Lesson The First After explaining safety & showing them thee legal target areas, what’s a proper blow, pulling blows & the figure eight.

The Basic Programs are primarily about internalising the correct target locations and figure 8. Don’t worry too much on form and effectiveness just are they hitting the right place and swinging through the right arcs Through all of he basic Programs remember the aim is to get them safe by practicing the figure 8 and pulling the blow. We do this by getting them to swing the sword a lot and hit some body. Don’t get stuck on other things like perfect form or side tracked by questions. Remember to shut up and get them swinging the sword.

Program 1) Basic Figure 8 blows. The figure 8 from 3 Stances with Simplified Footwork & recovery. Go through a stance for each range. (ie Open fight, Stocata and forearm ward). For each stance get them to go through footwork and recovery first Then for each stance work through figure 8 blows, get them to do a few in the air first and then doing each blow 3-6 times actually landing on somebody. Moving on) When you think they know where they supposed to be hitting then we move on to Basic Blocking.

Program 2) Basic Blocking. Blocking the figure 8 blows from a Defensive stance with Footwork & recovery. Get them standing in Stocata(or forearm ward if you prefer). Go thorough the footwork and recovery for both to the right & left. Work through only the above the hips blocks first. Get them do Basic Blocking Drill. Once you are happy or had enough of upperbody then add in the legs. Then do the Drills again adding in leg blocks Moving on) When you think they know how they supposed to be blocking, even if hey ain’t great at it as long as they know what there trying to do.

Then you have a decision to make either on to Basic Reposits or to Range & Timing.

Program 3) Basic Reposits. Doing a attack after a Block, the figure 8 blows from a block with Footwork & recovery. First reprise a few Basic attacks from the forearm ward(3rd stance). Then for each block build from a pause then strike to a continues motion(but two actions) Do a couple of different reposits from each block. When you done all the blocks do the drills starting with set pieces and attacker freezes on block and slowly let attacker recover faster & properly. With leg blocks. If you want get them to try voiding and striking instead of blocking. Moving on) Don’t spend too long on this if there is time to move on.

Once again you have the choice of going to either Blocking after Hitting or back to Range & Timing.

Program 4) Blocking After. Blocking the figure 8 blows after throwing a blow. Blocking After is all about recovery. Go through One Figure 8 attack at a time. Have the recruit practice the normal recovery then introduce the ripostes and have them recover against them. Notes) The Basic reposits can be dealt with the standard recovery and right forearm. Moving on) Don’t spend too long on this. This leads straight into fighting and there is more do first. Once done move onto Range & Timing

Program 5) Range & Timing. The range timing program is some exercises to work on range and timing. First its a talk/show fest to remind them of the of different ranges and the importance of timing. Do at least the long range and timing drills , Moving on) Don’t get stuck on these as they aren’t safety drills as such. Come back to them often rather then do a lot in one go