Backsword 8-May 2017

Backsword basics today, with some distance and pressure drills

Feeder in open fight, worker in open fight.
- Feeder passes forward with a downright blow to the head, half speed. Feeder makes sure he is passing in with proper distance, but instead of compass step out, stays in range after pass to allow the worker to counter.
- Worker will go to bastard guardant using proper mechanics. First the point goes forward towards the attacker, then you ward off the attack. Counterattack with a mulinette and downright blow to feeder’s arm
Worker in open fight, feeder in true guardant
- Worker steps left foot to left and quickly strikes to feeder’s arm.
- Practice this static first (both people stationary to begin) nice and easy and controlled
- Then practice it with both people moving. The worker attacks when the feeder is in range. Use one of the circles on the court and stay in a confined area. The feeder should practice moving to the left to make it harder for the worker to be properly in range.
Feeder in open fight, worker in true guardant
- Same drill as before but stationary again. And the worker defends the strike to his arm with the horizontal blow and then thrust to chest.
- Keep the point away from the face! Never to the face!
Free movement drill - learning to move with the opponent’s sword. This drill must be done very slowly and no sword movement toward the face, only the body!!! The goal here is to develop a sense of distance and evasion.
- Very slowly. The worker is just holding his sword. The feeder makes slow thrusts and strikes to the worker’s body. The worker moves with the contact, moving away from the direction of the point or the cut.
- Now increase the distance and do the same thing without contact. Stay very close though so maybe 50% of the feeder’s thrusts and cuts are landing.
- Now increase the distance again and the worker allows no contact, or maybe just 10% of the time.
Finish up practice with cuts up and down the gym, both hands, and some calisthenics.