Keotsu teaches me how to properly cut someone :)

[-Vendetta-]

*I hold the bokken with both hands to the right side of my body with the tip pointing directly to my right*
*I swing both of my arms across my chest to the left side of my body*
*When the bokken gets to the left side and the tip is pointing directly to my left, I swing it back to the right while still holding it with both hands*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*I hold the bokken with both hands to the right side of my body with the tip pointing directly to my right*
*I swing both of my arms across my chest to the left side of my body*
*When the bokken gets to the left side and the tip is pointing directly to my left, I swing it back to the right while still holding it with both hands*

Good. ^_^ Now, the next attack is the two-handed vertical slash.

Again, the two-handed variant of the vertical slash has its own advantages and disadvantages, but other than the use of two-hands, is preformed similarly.

If you can, please preform a two-handed strike in the directions you did previously.

 

[-Vendetta-]

*I lift the bokken up above my head with both hands*
*I slash both of my arms straight down the front of my body so the tip is pointing to the ground*
*I swing the sword back up, while still holding it with both hands, back up so it is above my head again*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*I lift the bokken up above my head with both hands*
*I slash both of my arms straight down the front of my body so the tip is pointing to the ground*
*I swing the sword back up, while still holding it with both hands, back up so it is above my head again*

Good.

Now, next since we've done all variants of the basic slashes, I'm going to tell you how to guard.

When you guard, your purpose is to stop the enemies attack. This can cause a break in their momentum if you can get in a stand-off, and might level the fight if you're doing poorly. Other than that, its just something you need to know so you can survive.

First, we'll do how to block a horizontal slash.

If someone comes at you with a one-handed horizontal slash, you need your blade roughly perpendicular to it; your blade and your opponents should form a rough "+" - this means hold your blade vertically.

I'm going attack you with a one handed horizontal slash, but first preform the stance needed to block it before I do. Then I will attack you, and you need to guard.

 

[-Vendetta-]

*I hold my sword so it is pointing straight up towards the sky with both hands on the hilt, preparing to block an attack*

like this?

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*I hold my sword so it is pointing straight up towards the sky with both hands on the hilt, preparing to block an attack*

like this?

Right. Now, your sword doesn't have to be up over your head or anything, just so long as you keep the sword vertical.

Now, prepare to block (describe your move in detail).

*Stepping forward, I slash at you with a horizontal strike from my right to left.*

 

[-Vendetta-]

*I hold up the sword vertically with both hands on the hilt and turn to my left (your right) and keep my right hand on the hilt and move my left hand at the end of the sword so your swords hits mine in between my two hands before it can hit me*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*I hold up the sword vertically with both hands on the hilt and turn to my left (your right) and keep my right hand on the hilt and move my left hand at the end of the sword so your swords hits mine in between my two hands before it can hit me*

VERY good. ^_^ That's a great and effective way to block, but just note that sometimes you may not have time to move your hand to the other-side of the blade, so placing both hands on the hilt and bracing is another method.

The next guard is the horizontal guard, or the guard against a vertical slash. It functions on the same concept as the horizontal guard.

Ready?

 

[-Vendetta-]

yep

*I hold the hilt with both hands and bring it out to the right side of my body. I rotate the sword so it is pointing to the left while keeping both hands on the hilt. I position my legs so I can keep my balance and prepare to block a vertical attack*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

yep

*I hold the hilt with both hands and bring it out to the right side of my body. I rotate the sword so it is pointing to the left while keeping both hands on the hilt. I position my legs so I can keep my balance and prepare to block a vertical attack*

*I bring my bokken down in a horizontal slash, which your guard stops.*

Just be wary of this - because your hands are both on the hilt, if I would have hit closer to the tip of your blade, I would have blown right through it and struck you, so when guarding in this particular method, slide your blade as far into the slash as you can - the closer down the blade the strike, the less chance they have of blowing through it. This is especially important if you're trying to block a two-handed strike.

Now, about diagonal slashes, they are closer to this: / or \ than a vertical slash ( l ) or a horizontal one ( - ). When guarding a diagonal slash, you simply use the slash (or hold your blade) in the opposite position - in short, when you're attacked by a diagonal slash, simply guard so that both yours and your opponent's blade forms an "X". If the slashes are steep enough so that they are almost veritical, you can block them the same way you would a vertical slash.

Did you understand this, or did I just butcher that as bad as I think I did? o_o"

 

[-Vendetta-]

Yeah, I understood it

*I hold my sword on the left side of my body with the tip pointing up to the right but at an angle*

Sorry if it's not as descriptive as usual, I'm kinda in a hurry.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

It's fine - I'm not going to have you practice the diagonal slashes - they in themselves are simple if you know how to use a vertical and horizontal slash, but their method of guarding is slightly different, so I wanted to be sure you where aware of it.

But, that is it for guarding. I neglected stabs and lunges for a reason - they can't be guarded against.

But, what you can do, which also works well against them, is redirecting the attacks.

This usually involves counterattacking, so it'll be easier for me to demonstrate rather than explain.

What we'll do, is I'll have you attack me, and then if you understand how and why that particular motion works (if you don't, I'll try and explain), I'll attack you and have you redirect my strike.

So, if you would, please attack me with a vertical slash.

 

[-Vendetta-]

*grips the sword with my right hand, holds it straight above my head, takes a step and slashes the sword down, aiming for your left shoulder*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*grips the sword with my right hand, holds it straight above my head, takes a step and slashes the sword down, aiming for your left shoulder*

*As you step forward and bring your sword down, I swing my blade up in the air, causing the flat of my blade to collide with yours. By doing this, I push your blade further to my left, causing it to come down, missing me.*

See, I can do this as most of your energy is focused on bringing the sword down - since my energy is focused horizontally, I can push your blade out of the way, allowing me to counter attack.

We'll get on how to follow this up and what exactly to do with this movement (as even though you moved the blade, sometimes it won't be far enough) later.

For now, did you understand? If so, are you ready?

 

[-Vendetta-]

Yeah, I'm ready

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

Yeah, I'm ready

Alright then.

*I run at you, and slash at you with a two-handed vertical slash.*

 

[-Vendetta-]

*As you are about to slash down on me, I grip my sword with both hands and, with the flat side of my blade, I swing up and hit your blade. Then I push your blade to the right and make it hit the ground*

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*As you are about to slash down on me, I grip my sword with both hands and, with the flat side of my blade, I swing up and hit your blade. Then I push your blade to the right and make it hit the ground*

Good. This is a very effective method to help avoid a slash, but be careful - experienced swordsman can turn this against you, or can redirect their own slash into yours to overpower you.

You may sheathe your bokken for now.

When you're ready we'll move on to, what I beleive is the last leg of training.

Until then, please list for me EVERYTHING we've covered.

 

[-Vendetta-]

*sheathes bokken*
OK!

1. Vertical/Horizontal slashes
2. Stab/lunge
3. 2-handed Vertical/Horizontal slashes
4. Horizontal/Vertical Guarding
5. Counter-attacking

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*sheathes bokken*
OK!

1. Vertical/Horizontal slashes
2. Stab/lunge
3. 2-handed Vertical/Horizontal slashes
4. Horizontal/Vertical Guarding
5. Counter-attacking

Next, we'll be doing dodging.

o_o No matter how good you are, it's hard to fight if you can't move.

What I'll be teaching you is sidestepping and basically how to apply it.

Sidestepping, and the variant I've named arcstepping, is the act of making quick motions to dodge and keep yourself in line to guard or counter attack.

To begin, it'd be easier to explain in practice than to describe, so please come at me with a vertical slash.