03-09-2007, 08:22 PM
Sure, it's not that complicated. We don't choreograph, we do freeform fighting, but we keep in mind that the other person is really our friend, so we don't hit harder than needed to register the contact. Usually, it's enough. Sometimes hits get missed, and sometimes the lanista doesn't see them, but it all works out...we just wait for the next opening.
With kids, and adults, we teach the same things. Straight thrust to the body, forehand and backhand slash to the body or leg, overhead downward cut to the head (helmet) or shoulder, quick slices to exposed arms and legs, basically simple sword technique.
Then we discuss and demonstrate at least one parry or block with the sword for all those, and explain that the shield is the best defense (if your gladiator has one) and how to redirect the attack using the shield, to make an opening that you use to advantage.
Next we simply figure out based on where the parry takes the attacker's weapon, what would be the best attack (using the above list, for example), then the defense for that, so I suppose we're really teaching some basic simple fencing techniques. It's surprising how many variations of that we come up with.
And we use some very simple grasping techniques...for example, sometimes, the best thing to do is to drop the spear, grab the opponent's sword hand, and slice his wrist with the dagger. Once done, he has to drop his sword, and you have the upper hand. We allow combatants to pick up weapons they've dropped, if it's possible. In this case, the one person would have lost use of the sword hand, so he'd have to make some kind of quick adjustment, or be in a lot of trouble. We don't let kids grapple like that, though, we prefer for them to stay a little farther apart, even with padded shields.
With kids, and adults, we teach the same things. Straight thrust to the body, forehand and backhand slash to the body or leg, overhead downward cut to the head (helmet) or shoulder, quick slices to exposed arms and legs, basically simple sword technique.
Then we discuss and demonstrate at least one parry or block with the sword for all those, and explain that the shield is the best defense (if your gladiator has one) and how to redirect the attack using the shield, to make an opening that you use to advantage.
Next we simply figure out based on where the parry takes the attacker's weapon, what would be the best attack (using the above list, for example), then the defense for that, so I suppose we're really teaching some basic simple fencing techniques. It's surprising how many variations of that we come up with.
And we use some very simple grasping techniques...for example, sometimes, the best thing to do is to drop the spear, grab the opponent's sword hand, and slice his wrist with the dagger. Once done, he has to drop his sword, and you have the upper hand. We allow combatants to pick up weapons they've dropped, if it's possible. In this case, the one person would have lost use of the sword hand, so he'd have to make some kind of quick adjustment, or be in a lot of trouble. We don't let kids grapple like that, though, we prefer for them to stay a little farther apart, even with padded shields.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
