some feedback, if you'd be so kind :)

[danielcarcich]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHwNPfDBp2s

Perhaps due to the somewhat thrust centric nature of previous styles we have both studied (my brother-in-law and I) - we're having trouble making the transition to full-bodied cuts.

I'm not a member of arma yet (the moment I'm not behind on rent, basically...), so I quite understand if none of you feel like spending the time and giving any feedback. If you could, I would really appreciate it though! Thanks!

[Sal Bertucci]

I've made it up to take 4 so far, and this is what I'm seeing.

1. You have good energy

2. You need to work on your distance. Many times you're no where near each other and just swinging away.

3. You both have very linear stances.

4. The footwork is slippery and sloppy.

5. The timing of the blow is way off. You should hit the target when your foot hits the ground.

That's all for now, maybe more later.

Sal Bertucci
Scholar Adept

[danielcarcich]

1. Thanks!

2. We've commented on this when we're sparring - still attempting to get over our preconceived notions of trying to "tag" each other.

3-4. We're working on this, again, preconceived notions of moving on a line... it's a hard habit to break. Sometimes we triumph over it and most of the time it's just, "huh, if i'd moved just a little to the side i wouldn't have even gotten glanced"

5. It seems to me as though my feet have very little to do with what my sword is doing quite a bit of the time. This is the first time we've taken the time to record some bouting (with the advent of both of us having head protection), but yeah - your critique rings very true.

I'm the taller one, for the record Very much appreciated Sal, thanks!

[Sal Bertucci]

No prob!

One other thing. You might want to try and get more comfortable with kreig range. It seems like many times you close in with each other then re-set, or try to get back into zuefechten range. There's lots you can do close up.

[Jonathan Newhall]

The really obvious thing got covered already by the guy in the green (?) shirt in the video: don't turn around!

A bit of distance gauging problems and perhaps too linear footwork, but I certainly couldn't do any better so the best I can give is theoretical advice and not practical advice. Otherwise Sal basically covered it.

[Aaron Pynenberg]

It looks to me like you are on the right track, I would agree with all of Sal's points.

I do think you guys would benefit from membership in ARMA.

Here's a quick tip to get the right "range":

In practice with each other agree to target the head only for awhile. If hits to other parts of the body happen, it's OK and go ahead and "count" it.

Try however to keep targeting the head only. Try it for awhile and report back to us what, if anything you notice about the questions of range and distance- sound cool?- AP

[danielcarcich]

AP,

We're getting together for a bit tomorrow, we'll definitely give that a try, thanks!

[Jonathan Newhall]

So how'd it go, Daniel? Any improvement?

[danielcarcich]

Well, saturday was cut short due to a certain not-me-someone being a bit hung over (strikes to the head don't really help). We did successfully affix some strips of cardboard to the dowel wasters we're using which created a much more visible and (I think) helpful flat/edge. Yay productive something!

Yesterday we got together again and while we were just warming up with an exercise focused on defending the four quadrants individually (attacker calls out a quadrant and then immediately attacks, defender uses a flat to edge defense of that zone) my sword snapped. So... we went to some dagger practice, and realized we really don't know much about that! It was interesting though, due to the much closer range - a very different feel from the reach of the longswords.

The little we managed to do since all of your comments I think has been an improvement. I feeling less of a desire to just tag him, especially when the head is my ideal target. Just seeing myself fight made me realize how bad my footwork really is, so going back to the basics for a bit. We'll see how it turns out!

Thanks again for any previous or future helps!

-Daniel

[Jonathan Newhall]

Don't underestimate a tag in terms of crippling an opponent, being "tagged" by a sword tends to hurt when you are unarmored. But ALSO keep in mind that merely playing sword-tag means that your fight is going to be a long time in finishing, realistically. It's the difference between a slash-fight and a stab-fight with knives, if you get the comparison.

So, basically, remember to take a (very quick) break after every hit to determine if it was lethal or not. If it's not lethal, consider if it was incapacitating. If it wasn't incapacitating, consider the bout still on. When in doubt having the replay on-hand (with yer camera) is a big help. As Aaron said, focus on trying to end the bout in a hit or two, not dragging it out, preferably by attempting to use the head, neck, shoulder region as the appropriate target (I personally target most of my hits from above somewhere in the neck region, usually around where it connects the neck proper to the shoulder).