Intensity

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Here's a question for all of you who train on your own.

How do you keep your intensity up?

I train alone and I am good for about 20 minutes, and then I lose my gumption. I put in head phones and listen to music that normally makes me want to swordfight, but I still lose it. I am fine when I train with my study partners, I get too worked up sometimes there I have to sit and take a time out. I am just curious as to what some other people out there do. (Now is the time to show off your wonderful training routine!!!)

[Benjamin Smith]

Here's how I do it:

Make a routine that you must make yourself go through, make it long enough to give yourself a good workout. A key- learn how to use multiple weapons

5-10 min. warm up & stretching
20 min striking & defense drills in the weapon of the day
10 min pell excercise (at least that would be the plan if I had a pell)
10-15 min on a concept (make a list and use it)

Then last of all, find someone to train with as soon as possible, because training without a human counterpart to train and spar with will leave holes in your fighting style. Invite people to train with you until you find someone who will stick around.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Thanks for the idea...one question, what do you mean by "concept?" are you speaking of specific application of techniques drilled? or the philosophical point of fighting? If you could flesh that out a bit I would appreciate it.

-Jeremiah

(I too am needing to make a pell. I broke my first waster on my first one, now I have a bunch of pool noodles that I need to put together for better training. The offending pell is now an armour stand.)

[JeffGentry]

Jeremiah

It is kind of like going to the gym alone most people realy have to force themselve's to do this, I think it is human nature to get bored when doing something like this alone.

I find that if i spend 10-15 minute's out doing something with a waster then go read a manual for 10-15 minute's then go back out do some more i can actualy spend a total of an hour with a sword in hand before long.

Jeff

[Shane Smith]

I have Swordsmen chasing me with weapons every training session so that keeps me on my toes.

In all seriousness, the best way for a lone practitioner to keep out of the rut, is for him to get to every ARMA event he can get to and attend training sessions with the nearest Study Group whenever possible.

[Benjamin Smith]

To answer your question: yes that's exactly what I mean. Every technique involves concepts of leverage, timing, distance, progress of available techniques, footwork, targets, and a multitude of other concepts. Some are somewhat philosophical, but most have something to do with a practical application of force on your opponent or your body.

I often use a manual and read something an ancient master wrote, then I work on it, or experiment with it as much as I can withou someone else.

One of the big things I worked on for a long time was control. I took a target and practiced swinging as fast as I could and pulling my blow up short quickly from a multitude of different angles, the goal being to keep intensity in the attack and yet not strike the target. The big reason was that I was faster, stronger, and had better striking technique than I could reliably control sparring, people tended to have worse bruises from me than from most people, and I spent a lot of time working on it.

Even for those that don't have the problem of working alone have this same issue in front of them. What separates the really good fighters among us from the less skilled is that they regularly practice throughout the week, and that usually means doing it alone.

[John_Clements]

Here's a question for all of you who train on your own.

It's all about emotional content. Read a lot. Watch films that are about historical combat. Find inspiration from history and military/martial teachings. Look at others and try to be as good or better. Challenge yourself.

JC