Sharon Friedman – Vigilance and Tranquility

systema sword play: Start very slowly with a wood sword or whatever is in hand. Simply pass the sword from hand to hand and around the body. Keep the blade toward the world and start to move the sword in big arches. The movement has to come from the body and the hand soft with nothing shaking from tension of locked. Stnad away from a wall and see (slowly unless you are a wrecking contractor) how you can reach the wall in different ways. Don’t think of stabing the wall or anything since the harmfull intent will slow you down and let the other (person not wall) what you are up too. Also move the sword so it slides away any attack from the front. Move so the angel of the attack can come from all sids and move the attackes away. Now walk naturally and Defend against attacks (kicks too) using your placement and body and sword. Do not pose in a grand stab or anything that will make you weak to another side or a listless target. Remember to use all parts of the sword. The back can whip, the blade cut and pierce, The pommel hit and guard (if any) trap and consider putting a short rope between the hilt and the other hand. It is good to teach you economic movement. 

A good way to attack is to break the form of the other. We have our rythem and so do they. If you are sensitive and allowing yourself to see what is instead of what you want to see. you will be able to come in between the pulses of the other and break his form in time so to speak. Remember that you are not alone and you affect each other. You can slow down and fasten from time to time and see how this affects what is happening around you. Suddenly stopping can, for example, break the timing form of another so he falls into that gap and become lost for a second. Don’t forget to smile.