Footwork Drill Basic

[Tim Merritt]

Is there an example somewhere of a basic footwork drill that we can use in a study group?

[Guest]

I could describe some of the drills we use in my class. It would be focused on cut & thrust swords, by the way.

[GaryGrzybek]

In my study group we do not train footwork in any specific pattern. Normally what we do is practice moving across the ground taking passing steps fowards and backwards. Within these movements there is also traversing to both sides, side steps and turning with proper pivoting to ensure a very grounded stance.

Do this slow at first and then vigorously once it feels smooth. Start without your weapon and then after a while you can begin incorporating these movements while cutting or doing guard transitions.

This is close to what John teaches us during workshops.

Hope that helps.

[Tim Merritt]

This study group is new (8-10 people, our 2nd meeting is Monday, collecting $) with no ARMA experience, but a variety of other experience—kendo, sport fencing, reenactment…so cut and thrust would be of interest…). At our first meeting, there was much discussion on what was taught in other classes, including footwork. One mentioned that that was all they did at first. Should the sport fencers take the lead or is there something more historical? I have zero experience and don’t know what “proper pivoting” is and I don’t see a seminar anytime soon. But I do want us to take a focused and basic (as in common sense) approach to begin. Using the “How to do a study group” part of membership page for everything else. As an aside, a few of us have discovered in our goofing around—er, free-play—that even when we are awkward and unsure of what we are doing with our weapon, moving off-line, basically at diagonals in and out makes up for a lot, voiding, deflecting, and countering.

[Shawn Cathcart]

Basically take the cutting angles and place them down on the floor. By this I mean when you cut, there is a cross, and two diagonals going through the center of it. This represensts horizontal, vertical and diagonal cuts. Place this on the ground and step accordingly:
Left foot forward, forward on an angle, to the side, back on an angle, backwards...repeat with the right foot.

Do it in pairs, or make them pic a spot on the wall. Make them step through all the steps while keeping their torso facing their partner, or spot on the wall. This really helps get people out of the linear sport fencing mode, plus it ties in with the 8 basic cuts.

Then show them the 2 basic types of steps, the passing step where the back leg comes forward, and the fencing style step, where the front leg stays in front. Get them to move across the floor using both steps individually, and then mixing and alternating steps. Make sure throughout that knee's are bent, stances are deep and wide, and backs are straight. After you've run them through this show them a few basic guards, say like phlug, and have them practice moving and stepping while holding a proper phlug guard.

I find this gives most people a good primer to their footwork.

[Tim Merritt]

Yea, that'll work! Do you know if this is from any historical source?

[John_Clements]

Hey Tim,
As others have said once you get the chance to attend your first 1.0 seminar, it will completely transform your practices.
Sounds like you all are getting close to beging able to arrange one soon.

JC

[Shawn Cathcart]

The whole circle of cutting angles/steps thing is, but I'm unsure of as from where. I think John made reference to it at one of the longsword seminars he did in Calgary years back. Regardless, it works very well.

[Brian Hunt]

The cutting circle is often referred to as a segno, it can be found in many of the manuals. Meyer, Vadi, & Fiore are a couple who come to mind. It can be used on the floor for foot work, or as a cutting target on the wall to be sure of the path of your cuts. The easiest way to place one on the floor is with a roll of masking tape. Most footwork is done forward and backward, either in a straight line or a traverse on the four 45's. Most footwork does not go side to side.

hope this helps

Brian Hunt
GFS

[Tim Merritt]

John—I’m getting a little off my topic here—no doubt a 1.0 will help us. I was just discussing that with one of the guys a few days ago. Trouble is, we need the population to spread out the cost. I mentioned in an e-mail awhile back that my goal was to start ARMA Vandenberg, pass it along, and start another near where I live, almost an hour away. Then combine the resources of both. That’s still on track. And the good thing about our central California location is that we should be able to get people from Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, 3 hours away each. It’s a do-able drive (for example, I’m driving to San Francisco tonight and back tomorrow afternoon). And a motivator for time frame is, we have an enthusiastic beginner who will have another assignment in about 4 months, and he’s expressed an interest in starting a study group at his next base. The seminar would be good for us all, and as a basis for him to lead a study group elsewhere. So, maybe a 1.0 in the May/June time frame if I get it together?

[Karen Webb]

Hi, Tim:

I live in Ridgecrest, so would do my best to attend any seminar you managed to organize.

Karen

[Shawn Cathcart]

Segno, that's the word I was searching for <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />.

As for side to side goes it depends what your using, and where your opponent comes from. With Rapier persay a straight side step can easily be useful for moving away from the point while counter-thrusting. Also, if an opponent is attacking you from an angle, sometimes a straight side step is all that is required. It depends on distance and angle of attack. While less common perhaps I'd still show it, never know when it might come in handy.

[GaryGrzybek]

I thought of it but didn't really know how to explain it clear enough. This is really something JC demonstrated well at my workshop several years ago and it really helps clarify some things.

Too bad we can't draw pictures on these forums <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[scott adair]

Truvey demonstrated a diamond pattern footwork drill to me at the gathering that incorporates shuffling and passing steps. Do you guys in Houston still do that?

Scott Adair