Staff and backsword, 8-Jan 2019

First practice of the new year! We broke out some hardwood staffs and had fun with staff and transition to empty-hand.

Staff hitting w/ body connection

Setup is point stance, middle grip, palms down or one up / one down

• Work basic combo: hit from point, then double the hit with a foot advance, then backhanded stab.
• Add reverse strike to recover body center
• Add doubled reverse strike and come back to point
• Work the whole thing advancing down the floor, switching lead legs
• Same combo’s hitting into a feeder with pads, reinforcing connection to punching

Staff applications

Setup is strong side grip, staff extended

• Beat opponent’s staff wide and double in for a strike to the head
• Same with thrust follow-up
• Feeder can remove point when you try to parry. With a properly zoned parry, your tip stays forward and you can then parry backwards to beat the opponent’s staff anyway

Empty hand applications

Same basic movements but hitting into pads, empty hand Same combo’s but push the feeder back afterwards

Backsword basics

Working basic advance from open fight Striking to either side of target With compass step. Feeder does distance check. Feeder with headgear and hand protection can take leg shot. Worker needs to slip leg and strike to head in response. Otherwise, worker just attacks as before to head.

Grunt work

Sword squats Sword planks Sword situps