Fundamentals to practise:
A) Salute & En Garde
B) Tierce, Carte, Prime, Seconde
C) Cuts 1-6 (from wrist; from elbow)
D) Attack and Recover asap:
E) Attack on the Lunge;
F) Parry on the Recovery.
G) Advance; Retreat
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Stance work:
(A1) Posture.
1. Feet perpendicular.
2. Behind back, left hand grasps right arm above elbow, right hand cups left elbow.
3. Bend knees, keeping chest up, back in and sink slowly, keeping thighs in line with and over feet.
4. Hold, breathe in and out.
5. Rise back up and repeat slowly.
6. On 5th, sink a little bit lower while minding posture.
A2) Balance.
A3) Ready stance. Carry Swords, Salute, En Garde in Tierce.
General observations:
Endurance: poor
Stance: a minute or so
Grip: not strong, not stable, constant shifting and not settled.
Cuts: 3 of each 1-4
Endurance: improvement.
Stance, grip, cuts and guards.
– All being held for longer. But still only a few repetitions (cf before, a few seconds)
-> Need to keep working on endurance above all else
– All are smoother.
-> Need to keep slow and controlled, keep improving smoothness.
Only when that efficiency is better, do you at all even begin to *think* about speed (let alone power).
For now key is: continuing to improve endurance.
Finding it important to practice the grip, and building up grip strength and endurance, by reps each stage, thus:
1. From sword sloped on shoulder, closing grip fast to bring upright.
2. Slowly lowering the gripped upright sword forward to horizontal/cut position.
3. 1+ 2.