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Hugh Knight on test-cutting
Michael Edelson:
Hi all,
Sorry to resurrect a dead topic, but I just wanted to add my .02 cents.
I think too many people focus on the entry cut...the vorschlaag, when doing test cutting. The vorschalg has many elements that it must incorporate...minimum telegraphing, providing cover, etc. All of these things take power away from the cut. I think practicing this cut in test cutting is important, but I also believe that we should be practicing the cuts from within measure just as much, if not more. For various reasons having to do with measure and strategy, the voschlaag is unlikely to strike your opponent, and if it does strike, it is not gauranteed to end the fight without follow up cuts. These follow up cuts should be developed at least as much as the vorschlaag.
Test cutting is tremendously useful, especially if you don't get hung up on the vorschlag. You need to learn and understand the feedback that happens when your sword actually strikes something, and that's not something you can learn from a pell. Swordsmanship without test cutting is like boxing without a heavy bag.
Sir Edward:
--- Quote from: Michael Edelson on 2008-07-02, 20:38:00 ---Hi all,
Sorry to resurrect a dead topic, but I just wanted to add my .02 cents.
--- End quote ---
Don't worry about that at all. Topics are never dead, merely abandoned. :)
And welcome to the forum!
Das Bill:
Hey Mike,
Good to see you around here! And agreed on all points there. Follow up cuts, as well as second/third intention attacks should always be practiced.
Speaking of cutting, another aspect that is sometimes not brought up is the immense amount of respect it gives you of the weapon. I recall the very first time I'd cut with a sword on green bamboo... it was frightening just how easy it was. It was kind of a sobering moment as I thought about just what these weapons did historically.
In our recent test cutting a few weeks ago, we had a similar moment with David's messer. There was a foam pool noodle that David put up on the target stand... David did a light schnitt, and easily cut right through it. Now, cutting foam is not a big deal, but the way he bisected it with such a small movement was downright scary. None of my longswords are that sharp!
mortuary3:
All is interesting & informative.....again.
After "Swordapalooza 200" and comments by Das Bill....I began to re-evalute my approach to cutting in that fact of concentrating more on correct form & follow up guard - into another cut - and so on....
Yes regular "go slay a jug" is fun and gives one a sense of what these weapons can do, as Bill mention, but to practice cutting form is a valuable aspect. I didn't warm up before cutting @ Swordapalooza and my right elbow has been outta wack ever since then (another reeason to stress warm-ups
!). Longword training group has been a bugger and I haven't attempted any cutting, just to let things heal properly.
I love doing pell work....don't know how others feel about it and how it fits into the overall training senerio. Respect for the weapons is another interesting point. In the demos/ presentations our group does, this is one of the first things I always point out right after safety. That is to respect these weapons and treat them as if they were a loaded gun.
Sorry if I got a wee bit long winded......
Cheers
the other Bill G.
Sir Edward:
--- Quote from: Das Bill on 2008-07-03, 02:24:15 ---Hey Mike,
Good to see you around here!
--- End quote ---
Me too, I'm glad to see you here. Hopefully we'll convince even more of our friends from the north to stop by. :)
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