Structured Training

1. Safety/waiver/contact info
2. Orientation
3. Recommended equipment
4. Rules not covered in detail
5. Warm up
6. Stances
7. Grips
8. 4 Basic attacks
9. Control
10. Forming combos
11. Wrap up

Safety/waiver/ contact info
HOLD!/Marshals
Sign a waiver
Fill out contact info
Emphasize that you are not limited to sword and shield. Outside of training you can use whatever style you wish. Sword and shield is a means for us to train you on the basics.

If you would rather pick things up along the way instead of in a structured manner, then don’t take the classes. Don’t attend if you’re really not interested in learning. They’re strictly voluntary. You can walk away at any time. With that said, we have a lot of good information and drills as well as a dedicated staff to help you learn the basics.

When HOLD! Is called: -Stop what you’re doing -Say “HOLD!” -Be quiet and take a knee.
A marshal or officer will check why the hold was called. When “Positions” or “Resume” is said, take whatever status you had prior to the hold. The marshal or officer will call “Lay on” and fighting will continue. Marshals are identified by yellow tabards. Point out or demonstrate.

Fill out waiver -Equipment needed: waivers, clipboard, pens

Fill out contact info. -Equipment needed: sign in sheet, clipboard, pens -At minimum, name, email, phone #

Orientation
Belegarth
-Realm
-War Council
-Officers
Wolfpack
-Members/dues
-Officers elected every semester
-RSO
Garb
Sportsmanship and hit taking
Belegarth Medieval Combat Society
>-National organization with members throughout the country.
>-The smallest level of organization is the realm which is normally established geographically
>-Belegarth is run by War Council, which is made up of established realms. Rule and organization changes are voted on by War Council.
>-Five corporate officers: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster

Wolfpack of the High Plains
> Is a registered student organization known as the ISU Medieval Combat Club
> Three officers:
> President (Warlord)
> Vice.-president (Lieutenant)
> Secretary/Treasurer (Scribe)
> Member dues are $5 per semester. This goes to purchasing weapon building supplies, administrative supplies, and for holding events. Also entitles person to vote during semester.
> Officers elected by dues-paid members every fall and spring semester.

Garb-We wear garb to help identify us as a medieval combat society instead of a bunch of people hitting each other with sticks. It’s not very difficult to make basic garb. If you see something you like, there are many people in Wolfpack who would be willing to show you how to make it.

Sportsmanship and hit taking
> Be a good loser.
> Until you’ve been fighting for a while, take everything that touches you. EVERYTHING. It’ll help you develop a sense of what is a good hit and what isn’t.
> If you’re confused about what happened, just take a death. You’ll be up in a few minutes anyway.
> Don’t take it personally if someone calls you dead.
> DON’T ARGUE WITH THE MARSHALS!!!!!
> Come in here with the attitude of wanting to learn, not wailing on the other person.

Recommended equipment
Kneepads
Cup/chest protector
Gloves
Equipment needed: examples of gloves, cup/chest protectors, kneepads
Kneepads -Will save a lot of wear and tear on your knees. Some recommended types are: -Volleyball -Rollerblading -Wrestling

Cup/chest protector -The groin and breasts are legal targets in Belegarth.

Gloves -Swinging a weapon generates a lot of friction on your hands. Gloves can prevent blisters and raw spots as well as soften blows on your hands, depending on type. -Recommended types: -Period gauntlets -Motocross or paintball gloves (try to remove or cover the modern logos) -Martial arts gloves especially MMA. -Weightlifting gloves for additional wrist support

Rules
10-15 minutes max -Safety
-Target zones -Weapon classes -Missiles -Armor -Shield bashing -Grappling

Warm-up
Stretches -Neck, wrists, arms, shoulders, upper body, lower back, groin, quads, hamstrings, hamstrings, knees, calves, ankles, feet -Warm up (TBD)

Stances
Square
Fencing
Staggered

-Square
    -Both feet facing opponent
    -Not stable if shield bashed from front
    -No “tell” to opponent
-Fencing
    -Foot pointing at opponent, back foot forming “T”
    -Not stable if shield bashed from the side
-Staggered
    -Feet approximately shoulder-width apart, shield leg (or weapon leg in advanced styles) forward
    -Stable to front and sides

Grips
Pommel
Saber
Pommel/saber
Fist
Flat vs. edge check

-Pommel
    -You may see some veterans do this. Not recommended yet. Yields additional range and control. 
    -Makes pommel break down faster.
-Saber
    -Thumb in line with hilt
    -Weapon more likely to be knocked out of the hand.
    -More control along axis of weapon
    -Thumb more vulnerable to being hit
-Pommel/saber—using a saber grip around the pommel. Advanced technique.
-Fist
    -Most stable
    -Thumb less likely to get hit
    -Good for learning the basics
-Flat vs. edge. 
Be aware of the edges and flats of your weapons.

A quick check: Using the fist grip, attempt to move your thumb up until you come in contact with the sword blade.

If you encounter resistance, then you’re probably not holding the sword right. If your thumb comes in contact with the flat of the sword, then you’re holding it properly.

Basic attacks
Assign numbers
Flow
Drills -Assign numbers

-1 to opponent’s left shoulder
-2 to right shoulder
-3 to left side
-4 to right side

-Flow: going from one attack to the next in a smooth fashion
-Repetition of 1/2/3/4
-Rhythm during drills
-Will have to introduce additional numbers in Session III.

Control
Put weapon where you want it to go
Speed and power later
Accuracy
Flat vs. edge
Drills -Going slow-you have to teach your muscles as well as your brain how to control the weapon and put it exactly where you want it to land. -Speed and power will come later as your body gets used to making the motions and you require less conscious effort to make an attack. -Accuracy—Visualizing where you want the sword to land and then telling your body to put it there. -Drills: -Repeating numbers. One fighter throws a shot. The other fighter blocks. Then the other fighter throws the same shot. The fighters will do each number in sequence. All shots will be done at half speed.

Forming combos
Call out numbers
Talk about good follow ups vs. awkward
Drills

-Combo: Attacks chained together -Drills
-1,2,3,4
-2-hit combos (1/2; 2/1; 1/4; 2/3; 3/1; 2/4)
-3-hit combos (2/3/2; 1/3/2; 2/3/4; 2/1/3)
-1/3 & 2/4 can be a little bit awkward due to the arc distance you have to travel. Practice.
-Repeating numbers drill w/combos. 1,2. Other fighter…1,2…

Wrap up
Stances
4 Basic attacks
Combos
Grips

-Stances -Square -Fencing -Staggered
-Grips -Pommel -Saber -Modified saber -Fist
-Basic attacks -1/2/3/4
-Combos

1. Warm up
2. Review Session I
3. Power generation
4. Speed vs. power
5. Shield work
6. Intro to using sword to block
7. Defending against flails
8. Defending against lower leg shot
9. Wrap up

Warm-up
Stretches

Review I
Stances
Basic attacks
Combos

Power generation
Wrist
Arm
Upper body
Hips w/feet planted
Full body
Passing steps

-“snap” at the end of a strike.
-Arm power instead of directing.
-Shoulder, wing, chest
-Pivot on hips—Emphasize holding the shield in place and not opening up when swinging.
-Starting at feet and transmitting power up
-Stepping with a wrap
-Using the momentum of motion
-Drill: -Numbers with snap -Numbers with arm generation -Numbers with hip power -Numbers with full body -Numbers with passing steps

Speed vs. power
Fast but no power
Medium
Slow but strong
When to use?

-Quick, looking for vulnerable points, setting up for another shot—Wrist/Arm/upper body
-Balance of power and accuracy—Upper body/hips
-Slow but strong—Hips/full body/passing steps
-Moving a shield, lead into fast
-Breaking up rhythm
-Drill: Combo with one fast shot and one power shot. Alternate starting with the fast and powerful. Move to three-shot combos.

Shield work
-Elbow pivot
-Punch
-Arm pump
-Hip twist
Drills

-Blocking outside shots
-Intercept blows
-Blocking high shots, flail shots
-Drills: -Sets of three attacks to different areas of an opponent. The fighter will block these using whatever techniques they wish. Then the other fighter will throw three attacks and the other fighter will block.

Defenses
Blocking
How to use a sword for blocking
Drills

-Blocking is actually stopping the motion of an attack. Done by meeting at opposite angles.
-Blocking with sword using forte, not higher parts of weapon
-Economy of motion
-Stopping versus redirecting
-Drills: Blocking attacks, sword & shield

against flail
extension
Trying to block ball not stick
Drills

-Block the ball not the shaft
-Drills: -Defend against single shots.

Lower leg shot
Slide foot
Pick up foot
Drills

-Slide the foot back
-Lift the leg for shot to miss
-Drills: -Throw shot to leg. Other fighter moves leg to avoid shot. Sets of 10 back and forth. Switch roles.

Wrap up
Power
Defense
Lower leg
Shield work

Cool down
Stretches

1. Warm up
2. Review Session II
3. Attack/defense integration
4. Range
5. Footwork
6. Additional 2 attacks
7. Intro to wraps
8. Grappling
9. Wrap up

Warm-up
Stretches

Review II
Power
Defense
Lower leg
Shield work

Atk/def integration
Around shield
Moving shield+weapon
Drills

-Shield has to be moved for certain angles of attack
-Attack, move shield to counter position

Range
close
medium
Far
Outside

-Close: can touch opponents
-Medium: weapon can hit opponent
-Far: Can hit with one step
-Outside: Requires more than one step to reach opponent

Footwork
Maintain and close distance
How to “face” your opponent
Don’t cross feet
Maintain stability
Stepping in

-Like a dance
-Keep feet on concentric circles
-You’ll trip if you cross your feet
-Don’t move feet to where you are unstable
-Don’t step straight in—vulnerable to being bashed
-Backpedaling—Don’t get tangled up in your feet.

Additional attacks
5 & 6 to legs

-Proper form
-Drills: -Sequence -Combos

Intro to wraps
Low
Medium
High
Drills

-Proper form
-Hit with the upper third of the weapon—more “snap”
-Leg/butt
-Back
-Over shoulder (scorpion)
-Drills: -1/2 speed alternating 10 at each height

Grappling
High school wrestling
In armor
No punches, joint or nerve locks

-Grabbing a weapon/haft versus striking surfaces
-Don’t grapple the archers
-Drill: Block with grapple control.

Wrap up
Atk/def integration
Footwork
Intro to wraps
Grappling

Cool down
Stretches

1. Warm up
2. Review Session III
3. Putting it all together
4. Sword for blocking
5. Shield to attack
6. Wrap up

Warm-up
Stretches

Review III
Atk/def integration
Footwork
Intro to wraps
Grappling

Putting it all together
Attack, defense, footwork
Drills

-Drills: Attack and defense without feet moving Attack and defense with leg shot defense Attack with footwork

Sword to block
Lower section of sword
Punch blocking
Pommel
Drills

-Forte of weapon
-Using fist to intercept
-Arm pump
-Don’t anvil
-Turning hand slightly out to block attacks to that side.
-Drills: -Alternating attack and defending. Use whatever block you think necessary. 10X

Shield to attack
shield bashing
shield edging
shield hooking
Drills

-Shield control-yours and your opponents
-Using shield as a counterattack
-Face of shield
-Using edge of shield in a punching motion
-Pulling a shield
-Drills: -Reflex drills -Swing, shield move, swing

Wrap up
Putting it all together
Sword to block
Shield to attack

Cool down
Stretches

1. Warm up
2. Review Session IV
3. 2-person tactics
4. Small unit tactics
5. How to take on a veteran
6. Dealing with multiple opponents
7. Wrap up

Warm-up
Stretches

Review IV
Putting it all together
Sword to block
Shield to attack

2-person tms
Awareness of other person
Zones of coverage
Avoid bumping into each other
Covering your partner
Drills

-Stay within reach of each other.
-Don’t get drawn out.
-Don’t think you can take the person by yourself.
-There’s always strength in numbers.
-Drills: -Two on one. One person and the other two have to work together. The one throws shots and shifts around to keep the single fighter having to constantly shift his view to see where each fighter is. -Two on two.

Small unit tactics
Formations
-line
-column
-wedge
-vee
-shield wall
Roles
What are you good at?
Flanking
Frontal assault

Roles: line, support, skirmish
Drills: Assuming formations. Hammer and anvil drills

How to take on a veteran
Working together
High and low
Different angles
Don’t get separated
Drills

-Drills: Multiple angle drills. -Shifting drills -Taking positions.

Dealing with multiple opponents
Movement
Getting them in the way of each other
Spins?
Drills

Drills: -Singling drills -Position shifting -Gimp and go

Wrap up
2-person tms
Small unit tactics
How to take on a veteran
Dealing with multiple opponents

Cool down
Stretches

1. Warm up
2. Review Session V
3. Field awareness
4. Strengths/weaknesses of different styles
5. Look out for missiles
6. Wrap up
7. How to ask
8. Rules test

Warm-up
Stretches

Review V
2-person tms
Small unit tactics
How to take on a veteran
Dealing with multiple opponents

Field awareness
Tips for battlefield
Head on a swivel
Knowing who’s on your team
Staying with a buddy

-Always check behind you and warn other members of your team. Communicate!
-Strength in numbers. Try to engage single opponents with at least two or 3 people.
-Pull crippled fighters together.
-Avoid engaging the enemy’s strengths. Engage at your maximum effective range. You have arrows. Use them. You have a javelin. Use it.
-Isolate and contain stragglers. Don’t let them join up with other fighters.
-Don’t give the enemy openings in your formations to exploit unless that’s what you want them to do.
-Gimp and go. Focus on the fighters who aren’t wounded first.
-Don’t hesitate to engage targets of opportunity.
-Stop all missiles or else they may continue and hit someone else.
-Keep practicing. Your individual skill will contribute to your team’s success.

Head on a swivel. When you start, take note of what’s around you. The hardest part of situational awareness is figuring out what’s a priority and what’s not. Eventually you’ll start to pick up on that. The more you know about your opponents, the better the decision. Look at things like armor status, shield types, commanders, how they move once the battle starts.

Knowing who’s on your team. If there’s a team name, take note of it. More importantly, know who’s not on your team. It can get very confusing. If you can’t keep track of everything, then focus on one person, maybe someone with very distinctive garb or armor who’s on your side. Keep an eye out on that person and engage the people he or she is fighting.

Staying with a buddy. There’s always strength in numbers. Pick a partner and stay with the person. Don’t let the person get so far away that you can’t help him and he can’t help you.

Drills: -Split into two sides. One side takes a couple of seconds to see how the other side is positioned. Then they turn around. The other side is shifted. The team turns around and points out what’s changed.

Dealing with specific weapon styles (strengths and weaknesses)
S+B
2 wpn
Spear
Red

Drills: S+B: Using flow, shield control, and footwork. 2 weapon: Blocking with both shield and sword. Spear: Redirection Red: Block and step in

Look out for missiles
What an archer looks for
Throwing a javelin
Blocking a javelin
Stopping all missiles
Drills

-Drills: -Throwing a javelin back and forth

Wrap up
Field awareness
Specific wpn styles
Missiles

Cool down
Stretches

How to ask
if a hit was good
If someone asks you

Rule test
Safety
Armor
Grappling
Good hit vs. bad
Red hits

Award ceremony?
Announcement
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