Suggestions?

[Shandriz]

Right. So, now that it's warming up again (although it was nasty and cloudy today, but in general it's getting warmer) I've been trying to get outside to start practicing waving around my swords again.

Problem being that I'm not sure if anything I'm doing is going to help me get any better with them. I want to be able to have mock sword-fights with my friends and look like I know what I'm doing.

So, any suggestions? How can I learn how to swordfight?

[Excel Zero]

Shan maybe we can have an IM chat. I studied Kendo and some other arts that deal with sword play...perhaps after I recover I can show ya some stuff??

[reaper]

I would suggest you take a class on it, because honistly for the most part to corectly use a sword no matter which style will reqire you to learn the forms. once you learn them practice like a mofo and there ya go

[Shandriz]

The problem being that I don't know of anywhere near here that actually has swordfighting classes. And the fact that I don't have a regular paycheck just yet. So no money.

Excel-- That would be great. It'd at least give me a base to start with, even if I'm not wanting to do katana-work. I can build up to being able to use my scimi's properly ^^

[BWS-1]

Classes couldn't hurt, but it can be expencive, I self-thought my style by training with my katana 2 or 3 times a week ever since I have it and now, it's as if it was an extention of my body, as if I was one with the sword. But still, it doesn't mean I'm a master swordsman hell no, I'm just aware of it's limit and of mine while using this weapon.

I suggest you to start, if it's possible, to train with the sword in its case. For me, my case is quite heavy, and getting use to swinging that around helped me when I started trainging with the sword alone, since it felt much more light. If you can't, then you could find other training swords or just objects fairly heavier then your sword and about the same size, and train with them, get used to the heavy weight. For swordfighting techniques, I don't consider myself competent enough to give any away, also, techniques will vary depending of the sword you have, and even if you have a katana like I do, yours must be different, and if yours isn't different ... then the weilder is most definitly not the same. And besides, the only techniques I've mastered that are effecient are striking techniques with the reversed edge of the sword, I call 'em the ''bone breakers'' ^^ ( yeah not original for names but meh, it's what it does! )

Since you plan on doing mock-sword fights, then your sword alone might be heavier then the mock one, which will therefor help you perform well when you'll use the mock sword. But know that it would be better for you, and safer, if you would get to practice with a mock sword or an object heavier then your sword, since if, as you swing, you lose the grip of your sword, it will do less damage then if it was your real sword.

Also, you can help avoid injuries while training with a heavy mocked sword or your sword in it's casing, then remove it from its case and start swinging it slowly and the more you slwing, the faster you go, but you accelerate at a slow pace, forever remaining focused at how the sword swing affects your grip, your muscles, your surroundings ^^ and then, when you have found the limits of your body and your swords, when you have realised how you can swing it in ways where you will not hurt yourself, you can start thinking of techniques, combos, blocking, dodging, and maybe even trowing! but that, I haven't started practicing such techniques, and don't think I'll ever will

Hmm, I think that's pretty much it for now, I wonder if I still have those movies I took of me training with my katana.

[Shandriz]

The thing is, I'm not using a katana, and don't plan to. The swords I'm using are two scimitars, both battle ready. This means that they're the same sort of swords people use on movie sets-- heavy, metal, and designed for actual swordfighting. They're not sharpened (that would null the guarantee!) but I don't want to hurt anyone anyways. Which is also a bit of why I want to learn-- when my best friend and I 'fight' with our swords, it'd be kind of nice if we were skilled enough to keep from actually accidentally hitting each other.

[BWS-1]

Ok then

*stops looking for lil movies

But know that regarldess of the sword you have, the rest that has been said should help you with getting along with your swords (and those around you ^^) So hmmm, yeah ... sucks that I can't really give you any scimitar-related advices tho. Well, hope I'll get to see a movie of you and your friend fighting one day!

[Shandriz]

If I thought I could figure out how to make one, you just might. . I have pictures of him swordfighting with my other friend. Movies, though, that's a bit beyond me.

[BWS-1]

Then ... bring your friend to AWA with your swords and I'll take a movie of you 2 fighting! ^w^

[Shandriz]

Well, actually, we'd probably be going anyways. And I figured on bringing my swords, as I plan to be dressing up like Shandriz (minus black skin and white hair, sadly)