We try to be very clear about what's going on, and use the same nomenclature throughout the manual. This leads to a very stilted, and almost robotic way of doing things. Student should be aware that combat is much more fluid, and dynamic then the way we present it makes it seem. You shouldn't get lost in the details, but rather understand the fundamentals of what we're trying to show.
Ultimately, real understanding comes only when you perform these techniques against a real opponent, at full speed. Some of the techniques really only work at full speed, others are simply more effective. Remember that mass, speed and energy are all related. The faster you move your sword, the harder it is to readjust where the blade goes.
We use a table like this:
| Tempo | Performer | Starting Ward | Cut/Action | Footwork | Ending Ward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Player | Woman's Ward | Falling Cut | Pass Traverse | Long Ward1 |
| 1.5 | Scholar | Tail Ward | Falling Cut | Avance Traverse | Short Ward |
To describe plays and sequences. Sometimes what we're trying to say needs more explanation then we have room for, and you'll see foot note numbers to indicate this. The Tempo number indicates sequence, and not time. So if one action is labeled 1, and the next is labeled 1.5, it does not necessarily mean that you do it exactly half way through the other action. It means you do it before the preceding action is completed. In the case above, the Scholar's action interrupts the players action, at some point before it's completion.
In almost all cases, you will be moving from a ward, through a ward to a ward. We short hand this to the start and ending ward. The middle ward(s) are usually obvious. Where they aren't we'll add a footnote.