SCA Combat Curriculum Development - The Second Four Weeks

Continuing lesson plan, and maintaining front-end material because it's there for a reason and is an important part of any series of lessons.  It can be skipped with minimal loss if read in series, but on refresher read, it matters.  Note also that, from here, the drills are about developing the skills needed to be a successful fighter, not merely the skills needed to get on the field effectively, so they may be run in any order, although I feel the order they are presented is a logical one.  At this point, after a month of practices, a fighter should begin developing a feel for how they move on the field, and the degree of difficulty, and the focus of drills, can change from "how to use the equipment" to "how to fight."  I would go so far as to describe this series of drills as the first "sustainment" drills, because experienced fighters will benefit from doing them to sustain skills.

Also, because I find it amusing, I wrote this lesson plan's rough draft on the back of a paper towel while I was sitting in a meeting.

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 5 - An Evening at the Improv

Skill Focus

The lesson focuses on: Attack, Defense, and Mental Preparation

Technique Focus

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

  1. Reading incoming attacks
  2. Choosing appropriate attack options for their situation
  3. Choosing appropriate defense options for their situation

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 out of range, verifying that they are not in measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker executes a closure attack and an attack from within range from previous drills.  Because this is slow work, they do not have to be announced ahead of time, but must remain the same for the whole set.
  5. Defender executes a non-moving defense and a moving defense from previous drills.  Again, because this is slow work, they do not have to be announced, they do not have to be announced ahead of time, but must remain the same for the whole set.
  6. Attacker returns to guard, withdraws, and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Because this drill is all variations to begin with, there are no variations for this drill.  Variation consists of changing targeting and defense with new set.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice throwing two-shot combinations, starting out of range.  Practice having someone throw a bean bag or other semi-solid, slow-throw object at you, and swat it aside or catch it.

Sparring

Focus on throwing shots at multiple targets.  Focus on not stopping while engaged and in range.

Week 6 - Defense, Defense, Defense!

Skill Focus

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

Technique Focus

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

  1. How to follow up a successful block.
  2. How to deny the opponent the ability to attack.
  3. How to break contact.

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 and presses the shield into the sword basket until the basket is pinned back.
  6. Attacker steps back and throws a slot shot.
  7. Defender parries, steps forward, and replaces sword with shield to pin the sword out of position.
  8. Attacker returns to guard and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Attacker may change entry or exit angle, or targeting.
  2. Defender may counterattack.
  3. Attacker may begin out of range and start with closure shot.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice with a mirror, get in stance and reach out and touch your own left hand, in a variety of positions, starting slow and moving faster.

Sparring

Focus on tying up the opponent's sword.  If your sword is tied up, focus on breaking contact.

Week 7 - Would You Like That A Combo?

Skill Focus

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

Technique Focus

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

  1. Throwing combinations.
  2. Continuing to throw shots while in range.
  3. Appropriate shot selection.

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 out of range, verifying that they are out of measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker throws one closure shot and one static shot, of their choice.  They do not announce what these are, but conduct them at slow work speed.  Shot choice does not change during set.
  5. Defender blocks the first shot without moving and blocks the second in combination with a step.
  6. Attacker throws one stepping shot and one static shot, of their choice.  They do not announce what these are, but conduct them at slow work speed.  Shot choice does not change during set.
  7. Defender parries the first shot without moving and parries the second in combination with a step.
  8. Attacker returns to guard, advances backward out of range, and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. As with Week 5, there are no variations, because of the nature of this drill.  Students should throw the same shot combination for all repetitions within a single set.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice throwing more than one shot in combination, and combining movement and attack.

Sparring

Focus on continuous engagement - if you are in range, you are attacking; if you are defending, you are moving.

Week 8 - Targets of Opportunity (The Buckler Game)

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. Looking for openings.
  2. Using appropriate footwork to reach openings.
  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."  When the leader is satisfied with progress on the base drill, then students can be moved up to variations.

Note that, unlike the usual drill, because the total number of shots per set is twenty normally, this drill is meant to be run twenty times per set.

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 assumes guard.  Defender stays relaxed but engaged.
  5. Defender places buckler or shield in random location and holds it there.
  6. Attacker throws a well-powered, mechanically correct shot into the center of the buckler.
  7. Attacker returns to guard.  Defender returns to point #4.

Variations

  1. Defender positions target so that it requires footwork to reach.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice random targeting - mark targets on a pell, tree, et cetera, with numbers, and have someone call off the numbers.

Sparring

Watch other people sparring and look for openings and vulnerabilities.  When sparring yourself, look for openings prior to engagement.

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