Transitioning from SCA fighting to ARMA drill

[Michael Ekelmann]

Greeings all,
I've recently started doing ARMA drill with some like minded individuals. I've played SCA for around 8 years and I am having problems changing the short from choppy strokes I learned to the full strokes that ARMA advocates. Has anyone had similar problems?
Thanks,
Ek

[Guest]

Well, I never fought SCA style but a lot of people have trouble learning to really extend the arms and cut from the shoulder which is essential when attacking with the longsword. AlI I can suggest is to do a lot of cutting practice. Practice cutting unterhau, uberhau etc. with proper footwork and have one of your training partners watch you and give you feedback. Training in front of a mirror or on video could also be helpful.

[Stuart McDermid]

Hi,

Footwork is the key (Isn't it always?) You need to get used to passing footwork and attacking and defending with walking type paces. A good fencer moves very fast but never looks like he is.

If you are moving to the right place at the right time then speed per se is unnecessary.

When it comes to footwork, Di Grassi seems to have this covered in the best fashion of the manuals I have been exposed to. Come to think of it, Di Grassi is a great manual to start with as it is clear, detailed and starts you off with a simple system for the spada da filo (edgesword).

The other thing an ex SCA'er needs is to work on edge alignment. Ridiculous attacks like wrap shots are far more difficult when you actually have to be edge conscious.
Cheers,
Stu.

[Shane Smith]

I'm with Stu on this.Once you are executing proper stepping/passing in concert with your cuts,you will find that the techniques will naturally begin to follow proper lines.The best cut is the one that allows the body to move smoothly and naturally through it's range of motion.Proper footwork is absolutely vital to make that happen.As for footwork instruction,read Ringecks commentaries or Johns book "Medieval Swordsmanship"...Best of all,find a skilled Swordsman there locally to help you in person if you can find one.There is NO substitute for hands-on instruction. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> You should also check out the video clips on this site to see what proper cutting technique and footwork look like.

[Jeffrey Hull]

Michael,

I suggest this as an exercise to get one used to the dynamics of hewing: Do some swinging of an axe.

Despite its differences, I found that swinging an authentic battle-axe, like a "Huscarl-axe", to directly affect for the better the learning of how to swing a longsword. It really makes one aware of edge-placement. Just be careful (the axe has a deceptive reach), go slow at first, swing the axe whilst stepping forward and backward, build up to some speed. After some decent time spent at this, you might be surprised how much stronger and easier the swinging of a longsword through an 8-cut exercise of Unterhau and Oberhau shall become.

Good luck,

Jeffrey Hull

[Jay Vail]

Practice.