- Joined
- Oct 25, 2003
- Messages
- 703
Here is a training exercise Ive come up with for European sword craft:
Training physically:
For Aerobic training, theres no substitute for running. Try to work up to at least 2.5 miles (3K). Never run on pavement. As a matter of fact run on rough trails, sand, or grass. Youll keep injuries away and improve your leg muscles and balance. I have stayed at 4 miles a day, six days a week for 17 years now and havent ever had a knee of ankle injury.
Run with weights in both hands to simulate a sword and shield. Ive tried all weights and 5 pounds is best for me (in each hand). Buy the iron weights without hand guards. You have to hold them more firmly and they really build calluses. Ive run with weights my whole career with no ill effects. You wont even notice them after a week and theyve saved my butt from dogs so many times. They help keep muscle on your arms and chest and surprisingly work on your legs. Never run with weights on your ankles.
Do at least fifty push-ups every day you run and more than fifty if you can. Work up slow and try to do a couple more each day. Do them in sets, before and after you run and do them on your fists. It builds up your wrists and thats all important. Also do sit-ups, at least fifty and finish your sit ups with crunches and leg-lifts. Again, do it everyday you run and build up. I do thirty slow push-ups, run, thirty more push-ups, sixty sit-ups, and then a final twenty push-ups. It sounds like a lot, but when you do it all the time, it gets to be nothing. I can exercise and take a shower in less than an hour.
Try to lift weights at least twice a week. Use dumbbells instead of a bar. Start with twenty-five pounds in each hand and work up as you feel comfortable. I just work on my arms with weights doing curls and over heads. Dont spend your life at it, but everything you do, do in sets of three.
Working out with sword and shield:
Set up a practice dummy. I use a 4X4 post covered with closed cell foam exercise mats. I make arms by bolting 2X4s across the post and also covering them with exercise mats. For a head, I use an old soccer ball stuffed with closed cell. I mount the whole thing on a galvanized pipe, so that it spins. Build a box around the bottom of the post with 2X4s and find a large piece of pipe to fit up in it. Fix the end of the pipe in the ground using ready-mix cement. Hit too hard on one side with your sword and the thing will spin around and whack you. Good reason to keep your shield up.
Practice all your strokes and never forget that stab. The advantage of the closed cell foam is that you can use live steel. Remember to advance with every cut. Always move forward. Get in the habit, cut or stab, then practice stepping past the dummy and continuing to engage.
Most importantly of all, get people to practice with. Aluminum pipes wrapped with closed cell makes great practice swords. Wear helmets and any pads you can get, foot ball helmets, shoulder pads, old umpire pads, you name it. Try two against one. Youll be addicted in no time. Fight duels in a circle. Hey, youre a swashbuckler at heart, act like one. Ive only done a couple of reenactments and I would love to do more. The two I was in (pirate) were more acting than actual swordplay, but they were fun. I wish there were more around here. I hear theyre huge in England.
Get a full tang, carbon steel sword of your choice and a buckler or round metal shield. You can make your own shield out of plywood easily. I like to play with different swords from all time periods. CAS Iberia has some nice ones for the beginner. Their Generation Two line are super tough. The more flexible the sword is, the better. Make sure it's got that spring.
European sword craft is a great hobby. Get involved.
Training physically:
For Aerobic training, theres no substitute for running. Try to work up to at least 2.5 miles (3K). Never run on pavement. As a matter of fact run on rough trails, sand, or grass. Youll keep injuries away and improve your leg muscles and balance. I have stayed at 4 miles a day, six days a week for 17 years now and havent ever had a knee of ankle injury.
Run with weights in both hands to simulate a sword and shield. Ive tried all weights and 5 pounds is best for me (in each hand). Buy the iron weights without hand guards. You have to hold them more firmly and they really build calluses. Ive run with weights my whole career with no ill effects. You wont even notice them after a week and theyve saved my butt from dogs so many times. They help keep muscle on your arms and chest and surprisingly work on your legs. Never run with weights on your ankles.
Do at least fifty push-ups every day you run and more than fifty if you can. Work up slow and try to do a couple more each day. Do them in sets, before and after you run and do them on your fists. It builds up your wrists and thats all important. Also do sit-ups, at least fifty and finish your sit ups with crunches and leg-lifts. Again, do it everyday you run and build up. I do thirty slow push-ups, run, thirty more push-ups, sixty sit-ups, and then a final twenty push-ups. It sounds like a lot, but when you do it all the time, it gets to be nothing. I can exercise and take a shower in less than an hour.
Try to lift weights at least twice a week. Use dumbbells instead of a bar. Start with twenty-five pounds in each hand and work up as you feel comfortable. I just work on my arms with weights doing curls and over heads. Dont spend your life at it, but everything you do, do in sets of three.
Working out with sword and shield:
Set up a practice dummy. I use a 4X4 post covered with closed cell foam exercise mats. I make arms by bolting 2X4s across the post and also covering them with exercise mats. For a head, I use an old soccer ball stuffed with closed cell. I mount the whole thing on a galvanized pipe, so that it spins. Build a box around the bottom of the post with 2X4s and find a large piece of pipe to fit up in it. Fix the end of the pipe in the ground using ready-mix cement. Hit too hard on one side with your sword and the thing will spin around and whack you. Good reason to keep your shield up.
Practice all your strokes and never forget that stab. The advantage of the closed cell foam is that you can use live steel. Remember to advance with every cut. Always move forward. Get in the habit, cut or stab, then practice stepping past the dummy and continuing to engage.
Most importantly of all, get people to practice with. Aluminum pipes wrapped with closed cell makes great practice swords. Wear helmets and any pads you can get, foot ball helmets, shoulder pads, old umpire pads, you name it. Try two against one. Youll be addicted in no time. Fight duels in a circle. Hey, youre a swashbuckler at heart, act like one. Ive only done a couple of reenactments and I would love to do more. The two I was in (pirate) were more acting than actual swordplay, but they were fun. I wish there were more around here. I hear theyre huge in England.
Get a full tang, carbon steel sword of your choice and a buckler or round metal shield. You can make your own shield out of plywood easily. I like to play with different swords from all time periods. CAS Iberia has some nice ones for the beginner. Their Generation Two line are super tough. The more flexible the sword is, the better. Make sure it's got that spring.
European sword craft is a great hobby. Get involved.
