SCA Combat Curriculum Development - The First Four Weeks

Finally, after weeks of thinking through the required skills, the time has come for the first four weeks of drills and lessons for a heavy combat curriculum.  The goal is to start with basic skills and get students swinging sticks, rather than throwing everything at them at once.

General Material

Command and Control

Unless someone is helping with a lesson, and has been recognized and designated as such ahead of class and introduced to the class as such, despite all temptation, they need to stay out of the way and not overrun the class.

Corrections

Corrections need to be made as close to the moment the need is detected as possible, need to be physical rather than verbal, and need to be brief (adjust the arm into the right place, don't tell them where, and don't describe endlessly, just do it).

Equipment

All of the lessons are designed to be taught without armor as slow work.  Students and demonstrators will need a rattan sword with which they are comfortable, and a shield or buckler similar in dynamics to their planned fighting shield.

Lesson Schedule

All times are given from class start T, in minutes.  Start times immediately follow previous event.  Only end times are given.

T - Lesson begins.

T+3 - Introduction, description of material, description of points of focus.

T+5 - Demonstration.

T+25 - Drills.

T+30 - Reiteration of material.

Week 1 - Stand and Deliver

Skill Focus

The lesson focuses on: Stance, Attack, and Defense.

Technique Focus

The three points that students should focus on for this one are:

  1. Stance
  2. Proper power generation mechanics
  3. Shield mechanics

Drill

Drills require a minimum of two participants; if there are an odd number of participants, the leader should start as defender.  If there are an even number, the leader should not be a participant, and the more experienced partner should start as defender in each pair.  All drills can be described as "base drill" and "variations."  Each drill is meant to be run ten times per attacker/defender pair, then switch.  When the leader is satisfied with progress on the base drill, then students can be moved up to variations.

Base Drill

  1. One combatant is designated attacker and one as defender.
  2. Both combatants start in range, verifying that they are in measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker throws flat snap at defender's head.
  5. Defender punch-blocks flat snap.
  6. Attacker rolls the hand over in place to throw an offside shot.
  7. Defender parries with sword.
  8. Attacker returns to guard and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Substitute snap to leg for snap to head.
  2. Substitute single-hip return and second snap for rollover and offside.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice standing in stance.  Get used to weight distribution.  Don't worry about power generation yet, that's best trained with an observer until it's right.

Sparring

Focus on stance and power generation.  Learn that you can and will survive getting hit.  Learn the commands.

Week 2 - So You Think You Can Dance?

Skill Focus

The lesson focuses on: Footwork, Attack, and Defense.

Technique Focus

The three points that students should focus on for this one are:

  1. How to step effectively - advances and waddle rather than steps.
  2. How to generate power from movement.
  3. Addressing the target as the target moves.

Drill

Drills require a minimum of two participants; if there are an odd number of participants, the leader should start as defender.  If there are an even number, the leader should not be a participant, and the more experienced partner should start as defender in each pair.  All drills can be described as "base drill" and "variations."  Each drill is meant to be run ten times per attacker/defender pair, then switch.  When the leader is satisfied with progress on the base drill, then students can be moved up to variations.

Base Drill

  1. One combatant is designated attacker and one as defender.
  2. Both combatants start in range, verifying that they are in measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker circles right and throws flat snap at defender's head.
  5. Defender rotates to address the attacker and punch-blocks flat snap.
  6. Attacker circles right and rolls the hand over in place to throw an offside shot.
  7. Defender rotates to address the attacker and parries with sword.
  8. Attacker returns to guard and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Circle left instead of right.
  2. Substitute wrap on second step for rollover and offside.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice moving in stance by advance, left, right, front, and back.

Sparring

Focus on addressing the target, moving in stance, and powering a shot using movement.

Week 3 - Get Over Here!

Skill Focus

The skill focuses for this are: Footwork, Attack, and Mental Preparation.

Technique Focus

The three points that students should focus on for this one are:

  1. Reading the measure - when are you in range?
  2. Advancing into measure without dying.
  3. Shifting power generation gears from moving to static.

Drill

Drills require a minimum of two participants; if there are an odd number of participants, the leader should start as defender.  If there are an even number, the leader should not be a participant, and the more experienced partner should start as defender in each pair.  All drills can be described as "base drill" and "variations."  Each drill is meant to be run ten times per attacker/defender pair, then switch.  When the leader is satisfied with progress on the base drill, then students can be moved up to variations.

Base Drill

  1. One combatant is designated attacker and one as defender.
  2. Both combatants start in range, verifying that they are out of measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker advances into range and throws flat snap at defender's head.
  5. Defender punch-blocks flat snap.
  6. Attacker uses teardrop hip return to throw a second flat snap from standing position.
  7. Defender parries with sword.
  8. Attacker returns to guard, advances backward out of range, and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Substitute figure-eight and offside for second flat snap.
  2. Substitute offside snap for closure flat snap. 
  3. Use passing step instead of advance to close.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice advancing in stance and using movement to power shot.

Sparring

Focus on using movement to power, using return of last shot to generate new shot, and throwing shot to cover movement into range.

Week 4 - Cutting Corners

Skill Focus

The skill focuses for this are: Footwork, Attack, Defense, and Mental Preparation.

Technique Focus

The three points that students should focus on for this one are:

  1. Looking for openings.
  2. Using opponent's defense.
  3. Staying at angle to opponent.

Drill

Drills require a minimum of two participants; if there are an odd number of participants, the leader should start as defender.  If there are an even number, the leader should not be a participant, and the more experienced partner should start as defender in each pair.  All drills can be described as "base drill" and "variations."  Each drill is meant to be run ten times per attacker/defender pair, then switch.  When the leader is satisfied with progress on the base drill, then students can be moved up to variations.

Base Drill

  1. One combatant is designated attacker and one as defender.
  2. Both combatants start in range, verifying that they are in measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker advances at a right oblique and throws flat snap at defender's head.
  5. Defender punch-blocks flat snap.
  6. Attacker circles right and throws a second flat snap at defender's head.
  7. Defender addresses attacker and parries with sword.
  8. Attacker returns to guard and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Substitute wrap for second snap.
  2. Circle left, and use offside shots instead of onside.
  3. Defender rotates back instead of simple addressing.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice advancing forward and back on diagonals.  Practice using return from first shot to power second.  Practice direction changes.

Sparring

Focus on diagonal movement.  Once in contact, focus on rotation rather than linear fight.

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