Kenjutsu BT with Anbu Junior
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Ańbu Juniør
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Then lets move on to blocking. It's relatively simple, and one of the most common things to do. It involves using your own blade to bring the opponents to a complete stop, generally holding blade contact.
An example of this is if you attacked an opponent with a vertical slash, and he raised his blade horizontally, stopping your blade against his.
I won't waste time on this because its is a no brainer
Next is counter/counter-attacking.
Basically, it's how to effectively make your parry/block go in your favor. I'm gonna try and take my time with this one, as it's rather important.
Ready?
An example of this is if you attacked an opponent with a vertical slash, and he raised his blade horizontally, stopping your blade against his.
I won't waste time on this because its is a no brainer
Next is counter/counter-attacking.
Basically, it's how to effectively make your parry/block go in your favor. I'm gonna try and take my time with this one, as it's rather important.
Ready?
Ańbu Juniør
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Good. Let's begin with countering after a parry:
After a parry, your blade will be the one on the inside, putting you at a tactical advantage over your opponent. The reason for this is that since their blade is outside, they have to first get past your own blade to attack you - with your blade on the inside, you just have to land the hit. But if you're using two swords, you can just perform a quick stab and its Game over.
Now, the strike you use will almost certainly be dependent upon how and where you parry and the position it leaves your blade - however, a stab/lunge is almost consistently a great choice as it gives forward movement (making it difficult to dodge by stepping back), has great speed (making it even more difficult to actually react to), and can easily be brought into a back-swing to counter the nearly inevitable attempt at attacking you the opponent will make.
Any questions?
After a parry, your blade will be the one on the inside, putting you at a tactical advantage over your opponent. The reason for this is that since their blade is outside, they have to first get past your own blade to attack you - with your blade on the inside, you just have to land the hit. But if you're using two swords, you can just perform a quick stab and its Game over.
Now, the strike you use will almost certainly be dependent upon how and where you parry and the position it leaves your blade - however, a stab/lunge is almost consistently a great choice as it gives forward movement (making it difficult to dodge by stepping back), has great speed (making it even more difficult to actually react to), and can easily be brought into a back-swing to counter the nearly inevitable attempt at attacking you the opponent will make.
Any questions?
Ańbu Juniør
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As for counter-attacking from a block -with your blade locked with the opponents, you want to quickly disengage and attack; the key to this is to disengage in your favor, a concept we'll cover in the advanced portion.
However, a useful thing to do is consider how you blocked and how it can transition into a blow. An example is this - if I'm locked at cross with my opponent with my blade held horizontally above me, a great counter-attack is to push my opponents blade upward as I unfold my blade; this will cause their blade to go upward and to their left, not only putting their blade on the outside, but also putting the opponent off balance and putting them in a position that their strike wouldn't be able to do near as much damage.
Of course, you could also try a true counter-attack, which is attacking while the opponent's attacking. By choosing not to make a defensive move, you create a dilemma for the opponent: Do they continue with their own attack at the cost of trading blows with you, or do they stop their own attack and try to counter yours?
It's a useful, but brash tactic. The biggest thing to remember about sword fighting is that while it's nice to have first blood, it doesn't always determine the outcome of the battle. It's a rare thing to do, but maybe taking a hit in order to give one will be what you need to put you on top.
Remakes checklist for advanced portion:
~Dodging
~Taijutsu Integration
~Attack Chaining
~Dual Sword Integration
However, a useful thing to do is consider how you blocked and how it can transition into a blow. An example is this - if I'm locked at cross with my opponent with my blade held horizontally above me, a great counter-attack is to push my opponents blade upward as I unfold my blade; this will cause their blade to go upward and to their left, not only putting their blade on the outside, but also putting the opponent off balance and putting them in a position that their strike wouldn't be able to do near as much damage.
Of course, you could also try a true counter-attack, which is attacking while the opponent's attacking. By choosing not to make a defensive move, you create a dilemma for the opponent: Do they continue with their own attack at the cost of trading blows with you, or do they stop their own attack and try to counter yours?
It's a useful, but brash tactic. The biggest thing to remember about sword fighting is that while it's nice to have first blood, it doesn't always determine the outcome of the battle. It's a rare thing to do, but maybe taking a hit in order to give one will be what you need to put you on top.
Remakes checklist for advanced portion:
~Dodging
~Taijutsu Integration
~Attack Chaining
~Dual Sword Integration
Ańbu Juniør
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When I said "Unfolding" I meant unlocking your blade. When you're locked horizontally above your head, then your elbow in bent on an angel correct ?
And by pushing their blade upward you unfold your own and it comes into the vertical position with your arm straight. You can use this to do a downward vetical strike and they won't be able to block you since their weapon is on the outside U_U
Alright, so next is Taijutsu integration, or mixing physical body attacks in with your Kenjutus - besides adding danger, it's a great mix-up game that can create great combos.
Unfortunately I'm not too good when it comes to explaining this part and it's more of a practice aspect than one that can be explained, so we'll need to do a short spar.
Ready? Come at me with a two handed vertical strike.
And by pushing their blade upward you unfold your own and it comes into the vertical position with your arm straight. You can use this to do a downward vetical strike and they won't be able to block you since their weapon is on the outside U_U
Alright, so next is Taijutsu integration, or mixing physical body attacks in with your Kenjutus - besides adding danger, it's a great mix-up game that can create great combos.
Unfortunately I'm not too good when it comes to explaining this part and it's more of a practice aspect than one that can be explained, so we'll need to do a short spar.
Ready? Come at me with a two handed vertical strike.
Ah now I understand. Thank you for clearing that up.
Jiraya doesn't wait after the instructions, he launches with his sword in both hands before him. As he reaches melee range he raises his hands above his head sending a vertical downward strike towards his teacher. A war cry escapes his mouth as he launches the sword downwards.
Jiraya doesn't wait after the instructions, he launches with his sword in both hands before him. As he reaches melee range he raises his hands above his head sending a vertical downward strike towards his teacher. A war cry escapes his mouth as he launches the sword downwards.
Ańbu Juniør
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Before our blades even meet, I bring mine up horizontally to stop your blow and thrust my left arm forwards, just below your collar, setting you off balance, and putting your momentum backwards.
Taijutsu integration is to make your attacks more dangerous, but not always to do more damage. As you saw here, my goal wasn't to attack you, but to wind you, and break your balance. This makes it harder for the opponent to react to a follow up attack.
People who use a single sword do a lot of grappling (grabs, pushes, and throws), as well as step-thrusts, like palm strikes. But if they fight with a shield their grappling is basically slimmed down to just how hard they can push the opponent back - throws are much harder to preform, and grabbing becomes indescribably difficult, unless you're actually grappling on the ground; something like Jujitsu.
It all goes back to your fighting style to what kind of physical attacks you use: I like my dual swords, so I do a lot of punches and pommel strikes, as well as step-thrusts and kicks. The only problem with dual weilding is that you don't have a free arm - and that lessens your options for physical attacks.
Like I said, though, taijutsu integration really can't be taught - it comes through experimenting and finding what works for you. Though, this does do well into bringing us into advanced chaining, something as a single weilder, you'll need to know how to block. Ready?
Taijutsu integration is to make your attacks more dangerous, but not always to do more damage. As you saw here, my goal wasn't to attack you, but to wind you, and break your balance. This makes it harder for the opponent to react to a follow up attack.
People who use a single sword do a lot of grappling (grabs, pushes, and throws), as well as step-thrusts, like palm strikes. But if they fight with a shield their grappling is basically slimmed down to just how hard they can push the opponent back - throws are much harder to preform, and grabbing becomes indescribably difficult, unless you're actually grappling on the ground; something like Jujitsu.
It all goes back to your fighting style to what kind of physical attacks you use: I like my dual swords, so I do a lot of punches and pommel strikes, as well as step-thrusts and kicks. The only problem with dual weilding is that you don't have a free arm - and that lessens your options for physical attacks.
Like I said, though, taijutsu integration really can't be taught - it comes through experimenting and finding what works for you. Though, this does do well into bringing us into advanced chaining, something as a single weilder, you'll need to know how to block. Ready?