Cross training with a FMA friend.

[KatherineJohnson]

Here's a recent video of myself doing some rattan stick sparring with a kali practitioner friend of mine.

Doing my best to translate HEMA concepts and techniques to an extremely short and unfamilair weapon, it also doesnt help that I am seriously out of practice, but enjoy the vid.

http://media.putfile.com/BrianVsKat-Sticksparring

[Troy Hammermann]

Were you actually using solid rattan?

[KatherineJohnson]

Yes we were, wrapped in electrical tape to prevent splintering.

[Mike Cartier]

Your friends FMA technique was very poor. You did good though <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Matthew_Anderson]

Next time try to bind his weapon and grab his right wrist, then smack him with your stick. Also try to work some thrusting in there as he may not train for this. Those short sticks are almost like fighting with large daggers, I think you have to bind or trap his weapon if you can, then let him have it. You both took a lot of hits to the arm and hand (although it looked like you did a little better) which is understandable, wear masks next time so you can crack him in the head when he reaches out low like that. Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work.

[Logan Weed]

You're both a bit too defensive IMO. You close distance and exchange one or two strikes then break off again over and over. Once you close try keeping at him, vary your angle and height of attack. Most people when confronted with a relentless stream of attacks from an opponent that does not disengage will be quickly overwhelmed and overcome.

Also keep in mind that getting hit is ok. A hit across the arm or shoulder likely wont hurt you at all, and a hit to the ribs is probably acceptable if you're able to crack him across the temple by ignoring it. Sticks need a very large arck to build enough momentum for any real damage to all but the most vulnerable areas of your body.

[KatherineJohnson]

Hi Matt, you know, it's funny that you mention thrusting, he and I used to spar frequently about a year ago and I thrust at him more often and had pretty great success with it as it's not done paticularly often in his style of arnis apparently. I dont know why i wasnt utilizing it that night except for once or twice.


Unfortunettly as quickly as these things move coupled with their shortness it's extremely difficult to reliably bind with them, even counter cutting at the opponents weapon is difficult due to the speed. I think your point about being large dagger might be a good one though and perhaps using more offhand closes and catching i would have better luck in closing, normally a favored tactic of mine. The lack of any kind of good hand protection also makes it difficult as a bound weapon can simply slide down your own and into your poor fingers.

We'll likely wear goggles next time so we can do headshots and hopefully i'll be a bit more in practice. If we make any future videos i'll be certain to post them.

[JeffGentry]

Hey Kat

I watched it frame by frame a couple time's and the use of the off hand would have helped you greatly, and if he use's those big overhead strike's alot(which it looked like he did) use the offhand to defend against his strike and strike with your stick, remember you can void and strike, displace and strike or close in and preempt his strike.

Jeff

[KatherineJohnson]

Hi Logan, I agree that I am a bit to gun shy in this vid. You can even here my opponent remark that I am much less aggressive then usual and when I do start moving aggressively at some points he says "Oh look, kat's back" <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Brian is a defensive fighter because thats what his style teaches, backing up and using the maximum length of the weapon. Which is why most of the video is me moving forward and him moving back

Remember that we're using these sticks in the same context that we use padded weapons in ARMA. They're safety gear "simulating" bladed weapons so trading mutual hits is not an acceptable practice from that point of view. (Plus those suckers sting!)

[KatherineJohnson]

Hi Jeff, yeh i think a hangen type technique with some hand assitance to keep him offline after the intial displacement might have been successful, will have to try more offhand use next time.

[Derek Gulas]

Hello,

I watched your videos and I have to say that you looked quite superior to your friend when it came to fighting. Anyway, I'm betting that Messer techniques are applicable to that weapon you were using, so learning some Messer guards, strikes, grapping and disarms would probably be very useful to you. Also, perhaps Dussack?

[Mike Cartier]

yes dusack and messer are perfect for this
See the ARMA south florida video thread for a video of some Dusacken sparring.

The Rosenhau, changing handwork, Kurtzhau and sturtzhau are made for use against the defensive style fighters. I would especially recommend ther main device from the Bow guard which is basically a parry to hit with a triangle step. (i think i pull of one in the sparring video). Workjs well against those who like to fight at the Largo Mano (long hand) range of FMA

[JeanryChandler]

Just saw the clips, got my DSL back today. I thought it was interesting, I have fought a couple of Escrima / Arnis guys though I always insisted on using my own weapons, those sticks are too different, faster and balanced differently with no pommels. I'm much more comfortable with the slightly slower but better balanced feel similar to a European sword.

Kat I was impressed with your fighting technique overal compared to a lot of WMA and EMA sparring vids I've seen. You are motivated, aggressive, and fast on your feet. You have a good sense of balance, void well and have a good sense of reach and measure (distance and timing).

I agree with some of the other posters that a hangen would have been a good response to some of his overhead strikes, and counter-thrusting as well. It also would be fun to see how different things were with masks or helmets.

It also seemed like a couple of times you could have displaced or parried in general more aggresively but those things are so fast, short and light it's hard to be sure about that.

Overall though an impressive if fuzzy clip, I think you surprised that guy a bit with that hard strike to his shoulder.

Jr