On a recent trip to Rome, I had the pleasure of doing a gladiator workshop, with a Roman Reenactment group called   .  It was very interesting to experience their training methods.  They used shaped a shaped wooden gladius called a rudus.  There were 5 strikes delivered weapon side forward, and five parries, performed weapon side back.  4 of the parries were strong, the 5^th, which was against the center thrust, was designed to get the defender towards the back of the attacker.   The texture was similar to Balintiwak Escrima, however  the emphasis was on angles that would avoid gladiator helmets and armour.   The instruction was 1^st class. Marcus had 5 tiros (untrained gladiators) of varying ages from 8 to 58 (me), and varying degrees of experience and athleticism.  He managed in an hour and a half, to teach every one something about how to use a short sword without a shield.  I was honored to be his demonstration partner, as he saw immediately that I had weapon training.   We practiced the strikes, and then the parries in sequence, first solo, and then with a partner.  Then Marcus began calling random numbers.  This was very interesting to see that even in a beginner`s class they did not want tiros to become pattern fixated.  This is something that I will carry into my own classes.   At the end of the class Marcus brought out iron demonstration gladius (blunt), and he ran through the attacks with me parrying.  He allowed me to experience success, but made me work for it. 

All in all, it was a wonderful  experience.  I learned enough to practice at home, and got a few new teaching ideas. I also train with a group called Acadamie Duello in Vancouver. Here I study Medieval sidesword (one hander) and shield. Maestro Devon Boorman and his instructors have given me new insights into edged weapon use, and are wonderful people to talk with and hangout with. I highly recommend sampling arts from other cultures.  It gives a different view of technique, and training,  and is a chance to meet new friends, and ideas.

Long time no post....

Today’s topic is footwork…footwork and bodyshifting are crucial to FMA.  We all know the standard patterns, male triangle, female triangle, linear entry. The * is a very good conceptual tool.  However, all too often we train just one part of it…we’ve all seen it, we’ve all been it : the player doing male triangle for a minute, then female, then????.  This is allright for learning the steps, but it is not sufficient for usage.  Think about it, number one strike comes in, you step forward right  in the female triangle / …do you then step back to parallel feet,  and then step forward left ot continue this pattern  V for a minute?. Perhaps not.  In my misspent youth, I had the privilege and misfortune of hanging with a very good member of the Canadian fencing team. The privilege was to see another way of working footwork,  the misfortune was in the social, or anti-social activities in pubs, etc..  Fencing footwork, due to the piste, or narrow strip used in competition is primarily forwards and backwards, with various degrees of commitment, and some pivoting.  What intrigued me was that once footwork was learned, patterns went out the window.  The instructor would call out movements, very rapidly, and seemingly in no pattern, although I later realized that he was visualizing an opponent’s response (retreat, counter  into the attack, etc.).  I then got my fencing friend, Cliff, who loved to order people around, to lead the drill for me, but using FMA footwork,  so he would call ie, angle right, pivot, backstep (some of these are terms we developed for clarity and speed of command).  What I found is that I was a happy little robot, as long as I was in the patterns, but less facile, when he called sequences I wasn’t used to….Ungood.   However, a few sessions, and I got to the point where I could blend different footwork very nicely.  I was able to flow through different steps on the * in no set pattern.  My sparring improved expotentially, as did my ability to flow, to blend with someone else’s footwork in novel ways.   So here’s an idea…develop your own terms for each step on the *, i.e., or better yet,  number each angle. Then find someone who wants to order you around…spouses are good.  Have them just call out numbers randomly, so 1 would be directly forward with right foot, 2 could be forward right, 3 side step right, 4 angle back right, 5 straight back right, 6 angle back left, 7 seven side step left, 8 angle forward left. 9 forward with left foot.  Other commands could include pivot back = 90 degree pivot towards your back, pivot front = 90 degree pivot to your front, or leading with your chest, duck, or sprawl, for you guys who grapple.  They don’t even need to be paying much attention, just calling random numbers 1-9.  Do this for three minutes…the faster the numbers the tougher the workout…repeat as needed. ..break those restrictive patterns, and rediscover your flow.