This section is about getting a student used to moving, wards and cutting correctly. Emphasis is on learning one single skill at a time, while the advanced skill building exercises will work more on combining these skills.
Some of these exercises will require a partner, others will not.
If you have exercises that you use to teach, or improve skills, the add them in the comments section!
This exercise emphasizes correct footwork and using it to control measure. Both students start at Gioco Stretto, in Posta Breve. Both move at the same time, with about 2 seconds in between each move. The idea is to be able to tag your opponent with a thrust or cut from Breve, without being touched in turn. If either student moves incorrectly, or out of short ward, then that student loses.
The 2 second lag between movements is to give the students time to think about what they're going to do next, as well the instructor time to make sure that everyone is still correct. As students increase in their skills, you can reduce the time as well, increasing the difficulty.
This is a Bob Charon creation, and he gets the praise and blame for it. This was originally found on Sword Forum International
Here is a list of various things to work on from this ward.
When defending against a cut make sure aht you are passing forward as you do so, slightly off the line. Remember that with with every blow you should pass or step. Also not all of these combinations are good, some are better then others. However, don't take our word for it. Try it yourself. Whether things work for you, depend on your arm length, leg length, torso length, strength and other attributes that make it difficult to say that anything works the same way 100% of the time.
The first skill to master, is the foot work. Practice stepping off the line with your front foot and then passing forward. You should be able to do this in either direction.
Once your comfortable with the footwork, you can begin working with the cuts and thrusts. You should be able to comfortably make any of the cuts or thrusts from this ward.
Start in Posta di Donna Destraza, begin making a Fendente, only pull the blow short moving directly into Posta di Bicorno. Since your tip is at a 45 degree angle, raise the pommel (which will drop the sword point), and either accressere or pass into your opponent.
Doing this against a Fendente results in your opponents blade being stopped, and trapped under the false edge of the blade. It leaves you in a really nice position with your point in your opponents face, and your opponent has to scramble to deal with it.
This sequence is designed to teach you to move, cut and transition through wards staying in the high line. Each cut assumes you stop at Posta Longa, before you transition to the ending ward. Also remember that this assumes that you move as each ward is supposed to. In particular, Di Dona always starts with a pass traverse.
| Starting Ward | Cut | Ending Ward |
|---|---|---|
| Posta Di Dona | Fendente | Sinestra Di Dona |
| Sinestra Posta Di Dona | Punte | Posta Finestra |
| Posta Finestra | Punte | Posta Sinestra Finestra |
| Posta Sinestra Finestra | Mezani | Posta Longa |
| Posta Longa | Fednente | Frontale |
| Posta Frontale | Reverso Mezani | Posta Di Dona |
| Posta di Dona | Punte | Posta Longa |
| Posta Longa | Reverso Fendente | Posta Di Dona |