Duke Paul's Workshop
Duke Paul's Workshop yesterday was great. He based his workshop on how his ideas can be used for typical An Tirian styles.
We covered stance, power, returns, the slide step, and a couple of his techniques (single hip return and side slide step).
I look forward to working with people at practices trying out Duke Paul's training ideas.
Hear are some exerts from Duke Paul's Fighting Papers that he prepared for the Known Work Handbook. (Much of the material is similar to his Fighting Handbook). (I personally spend a great deal of my practice working on proper movement with balance. I also use a mirror as a training tool to locate tells and positional problems. And the slide step is part of my footwork that I find very useful).
From Duke Paul:
Mobility and “Tells”
Movement should employ the concepts of balance and commitment. It is very desirable to avoid committing your weight to any direction not desired. This includes leaning as well as shifting your weight too early during movement. When your weight is centered, movement in any direction starts from that center, and is quicker and more efficient. If you are leaning forward or back, your weight is distributed heavily forward or back, of if you commit your weight heavily to each step, movement in any direction will be more difficult and slower.
It is important to avoid any unnecessary motion or commitment to a pattern of motion forward or back, sideways, or up and down, etc. This also includes repeated patterns of motions which otherwise are correct. It also can include motionlessness, held too long. It also includes extra or preliminary motion during swings and blocks, even when not walking.
Basically, these commitments to unnecessary or unwanted directions, movements, and patterns either interfere with your ability to perform efficient techniques, reduce your options of movement or technique, or very importantly, provide advance information of your intentions to your opponent.
“Tells” can be very subtle. For example, examine the movement into range with a sword and shield. You will likely shift your weight to take it off of the first foot to move. This causes a movement of your shoulders, and a slight lean. This can warn your opponent that you are going to move, before your foot even leaves the ground. Do you move your sword, even slightly, in time with your steps? This provides your opponent with timing information. Do you slightly lean your head and shoulders forward to assist in closing the range quickly? This requires you to unconsciously shift from keeping your shield arm in “ready to block” mode to “holding up the shield” mode, which will delay any block you try to make.
Feints can be “tells”, as well, unless they are used sparingly, and performed correctly. If this is not the case, the feint becomes simply another unnecessary, pre-technique movement.
This is also true of movements, from a resting position, that are used to set up a blow. For instance, I have no good techniques that deliver a hard offside strike from a resting position. I have a couple that work, but they are not high-class techniques. I had someone describe a technique he used to deliver a hard, offside strike from a resting position. The description started with “First, I turn my body towards my shield side, and bring my sword elbow across my face, then....” What he had just described was an elaborate “tell” that brought the sword into position, so his actual striking technique was not from a resting position.
If you want to move while striking, the timing of movement is critical, as is the foot you move. If you step forward with your sword foot during a strike or block, you will lessen the power. If you step forward with your back foot just before a strike or block, you can enhance the power, but you advertise your intent. In both cases, the “tell” is that your balance must shift before you move your back foot.
Generally, when you are striking, your weight moves off of your shield foot, allowing you to move that foot without decreasing power or telegraphing. During a return, the weight moves off of your sword foot, allowing you to move that foot smoothly. This is the basis for the Slide Step, described below.
I suggest that mirror work will help you to eliminate “tells”.
Slide Step
The Slide Step is a technique, which allows you to get into range without getting hit.
Getting into range is always dangerous. Since you are committing to an action, there is a greater opportunity for you to include a “tell” in your movement - as described above. A skilled opponent will notice this, and consequently be able to avoid your attack, or to respond with a particularly apt counter.
There are some additional requirements to use this technique successfully.
1. It is most effective if you use something similar to the Bellatrix technique to throw the snap.
2. You must move your weight forward as you throw the blow, without leaning your upper body forward to do it.
3. Your front leg must bend, not straighten, as the weight moves onto it.
As you throw a blow, your weight transfers from your back foot to your front foot as your body rotates, and your arm starts to move forward. About the point where you can see your sword hilt out of the corner of your eye, lift your shield foot slightly, and it will slide forward, closing the distance as you swing. The power of the blow is not diminished, because you are moving the center of rotation, rather than lengthening the radius of rotation.
It is important to ensure that your sword is in front of you as you step forward. Otherwise, the first thing that comes into the range of your opponent is your head. I call this the "Rocky Balboa Style" - leading with your head. This is not a good thing.
It is important to start this technique from a range that is about 6 to 12 inches outside of your opponent's range, even if he/she leans forward into the blow. One of my students is a female knight who is 5 feet tall. She can move about 22 inches with a slide step. If your slide step is this long, you can allow your back foot to recover forward in a “shuffle” step. Your back foot should slide forward as your front foot pulls it forward. Don’t be left doing the “splits”.
If you want to continue to move forward, allow your back foot to take a striding step as you return your sword from the first blow, rather than taking the “shuffle” step. (Note - Don’t use a shuffle as your normal way to advance. It’s too slow, and supplies timing information to your opponent.)
This technique supplies you with a good alternative to walking in towards your opponent with your shield leading, which has some problems. The main problem is that you commit your shield to a forward motion, which makes it more difficult to move it sideways or up or down to block. Another problem is that your opponent is not distracted, and is able to take whatever action he/she desires to counter your attack.
Moving the sword is much faster and requires less body motion than actually taking a step. Your opponent will get much less warning, and have less time to react.
Another technique in reducing the range is to keep your opponent from having a clear shot at you. To do this, you must accept that your first blow (except in certain instances) is unlikely to land on your opponent. Given this, use it to set up your subsequent blows, while providing you some defense. So, as you do your slide step, aim your first blow at your opponent's sword. Either he/she will block with the sword, or will block with the shield by moving the shield in front of the sword. In either case, the return blow will be delayed.
Note that when if you are fighting an off-handed opponent, you still swing towards their sword, and you continue to step on your shield side of your opponent.
Since the main purpose of this first blow is to provide distraction and defense during your entry, you can use techniques that will not necessarily produce a full-power blow. This gives you some alternatives.
If you perform this technique well, your opponent might well be slowed in his/her reaction because of the following subconscious thought process: "The sword is moving. But it's out of range, so I don't have to worry. Oh, it's moving into range, I'd better block fast." Thinking takes time. Every little bit helps you and hurts your opponent.
A very important tactical aspect of the Slide Step is that it eliminates the necessity of using a stance with the sword in position to act as a static block. Static blocks are not necessarily bad, but they encourage square stances (which severely reduce power generated by rotation), which do not maintain the power-generation link at the shoulder.
When you get into range, there are variations of the static blocking position, which do not require either a square stance, or the softening of the shoulder power link. But before you enter, you are out of range, and don’t need a static blocking position.
While using the Slide Step, it is useful to use another technique called the Right Cross. This is described in my on-line manual. Basically, it is a snap thrown at the opposite shoulder of your opponent, while trying to keep the tip of your sword high (so as not to hit the near side of the shield). It is also important to move your hand directly towards the target, rather than swinging down. Swinging down decreases range, drastically.
- Duke Paul of Bellatrix
We covered stance, power, returns, the slide step, and a couple of his techniques (single hip return and side slide step).
I look forward to working with people at practices trying out Duke Paul's training ideas.
Hear are some exerts from Duke Paul's Fighting Papers that he prepared for the Known Work Handbook. (Much of the material is similar to his Fighting Handbook). (I personally spend a great deal of my practice working on proper movement with balance. I also use a mirror as a training tool to locate tells and positional problems. And the slide step is part of my footwork that I find very useful).
From Duke Paul:
Mobility and “Tells”
Movement should employ the concepts of balance and commitment. It is very desirable to avoid committing your weight to any direction not desired. This includes leaning as well as shifting your weight too early during movement. When your weight is centered, movement in any direction starts from that center, and is quicker and more efficient. If you are leaning forward or back, your weight is distributed heavily forward or back, of if you commit your weight heavily to each step, movement in any direction will be more difficult and slower.
It is important to avoid any unnecessary motion or commitment to a pattern of motion forward or back, sideways, or up and down, etc. This also includes repeated patterns of motions which otherwise are correct. It also can include motionlessness, held too long. It also includes extra or preliminary motion during swings and blocks, even when not walking.
Basically, these commitments to unnecessary or unwanted directions, movements, and patterns either interfere with your ability to perform efficient techniques, reduce your options of movement or technique, or very importantly, provide advance information of your intentions to your opponent.
“Tells” can be very subtle. For example, examine the movement into range with a sword and shield. You will likely shift your weight to take it off of the first foot to move. This causes a movement of your shoulders, and a slight lean. This can warn your opponent that you are going to move, before your foot even leaves the ground. Do you move your sword, even slightly, in time with your steps? This provides your opponent with timing information. Do you slightly lean your head and shoulders forward to assist in closing the range quickly? This requires you to unconsciously shift from keeping your shield arm in “ready to block” mode to “holding up the shield” mode, which will delay any block you try to make.
Feints can be “tells”, as well, unless they are used sparingly, and performed correctly. If this is not the case, the feint becomes simply another unnecessary, pre-technique movement.
This is also true of movements, from a resting position, that are used to set up a blow. For instance, I have no good techniques that deliver a hard offside strike from a resting position. I have a couple that work, but they are not high-class techniques. I had someone describe a technique he used to deliver a hard, offside strike from a resting position. The description started with “First, I turn my body towards my shield side, and bring my sword elbow across my face, then....” What he had just described was an elaborate “tell” that brought the sword into position, so his actual striking technique was not from a resting position.
If you want to move while striking, the timing of movement is critical, as is the foot you move. If you step forward with your sword foot during a strike or block, you will lessen the power. If you step forward with your back foot just before a strike or block, you can enhance the power, but you advertise your intent. In both cases, the “tell” is that your balance must shift before you move your back foot.
Generally, when you are striking, your weight moves off of your shield foot, allowing you to move that foot without decreasing power or telegraphing. During a return, the weight moves off of your sword foot, allowing you to move that foot smoothly. This is the basis for the Slide Step, described below.
I suggest that mirror work will help you to eliminate “tells”.
Slide Step
The Slide Step is a technique, which allows you to get into range without getting hit.
Getting into range is always dangerous. Since you are committing to an action, there is a greater opportunity for you to include a “tell” in your movement - as described above. A skilled opponent will notice this, and consequently be able to avoid your attack, or to respond with a particularly apt counter.
There are some additional requirements to use this technique successfully.
1. It is most effective if you use something similar to the Bellatrix technique to throw the snap.
2. You must move your weight forward as you throw the blow, without leaning your upper body forward to do it.
3. Your front leg must bend, not straighten, as the weight moves onto it.
As you throw a blow, your weight transfers from your back foot to your front foot as your body rotates, and your arm starts to move forward. About the point where you can see your sword hilt out of the corner of your eye, lift your shield foot slightly, and it will slide forward, closing the distance as you swing. The power of the blow is not diminished, because you are moving the center of rotation, rather than lengthening the radius of rotation.
It is important to ensure that your sword is in front of you as you step forward. Otherwise, the first thing that comes into the range of your opponent is your head. I call this the "Rocky Balboa Style" - leading with your head. This is not a good thing.
It is important to start this technique from a range that is about 6 to 12 inches outside of your opponent's range, even if he/she leans forward into the blow. One of my students is a female knight who is 5 feet tall. She can move about 22 inches with a slide step. If your slide step is this long, you can allow your back foot to recover forward in a “shuffle” step. Your back foot should slide forward as your front foot pulls it forward. Don’t be left doing the “splits”.
If you want to continue to move forward, allow your back foot to take a striding step as you return your sword from the first blow, rather than taking the “shuffle” step. (Note - Don’t use a shuffle as your normal way to advance. It’s too slow, and supplies timing information to your opponent.)
This technique supplies you with a good alternative to walking in towards your opponent with your shield leading, which has some problems. The main problem is that you commit your shield to a forward motion, which makes it more difficult to move it sideways or up or down to block. Another problem is that your opponent is not distracted, and is able to take whatever action he/she desires to counter your attack.
Moving the sword is much faster and requires less body motion than actually taking a step. Your opponent will get much less warning, and have less time to react.
Another technique in reducing the range is to keep your opponent from having a clear shot at you. To do this, you must accept that your first blow (except in certain instances) is unlikely to land on your opponent. Given this, use it to set up your subsequent blows, while providing you some defense. So, as you do your slide step, aim your first blow at your opponent's sword. Either he/she will block with the sword, or will block with the shield by moving the shield in front of the sword. In either case, the return blow will be delayed.
Note that when if you are fighting an off-handed opponent, you still swing towards their sword, and you continue to step on your shield side of your opponent.
Since the main purpose of this first blow is to provide distraction and defense during your entry, you can use techniques that will not necessarily produce a full-power blow. This gives you some alternatives.
If you perform this technique well, your opponent might well be slowed in his/her reaction because of the following subconscious thought process: "The sword is moving. But it's out of range, so I don't have to worry. Oh, it's moving into range, I'd better block fast." Thinking takes time. Every little bit helps you and hurts your opponent.
A very important tactical aspect of the Slide Step is that it eliminates the necessity of using a stance with the sword in position to act as a static block. Static blocks are not necessarily bad, but they encourage square stances (which severely reduce power generated by rotation), which do not maintain the power-generation link at the shoulder.
When you get into range, there are variations of the static blocking position, which do not require either a square stance, or the softening of the shoulder power link. But before you enter, you are out of range, and don’t need a static blocking position.
While using the Slide Step, it is useful to use another technique called the Right Cross. This is described in my on-line manual. Basically, it is a snap thrown at the opposite shoulder of your opponent, while trying to keep the tip of your sword high (so as not to hit the near side of the shield). It is also important to move your hand directly towards the target, rather than swinging down. Swinging down decreases range, drastically.
- Duke Paul of Bellatrix