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Post by brothersteel on Oct 29, 2019 13:13:03 GMT
I'm setting up my own training regimen to improve my swordsmanship, and I'm not wanting to ignore the exercises that'll help keep me in shape. I imagine push ups and crunches are obvious aids to arm, shoulder, and core fitness, but are there any other muscle groups to focus on? Thanks!
Note: weapon disciplines include cutlass, sabre, rapier and kriegsmesser
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Oct 29, 2019 14:12:29 GMT
Plyometrics and squats for explosive leg strength. Pullups.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2019 15:02:14 GMT
I like to use dumb bells to work shoulders, triceps, biceps and for arms. I find that it helps a lot with maneuvering heavier weapons
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 29, 2019 16:25:13 GMT
All the above are good. I find that using a heavier than I’d normally use sword holds my interest longer. For a long time I used a Windlass German Bastard sword with sheath with one hand that weighed 4.7 lbs. After receiving my M1913 repro I switched to that with scabbard as it was more similar to later swords that I am now more interested in. Weight is 4.3 lbs. By using a sword I find that I use some muscles that I wouldn’t use doing say, push ups alone.
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Post by bebut on Oct 29, 2019 17:15:43 GMT
Search "wrist exercises" on You tube.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2019 18:18:50 GMT
All the above are good. I find that using a heavier than I’d normally use sword holds my interest longer. For a long time I used a Windlass German Bastard sword with sheath with one hand that weighed 4.7 lbs. After receiving my M1913 repro I switched to that with scabbard as it was more similar to later swords that I am now more interested in. Weight is 4.3 lbs. By using a sword I find that I use some muscles that I wouldn’t use doing say, push ups alone. Yea my sword of Danu is quite heavy too. I gotta agree that dry handling it allows my to isolate certain muscle groups a lot better. This would be even better if I had someone to cut stuff with it
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christain
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Post by christain on Oct 29, 2019 18:32:38 GMT
I get a pretty good upper body workout at my job. But, I also find that using a heavier-than-usual sword for solo drills works good too. I'll do longsword drills with my Hanwei Rhinelander for a while, then switch over to my H/T LS. It feels like a lightsaber in my hands after putting down the Rhinelander. That's a big, gnarly beast right there!
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Zen_Hydra
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Oct 29, 2019 20:54:44 GMT
I use Indian clubs (steel, because they take up less space), kettlebells, dumbbells, and a wide range of calisthenics (including plyos).
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Post by SandStormZA on Oct 30, 2019 5:09:04 GMT
I have a silicon ball that I use for improving my grip strength. The major draw is I can practise with it while doing something else
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2019 17:42:29 GMT
Damn those are great. I'm stoked to try out the wrist and hand work outs.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 31, 2019 1:35:39 GMT
Yea my sword of Danu is quite heavy too. I gotta agree that dry handling it allows my to isolate certain muscle groups a lot better. This would be even better if I had someone to cut stuff with it I know what you mean. People in my country have no interest in swords. I had a sparring partner for stick fighting and lost him.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2019 2:03:21 GMT
Yea my sword of Danu is quite heavy too. I gotta agree that dry handling it allows my to isolate certain muscle groups a lot better. This would be even better if I had someone to cut stuff with it I know what you mean. People in my country have no interest in swords. I had a sparring partner for stick fighting and lost him. Same here. It's difficult for me tbh
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Post by Jordan Williams on Oct 31, 2019 5:35:59 GMT
Yea my sword of Danu is quite heavy too. I gotta agree that dry handling it allows my to isolate certain muscle groups a lot better. This would be even better if I had someone to cut stuff with it I know what you mean. People in my country have no interest in swords. I had a sparring partner for stick fighting and lost him. Come to America for 12 months, get a good rapier and dagger teacher, go back, and become the best espadachin since Monstery
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 31, 2019 13:22:04 GMT
I know what you mean. People in my country have no interest in swords. I had a sparring partner for stick fighting and lost him. By "lost him" do you mean you killed him with a stick? Remind me not to ever spar with you Sorry, no death. Hmmm that’s ambiguous too. He seemed to have lost interest and just faded away skipping appointments and then not showing up at all. Stick fighting was not his thing and I think that he was just doing it to accommodate me and out of curiosity. He was a young chap mostly interested in open hand and was good at that. He represented our country in the Olympics for karate. His family name is Villalobo, I never knew his first name. Edit: He knew something about Philippine MA as he liked the bo and mentioned Philippine on occasions. I remember our first encounter. He didn’t know that I knew what I did and was telling me how great the bo was and its advantages. I knew the bo so I knew those and its disadvantages but said nothing. Then for a demo of the bo I was told to simulate an attack with a knife. I did and gutted him. I wish that I had a photo of his face, he wasn’t expecting that. After that he took me more seriously and we got down to business. I’m a cane man myself. So it was usually my cane against his escrima stick or bo. In the end it was mostly the bo as I could easily take the stick away and he had to play fetch the stick.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 31, 2019 19:19:55 GMT
Ooopss. That got away from me.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Nov 3, 2019 23:20:44 GMT
I have an old shinai that I put a piece of rebar inside of it. I use that for warming up and exercises with the sword. Obviously, when it comes to sparring or one on one technique practice, I use a regular training sword. This works to build the actual muscles you will need to use the sword with.
Other than that, it's just a matter of general physical fitness. All of the previous suggestions are good, pick one that you like. I don't use commercial weights or gym equipment- instead I use cinder blocks, milk jugs filled with sand, or other such devices. It's all weight at the end of the day. I do prefer free weight exercise over a machine because I feel that I use more muscle groups to stabilize the weight. It's about personal preference at the end of the day. If you are moving around, then that's good.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2019 23:51:29 GMT
I have an old shinai that I put a piece of rebar inside of it. I use that for warming up and exercises with the sword. Obviously, when it comes to sparring or one on one technique practice, I use a regular training sword. This works to build the actual muscles you will need to use the sword with. Other than that, it's just a matter of general physical fitness. All of the previous suggestions are good, pick one that you like. I don't use commercial weights or gym equipment- instead I use cinder blocks, milk jugs filled with sand, or other such devices. It's all weight at the end of the day. I do prefer free weight exercise over a machine because I feel that I use more muscle groups to stabilize the weight. It's about personal preference at the end of the day. If you are moving around, then that's good. Man that sounds pretty hard to build but it would be a great training tool
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Post by RufusScorpius on Nov 4, 2019 0:45:51 GMT
I have an old shinai that I put a piece of rebar inside of it. I use that for warming up and exercises with the sword. Obviously, when it comes to sparring or one on one technique practice, I use a regular training sword. This works to build the actual muscles you will need to use the sword with. Other than that, it's just a matter of general physical fitness. All of the previous suggestions are good, pick one that you like. I don't use commercial weights or gym equipment- instead I use cinder blocks, milk jugs filled with sand, or other such devices. It's all weight at the end of the day. I do prefer free weight exercise over a machine because I feel that I use more muscle groups to stabilize the weight. It's about personal preference at the end of the day. If you are moving around, then that's good. Man that sounds pretty hard to build but it would be a great training tool Naw, it's super easy. Anybody that's done Japanese style sword can tell you that. A shinai is made of 4 pieces of split bamboo held together by 3 pieces of leather and a string. One of the first lessons you learn is how to take it apart to oil it and make repairs. Sticking a bit of rebar inside is next to nothing on the complexity scale. I know European styles don't use a shinai, but I see no reason they can't use a rebar filled one for warm-ups and strength training. After 20 minutes of exercising with it, you can switch to your normal training blade (which will feel light as a feather!).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2019 2:26:46 GMT
Man that sounds pretty hard to build but it would be a great training tool Naw, it's super easy. Anybody that's done Japanese style sword can tell you that. A shinai is made of 4 pieces of split bamboo held together by 3 pieces of leather and a string. One of the first lessons you learn is how to take it apart to oil it and make repairs. Sticking a bit of rebar inside is next to nothing on the complexity scale. I know European styles don't use a shinai, but I see no reason they can't use a rebar filled one for warm-ups and strength training. After 20 minutes of exercising with it, you can switch to your normal training blade (which will feel light as a feather!). You know, I had a brain fart and just realized what you meant by shinai. Honestly thst doesn't sound too hard. I wanna give it a go
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