Drill Definitions

Drill Definitions

Warm Up

A chance to stretch and get the muscles working. This may include some jogging and/or walking to get the blood flowing.

Slow Work

One on one fighting at very slow speeds. A chance to get the body used to the special movements required by combat. It also helps focus the mind on targeting and blow mechanics.

Line Drill

All the fighters line up in two lines facing each other. At the lay-on, each pair fights, attempting to kill their opponent as quickly and efficiently as possible. When the last pair is done, The lines are shifted such that new pairs are created. This continues until every fighter has fought every other fighter.

The purpose of this drill is to practice winning a fight will minimal effort and improve fighting endurance.

Endurance Line Drill (Experimental)

This is a variation on the Line Drill above.

Before the first fight, one of the lines of fighters will run/jog/walk 20 meters (or so) away and back, and then immediately engage their opponent. When the last combat is finished, the lines will switch, and the group that didn't run before fighting will. This means you will face the same opponent twice, once having run and once them having run. After that second combat, the lines will shift as described above.

The purpose is to not only help build up a fighter's endurance, but also to teach each fighter what their fastest pace is that will allow them to reach their objective ready to fight. THIS IS NOT A RACE! How quickly the fight begins is unimportant. How long the actual fight lasts is the point of emphasis.

NOTE: This is a new exercise, so there will be some confusion and implementation details to work out. Please be patient with the instructors.

Melee Line Drill

This is a variation on the Endurance Line Drill above. Rather than doing one-on-one fights when the runners arrive, they attempt to arrive together and engage the other line in a melee fight. The objective can be last fighter standing or holding a point, whichever makes the most sense for the desired lesson.

Circle Drill

All the fighters save one form a circle. The remaining fighter is placed in the center of the circle. They are approached by one of the fighters in the circle and attempt to kill them as quickly and efficiently as possible. As soon as that fight is over, the next person around the circle engages the person in the middle. This continues until every fighter in the circle has fought the person in the middle. Then each fighter in the circle gives a short critique of the fighter in the middle with one positive thing and one negative one. A new fighter is placed in the middle, and the whole thing is repeated.

The purpose of this drill is to help show fighters how their fighting changes as they tire, and provide feedback on how to improve.

Just Fight

Fighters pair off and fight, similar to fighter practice.

Skill Drill

A drill designed to concentrate on a particular skill (e.g. footwork, targeting, wrap shot mechanics, etc.). The drill will vary based on the skill being taught and the instructor.

30 Second Drill

A drill designed to concentrate on offence (adapted by Count Agamemnon from a drill developed by Duke Sean of Ansteorra). This drill requires two fighters and two helpers. One fighter is the attacker and the other defends. One helper watches a 30 second timer, and the other counts blows thrown by the attacker. The goal of the drill is for the attacker to kill the defender in 30 seconds (hence the name) or 15 blows, whichever comes first. The defender is to defend (duh!), but not run out of range. And if the attacker completely ignores their defense, the defender should one-shot them to remind them to keep their guard up. After the 30 seconds or 15 blows, the fighters switch roles and do it again.