200 FCC (steel), 50 gambit passes, and continued working on my aggressive straight offense and offensive defense.
Tag: steel
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While visiting at the Hayward dojo, I took some time to solo train in the evening. I reviewed my requirements and then continued to work on my straight offense techniques. I also took a little time on non-stop chaining practiced moves.
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100 FCC, then a focus session on straight offense. Also took a little time to review some possible strategies for key opponents in Best of the Best.
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100 FCC to get warmed up (muscles-wise, it’s already about 80 degrees), then another focus session of high repetition of my straight offense moves.
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Another focus session on my straight offense techniques, working to improve where I tend to be weak. In addition to my regular straight offense practiced moves, also working on an oblique movement with an inverted defensive face thrust (either side, though to my left lends to better movement).
Today was a long day, I spent 10 hours helping Risa move a two bedroom apartment to a house. I was, first and foremost, muscle and legs. I would definitely count it as endurance training.
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No class yesterday and needed a break. Today I started with 100 FCC, then 25 gambit passes, spent a long while working on my straight offense moves, and then did another 100 FCC.
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200 FCC, lengthy time working on my defensive movements to improve on lateral evasion over linear retreat
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Feeling almost back to normal. Requirements full through, then spent a while reviewing my straight offense practiced moves.
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150 FCC, went through all of my straight offense moves working on each for a while, both targetless and against one of my standup targets.
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50 gambit passes (3 target pells), 150 FCC
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I travelled to the Hayward dojo for a special event to give both Kaiden Ravenstar and Requiem their 60 Minute Non-stop Battle, and there was boken melees (10) and steel melees (10) and some more one-on-one matches, too.
I also used the opportunity to get some clarification on draw cut targets (in particular, the vertical draw cuts are envisioned to be to something like the collarbone in application).
I additionally provided reviews and feedback to Requiem, Jesse B, and Christy.
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Class with Bryce. Once through our respective requirements. Focus session on Kill the Tiger. Break. Continuous Full Circle Cuts (100 him, 150 me). Three target Gambit (25 pass for me). Then we took 3 turns each making four passes, at the two groupings at opposing sides of the dojo, running between them on each pass (i.e. group A, run to group B, run to group A, run to group B). Finished with Balance 1 & 2.
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Class with Jesse B. Stretch and our respective requirements once through. Focus session on Double Chop. Break. Combat movement, continuous full circle cuts (100 for him, 150 for me), and then Sequence Builder (four ad hoc technique sequences).
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150 continuous full circle cuts and then a long slow review of my requirements, pausing to examine and take notes on certain techniques that I want to ask Kaiden Gad about when I see him in a couple weeks.
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35 gambit passes (four targets, close bunching), 150 continuous full circle cuts, focus session on several practiced moves: The Samurai, Blood Fountain, The Mantis, and finally Defense Cut including variations.
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35 passes at a close packed four target gambit, plus a sword dance in the rain to The HU’s, “Wolf Totem”.
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Class with Bryce. Stretch and once through our respective full requirements. Spent some time on movement, really focusing on length of stance and maintaining as we moved about. After the break, did our full circle cuts (150 for me, 100 for him), then did some sequence building, and finished with a flow drill where we had to continuously chain practiced moves with no pause.
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35 passes on a three target gambit. Extended focus session on flow and my new move, Blood Fountain.
Also, two sword dances:
— Amaranthe, “Strong”
— SKÁLD, “Rún” -
150 full circle cuts, then spent time on precision targeting against one of my targets. Ended up constructing a sequence I’m currently dubbing “Blood Fountain”. It is a three cut flow sequence, opening with a feint high (face-ish) to draw the guard (either starting in left stance or stepping into left with the feint), then swings into a rising femoral (right stance), rising brachial on the return (left stance), and finishes with a carotid (right stance). Each cut is accompanied with a cross step stance shift to engage and incorporate lateral movement. It should work really well for a one hander, especially with a small shield, but should be good as a two hander, too. These should be fast, slashing cuts against these soft targets, there is no need to cleave.
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35 Gambit passes (three target grouping), 150 continuous full circle cuts. Continued working on movement and speed with moves such as The Samurai and Phantom. Small bit of flow work, chaining a succession of Practiced Moves together non-stop. All with my newest steel.
The recent new sword is very nice but has a point of balance (POB) about 3.75″ from the guard. My old sword has a POB at 1.5″. The relative difference in handling is sufficient that I decided to see what was available and there happened to be one sword left with a 1.5″ POB and all the other same dimensions, so I picked it up. This means I now have a “battle blade” with a nimble disposition and I will sharpen the other. All are BKS Slayers of the same dimensions, just varied guards and pommels.