Sep 10 08:20:58 Sword Training
From Chronicles
The morning is wonderful for an outdoor lesson in the fine art of swordsmanship. The hunter, Sithik, takes Bud out to the common clearing outside of the city, having left before the sun rose, leaving his gear at the students apartment. Now the sun is up and the temperature is reaching a comfortable level. Along the way the hunter picked up a thin switch of a stick found along the side of the road, carrying it with him the rest of the way. Finding a spot off from any others that may be sharing this area he faces Bud, "Draw your weapon and stand ready." all expression hidden behind the veil and hood, his tone straight and to the point.
Bud smiles and draws out his vibro-sword, "So should I increase my durability since I did not bring my armor? And should I turn on the vibro portion of the sword?" he pauses for a moment before he adds before you can respond, "I should add that I do not know how to use this sword at all right now."
Sithik circles the student, "No, do not waste the weapons energy." using the thin stick he taps, from behind, between Bud's knees, coaxing him to move his feet apart just a bit more in his stance, "First you must learn the proper way to stand and hold your weapon. How to breath with your weapon. Inhale," doing the same, a deep steady inhale, then exhales with that same steady breath, "Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. In through the nose. Out through the mouth." He grips over the student's own grip of his weapon to correct weapon position as he taps the man's elbow with his palm into the correct position. "This is how you stand, feel how your feet have anchored themselves, even weight on each. Inhale. Exhale. Feel how your weapon is but an extension of your arm. It is part of you, and you are part of it." continuing to circle the him as he speaks, "You are both one being. Inhale. Exhale."
Bud concentrates as he breathes in the proscribed fashion. He adjusts his feet, stance, and weight distribution as instructed. These things seem to come easily to him possibly being a bit like some of his previous training. When it comes to becomming one with the weapon it seems he needs help in this fashion. He is obviously trying to hold it correctly and to feel it as his own but it is apparent that he is not succeeding. Possibly the concept is too foriegn at the moment.
Sithik taps the tip of the sword with his thin stick, as the students sword is pointed a little too high, his hand twisting his wrist slightly, a tight squeeze as he reiterates keeping his wrist straight. "Bring your eye down your arm to the tip of the sword. One long appendage with a deadly claw." moving to the side, out of the way, "Now strike forward, returning to that position. Always steady breathing."
Bud nods as the instructions come in, making adjustments the best he can as Sithik shows him the proper technique. He tries the strike slowly at first and it seemed to him do be fairly good attempt though way slow so he attempts to speed things up and take a second strike at about full speed. He seems to forget his breating as his attention switch to speed and the whole attack seems wobbly and unbalanced.
Sithik gives a poke with his stick, well more of a nudge, as the student becomes off balance to stumble him even more, if not knock him down. "Your feet are your anchor to the earth. Do not lose your anchor for more speed, know where the end of your weapon is at all times. You are one being. Again. This time control your attack. And breath."
Bud stumbles to the side nearly tumbling right over as his legs get tangled. After regaining his balance he takes a moment to readjust his stance and get his breathing steady. Again he starts with a slow strike forward that is not perfect but at least it is balanced. Afterwards he repeats four or five times increasing his speed with each. His balance remains intact this time but his breathing is erradic again by the time he ends the routine.
Sithik readjusts the man's stance slightly at the end, right after a whack of the stick across his midsection, just enough for a sting, the hunter's tone a bit more stern, "You have lost already. Breath. Inhale. Exhale." demonstrating again as he faces him, holding his fist by his own midsection, "From here. Always remember to breath. It is the fuel that powers you. Again." stepping aside once again.
Bud adjusts as he can and does not flinch as Sithik gets stern flowing right into line as if this was nothing new to this soldier. After getting his breathing under control again he begins his routine this time not concentrating on anything in particular his swings are straight and accurate though lacking apparent power. His breathing remains steady this time and his footwork only giving a slight side step once.
Sithik circles the student once again coming around to face him, "Good. Come." leading off to the edge of the clearing to where some smaller saplings are growing. "Now I will show you that it is not power that kills your prey. You must learn to let the weapon do the work for you. Face the tree and ready yourself."
Bud nods and follows along listening intently to the teacher. He stands at the ready facing the saplings as instructed staying at the ready not sure what will be comming.
Sithik inspects his stance, when satisfied, "Now strike the sapling. Cut it in half." Seems easy enough, but it will be the springyness of the young tree that will most likely be the downfall of success.
Bud looks to the sapling and seems to think about how to go about it after a second he angles a chop towards the young tree. The sword sunk in for a moment befor the young tre springs back and then forward again. After another thought the vibro-sword is swung once again this time the vibro field comming to life at the last second slicing the sapling in two before it is turned back off after the swing.
Sithik gives the man a tap on the head with one end of the stick, just enough to say Hello, "No. Without power. Move over to the next and try again. Remember to breath, gather power on the inhale, strike on the exhale. Before you strike, see the extension of the blade from your arm and use IT to separate the two halves from each other."
Bud chuckles a bit before moving over to the next sapling and taking in the newest instruction he swings on the exhale. It seems for a second that the tree has split but it only cracked and is leaning over oddly broken at the base but not cut through.
Sithik points to the next with his stick, "It is the blade that does the cutting, not the metal, not your strength. That thin but deadly line barely perceptible to the human eye. Again."
Bud moves over determined to succeed. He goes over all the fundamentals in his head, keeping his breathing steady. After closing his eyes to center himself before looking at the young tree and swinging with a snap of control. The tree slices in two falling cleanly away.
By now a few children have gathered not to far off to watch, the last knock on the noggin getting them started. They too have picked up sticks and are whacking at trees to mimic the great tree slayers. Sithik gives his pupil a nod of approval, "Good. See how the blade easily slices, very little effort is required. Now you will have the chance to hit a moving target. Face me and ready yourself." the hunter raising his thin little stick at the ready as well. "Hit me three times."
Bud nods and takes a serious approach keeping everything he has learned into account. He sizes up the hunter and realizing that his stick is way shorter than his sword he takes advantage of the fact with an attack that was almost unblockable with such a small stick. The sword scores a hit on the teacher though almost missing just from him moving to get out of the way.
Sithik takes the hit with a slight chuckle, "You learn quickly, very good using your reach like that. Excellent. You have two more to get for this lesson to be over."
Bud overconfident with his last attack hurries the next to keep his advantage. His rushing puts him off balance and he stubles completely forward arms flailing to the side as he falls directly towards his opponent completely open to attack.
Sithik easily sidestepping the attack of the stumbling student, but as he goes to trip the pupil, he finds his stick was more dead than first thought, come to find out the center is rotted as it snaps in two between the students legs, without the desired result of student hitting the ground.
Bud regains his footing suprized to still be on his feet he turns to his teacher, "Does this mean I win?" a smile crossing his lips as he points to the nub of a stick that is in your hand.
Sithik draws a dagger in one hand, tossing the nub left in his hand, "You owe me two more contacts with that blade of yours." readying himself for Bud's next strike.
Bud finds his center again and steadys his breathing before stalking in and trying a low cut with his sword. The attack is easily picked off with the dagger though.
Sithik's small blade deflects the attack rather easily, size not being a factor this time. The hunter stands ready again, still being owed two more hits.
Bud rushes forward again seeming a bit overconfident. As he is over extended the teacher easily side stepps letting the over aggressive student to stuble past and a firm kick in the rear stumbles him to the ground. Bud immediately gets back up and turs to face the hunter once more.
The kids have now gathered to watch the two battle it out, a couple doing thier own fight with sticks to which a mother comes out to stop before someone gets their eye put out, a disapproving look to the teacher and student. Sithik is ready for another attempt. "Remember your anchor. Without it you have lost."
Bud goes over all he has learned today and tries again but the skilled hunter still has no problem defeating his attack even with the shorter weapon.
Sithik is very adept with a short blade, perhaps why he carries a variety. Prepared for another strike from the student, "Breath, use the power of your breath to control the blade, not to do damage with it. The blade will do its own damage should you have enough control to hit your prey. Let the power flow through you from your anchor to the tip of your blade."
Bud slows down and and controls his breathing keeping his feet planted he takes a light jab forward with his sword though his technique is so poor he comes no where near its mark however.
Sithik grabs the man's sword arm with his free hand to give a sharp tug to send him stumbling forward with that bumbling jab of his while the hunter just spins out of the way to face Bud once again. the kids love it, most of them laughing, though they want Bud to win, cheering the underdog on. "You can get him!" Sithik awaits him to regain himself. "Your losing your anchor in your strike, concentrate!"
Bud takes another swing this one with the best form of the day. His concentration is perfect and his balance right on.
Sithik shifts his feet slightly to avoid the strike. Though it was done in perfect form, the pupil's speed is still insufficient. raising his hand and re-sheathing his dagger, "That is enough for now, I can see you are getting tired. You are improving quite well though. Practice your form and breathing, speed will come as you master the form. We will pick up again tomorrow."
