I have a unique talent most people don’t have.
I’ve studied martial arts since 1982. Much of what I had to study was done in a time and place where you had little access to most martial arts. You were almost in a situation where you had to teach yourself. Learning Karate was difficult in those days. A number of schools required you to learn a massive amount in the first lesson, and you had better retain it or you’d never keep up.
So if you hand me a weapon, I’m going to process it the same way I do EVERY weapon I was handed.
Light Saber was unique. Kind of like the Japanese Katana, it’s better if you don’t force it. Let the blade cut for you.
Almost within an hour the first day, I’d doped out most of the mechanics, and even had a teaching system in my mind. A system of rankings, rewards, and how to make it fun.
So how is it different from some of the other light saber groups out there?
Do you understand the mechanics of the blade?
The hilt? The grip? Two hand verses one hand? The purpose of the rear hand? The purpose of the forward hand? Transferring of the guiding hand? Control? Fighting stances? Strikes?
Reverse grip versus forwards?
I went all of this out the first hour. It’s more versatile than a katana. Every surface of the blade is cuttable, and even more, you can use very short and light cuts – and they would be effective.
The balance of the blade is unique. You can offset the balance in your grip for an advantage. The blocks can be cutting edge against cutting edge, but if you off balance your grip, all you have to do to strike down your opponent is just angle the point down slightly and step forward as they try to parry the strike.
You can intercept a strike, push the blade down, then reverse cut immediately to strike down your attacker.
The purpose of the light saber would be to flow, to let the blade guide you, and not let you guide the blade. One hand swing of the blade back and forth, feel the blade move. Change your grip further down, less control, feel it. Back higher on the hilt, over controlling it.
Now figure eights. In the kama blade, the double figure eights are the last warning – fight me and you’ll lose. Figure eights teach you the control and the swing into the cut. Two light sabers? Double figure eights.
Add to this using padawan outfits for the kids, padawan braids with beads serving as rank, and learning the forms (such as Shi Cho and Soresu) and you’ve got a fun way to learn swordfighting, disguised as make believe fun. Get high enough rank, and you move to Jedi robes.
Encourage the students to learn the real tactics, as well as the crowd pleasing stuff.
I figured all this out in one hour.
If there’s enough interest in it, hey… I just might do it.
