According to many post-apocalyptic films (such as Six String Samurai) one day we will run out of bullets. How will you survive without heroes by your side like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Mel Gibson? Read this article.
Note:
You will not become an expert swordsman by reading this article. This article attempts to list the basic principles involved in wielding a sword, the complexity of wielding a sword cannot be explained by reading (or computer). Therefore, it will take constant training on your part to obtain the skills necessary to survive (or better still win) in a sword fight. If you are really interested, join a local Dojo (gym) or visit the SCA website - according to your preferences - and let an expert guide you. Remember things will be very different from style to style, school to school and sword to sword and certain things in this article may not be right for you. Make sure you duel using similar swords. Never mix a basket-hilted sword with that of a samurai. If someone challenges you with a different sword you have two options, run away or shoot them like Indiana Jones.
Steps
Step 1. Draw your sword before starting
It takes longer to draw the sword than to be hit. Conversely, if your sword and scabbard allow you a quick draw, then practice doing it, it could be a surprising attack move. This concept is more applicable to the Japanese style, called Iaido and Batto-jutsu, where you attack people while drawing the sword.
Step 2. Relax
It's normal to be tense in a fight, but try to stay calm, keep your muscles relaxed, and breathe regularly. If you are not relaxed, you will not be able to move quickly and this could be fatal.
Step 3. Keep your balance well so you can attack or defend yourself without getting hit
Always keep your feet in line with your shoulders and when moving, do it with your legs apart. Never keep your feet close together. Hold the sword for easy handling. Observe your opponent and when he attacks you, make a counter move. Be quick. When defending yourself always keep the sword blade close to your body and always try to counterattack. The way you position your feet is essential for body balance. The more you keep the soles of your feet in contact with the ground, the more powerful your attacks will be. To stay balanced, try to move by sliding your feet on the ground instead of lifting them to walk. It is not a good thing to lean forward while lifting your heels, be careful with how you put your feet as the opponent could make you fall easily when he attacks you. Maintain a straight posture with your chest and torso forward to have good balance when launching an attack and keep yourself in a neutral position to better dodge attacks that can come from any direction.
Step 4. Determine the situation
The best fighters always try to know the place, their advantages and resources and those of the opponent. Ideally, it would be good to take note of the terrain or location in advance, such as knowing the position of the sun so that you can use it to blind your opponent and if you can, get an idea of your opponent's fighting style. Is he brave or cautious? Expert or beginner? We all have weaknesses, for example the smaller ones can be very powerful while the taller ones manage to extend better but leave the legs exposed, etc. You may not have a lot of time to prepare a plan, so act fast.
Step 5. Fight with care
If you fight carelessly, especially against a skilled opponent, you will find yourself knocked out because of your carelessness. Fight carefully, always keep control and concentration. Thus you will be able to defend yourself, waiting for your opponent to attack to make him a counter move. Dodging is often a good technique in open spaces, or if you are fast even in a room.
Step 6. You must have an excellent defense
If you can't block a shot, it could be fatal so always protect yourself in the best possible way. Always keep the sword along the entire body, from the torso to the head. This is a good stance regardless of your experience, as it serves to counterattack fairly quickly and allows you to attack from different angles.
Step 7. Always keep your sword ready
Generally, the sword should extend a comfortable distance from your body and towards your opponent's throat or eyes. It would be "fine-tuning" it. It serves as a guard against the opponent (who, after all, will have to pass over your sword first) and can be intimidating, especially in a fight with a novice.
Step 8. Keep your elbows bent and close to your body
An inexperienced swordsman tends to extend his arms to keep the opponent at a distance, but doing so will reduce your chances of effectively parrying a blow. Tilt the sword towards the opponent and not towards your arms.
Step 9. Think twice, act once
Historically in most cases a true sword fight begins and ends with a few strokes, often lasting 30 seconds. Gods be sure of your moves, because if you miss the opponent with the first strike, he could counterattack with a fatal blow and end the duel.
Step 10. Find and maintain adequate distance based on your sword and that of your opponent
If you have a short sword, approach it and stay close to its guard. If you use a long sword, keep your distance. If the swords are similar, stay in a position to launch an attack by stepping forward. Maintain the distance needed to hit the opponent. The distance is unique based on your height, sword length, sword type and fighting style.
Step 11. Stay calm and confident
Attitude can decide the outcome of a fight as much as the sword itself, and is an effective ploy. If you are nervous or scared, the opponent may take advantage of your insecurity by trying to make you make a mistake in order to attack you. Quiet swordsmen make others restless and wary. You may also be aggressive in order to intimidate your opponent or be frightened to deceive him by trying to make him make a false move.
Step 12. The most important thing to do when combat begins is to find and control the "flow" of combat
It is a very sophisticated way of summing up this concept in one sentence, but it is very important. If you can find and control the flow, you will be able to directly influence the entire duel through your actions. It's a difficult concept to grasp but next time you train, give it a try. Find the patterns and flow between moves to control the opponent. It takes years of practice to do this, but by the time you are able, the duel will already be half yours.
Step 13. Never use too complicated moves, such as don't rotate as you could leave your back exposed
Except you're not struggling with a beginner, these moves don't make practical sense. Against a beginner however, whimsical moves can be used from a distance to intimidate.
Advice
- Save your energy. Veterans know that a death fight takes incredible effort, so don't waste your energy on sophisticated or useless moves. Your survival depends on it.
- Training is vital. If you train well, maybe then you can use 10% of what you know in a duel. You have to act on instinct, without thinking. The basic techniques are very useful for this, so they are called that. Make sure you train with three essential techniques consistently and for a long time as they will be the only things available in a duel. It usually takes two months to learn a technique and one to forget it.
- It is not worth dying in one position. If you always move linearly or stand still, you will be limited and an experienced opponent will benefit. Be ready to use all the space and move in any direction needed.
- Choose your weapon carefully and if possible, bring more than one. It may break and need another one. Make sure you have a combination of weapons that can be useful in different situations and that complement each other as well as your forces. Do not combine weapons such as a basket hilted sword with a two-handed sword, try to have a side-stripe sword and a two-handed sword so that they complement each other.
- If possible, avoid colliding with more than one opponent. If you have to fight with several opponents, try to maneuver them so that they interfere with each other and then you can deal with them one at a time.
- Accuracy is more important than power.
- Be aware of the terrain around you and use it to your advantage. Pushing an opponent into an obstacle will definitely help you. Also, pushing your opponent into a position against the sunlight can blind them momentarily, thus giving you the chance to deliver a fatal attack.
- A common mistake is to leave the legs exposed - such an opportunity cannot be missed. Typically, if your opponent falls to the ground, the fight is over.
- Take care of your equipment. Good weapons and armor won't leave you easily in a fight.
- Watch the opponent carefully. Observe the direction they are looking in - it could be the direction they will attack shortly. When your opponent attacks, his fists and shoulders will be in tension for a moment.
Warnings
- The most important thing to remember is that swordplay is not a game. It is a very serious business. Swords are designed to kill, for nothing else. Treat a sword with the same respect you would treat a firearm to make others treat you with respect.
- When practicing fencing (for fun, like children with wooden sticks), the first mistake you make is usually to hit the sword and not the person. If you keep this in mind - that is, hitting the person (hand, body or head) not the sword - you will be more likely to defeat whoever attacks your sword (or wooden wand). Also find a good position and be confident, so you will scare amateurs.
- Expect to be hurt, or worse. A worried warrior tends to freeze during battle.
- It is said that the best warrior is the one who must never draw his sword. This means that a swordsman has only himself to deal with and does not need to do it with others. Even better, if you find yourself in a fight, consider running away. A sword fight is a good way to get killed and also if you get out alive, you won't even be able to tell the local authorities about it (duels are illegal). A 7cm cut in the neck / face is fatal or debilitating eighty percent of the time. So it means that whoever loses a sword fight in the real world is the one who dies fast and whoever wins it dies slowly. If you come out unscathed, consider yourself lucky and try to avoid duels in the future. If the worst happens and you are injured, seek medical attention immediately.
- When using a two-handed sword, do not cross your arms. If you do, you can lose control of it which can be fatal. Use the socket described above.
- In a real-life duel, the rules of competitive racing don't matter. There are no points or times and the honor code is not enforced either. This is the case where you have to take advantage of your opponent, knowing what kind of person he is, fighting without respecting the code or ego.
- Defense is only a partial technique. The history of German fencing teaches that it is better to keep an opponent in defense than in attack. Use this information with caution.
- Remember that there are no prizes for runners up. First place goes to whoever is still standing when the duel ends. Second place goes to those who die. This means that when you challenge someone with a sword or any weapon, your goal is not to win a prize but to survive.
- It may taste stereotypical, but always expect the unexpected. There have never been strict rules on survival in a sword fight. The opponent may kick you, knock you down in the face, or anything else to distract you. Remember that these are tactics you can use too.
- The throwing of the sword is reserved only for those who march in a band. Throwing a sword into combat could mean losing your weapon and thus being vulnerable to attack. Windmill with a two-handed sword certainly intimidates an inexperienced opponent - but it can be tiring to do and doesn't work against experienced opponents.
- Never turn your back. While it might be a quick spin move, it's useless and doesn't work. Turning your back to your opponent, even for a second, can have fatal consequences, so don't do it!
- Never let go of your sword. Squeeze it tightly to prevent a blow from dropping the sword, leaving you helpless. Keep your hands tight on the handle, unless you have another sword with you.
