Sharon Friedman – Vigilance and Tranquility

A first drill to learn to move with a sword. Make two or more stick swords or wooden swords and make sure the blades are smooth. have one each and have one try to touch the others body with the sword but all tips must touch the ground at all times. The person who evades the sword can jump, move his body and sword and has two goals. First to evade with his body fron the sword of his partner and than to keep his sword from touching the other sword or any other obstacle. This is great to learn to move with the body and to avoid the fear which causes you to block with the sword and stop moving. Do this drill as you change rolls every several minutes and later on there will be further drill with this in mind. You will learn to move economically since the sword gives you better range and reach and you will learn to be at the right distance to touch and not be touched.