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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2007 6:58:37 GMT
I am planning on trying a new technique tomorrow (new for me). I have heard of it before but I never took it seriously. It calls for keeping your pinky and ring-finger loose as you grip the sword. Then as you execute your strike, at the last second you squeeze those two fingers. The effect is that you create a lever within your hand and the sword accelerates about an inch forward before impact. This is in addition to the power you are generating with normal body-mechanics.
People who fight with two-handed swords create this lever by using two hands on the grip. The strike may originate in the legs or arms, but at the last second the top hand pushes forward on the grip while the bottom pulls back creating a lever. This gives the sword extra acceleration at the last second. The same can be done with the single sword within the hand itself using the fingers.
I am told that this is the secret that a lot of small guys use to generate a lot of force in a short distance. The history is that prior to the development of this technique, it was necessary to initiate all strikes from your shoulder and twist the hips to create power. In this method you are applying the force over a greater distance. Of course the other person has a better chance of seeing the shots come in because they are traveling a longer distance.
Keeping your sword in front of your face and firing your shots from there is more defensive and also telegraphs your intentions less. It also requires very strong arms. It is similar to a jab in boxing where the whole shot is coming from the shoulders and triceps. This is how I have been executing this shot (from in front of my face), with just arm-muscle. I have always wondered how smaller guys then me have been able to get those shots off so easy. I finally got the whole picture after talking with a long time fighter today. He spelled out the whole squeezing of the hand principal to create additional torque.
Think of if as when you are jumping in the air. The power is coming from your big glute and quad muscles but at the last instant you also fire your calf muscles for a little extra pop. A baseball pitcher, winds up his leg to initiate momentum and transfer that to his arm. The arm then extends adding to the leg-momentum, but the last thing his does is give that ball a good roll off his fingers. It is even easier to see the wrist and finger action that a basketball player uses to shoot the ball.
It will not be easy making this transition, if it even works for me, but all the best swordfighters seem to use it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2007 9:28:38 GMT
Tsafa, what you are explaining sounds a lot like a Kung fu punch. where you generate a lot of energy up the body but release it at the last second through the fist by clenching it as it hits.
sorta like the 1 inch punch that Bruce Lee made famous. at least in theory.
sorry if this changes the topic of your thread. tell us how it works out, and give us some comparison shots if possible.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2007 12:20:49 GMT
sounds similar to the squeezing one is ment to do at the end of a mulineli...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2007 16:17:39 GMT
I am not suprised that other martial arts use this technique. Like I hade mentioned, it has been very common knowledge in Longsword fightings as well as in many other Athletics. Its just that I never seriously considered using it in a single handed sword till now. I guess the reason I never tried it is that I was able to generate enough power in a short distance with just my arm strength, but now I want to do more with less effort. That way I can conserve my energy and fight longer.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 1:16:23 GMT
I was actually taught that technique by my the Squire that I am man-at-arms to. He was taught it by his Knight who is a Duke.
If done properly it increases speed and power and I can get it to work on the pell no problem. During combat it is another story and takes a lot of focus to remember to keep your hand loose and squeeze at the last second. I think it is something that will take years to master, but once mastered will be done without thinking.
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Post by rammstein on Oct 18, 2007 1:30:20 GMT
Replace "sword" with "drumstick" and you just covered the basics of a one handed drum roll....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 3:27:00 GMT
I've tried that... it's not for me - when I keep the pinky and ring fingers loose, it means my forefinger and thumb have to hold the sword tighter. When they hold the sword tighter, it limits how much of a range of motion I have while still keeping the sword steady - when I relax it too much, my sword just tends to get knocked out of my hand.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 5:46:57 GMT
I drilled the method on my pell today for about 20 min before going to practice. I found it necessary to shave down the grip on my sword a bit more. I don't have very long fingers so I had to shave the grip so that with my glove my pinky can still wrap my pinky all the way around the grip. This way when I loosen my pinky and ring-finger I still have enough of a grip to close my hand and create the lever.
In practice, I had to make a conscience effort to use the method. I forgot half way through my fights, but then remembered to reset and use the method on my next fight... and so on throughout the night.
I found it allowed me to fight a little more relaxed and I was less tired through each fight. By using the hand-squeeze method I was able to use less arm arm muscle. I think if I concentrate on this for the next six weeks of pell work and fighting practice it should become habit.
I'm kind of kicking myself for not having incorporated this into my fighting sooner. I new full well the best fighters were doing it. I think it was a matter that I was working on more immediate concerns at the time.
I'll put up some new vids in the "Tsafa Fighting" thread and you guys can tell me if you see any noticeable difference. One of the things that I see I still need to work on is that I am swinging a bit wide.
Jasson- I just realized that we hold the same rank. I am Man at Arms to Sir Douglas. I don't think he uses the hand-squeeze technique much. He is a Two-swordman that seems to use the Beletix system to fire his shots. I had heard the method discused in passing several times by other fighters and I got some more info from Sir Valgard yesterday. I sat down today at the begining of practice to discuse in further in detail and so some drills with Sir Stephan. He was squire to "Fast Eddie", who invented the system. I am hopping he makes the next few practices so I can drill it some more with him. I also want to ask him about how he incorporates this into his combinations.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2007 23:56:03 GMT
You are very lucky to have so many Knights. Currently my shire has a few Squires attached to knights hours away. I attached myself to a squire with 6 years fighting experience and when he becomes a knight (soon I hope) I will have proved myself and can become his squire.
When you find out if you are going to Gulf Wars please let me know!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2007 2:04:22 GMT
I will probably know just a few weeks before Gulf Wars. I will definetly let you know.
My practice at Nutley has 2 regular dukes and 8 regular knights and 5 regular squires. Last night we had a huge turnout with about 20 people in total. It is considered by many to be one of the best practices on the East Cost. It is also one of the hardest hitting practices. It takes me an hour to get there and about the same to get back. It costs me about $1,000 a year in tolls and gas to go there every Wed from Brooklyn, but it is worth it. I also do a Tues practice in Brooklyn. That is usually lighter with 4 to 6 people and one knight. I fight left handed there.
You are right Jason, in that how fast and how far a person can progress has a lot to do with the level of skill in the people they are training with as well as their own ambition.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2007 2:14:44 GMT
With the business, family, etc. it is hard for me to travel as much as I would like in regards to fighter practices and events. I envy your ability to put so much dedication into combat.
My Shire has practice once a week on Sundays, but there is a new "unofficial" practice starting to form on Wednesdays at one of the fighter's houses. The Wed practice is going to focus more on pell work and proper technique.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2007 18:18:24 GMT
I have found that this works well with sticks, but not so well with cutting. Try it using a sharp sword and a target. Watch what happens to your edge alignment.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2007 22:32:37 GMT
Actually I a have been using this method exclusively on my Hanwai Knightly and Iberia Lionheart. I am in the process of reviewing those swords. Works fine. However you do have a point. If the grip is too thin the sword will turn flat. I have observed this on some experimental grips I have made. The grip has to be matched to your hand size for this to work. Not too thin and not too thick. If it is too thick you will not be able to keep your pinky on the grip when you open your hand. I grind the handles on my rattan swords so that it is not a big round stick. I only grind one side because the basket hilts makes me hold the sword from only one side, but I could just as easy have grounded both sides evenly to a classic taper. Some of guys use barrel grips others use waisted grips. I prefer a tapered grip. That all depends on the shape of your hand, but very few people fight with roundstick handles that are not grinded down to some extent. You have to have very big hands to do that.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2007 22:49:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2007 22:50:10 GMT
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Post by ShooterMike on Nov 16, 2007 16:34:15 GMT
Thanks Bill. I'm gonna try this today on some bottles. If the video is decent I'll post it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2007 3:11:03 GMT
This is the technique I've read about being used for the kukhri due to the shape of the grip... has anyone who owns a kukhri tried it?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2007 14:18:34 GMT
thx tsafa, i'm a noobie, sumtimes w/ a death grip. tho i'll have 2 learn the "principle" for katana as we've all learned it for balls, punches, etc., as i do at least i'm on my way here. i totally forgot to apply here, where i feel a little claustrophobic/hindered by a fixed right-over-left-ONLY grip. (1st weapon, unless u include the staff). so thx,thx. and karma if u like. i'd never considered a stand like yers. awesome. what's yer outside material?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2007 18:29:58 GMT
Car tires Here is a better picture:
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2007 1:11:32 GMT
brilliant.
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