Wanted : Sparring Video

[Alfred Wong]

Dear all,

I would like to ask, if anyone cares to share any sparring video?

I am thirst to see how others ARMA members spar, as I thirst for knowledge in sparring...

I had downloaded all video avaliable in this website, and some from other ARMA study group's site, play them at least three times everyday, of course, frame by frame...

Please share any sparring video... I thirst for them...

Alfred

[JeanryChandler]

We should have some soon of our litle informal group here in New Orleans.

We just took a lot of footage last saturday with a new camera, finally a suitible one instead of that sony mavica digital camera I used to use! But we are in the process figuring out how to get the film onto the computer and from there, onto web space. We're also trying to sort out the web space.

Our group is definately at the basic level in terms of form, But we have a lot of sparring experience and quite a bit of enthusiasm to make up for it.

Like you Alfred I enjoy watching sparring clips, I always like the ones Lance posts, and I hope you will find ours entertaining even if you cannot learn much from our sloppy technique.

A few more days and we should have something.

J

P.S. I believe ARMA-SFL may have some sparring clips, and I'm pretty sure there are some on the ARMA-canada site. I know i have seen some on a few of the AEMMA sites but curiously, I can never get the clips to run...?

[Alfred Wong]

Thanks Jeanry, hope to see them soon. Noo need to be so humble!

I had checked the SFL, the page gone dead, too bad.

[JeanryChandler]

the SFL page is probably down temporarily due to the fact that they just had four Hurricanes (i.e. Typhoon) there in the last 30 days or so. It should be back up in a few days, keep checking.

As for humility, I'm just being honest. I think we spar pretty well but we are still at the beginning stages of learning true WMA. We have made some small progress though.

J

[Mike Cartier]

no its up and still there
http://arma-sfl.com/videos/spar/ not all sparring videos some are just some techniques work throughs.
i have finally linked thevideos page to these and the test cutting videos.

[JeanryChandler]

Nice clips Mike, y'alls form is getting very tight.

Incidentally, Alfred, one of these clips hearkens back to our earlier discussion about the bouts between Lance and that quasi-kendo fencer visiting from Korea. I think Mike's first demonstration of Hangen is an excellent example of what I was getting at, I believe it is at leat one possible way of dealing with the type of attack that fellow was making.

I have found that when you are facing someone who is unfamiliar with WMA the hangen counter works extremely well, especially if they are telegraphing an attack from "von tag" as that Canadian fellow was doing.

I believe this is one example where a more aggressive tactic is actually much safer. I actually routinely used this against strong and agile amateurs for precisely that reason.


J

[Alfred Wong]

Mike,

Thanks, got them. Just dunno why it didn't work before.

Jeanry,

I see. Well... I would do that. Hanging guard (is it?) is nice against oberhau. My sword is heavier than Lance's, shall be okay for the job. But curiously, I found myself false edge cuttin' most of the time....

[JeanryChandler]

Alfred,

One thing you will find I think when you learn to do that hanging guard counter is that you really don't need a strong weapon, or even a particularly strong grip, I do it with one hand sometimes. It is sort of like the fencing equivalent of a judo throw, you can actually use the energy of your opponents strike to accelerate your sword into a riposte.

J

[Alfred Wong]

I see, hope to see your video soon.

[JeanryChandler]

Ok, here are a few clips. I aplogize for the size of the .mpg files, I'm tying to figure out this editor and haven't quite gotten the hang of it, so I'm not sure how to reduce the file size much. These are all longsword fights between me and one other guy. The fifth clip shows a hangen (in the second exchange between the two combattants) which is another example of what I was suggesting that Lance might have done against that Korean fencing practitioner.

http://www.iregames.com/jr/slumfu.htm

Fencing is done with 2.5 -3lb bastard swords. This was friendly free play, nothing like a tournament or a prize bout, but basically 1/2 to full speed except for some killing blows that are slowed down out of courtesy. Comments and critiques are welcome, though keep in mind we are beginners in terms of correct WMA technique.

Next week I'll have some axe, sword and buckler, sword and shield, rapier, and spear (bill) fighting to show. A few from this series are full 100% speed (I have the bruises today to show for it)

Week after that we should have some more spear vs longsword, dagger v. dagger, rapier vs longsword, dagger vs longsword, and some other interesting bouts.

J

[Alfred Wong]

Thanks Jean, nice indeed. Are they supposed to have sound?

I dunno why, but it seems that the hangen doesn't work very well while I use it, must be my fault of not practising enough.

Look forward to your video. <img src="/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

[JeanryChandler]

Yes, the clips all have sound. So you can hear the thumps!

With the hanging guard, yes practice is very important. I also find that it is most effective when you shift into it quickly from another guard. If you are waiting in hanging guard then your opponent will likely attempt to counter, but if you are in von tag or pflug, or a tail guard you can transition quickly to hanging guard for your parry, and then immediately counter as mike did in his clips and as I did in clip #5 above.

Practice is very important though, and using it in sparring to build up confidence that it will work. It's also important to practice thrusting from the hanging guard, which is rather difficult, but it's important to keep that threat viable. (IMO!) It's also very important to make sure your stance is correct so that the sword is actually protecting you, if your stance is wrong you can be in the guard but the enemy's sword will still blow through it or cut past it. Practice with wasters, by yourself, and with sparring and you'll get it soon.

J

[JeanryChandler]

Any commments, critiques? What are your impressions, Lance?

[JeanryChandler]

I just put up another clip from that same session, I think it's the best of the lot. It's accessable from the same little web page.


J

[Anthony Boyd]

Doesn't the first hengen clip on the SFL page show the fighter on the right parrying with his hands?