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Post by antoine99 on Jan 13, 2018 23:55:49 GMT
Hey everyone! Call me crazy for obsessing about something that costs under $30, but I always like getting other people's opinions to learn stuff. I have a real gladius by KoA, and thought I'd better get a dull training version to practice with, but it was difficult finding one with the same weight. Mine is just under 2 pounds, and most of the trainers I've seen are around 1 pound or so, but this one looks pretty good: www.ebay.com/itm/Cold-Steel-Gladius-Trainer-92BKGM/192381034767?epid=2254777552&hash=item2ccacda10f:g:Un4AAOSwQcJaH5~CProduct weight: 2.25 pounds. That's probably with shipping container/box and everything, but they all seem about the same. I actually prefer something slightly heavier than the real one for training, so this seems perfect, since it's not THAT much more than 2 pounds. Cold Steel trainers seem to be the most numerous thing I encounter when typing "gladius trainer", and I keep seeing people praise their durability, so I thought this would be the most logical choice for my needs. The blade length is 2 inches shorter than mine, but I don't mind. I do not plan on striking anything with it, testing it, etc., I just want to go through the motions with more confidence than a real thing. What do you think? Thanks
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Post by demonskull on Jan 14, 2018 0:32:32 GMT
Go with the CS. That is a good price, even cheaper than Amazon.
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Post by elbrittania39 on Jan 14, 2018 2:41:22 GMT
While training with a heavier weapon will help you build muscle, keep in mind it will also tire you faster, so you wont be able to practice techniques and drills as long as the actual weapon. Some militarizes actually preferred training weapons to be lighter for this reason.
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Post by antoine99 on Jan 14, 2018 3:48:12 GMT
Thanks!
Makes sense. I didn't realize that they trained with lighter weapons. I always thought that if I trained and got good with a heavier weapon, using a real one would be easier. I suppose it's mostly just for building muscle like you said.
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Post by Cosmoline on Jan 15, 2018 4:28:43 GMT
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Post by legacyofthesword on Jan 15, 2018 20:50:58 GMT
A proper gladius should have a handle that is short enough to ensure a snug fit of your hand between the pommel and the cross guard.
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Post by antoine99 on Jan 17, 2018 22:21:17 GMT
A proper gladius should have a handle that is short enough to ensure a snug fit of your hand between the pommel and the cross guard. That is true, I just received it today. It's built like a tank (but I'm no expert so don't quote me on that), but the handle seems a bit big compared to my real one. On the real one, as you say, it's a nice snug fit, but on the practice one there's some room. I guess I could try wrapping a bunch of duct tape on it or whatever, it doesn't bother me that much anyway. However, I really like it. As soon as I got it, before I even realized, I'd spent about two hours practicing with it. It's not quite as heavy as the real one, but it can do some damage. It's so much fun practicing with this thing with confidence rather than the real one worrying I'll injure myself, so I never actually legitimately swung my real one. My forearms feel like they actually got a workout. Does anyone have any tips to avoid wrist problems during swings? I'm pretty sure I'm swinging and thrusting properly, but I'd hate to wait until it's too late and then ask. I'm not actually hitting anything, just practicing cutting and thrusting. Thanks for all the tips again everyone!
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Jan 18, 2018 2:51:51 GMT
Does anyone have any tips to avoid wrist problems during swings? I'm pretty sure I'm swinging and thrusting properly, but I'd hate to wait until it's too late and then ask. I'm not actually hitting anything, just practicing cutting and thrusting. Slice rather than chop, powered from the core/shoulder. Move your elbow and wrist together with the sword, with the hand and pommel leading the motion. If you can flow smoothly from one cut to the next, there should be no excessive strain on your wrist. If you do need to stop the sword at the end of the cut ASAP (e.g., to transition into a fleeting opportunity for a thrust, the sword is moving mostly towards your hand, and the guard will push into your hand and stop the sword without wrist strain (unlike stopping a rotating-about-the-wrist chop). The easy way to make sure you do this is to have a grip short enough so you have that snug fit noted above between guard and pommel.
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Post by antoine99 on Jan 18, 2018 4:55:55 GMT
Does anyone have any tips to avoid wrist problems during swings? I'm pretty sure I'm swinging and thrusting properly, but I'd hate to wait until it's too late and then ask. I'm not actually hitting anything, just practicing cutting and thrusting. Slice rather than chop, powered from the core/shoulder. Move your elbow and wrist together with the sword, with the hand and pommel leading the motion. If you can flow smoothly from one cut to the next, there should be no excessive strain on your wrist. If you do need to stop the sword at the end of the cut ASAP (e.g., to transition into a fleeting opportunity for a thrust, the sword is moving mostly towards your hand, and the guard will push into your hand and stop the sword without wrist strain (unlike stopping a rotating-about-the-wrist chop). The easy way to make sure you do this is to have a grip short enough so you have that snug fit noted above between guard and pommel. Thank you, I'll try to shorten the grip with something
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Post by Cosmoline on Jan 18, 2018 18:33:23 GMT
My forearms feel like they actually got a workout. Does anyone have any tips to avoid wrist problems during swings? I'm pretty sure I'm swinging and thrusting properly, but I'd hate to wait until it's too late and then ask. I'm not actually hitting anything, just practicing cutting and thrusting. Thanks for all the tips again everyone! Well nobody actually knows for sure how to use a true gladius. But if we use general sword handling rules, they should help. First off go slow to start and try to keep a good blade angle throughout your movements whether you're doing covering blows or just straight ones. Don't "swing" so much as punch and get the blade moving first not last. It should keep a pretty linear course with the blade in front of the hand on contact esp. when you're learning. So keep your hand moving forward towards the target (and do always have a mental target even if you're cutting air). Then let the blade follow its arc gently, without taxing your shoulder. If you look at good cutters on youtube whether JSA or HEMA their muscles are not straining. Don't rely on wrist muscles much if at all. They will tire quickly. And do pay attention to pain--it's usually a sign your form is off. For thrusts I learned the "ready aim fire" method where you get the sword in the thrusting guard, extend and step or push with the hips. I was taught to avoid a thrust that just pushes with the bicep. Thrusts work best when the body is behind the sword--even more so than cuts. I'd say get or make a basic padded pell to hit with your trainer, too. I rigged a simple poplar pole on a stand and wrapped it with some foam. And of course get some kind of training if you can.
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Post by antoine99 on Jan 18, 2018 20:31:32 GMT
My forearms feel like they actually got a workout. Does anyone have any tips to avoid wrist problems during swings? I'm pretty sure I'm swinging and thrusting properly, but I'd hate to wait until it's too late and then ask. I'm not actually hitting anything, just practicing cutting and thrusting. Thanks for all the tips again everyone! Well nobody actually knows for sure how to use a true gladius. But if we use general sword handling rules, they should help. First off go slow to start and try to keep a good blade angle throughout your movements whether you're doing covering blows or just straight ones. Don't "swing" so much as punch and get the blade moving first not last. It should keep a pretty linear course with the blade in front of the hand on contact esp. when you're learning. So keep your hand moving forward towards the target (and do always have a mental target even if you're cutting air). Then let the blade follow its arc gently, without taxing your shoulder. If you look at good cutters on youtube whether JSA or HEMA their muscles are not straining. Don't rely on wrist muscles much if at all. They will tire quickly. And do pay attention to pain--it's usually a sign your form is off. For thrusts I learned the "ready aim fire" method where you get the sword in the thrusting guard, extend and step or push with the hips. I was taught to avoid a thrust that just pushes with the bicep. Thrusts work best when the body is behind the sword--even more so than cuts. I'd say get or make a basic padded pell to hit with your trainer, too. I rigged a simple poplar pole on a stand and wrapped it with some foam. And of course get some kind of training if you can. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I was trying to remain stationary while thrusting like I'm staying in formation, but I never thought to twist into it with my hips. I'm very surprised how sore my arms are, that thing is only just over a pound and my arms are completely exhausted. I can barely hold a bottle of oil. Of course I spent a lot of time with it over the past two days. While researching CS trainers to buy I came across a CS kopis-style machete for $10...So naturally...It would be a crime NOT to buy it. I mean for that price even if it's a piece of garbage, I can't complain. I know CS can be hit or miss, but I like the odds in this case. I liked the look, classic Greek, the handle is big and fugly but whatever. Maybe I can paint it with some dark brown wood stain or something. I know it's not really a "battle" weapon since it's basically just a thin machete (I think it's 2mm thick).
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Post by Cosmoline on Jan 18, 2018 21:14:39 GMT
One thing to think about is the point of rotation. So if you swing really big the point of rotation may actually be your shoulder. It's generally a better idea to get the point of rotation closer to the blade or actually on the blade. That will also help minimize strain. It's really no different from any tool--you learn to let the tool do the work.
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