from so that you're ready to defend and counter because you'll already be a step ahead of them. Being able to read and predict what an opponent is going to do will go a long way in defeating them, and learning to fight with your offhand is one way to achieve that.
On the other side of the coin, learning to fight with your off hand can give you an advantage over those fighters who may not be expecting it from you. Say you're a right handed Sword/Board fighter and you decide to go lefty, it will throw people off, even more so if they're not used to fighting left handed fighters. If your opponent is also a Sword/Board fighter, your sword is now on their sword side and you won't have the shield to contend with as much, and shots that may not have been available before now become an option.
Being fighting ambidextrous will also go a long way when fighting with two handed weapons(Reds and Spears/Polearms). You'll be able to vary your shots and shot locations so that you don't become predictable, and this will be especially helpful if you're fighting next to someone who fights opposite handed to you or if you're positioned on a certain side of your team's line. If you're positioned on the left side of the line, it would be better to throw shots from the left side, and vice versa. The bottom line is, you won't be as limited if you can fight equally well with both hands.
Training Tips
We may not all be ambidextrous, but luckily there are ways to teach yourself to become so:
Pat Your Head, Rub Your Belly: Remember when people would ask you if you could pat your head and rub your belly at the same time? Well as silly as it may seem, it can help you to coordinate both hands. You'll likely find that you can do this pretty easily with your dominant hand patting your head and your offhand rubbing your belly, but will likely find it more difficult to do if you reverse it. Yes it's a silly exercise, but it will get both hands moving at the same time, operating independent of one another. Do this exercise everyday if possible for as long you can stand. The longer you do it the better.
Offhand Day: This was a concept taught to me by a friend and fellow Dagorhirian. Start off by choosing one day a week that should be a day off of work or school, and do everything you normally do but with your offhand for the entire day(this includes eating, brushing your teeth, etc.) Do this for an entire month. Then, the following month, take two days a week and do the same thing for the entire month. Continue this process, adding a day each month until you can do things with your offhand everyday just as well as with your dominant hand.
Play Drums: If you can afford it and won't get in trouble, try learning to play the drums. Again, this will get your hands both working at the same time, but independent of one another.
Study Boxing: Watch boxing matches and boxing training videos. Obviously boxing requires the use of both of your hands, just like a couple other things on this list. Not only will you learn to effectively use both hands, but you'll also learn how to throw combos in the process.
Muscle Memory: Please refer to my first article about drills, found here, and search for the Muscle Memory drill. This will go a long way in building up your offhand.
Fight Armed: Another way to build up your offhand is to fight at practice as if you lost your dominant arm, so you have no choice but to fight with your offhand and every shot is a kill shot. Not only will this help build up the motor skills, weapon control, and fighting ability in your offhand, but it will also sharpen your defense as you'll have to really fight to protect yourself and stay alive.
Hand Matching
Hand Matching, or "mirroring", is a very useful strategy. Not only does it provide you with more options, but it also takes away any advantage your opponent may have had over you by fighting the opposite to your dominant hand. To hand match or mirror your opponent, think of it just like a mirror: if their sword is in their right hand, yours should be in your left hand, and vice versa. Doing this will make it so less movement is required to defend that side of the body. You won't have to cross your center line to block a shot, which would leave you far more open. Doing this can also throw your opponent off and make it more difficult for them to read and predict what you're going to do if you're constantly switching hands. This isn't as necessary with Sword/Board as it would be a slower process with switching the sword and shield, especially if you fight with a strap shield, but this can be done in 1v1 duels. You won't always be able to hand match, but when possible, I encourage it. Again, if you're a new fighter starting out, focus on weapon control first.
A good way to train hand matching is by doing the Block/Strike drill. You can watch a video of how to do the drill here.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope this article was helpful.
Until next time,
Durrok Thunderaxe
Not everyone has been gifted with the ability of growing up ambidextrous. Most of us use our dominant hands for everything and the off hand is left hanging around like "hey, what about me?". Not only is this true in the mundane world of everyday life, but also in our fantasy world of Dagorhir. Most fighters do all of the fighting with their dominant hand and never learn how to fight with their off hands. There is nothing saying that you have to be fighting ambidextrous, but it certainly has its advantages and can really take your fighting to the next level.
Ambidexterity
For those reading this that are newer to the game and just starting out, I would recommend that you first learn proper weapon control before learning to fight with your offhand. If you can't properly control a blue sword with your dominant hand, it will be even more difficult to do with your offhand. For most people, the motor skills in their offhand are significantly lower than that of their dominant hand. Low motor skills and poor weapon control don't make for a good pairing.
Moving on, allow me to discuss the advantages of becoming fighting ambidextrous:
Say you're a Sword/Board fighter and you lose your sword arm. While the shield is a useful tool and can keep you alive, it won't get you any kills. And a Red fighter can come along and break your shield, then what do you do? If you learn how to fight with your offhand, you'll have a chance to stay alive and keep fighting. Now, in a team scenario, that shield can still be beneficial, but in 1v1 combat you would be better off with the sword than the shield.
Learning how to fight with your offhand will also help you to better read opponents who's dominant hand is opposite of yours because you will have fought from the perspective of a fighter of the opposite dominant hand. As I stated in my previous article, found here, "Becoming The Obstacle" can help you overcome it, and learning how to fight with your offhand can teach you how those fighters fight. You'll know what shots they throw and how, and you'll be better able to visualize where their attacks will come from so that you're ready to defend and counter because you'll already be a step ahead of them. Being able to read and predict what an opponent is going to do will go a long way in defeating them, and learning to fight with your offhand is one way to achieve that.
On the other side of the coin, learning to fight with your off hand can give you an advantage over those fighters who may not be expecting it from you. Say you're a right handed Sword/Board fighter and you decide to go lefty, it will throw people off, even more so if they're not used to fighting left handed fighters. If your opponent is also a Sword/Board fighter, your sword is now on their sword side and you won't have the shield to contend with as much, and shots that may not have been available before now become an option.
Being fighting ambidextrous will also go a long way when fighting with two handed weapons(Reds and Spears/Polearms). You'll be able to vary your shots and shot locations so that you don't become predictable, and this will be especially helpful if you're fighting next to someone who fights opposite handed to you or if you're positioned on a certain side of your team's line. If you're positioned on the left side of the line, it would be better to throw shots from the left side, and vice versa. The bottom line is, you won't be as limited if you can fight equally well with both hands.
Training Tips
We may not all be ambidextrous, but luckily there are ways to teach yourself to become so:
Pat Your Head, Rub Your Belly: Remember when people would ask you if you could pat your head and rub your belly at the same time? Well as silly as it may seem, it can help you to coordinate both hands. You'll likely find that you can do this pretty easily with your dominant hand patting your head and your offhand rubbing your belly, but will likely find it more difficult to do if you reverse it. Yes it's a silly exercise, but it will get both hands moving at the same time, operating independent of one another. Do this exercise everyday if possible for as long you can stand. The longer you do it the better.
Offhand Day: This was a concept taught to me by a friend and fellow Dagorhirian. Start off by choosing one day a week that should be a day off of work or school, and do everything you normally do but with your offhand for the entire day(this includes eating, brushing your teeth, etc.) Do this for an entire month. Then, the following month, take two days a week and do the same thing for the entire month. Continue this process, adding a day each month until you can do things with your offhand everyday just as well as with your dominant hand.
Play Drums: If you can afford it and won't get in trouble, try learning to play the drums. Again, this will get your hands both working at the same time, but independent of one another.
Study Boxing: Watch boxing matches and boxing training videos. Obviously boxing requires the use of both of your hands, just like a couple other things on this list. Not only will you learn to effectively use both hands, but you'll also learn how to throw combos in the process.
Muscle Memory: Please refer to my first article about drills, found here, and search for the Muscle Memory drill. This will go a long way in building up your offhand.
Fight Armed: Another way to build up your offhand is to fight at practice as if you lost your dominant arm, so you have no choice but to fight with your offhand and every shot is a kill shot. Not only will this help build up the motor skills, weapon control, and fighting ability in your offhand, but it will also sharpen your defense as you'll have to really fight to protect yourself and stay alive.
Hand Matching
Hand Matching, or "mirroring", is a very useful strategy. Not only does it provide you with more options, but it also takes away any advantage your opponent may have had over you by fighting the opposite to your dominant hand. To hand match or mirror your opponent, think of it just like a mirror: if their sword is in their right hand, yours should be in your left hand, and vice versa. Doing this will make it so less movement is required to defend that side of the body. You won't have to cross your center line to block a shot, which would leave you far more open. Doing this can also throw your opponent off and make it more difficult for them to read and predict what you're going to do if you're constantly switching hands. This isn't as necessary with Sword/Board as it would be a slower process with switching the sword and shield, especially if you fight with a strap shield, but this can be done in 1v1 duels. You won't always be able to hand match, but when possible, I encourage it. Again, if you're a new fighter starting out, focus on weapon control first.
A good way to train hand matching is by doing the Block/Strike drill. You can watch a video of how to do the drill here.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope this article was helpful.
Until next time,
Durrok Thunderaxe
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Practical Fighting Concepts: Overcoming Obstacles
At some point in our Dagorhir careers, we've all encountered obstacles that posed problems, caused us frustration, and stalled our growth as fighters. From fighters that we just couldn't seem to solve to weapon types that may have confused us or were just difficult for us to battle against, we've all had to deal with these sort of issues, from newbie fighters to the most experienced veterans. How we handle and subsequently overcome these obstacles is important, so this article will focus on practical ways to overcome these obstacles and reach new heights as fighters. This will be geared towards newbie fighters, but I hope that fighters of all levels can benefit from and possibly learn a thing or two from this article. Enjoy....
Concept #1: Ask Questions/Seek Help
This one should really go without saying, but there are those of us that don't like to ask for help and want to do things ourselves, or those that aren't very socially inclined and are afraid to approach and ask questions. You should never be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. The only stupid question is one that isn't asked. Though some of us may have difficulty with this, it is not a sign of weakness to admit that you need help and to ask for it. Most people in Dagorhir are more than willing to offer assistance to fighters that need it, though there are those fighters who aren't the best teachers or they're only looking after themselves. The point is, ask questions and LOTS of them. Never stop seeking knowledge. The moment you stop seeking knowledge and trying to better yourself is the moment when your growth and progression stalls. The best fighters are always looking to learn new things and improve themselves. Be humble and NEVER afraid to admit that you're not perfect and not the best. Admitting that you're having trouble and need work will help you unlock your potential and will keep you from hitting a wall because you'll always know what you need to work on and improve. If you constantly believe that you're better than everyone else and don't need work, don't be surprised when the fighters around you surpass you in skill and overall fighting ability. The "Holier Than Thou" mindset will do nothing but make you enemies and stall your growth as a fighter. Be humble, be open minded, and be aware that you're never too good or to experienced to work on improving yourself. Strive to be a better you today than you were yesterday.
Veteran fighters, if you see a fellow fighter having difficulty, don't hesitate to offer advice and guidance where it's needed. You should never be too good to offer mentoring to those fighters that need it. This will help build their confidence and will increase the likelihood that they will stick around, thus growing the game. Never turn away a fighter who is eager to learn and asking for tips and guidance. If they reach you at a bad time, offer a better time that they can come back and talk with you. And remember, not everyone is comfortable with asking questions or may be too proud to ask for help, so don't be afraid to approach them and offer your wisdom. This is why I believe that practice should be about more than JUST fighting. Time should be set aside at the beginning and end of each practice for training exercises/drills as a means of warming up and cooling down respectively. After all, that's what practice is about: refining skills and learning new things. Fighting will teach you quite a bit, but refining and practicing what you've learned is what will make you a better fighter. Think of it like a new job: You're hired and thrown into the job without any training and they tell you "Good luck!". Wouldn't you feel overwhelmed and kinda deflated? Sure, some people will do just fine, but not everyone can learn that way. The same rings true for new fighters who don't receive proper training.
Concept #2: Analyze Yourself
As I said earlier, the best fighters constantly seek to improve themselves. They are always looking within to find the answers to their questions.. If they lose a fight, they ask questions of themselves: Why did I lose that fight? What did my opponent do that led them to victory? What did I do that caused me to lose? What can I do differently next time to achieve a better outcome? These are all questions that the top fighters constantly ask themselves and what sets them apart from other fighters.
If possible, ask your unit or realm leader if practice can be videotaped, or if it's ok if you have a friend videotape you fighting at practice. We can't watch ourselves fighting in person to see what we're doing, so if we videotape ourselves and watch the video, we can see where problem areas exist and go about fixing those problems. If we don't know a problem exists, how can we take steps to fix them? And if we intend on training other fighters, if we're doing things wrong, especially bad form or posture, and we're unaware, we could inadvertently pass that on to other fighters. So I encourage unit and realm leaders to allow practices to be videotaped as a learning tool for bettering your fighters. And maybe you can take a pro sports approach and have a video session where everyone gathers together and watches the video of practice to see where areas of improvement are needed. This will help fighters bond and offer each other guidance to improve their fighting, remembering not to pass judgement about mistakes or fighting ability. Mistakes are part of human nature, and from which we learn the most, and to criticize someone for making a mistake and making it seem like a bad thing can be very detrimental and damaging.
I also encourage individual fighters to videotape your personal training sessions if able and watch the videos to see where you need work.
Concept #3: Play Spectator
Sometimes you need to take a break from fighting and just sit and watch. Studying other fighters can teach you a lot about them. You can see their tendencies: subtle movements or fakes they use, the types of shots they tend to throw, which side they favor attacking, and any openings they may provide the enemy to exploit. The more you know about your enemy, the better chance you have of defeating him. You will also begin to understand how other weapon types work, seeing them in action other than when they're coming at you. When you're not under attack, you'll be able to focus more and retain what it is you're seeing and learning. Watch and study as many different fighters as you can, at practices and especially at events, where there will likely be a greater volume of fighters than at practices. You'll be surprised how much you can learn by merely watching other fighters. I encourage you to bring a notebook or notepad and write down some of the things you see that you would like to learn and work on. Ask questions to supplement what you have taken notes on.
Concept #4: Teaming Up
If you're having difficulty against a particular fighter, team up with them. Ask whoever is in charge of practice if they can run battles with teams of 2. Fighting alongside a fighter that has been besting you and making your head spin is a step in the right direction to solving the puzzle. Since you won't be the target of his/her attacks, you'll have a chance to see what he/she does in battle. You'll also be able to see how other fighters match up against him/her and how they react in response to those other fighters. And of course, don't forget to pick your teammates brain for as much information as you can. Repeat this process as needed.
The same goes for weapon types that you are struggling against. Find someone of considerable skill with the weapon type you are struggling against and team up with them. By learning how to fight alongside the particular weapon type, you begin to learn how the weapon works and what it can do. And again, you get to see how other fighters and weapon types match up against said weapon, which can teach you what to do, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the weapon type. Try your best to be focused and pay attention.
Concept #5: Challenge Yourself
As part of becoming a top fighter, you'll need to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. If different practices are held in your area, inquire about them and ask if it's ok for you to attend. But don't limit yourself to your local unit or realm practices. If you're constantly fighting the same fighters, you may become complacent and too comfortable and settled. Attend events as often as possible and challenge as many different fighters as you can to a 1v1 fight. The goal is to fight fighters you know nothing about. This will test your abilities and push your limits. And the more people you fight, the more you will learn, and the better you will become. First, challenge as many different fighters that fight with the same weapon as you. This will test your knowledge of your chosen weapon and your ability with it. And with each fighter, you may learn something new that the previous fighter didn't know or a different perspective. Then, focus on challenging other weapon types. See how you stack up against different fighters with different weapon types and varying levels of skill and experience. And of course, utilize this in conjunction with concept #3. Watch these fighters and see what they can do and take notes when possible. Then, after the event, do your homework and practice what you learned and work on areas that need improving that were brought into the light during your fights with fighters you didn't know. And often times, the people you are fighting in these duels will give you tips on what to improve and how. Try it out and see how it works for you. Trial and error is very important.
Never be afraid to lose or fail. We learn the most from failure. If we win all the time, we would never learn anything and never improve. It took Ben Franklin over 1,000 attempts before he finally discovered electricity. He didn't give up and he achieved his goal. You can do the same by believing in yourself. If you fall, get back up and dust yourself off and try again. Falling is the easy part, getting up is the hard part. Always get back up.
Concept #6: Become The Obstacle
If you find yourself struggling against a specific weapon type, the best and probably most important thing you can do is "Become The Obstacle" and learn how to fight with that particular weapon. Build a weapon of that type, with help if needed, and learn how to wield and fight with it. Ask questions and watch other fighters with that weapon type. You don't have to be a master with that weapon type, just learn the basic mechanics and fundamentals of that weapon and how it works. By learning how to fight with a particular weapon, you also learn how to defeat it because you know the strengths and weaknesses of that weapon. Many new fighters will gravitate towards a specific weapon type and stick to it. While this is perfectly ok, understand that you are limiting yourself by sticking to one weapon type. The more weapons you learn how to fight with, the better you will become in theory. I encourage new fighters to try out each weapon type before deciding which you like best. And I encourage unit leaders to train as many of your fighters who want to learn how to fight with as many weapon types as possible. Let new fighters discover what works best for them through trial and error. Don't force a weapon type on them, but DO stress the importance of learning the basic mechanics of multiple weapon types. Also, encourage them to build at least 1 of each weapon, including a shield, to have to train with. I believe the reason why some fighters may not train with more than one weapon type isn't because they don't want to, but because they don't have access to these weapons. Having the weapons will give them a reason to try them out. Of course, not everyone will want to learn how to use multiple weapon types, and this is ok and doesn't mean they won't be a good fighter. Don't force the idea, but DO encourage it.
I hope this article was helpful and everyone can learn something from it. Until next time, Be Humble, Be Open Minded, and LAY ON!!
Concept #1: Ask Questions/Seek Help
This one should really go without saying, but there are those of us that don't like to ask for help and want to do things ourselves, or those that aren't very socially inclined and are afraid to approach and ask questions. You should never be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. The only stupid question is one that isn't asked. Though some of us may have difficulty with this, it is not a sign of weakness to admit that you need help and to ask for it. Most people in Dagorhir are more than willing to offer assistance to fighters that need it, though there are those fighters who aren't the best teachers or they're only looking after themselves. The point is, ask questions and LOTS of them. Never stop seeking knowledge. The moment you stop seeking knowledge and trying to better yourself is the moment when your growth and progression stalls. The best fighters are always looking to learn new things and improve themselves. Be humble and NEVER afraid to admit that you're not perfect and not the best. Admitting that you're having trouble and need work will help you unlock your potential and will keep you from hitting a wall because you'll always know what you need to work on and improve. If you constantly believe that you're better than everyone else and don't need work, don't be surprised when the fighters around you surpass you in skill and overall fighting ability. The "Holier Than Thou" mindset will do nothing but make you enemies and stall your growth as a fighter. Be humble, be open minded, and be aware that you're never too good or to experienced to work on improving yourself. Strive to be a better you today than you were yesterday.
Veteran fighters, if you see a fellow fighter having difficulty, don't hesitate to offer advice and guidance where it's needed. You should never be too good to offer mentoring to those fighters that need it. This will help build their confidence and will increase the likelihood that they will stick around, thus growing the game. Never turn away a fighter who is eager to learn and asking for tips and guidance. If they reach you at a bad time, offer a better time that they can come back and talk with you. And remember, not everyone is comfortable with asking questions or may be too proud to ask for help, so don't be afraid to approach them and offer your wisdom. This is why I believe that practice should be about more than JUST fighting. Time should be set aside at the beginning and end of each practice for training exercises/drills as a means of warming up and cooling down respectively. After all, that's what practice is about: refining skills and learning new things. Fighting will teach you quite a bit, but refining and practicing what you've learned is what will make you a better fighter. Think of it like a new job: You're hired and thrown into the job without any training and they tell you "Good luck!". Wouldn't you feel overwhelmed and kinda deflated? Sure, some people will do just fine, but not everyone can learn that way. The same rings true for new fighters who don't receive proper training.
Concept #2: Analyze Yourself
As I said earlier, the best fighters constantly seek to improve themselves. They are always looking within to find the answers to their questions.. If they lose a fight, they ask questions of themselves: Why did I lose that fight? What did my opponent do that led them to victory? What did I do that caused me to lose? What can I do differently next time to achieve a better outcome? These are all questions that the top fighters constantly ask themselves and what sets them apart from other fighters.
If possible, ask your unit or realm leader if practice can be videotaped, or if it's ok if you have a friend videotape you fighting at practice. We can't watch ourselves fighting in person to see what we're doing, so if we videotape ourselves and watch the video, we can see where problem areas exist and go about fixing those problems. If we don't know a problem exists, how can we take steps to fix them? And if we intend on training other fighters, if we're doing things wrong, especially bad form or posture, and we're unaware, we could inadvertently pass that on to other fighters. So I encourage unit and realm leaders to allow practices to be videotaped as a learning tool for bettering your fighters. And maybe you can take a pro sports approach and have a video session where everyone gathers together and watches the video of practice to see where areas of improvement are needed. This will help fighters bond and offer each other guidance to improve their fighting, remembering not to pass judgement about mistakes or fighting ability. Mistakes are part of human nature, and from which we learn the most, and to criticize someone for making a mistake and making it seem like a bad thing can be very detrimental and damaging.
I also encourage individual fighters to videotape your personal training sessions if able and watch the videos to see where you need work.
Concept #3: Play Spectator
Sometimes you need to take a break from fighting and just sit and watch. Studying other fighters can teach you a lot about them. You can see their tendencies: subtle movements or fakes they use, the types of shots they tend to throw, which side they favor attacking, and any openings they may provide the enemy to exploit. The more you know about your enemy, the better chance you have of defeating him. You will also begin to understand how other weapon types work, seeing them in action other than when they're coming at you. When you're not under attack, you'll be able to focus more and retain what it is you're seeing and learning. Watch and study as many different fighters as you can, at practices and especially at events, where there will likely be a greater volume of fighters than at practices. You'll be surprised how much you can learn by merely watching other fighters. I encourage you to bring a notebook or notepad and write down some of the things you see that you would like to learn and work on. Ask questions to supplement what you have taken notes on.
Concept #4: Teaming Up
If you're having difficulty against a particular fighter, team up with them. Ask whoever is in charge of practice if they can run battles with teams of 2. Fighting alongside a fighter that has been besting you and making your head spin is a step in the right direction to solving the puzzle. Since you won't be the target of his/her attacks, you'll have a chance to see what he/she does in battle. You'll also be able to see how other fighters match up against him/her and how they react in response to those other fighters. And of course, don't forget to pick your teammates brain for as much information as you can. Repeat this process as needed.
The same goes for weapon types that you are struggling against. Find someone of considerable skill with the weapon type you are struggling against and team up with them. By learning how to fight alongside the particular weapon type, you begin to learn how the weapon works and what it can do. And again, you get to see how other fighters and weapon types match up against said weapon, which can teach you what to do, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the weapon type. Try your best to be focused and pay attention.
Concept #5: Challenge Yourself
As part of becoming a top fighter, you'll need to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. If different practices are held in your area, inquire about them and ask if it's ok for you to attend. But don't limit yourself to your local unit or realm practices. If you're constantly fighting the same fighters, you may become complacent and too comfortable and settled. Attend events as often as possible and challenge as many different fighters as you can to a 1v1 fight. The goal is to fight fighters you know nothing about. This will test your abilities and push your limits. And the more people you fight, the more you will learn, and the better you will become. First, challenge as many different fighters that fight with the same weapon as you. This will test your knowledge of your chosen weapon and your ability with it. And with each fighter, you may learn something new that the previous fighter didn't know or a different perspective. Then, focus on challenging other weapon types. See how you stack up against different fighters with different weapon types and varying levels of skill and experience. And of course, utilize this in conjunction with concept #3. Watch these fighters and see what they can do and take notes when possible. Then, after the event, do your homework and practice what you learned and work on areas that need improving that were brought into the light during your fights with fighters you didn't know. And often times, the people you are fighting in these duels will give you tips on what to improve and how. Try it out and see how it works for you. Trial and error is very important.
Never be afraid to lose or fail. We learn the most from failure. If we win all the time, we would never learn anything and never improve. It took Ben Franklin over 1,000 attempts before he finally discovered electricity. He didn't give up and he achieved his goal. You can do the same by believing in yourself. If you fall, get back up and dust yourself off and try again. Falling is the easy part, getting up is the hard part. Always get back up.
Concept #6: Become The Obstacle
If you find yourself struggling against a specific weapon type, the best and probably most important thing you can do is "Become The Obstacle" and learn how to fight with that particular weapon. Build a weapon of that type, with help if needed, and learn how to wield and fight with it. Ask questions and watch other fighters with that weapon type. You don't have to be a master with that weapon type, just learn the basic mechanics and fundamentals of that weapon and how it works. By learning how to fight with a particular weapon, you also learn how to defeat it because you know the strengths and weaknesses of that weapon. Many new fighters will gravitate towards a specific weapon type and stick to it. While this is perfectly ok, understand that you are limiting yourself by sticking to one weapon type. The more weapons you learn how to fight with, the better you will become in theory. I encourage new fighters to try out each weapon type before deciding which you like best. And I encourage unit leaders to train as many of your fighters who want to learn how to fight with as many weapon types as possible. Let new fighters discover what works best for them through trial and error. Don't force a weapon type on them, but DO stress the importance of learning the basic mechanics of multiple weapon types. Also, encourage them to build at least 1 of each weapon, including a shield, to have to train with. I believe the reason why some fighters may not train with more than one weapon type isn't because they don't want to, but because they don't have access to these weapons. Having the weapons will give them a reason to try them out. Of course, not everyone will want to learn how to use multiple weapon types, and this is ok and doesn't mean they won't be a good fighter. Don't force the idea, but DO encourage it.
I hope this article was helpful and everyone can learn something from it. Until next time, Be Humble, Be Open Minded, and LAY ON!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Red Fighting: An Analysis
In this post, I will be discussing a worrisome concern that I've seen among some Red users in Dagorhir, as well as a drill that I've come up with that I hope will address and eventually correct the issue. Enjoy...
Red fighters are crucial to the success of any unit on the battlefield. They break shields, weakening the enemy, and provide aggression and intimidation which can turn the tide of battle. Now, I don't have a ton of experience with Red fighting, which I plan on changing very soon, but I have watched my fair share of Red fighters, and what I've seen from some, not all, Red users is that they seem to be stuck in "Power Mode" regardless if the person in front of them has a shield or not. I find this very concerning because Red weapons are bigger, often heavier weapons that can cause a lot of damage and their wielders are quite often fighters of larger stature. However, this is not the fault of Red users. The style itself is aggressive and meant to be used with power, and it can be difficult to switch out of that "Power Mode". There's also the VERY gray area known as the "Sufficient Force" rule in the M.O.A, which is often abused by some shield users and other fighters in order to stay in the fight longer. What's considered "Sufficient" force to one fighter could be "Insufficient" or "Excessive" to other fighters. In my opinion, some common ground needs to be found on this issue before serious injuries occur. The same can be said for other weapon styles, but the most concerning is with Red weapons because of their size and weight.
It's the abusers of the "Sufficient Force" rule that have molded the "swing for the fences" mentality that some Red fighters have come to adopt, so as soon as a Red is put in their hands, the "Power Mode" switch kicks on and often remains in the 'On' position. With that being said, I've come up with a few ideas, including a training exercise/drill, that I hope will help these Red fighters to be able to switch the "Power Mode" 'Off' when needed.
Weapon Checking
I encourage all fighters to learn the art of weapon checking, as it will help them become better weapon makers, know what a passing and failing weapon feels and looks like, which will in turn help them know when repairs are needed to their own weapons. This will help keep Dagorhir a safe game. But I strongly encourage Red users to learn weapon checking, especially if they're new to the style. Have them test a Blue and a Red Weapon so that they can feel for themselves what it's like to throw a Light, Medium, and Hard shot. Then, have a Blue and a Red tested on them so that they can be trained on what a Light, Medium, and Hard shot feels like when they're the ones being hit. Have this be a regular occurrence if it isn't already, like with my realm, we have weapons check once a month before practice, with new weapons always being tested before being brought on the field, and arrows checked at every practice. Repetition will help make this second nature.
Meditation
I know, some of you are probably thinking "What do Red fighting and meditation have to do with one another?!" Well, for the purpose of this article, quite a bit actually. Meditation has long been used to become more mindful and focus on the present moment. This is where I think some Red users can use some training. Red fighters are a little like Bulls; when they see a shield, it's like the Bull seeing red. Once they start breaking shields, it can be hard to get out of that mode, regardless of who or what stands in front of them. This is where Mindfulness training and focusing on the present moment can come in handy. If you're more focused and more aware of who you're fighting, then you'll likely be able to recognize whether you need to be in "Power Mode" or "Power Saving Mode".
"Power Mode" should be reserved ONLY for breaking shields(and those frustrating abusers of the "Sufficient Force" rule).
"Power Saving Mode" should be your default mode when you're fighting enemies who don't have a shield in front of them. When fighting an enemy as a Red user, if they are not using a shield then you should not be striking them any harder than you would with a normal blue. Yes, this would be open for interpretation, but the point is that you should not be going full Red unless your opponent has a shield or doesn't want to take hits.
There's plenty of information on meditation on the internet, including videos, so I highly encourage Red users to seek out this information. I hope it improves your Red fighting.
Hit Calibration Training Exercise/Drill
Coupled with the ideas above, I've come up with a training exercise that I hope will help Red users discern when it's necessary to be in "Power Mode" or "Power Saving Mode". The most important part about this training exercise is the changing of variables that the Red fighter encounters. With that being said, here's the exercise:
Round 1: Small Female Fighter
Find the smallest female fighter available in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill. Arm her with a weapon, preferably single blue or Florentine. Avoid Reds and ranged weapons as the point is for the other fighter to be in melee range of the Red user, and another Red would just confuse matters. Try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighter, as this may lead to harder than needed shots. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Level 1: Weapon Only
Have the female fighter square off with the Red user with only weapons, no armor or shields. Allow only light to medium hits. If any hits are deemed "Hard" or "Excessive", call the Red fighter dead and restart the fight. Repeat this process at least 5-10 times before moving on to Level 2.
Level 2: Weapon and Armor
Same as Level 1, only this time give the female fighter armor(at the very least torso armor). Allow Medium hits from the Red fighter against the armor only, as armor can absorb a portion of the force of the hit, but encourage the non Red fighter to take light hits as well. Again, Hard or Excessive hits should result in the immediate death of the Red fighter. Restart the fight. Repeat at least 5-10 times before moving on to Level 3.
Level 3: Weapon, Armor, and Shield
Finally, give the female fighter a shield in addition to the weapon and armor. The female fighter should preferably be above average at sword/board, but at the very least should know the basics of sword/board, especially the rules regarding Red damage. Allow Hard or "Power" shots on the shield only. Once the shield is broken, allow Medium strikes for the armor only like in Level 2. Follow the immediate death rule as in Levels 1 & 2, and repeat at least 5-10 times.
Then to make it more interesting, go backwards down the ladder. Go from Level 3 down to Level 2, then down to Level 1.
Round 2: Average/Medium Sized Male Fighter
Find an average to medium sized male fighter in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill. All of the same rules apply as in Round 1 with the female fighter, including moving backwards down the ladder of levels. Try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighters, as this may lead to harder shots out of frustration. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Round 3: Large Male Fighter
Finally, find the biggest male fighter you can in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill and have them square off against the Red fighter. All of the same rules apply as in the previous 2 rounds. Again, try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighter. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Advanced(Optional)
If the Red fighter is exceptionally good, to make it more challenging, you can have him/her face two enemies at the same time, presenting that Red user with a multitude of variables all in the same fight. For example, you could use a small unarmored female fighter without a shield and a large male fighter in armor with a shield against the Red fighter.
The Goal: The goal of this training exercise is to condition the Red fighter to react accordingly to the variables that they encounter on the battlefield. Typically you would strike a smaller female fighter lighter than you would a 350 pound guy(yes I know there are some pretty tough ladies in Dagorhir that can take a beating and give it back), you'd hit an armored fighter slightly harder than an unarmored fighter, and you hit a shield with power. They should be able to discern between each variable and switch to the proper mode, meaning they shouldn't be in "Power Mode" when fighting an unarmored enemy without a shield(unless they're calling "light" or shrugging off shots), and shouldn't be in "Power Saving Mode" against an armored sword/board fighter. This should be an ongoing training regimen for all of your Red fighters. All 3 rounds do not have to be completed in the same practice. You can also tweak the exercise however you see fit. I've merely provided the foundation from which to build upon.
I would like as many units and realms to try out this training exercise and report back to me and let me know the results so that I know if it's a success or I just wasted my time. You can comment in the comments section with the results, or find me on Facebook(Durrok Thunderaxe).
In closing, I would like to make it clear that I'm not calling out any particular fighters or talking down to any Red users out there. I just want to promote safety and responsibility with Reds. I'd rather see the "swing for the fences" mentality broken, not a fellow fighter.
Hope this article was helpful and thanks for reading. Until next time, be safe and LAY ON!!!
Red fighters are crucial to the success of any unit on the battlefield. They break shields, weakening the enemy, and provide aggression and intimidation which can turn the tide of battle. Now, I don't have a ton of experience with Red fighting, which I plan on changing very soon, but I have watched my fair share of Red fighters, and what I've seen from some, not all, Red users is that they seem to be stuck in "Power Mode" regardless if the person in front of them has a shield or not. I find this very concerning because Red weapons are bigger, often heavier weapons that can cause a lot of damage and their wielders are quite often fighters of larger stature. However, this is not the fault of Red users. The style itself is aggressive and meant to be used with power, and it can be difficult to switch out of that "Power Mode". There's also the VERY gray area known as the "Sufficient Force" rule in the M.O.A, which is often abused by some shield users and other fighters in order to stay in the fight longer. What's considered "Sufficient" force to one fighter could be "Insufficient" or "Excessive" to other fighters. In my opinion, some common ground needs to be found on this issue before serious injuries occur. The same can be said for other weapon styles, but the most concerning is with Red weapons because of their size and weight.
It's the abusers of the "Sufficient Force" rule that have molded the "swing for the fences" mentality that some Red fighters have come to adopt, so as soon as a Red is put in their hands, the "Power Mode" switch kicks on and often remains in the 'On' position. With that being said, I've come up with a few ideas, including a training exercise/drill, that I hope will help these Red fighters to be able to switch the "Power Mode" 'Off' when needed.
Weapon Checking
I encourage all fighters to learn the art of weapon checking, as it will help them become better weapon makers, know what a passing and failing weapon feels and looks like, which will in turn help them know when repairs are needed to their own weapons. This will help keep Dagorhir a safe game. But I strongly encourage Red users to learn weapon checking, especially if they're new to the style. Have them test a Blue and a Red Weapon so that they can feel for themselves what it's like to throw a Light, Medium, and Hard shot. Then, have a Blue and a Red tested on them so that they can be trained on what a Light, Medium, and Hard shot feels like when they're the ones being hit. Have this be a regular occurrence if it isn't already, like with my realm, we have weapons check once a month before practice, with new weapons always being tested before being brought on the field, and arrows checked at every practice. Repetition will help make this second nature.
Meditation
I know, some of you are probably thinking "What do Red fighting and meditation have to do with one another?!" Well, for the purpose of this article, quite a bit actually. Meditation has long been used to become more mindful and focus on the present moment. This is where I think some Red users can use some training. Red fighters are a little like Bulls; when they see a shield, it's like the Bull seeing red. Once they start breaking shields, it can be hard to get out of that mode, regardless of who or what stands in front of them. This is where Mindfulness training and focusing on the present moment can come in handy. If you're more focused and more aware of who you're fighting, then you'll likely be able to recognize whether you need to be in "Power Mode" or "Power Saving Mode".
"Power Mode" should be reserved ONLY for breaking shields(and those frustrating abusers of the "Sufficient Force" rule).
"Power Saving Mode" should be your default mode when you're fighting enemies who don't have a shield in front of them. When fighting an enemy as a Red user, if they are not using a shield then you should not be striking them any harder than you would with a normal blue. Yes, this would be open for interpretation, but the point is that you should not be going full Red unless your opponent has a shield or doesn't want to take hits.
There's plenty of information on meditation on the internet, including videos, so I highly encourage Red users to seek out this information. I hope it improves your Red fighting.
Hit Calibration Training Exercise/Drill
Coupled with the ideas above, I've come up with a training exercise that I hope will help Red users discern when it's necessary to be in "Power Mode" or "Power Saving Mode". The most important part about this training exercise is the changing of variables that the Red fighter encounters. With that being said, here's the exercise:
Round 1: Small Female Fighter
Find the smallest female fighter available in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill. Arm her with a weapon, preferably single blue or Florentine. Avoid Reds and ranged weapons as the point is for the other fighter to be in melee range of the Red user, and another Red would just confuse matters. Try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighter, as this may lead to harder than needed shots. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Level 1: Weapon Only
Have the female fighter square off with the Red user with only weapons, no armor or shields. Allow only light to medium hits. If any hits are deemed "Hard" or "Excessive", call the Red fighter dead and restart the fight. Repeat this process at least 5-10 times before moving on to Level 2.
Level 2: Weapon and Armor
Same as Level 1, only this time give the female fighter armor(at the very least torso armor). Allow Medium hits from the Red fighter against the armor only, as armor can absorb a portion of the force of the hit, but encourage the non Red fighter to take light hits as well. Again, Hard or Excessive hits should result in the immediate death of the Red fighter. Restart the fight. Repeat at least 5-10 times before moving on to Level 3.
Level 3: Weapon, Armor, and Shield
Finally, give the female fighter a shield in addition to the weapon and armor. The female fighter should preferably be above average at sword/board, but at the very least should know the basics of sword/board, especially the rules regarding Red damage. Allow Hard or "Power" shots on the shield only. Once the shield is broken, allow Medium strikes for the armor only like in Level 2. Follow the immediate death rule as in Levels 1 & 2, and repeat at least 5-10 times.
Then to make it more interesting, go backwards down the ladder. Go from Level 3 down to Level 2, then down to Level 1.
Round 2: Average/Medium Sized Male Fighter
Find an average to medium sized male fighter in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill. All of the same rules apply as in Round 1 with the female fighter, including moving backwards down the ladder of levels. Try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighters, as this may lead to harder shots out of frustration. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Round 3: Large Male Fighter
Finally, find the biggest male fighter you can in your unit or local realm that's at least average to above average in skill and have them square off against the Red fighter. All of the same rules apply as in the previous 2 rounds. Again, try and discourage "light" calls from the non Red fighter. Call shots if necessary if they are being shrugged off.
Advanced(Optional)
If the Red fighter is exceptionally good, to make it more challenging, you can have him/her face two enemies at the same time, presenting that Red user with a multitude of variables all in the same fight. For example, you could use a small unarmored female fighter without a shield and a large male fighter in armor with a shield against the Red fighter.
The Goal: The goal of this training exercise is to condition the Red fighter to react accordingly to the variables that they encounter on the battlefield. Typically you would strike a smaller female fighter lighter than you would a 350 pound guy(yes I know there are some pretty tough ladies in Dagorhir that can take a beating and give it back), you'd hit an armored fighter slightly harder than an unarmored fighter, and you hit a shield with power. They should be able to discern between each variable and switch to the proper mode, meaning they shouldn't be in "Power Mode" when fighting an unarmored enemy without a shield(unless they're calling "light" or shrugging off shots), and shouldn't be in "Power Saving Mode" against an armored sword/board fighter. This should be an ongoing training regimen for all of your Red fighters. All 3 rounds do not have to be completed in the same practice. You can also tweak the exercise however you see fit. I've merely provided the foundation from which to build upon.
I would like as many units and realms to try out this training exercise and report back to me and let me know the results so that I know if it's a success or I just wasted my time. You can comment in the comments section with the results, or find me on Facebook(Durrok Thunderaxe).
In closing, I would like to make it clear that I'm not calling out any particular fighters or talking down to any Red users out there. I just want to promote safety and responsibility with Reds. I'd rather see the "swing for the fences" mentality broken, not a fellow fighter.
Hope this article was helpful and thanks for reading. Until next time, be safe and LAY ON!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
The Basics: Drills
Boring as they may be, drills are vital to developing proper form and improving your skills as a fighter. While you will learn quite a bit on the field fighting as many people as possible, you'll want to supplement what you've learned with drills. They are often overlooked because of how boring and repetitive they can be, but the repetition is key in developing muscle memory. Drills are the building blocks of what we do in Dagorhir. Think of it like building a house: you need a good foundation to build the rest of the house. If you don't have a good foundation, the house will be unsafe and crumble to the ground. Drills are the foundation of our house. The drills I'm going to outline in this article are simple and will benefit all fighters of any level. Ever wonder how the best fighters got to be as good as they are? Want to know how they did it? Chances are they used some or all of the drills I'm going to cover below. Read on and let's get fighting!
Footwork
Footwork is VERY important to building a good foundation and having proper fighting form. If you have bad footwork, little else will matter because you won't have proper form and your improper footwork will get in your way and quite literally trip you up. As someone who studied martial arts, I quickly learned that proper footwork is key, and if your feet don't have it, neither will the rest of you. You have to build your foundation from the ground up, therefore it's vital to learn proper footwork and everything else will follow suit.
One of the first things I tell new fighters is to NEVER NEVER EVER cross your feet under ANY circumstances. Doing so will only lead to injury, no matter how good you may be. Sure, you can control YOUR body and YOUR movement, but there are so many variables on the field, especially at Ragnarok, that you CAN'T control. So please, DON'T CROSS YOUR FEET!!!
There are a number of good videos that can be found on YouTube for footwork training. Below are the ones that I have used and encourage others to do the same:
Triangular Footwork
Wing Chun Footwork
With the video below, watch all 3 parts to get the full effect:
Boxing Footwork
I recommend giving all three a try for variation to see what you like best.
First, practice these without a weapon in your hands to get used to the movements. Doing these empty handed will put all the focus on your feet, which is where it needs to be. Do as many repetitions as you can as many times a week as your able. Repetition is what will make these movements more fluid and they will become like second nature.
After you feel comfortable with the movements, you can then add a weapon into your hand(s). Repeat the movements with your weapon, but don't throw any shots. Just get used to doing the movements with your weapon in hand.
Finally, after you're comfortable doing these movements with a weapon in hand, you can then do these exercises while throwing shots. It's best to have a pell, punching bag, or one of those blow up punching bags that return back to you after you hit them, with sand in the bottom for balance. You can also use a partner if you have one. The point is to be practicing your footwork WHILE throwing shots. This will get your hands and feet coordinated and working together.
Muscle Memory
Next to footwork, Muscle Memory is the best drill that you can do in my opinion. If you do no other drills, do Footwork and Muscle Memory and you'll be sure to see an improvement in your fighting with those drills alone. Muscle Memory conditions your muscles to throw shots to the 6 major strike points on the body: Right Leg, Right Side Hip/Torso, Right Side Arm/Shoulder, Left Side Arm/Shoulder, Left Side Hip/Torso, and Left Leg, as well as to return to a defensive posture to block an opponent's return attack.
How It Works:
First get into a proper stance. Generally, this is knees bent, sword foot pointing forward, back foot pointed outward, almost as if your feet are forming a right angle. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart, and your torso should be sideways, facing the same direction as your back foot. The slimmer the profile you show your enemy, the less they have to hit. This is the stance that I use, but of course, the stance that you use is up to personal preference and what is comfortable for you, as well as what weapon type you are fighting with. Different weapon styles often require different stances that work best for that particular weapon. And other fighters will teach being square to your opponent when fighting. There is nothing wrong with this approach, only the fact that you will be presenting your opponent with more body surface to strike, thus creating more areas for you to have to block if you don't have a shield. Keep these things in mind.
Always start with your offhand. Unless you were lucky enough to be raised to be ambidextrous, you will need to build up the motor skills in your offhand. I recommend 240 shots(40 complete reps) with your offhand(120 with your dominant hand). You can use a pell, punching bag, tree, a partner if you have one, or you can make marks on a wall with tape. To do this, stand facing forward against the wall and place pieces of tape at your left shoulder, left hip, left knee, right shoulder, right hip, and right knee.
Now, while in your stance, take a step forward with your sword foot and SLOWLY, as slow as you can, throw a shot toward the right leg, but don't make contact. Right before you would make contact, begin slowly pulling your sword back into a defensive posture while slowly stepping back into your stance. Repeat the process at the enemy's right hip, right arm/shoulder, left arm/shoulder, left hip, and left leg. Continue the process until you've thrown 240 shots. Then switch sword hands and adjust your stance so that the sword foot of your dominant hand is now pointing forward(it was the back foot when you were training your offhand). Repeat the same process as with your offhand, only you'll be starting the reps on the opposite side now. So if you're right handed, you will begin on the enemy's left side. Continue the process until you've thrown 120 shots.
Use the chart below to determine where to start, based on which hand is your offhand:
Setup
Offhand(Left)
3-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm 4-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm
2-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso 5-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso
1-- Enemy Right Leg 6-- Enemy Left Leg
Offhand(Right)
3-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm 4-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm
2-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso 5-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso
1-- Enemy Left Leg 6-- Enemy Right Leg
Remember that this drill is ALWAYS to be done as SLOWLY as possible. DO NOT speed this drill up. The slow speed puts tension on the muscles, which is what will help build muscle memory.
Doing this drill daily will make your shots more fluid and precise, you will have better weapon control, and you will also be able to link shots to create combos. Once you are comfortable with the standard version, you can add on to it:
Inside Lanes of Attack
You will follow the same process as the standard version, only you'll be attacking the inside lanes of the enemy: Inside Right Leg, Stomach(slicing out to Right Hip from the bellybutton). Right Pectoral(Chest), Left Pectoral(Chest), Stomach(slicing out to Left Hip from the bellybutton), and Inside Left Leg(this will be reversed depending on which is your off hand and which is your dominant hand). For this drill, only attack the inside lanes. Once you become comfortable doing so, you can link the standard version and the inside lanes of attack version together. Doing so will offer more attack options and combos, and will later lead to the ability to do feints/baits to fake out your enemy.
Note: When throwing a shot to your enemy's chest, use the Slot shot, shown here:
Slot Shot
The 1-6 Drill
The 1-6 Drill is very similar to the Muscle Memory drill, but the setup is a little different. All of the odd numbered shots(1, 3, 5 or Right Arm/Shoulder, Right Hip, Right Leg, or the left side if your offhand is your right hand) will be on your sword side and the even numbered shots(2, 4, 6 or Left Arm/Shoulder, Left Hip, Left Leg, or the right side if you're offhand is your right hand) will be on the opposite side of your sword arm. Follow the same procedure as the Muscle Memory drill.
Start with your offhand. To begin, get into your stance. Remember to take a step when throwing a shot, and step back into your stance when returning to a defensive posture. The patterns for the drills are as follows:
1-1-1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6
2-1-2-2-2-3-2-4-2-5-2-6
3-1-3-2-3-3-3-4-3-5-3-6
4-1-4-2-4-3-4-4-4-5-4-6
5-1-5-2-5-3-5-4-5-5-5-6
6-1-6-2-6-3-6-4-6-5-6-6-6
Setup
Use the chart below to determine your starting point, based on whichever hand is your offhand:
Offhand(Left)
1-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm 2-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm
3-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso 4-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso
5-- Enemy Right Leg 6-- Enemy Left Leg
Offhand(Right)
1-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm 2-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm
3-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso 4-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso
5-- Enemy Left Leg 6-- Enemy Right Leg
You then switch to your dominant hand and repeat the process. Start off doing this drill slowly until you get comfortable with it, then you can gradually increase your speed.
This drill is great for learning to throw combos. Combos offer you a better chance of killing your enemy because you're varying where your throwing your shots, and it can throw your enemy off balance and offer them little time to react.
For reference, this drill is also explained at http://www.scabastardsword.com/pellworkdrills.htm
Block/Strike
Block/Strike is another very important drill to practice. It teaches you how to block an enemy's attack and then follow up with a counter strike of your own. You ALWAYS want to throw a return shot after an enemy throws a shot at you. Doing so can give you an opening to take a limb or get a kill shot because of a missed or errant shot by your enemy.
To do this, you'll need a partner. Before beginning the drill, agree upon two areas where you will be aiming your strikes(Right Leg, Right Hip, Right Arm/Shoulder, Left Arm/Shoulder, Left Hip, or Left Leg). The 2 shots should be on opposite sides of the body.
Start by getting into a fighting stance(per the Muscle Memory drill above). Make sure you and your partner are about a swords length apart. There should be no movement other than blocking the incoming shots. Start the drill Right Handed vs. Right Handed, and make sure to go slowly, just like with the Muscle Memory drill. One person throws one of the 2 agreed upon shots and the other blocks it. The person throwing the shot returns to a defensive stance to block the incoming attack. Repeat this back and forth process for a desired amount of time, then switch so that one person is fighting Left handed while the other remains fighting Right handed.
Repeat the same back and forth process using the same 2 shots. After a desired amount of time, switch it up so its now Left vs. Left. Repeat.
Then switch one last time so it's Left vs. Right, with the person who didn't switch after the first round switching sword hands. Repeat.
You and your partner should not increase the speed until you both are ready. Use the slow tempo to work on proper form and returning to your defensive stance. Increasing the speed too soon can lead to the formation of bad habits.
While doing this drill, try alternating between fighting guards to see how each works. Start off with a horizontal guard, like the Bait guard here:
Bait Guard
http://youtu.be/2dDd3q4tDxY
Then transition through the others:
Denial Guard
http://youtu.be/LMpmwNtY23g
Range Guard
http://youtu.be/XHiki-GW8ac
Lazy Guard
http://youtu.be/y7bDXoLHgJs
(Note: The Lazy Guard is more for veteran fighters as it invites your enemy to attack you, mainly in the upper body. This guard makes it appear as though you don't know what you're doing, when in actuality, you do. You're baiting your enemy to attack, effectively getting them to do exactly what you want them to do. Learn and practice the other guards first, and eventually learn how to use baits before using the Lazy Guard)
Read the 'Guard Flow' drill at http://www.scabastardsword.com/pellworkdrills.htm for practicing transitioning through the guards.
Trying out each will allow you to discover which works best for you and when it's best to use each.
Well, that's it for now. Sorry for such a long post, but I hope it was informative and helpful. Until next time, thanks for reading and LAY ON!!
Footwork
Footwork is VERY important to building a good foundation and having proper fighting form. If you have bad footwork, little else will matter because you won't have proper form and your improper footwork will get in your way and quite literally trip you up. As someone who studied martial arts, I quickly learned that proper footwork is key, and if your feet don't have it, neither will the rest of you. You have to build your foundation from the ground up, therefore it's vital to learn proper footwork and everything else will follow suit.
One of the first things I tell new fighters is to NEVER NEVER EVER cross your feet under ANY circumstances. Doing so will only lead to injury, no matter how good you may be. Sure, you can control YOUR body and YOUR movement, but there are so many variables on the field, especially at Ragnarok, that you CAN'T control. So please, DON'T CROSS YOUR FEET!!!
There are a number of good videos that can be found on YouTube for footwork training. Below are the ones that I have used and encourage others to do the same:
Triangular Footwork
Wing Chun Footwork
With the video below, watch all 3 parts to get the full effect:
Boxing Footwork
I recommend giving all three a try for variation to see what you like best.
First, practice these without a weapon in your hands to get used to the movements. Doing these empty handed will put all the focus on your feet, which is where it needs to be. Do as many repetitions as you can as many times a week as your able. Repetition is what will make these movements more fluid and they will become like second nature.
After you feel comfortable with the movements, you can then add a weapon into your hand(s). Repeat the movements with your weapon, but don't throw any shots. Just get used to doing the movements with your weapon in hand.
Finally, after you're comfortable doing these movements with a weapon in hand, you can then do these exercises while throwing shots. It's best to have a pell, punching bag, or one of those blow up punching bags that return back to you after you hit them, with sand in the bottom for balance. You can also use a partner if you have one. The point is to be practicing your footwork WHILE throwing shots. This will get your hands and feet coordinated and working together.
Muscle Memory
Next to footwork, Muscle Memory is the best drill that you can do in my opinion. If you do no other drills, do Footwork and Muscle Memory and you'll be sure to see an improvement in your fighting with those drills alone. Muscle Memory conditions your muscles to throw shots to the 6 major strike points on the body: Right Leg, Right Side Hip/Torso, Right Side Arm/Shoulder, Left Side Arm/Shoulder, Left Side Hip/Torso, and Left Leg, as well as to return to a defensive posture to block an opponent's return attack.
How It Works:
First get into a proper stance. Generally, this is knees bent, sword foot pointing forward, back foot pointed outward, almost as if your feet are forming a right angle. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart, and your torso should be sideways, facing the same direction as your back foot. The slimmer the profile you show your enemy, the less they have to hit. This is the stance that I use, but of course, the stance that you use is up to personal preference and what is comfortable for you, as well as what weapon type you are fighting with. Different weapon styles often require different stances that work best for that particular weapon. And other fighters will teach being square to your opponent when fighting. There is nothing wrong with this approach, only the fact that you will be presenting your opponent with more body surface to strike, thus creating more areas for you to have to block if you don't have a shield. Keep these things in mind.
Always start with your offhand. Unless you were lucky enough to be raised to be ambidextrous, you will need to build up the motor skills in your offhand. I recommend 240 shots(40 complete reps) with your offhand(120 with your dominant hand). You can use a pell, punching bag, tree, a partner if you have one, or you can make marks on a wall with tape. To do this, stand facing forward against the wall and place pieces of tape at your left shoulder, left hip, left knee, right shoulder, right hip, and right knee.
Now, while in your stance, take a step forward with your sword foot and SLOWLY, as slow as you can, throw a shot toward the right leg, but don't make contact. Right before you would make contact, begin slowly pulling your sword back into a defensive posture while slowly stepping back into your stance. Repeat the process at the enemy's right hip, right arm/shoulder, left arm/shoulder, left hip, and left leg. Continue the process until you've thrown 240 shots. Then switch sword hands and adjust your stance so that the sword foot of your dominant hand is now pointing forward(it was the back foot when you were training your offhand). Repeat the same process as with your offhand, only you'll be starting the reps on the opposite side now. So if you're right handed, you will begin on the enemy's left side. Continue the process until you've thrown 120 shots.
Use the chart below to determine where to start, based on which hand is your offhand:
Setup
Offhand(Left)
3-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm 4-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm
2-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso 5-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso
1-- Enemy Right Leg 6-- Enemy Left Leg
Offhand(Right)
3-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm 4-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm
2-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso 5-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso
1-- Enemy Left Leg 6-- Enemy Right Leg
Remember that this drill is ALWAYS to be done as SLOWLY as possible. DO NOT speed this drill up. The slow speed puts tension on the muscles, which is what will help build muscle memory.
Doing this drill daily will make your shots more fluid and precise, you will have better weapon control, and you will also be able to link shots to create combos. Once you are comfortable with the standard version, you can add on to it:
Inside Lanes of Attack
You will follow the same process as the standard version, only you'll be attacking the inside lanes of the enemy: Inside Right Leg, Stomach(slicing out to Right Hip from the bellybutton). Right Pectoral(Chest), Left Pectoral(Chest), Stomach(slicing out to Left Hip from the bellybutton), and Inside Left Leg(this will be reversed depending on which is your off hand and which is your dominant hand). For this drill, only attack the inside lanes. Once you become comfortable doing so, you can link the standard version and the inside lanes of attack version together. Doing so will offer more attack options and combos, and will later lead to the ability to do feints/baits to fake out your enemy.
Note: When throwing a shot to your enemy's chest, use the Slot shot, shown here:
Slot Shot
The 1-6 Drill
The 1-6 Drill is very similar to the Muscle Memory drill, but the setup is a little different. All of the odd numbered shots(1, 3, 5 or Right Arm/Shoulder, Right Hip, Right Leg, or the left side if your offhand is your right hand) will be on your sword side and the even numbered shots(2, 4, 6 or Left Arm/Shoulder, Left Hip, Left Leg, or the right side if you're offhand is your right hand) will be on the opposite side of your sword arm. Follow the same procedure as the Muscle Memory drill.
Start with your offhand. To begin, get into your stance. Remember to take a step when throwing a shot, and step back into your stance when returning to a defensive posture. The patterns for the drills are as follows:
1-1-1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-6
2-1-2-2-2-3-2-4-2-5-2-6
3-1-3-2-3-3-3-4-3-5-3-6
4-1-4-2-4-3-4-4-4-5-4-6
5-1-5-2-5-3-5-4-5-5-5-6
6-1-6-2-6-3-6-4-6-5-6-6-6
Setup
Use the chart below to determine your starting point, based on whichever hand is your offhand:
Offhand(Left)
1-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm 2-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm
3-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso 4-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso
5-- Enemy Right Leg 6-- Enemy Left Leg
Offhand(Right)
1-- Enemy Left Shoulder/Arm 2-- Enemy Right Shoulder/Arm
3-- Enemy Left Hip/Torso 4-- Enemy Right Hip/Torso
5-- Enemy Left Leg 6-- Enemy Right Leg
You then switch to your dominant hand and repeat the process. Start off doing this drill slowly until you get comfortable with it, then you can gradually increase your speed.
This drill is great for learning to throw combos. Combos offer you a better chance of killing your enemy because you're varying where your throwing your shots, and it can throw your enemy off balance and offer them little time to react.
For reference, this drill is also explained at http://www.scabastardsword.com/pellworkdrills.htm
Block/Strike
Block/Strike is another very important drill to practice. It teaches you how to block an enemy's attack and then follow up with a counter strike of your own. You ALWAYS want to throw a return shot after an enemy throws a shot at you. Doing so can give you an opening to take a limb or get a kill shot because of a missed or errant shot by your enemy.
To do this, you'll need a partner. Before beginning the drill, agree upon two areas where you will be aiming your strikes(Right Leg, Right Hip, Right Arm/Shoulder, Left Arm/Shoulder, Left Hip, or Left Leg). The 2 shots should be on opposite sides of the body.
Start by getting into a fighting stance(per the Muscle Memory drill above). Make sure you and your partner are about a swords length apart. There should be no movement other than blocking the incoming shots. Start the drill Right Handed vs. Right Handed, and make sure to go slowly, just like with the Muscle Memory drill. One person throws one of the 2 agreed upon shots and the other blocks it. The person throwing the shot returns to a defensive stance to block the incoming attack. Repeat this back and forth process for a desired amount of time, then switch so that one person is fighting Left handed while the other remains fighting Right handed.
Repeat the same back and forth process using the same 2 shots. After a desired amount of time, switch it up so its now Left vs. Left. Repeat.
Then switch one last time so it's Left vs. Right, with the person who didn't switch after the first round switching sword hands. Repeat.
You and your partner should not increase the speed until you both are ready. Use the slow tempo to work on proper form and returning to your defensive stance. Increasing the speed too soon can lead to the formation of bad habits.
While doing this drill, try alternating between fighting guards to see how each works. Start off with a horizontal guard, like the Bait guard here:
Bait Guard
http://youtu.be/2dDd3q4tDxY
Then transition through the others:
Denial Guard
http://youtu.be/LMpmwNtY23g
Range Guard
http://youtu.be/XHiki-GW8ac
Lazy Guard
http://youtu.be/y7bDXoLHgJs
(Note: The Lazy Guard is more for veteran fighters as it invites your enemy to attack you, mainly in the upper body. This guard makes it appear as though you don't know what you're doing, when in actuality, you do. You're baiting your enemy to attack, effectively getting them to do exactly what you want them to do. Learn and practice the other guards first, and eventually learn how to use baits before using the Lazy Guard)
Read the 'Guard Flow' drill at http://www.scabastardsword.com/pellworkdrills.htm for practicing transitioning through the guards.
Trying out each will allow you to discover which works best for you and when it's best to use each.
Well, that's it for now. Sorry for such a long post, but I hope it was informative and helpful. Until next time, thanks for reading and LAY ON!!
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