SCA Combat Curriculum - The Final Five Weeks

 This final block, from Weeks 9 to 13, is meant to be a "broadening" period - if drills of Weeks 5-8 are sustainment drills to teach people new skills, then drills of Weeks 9-13 are meant to expose fighters to other aspects of heavy fighting than single sword-and-shield sparring, such as great weapons, how tournaments work, and melee work.

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

Unlike previous lesson blocks, this block may require additional equipment.  This will be specified lesson by lesson.

All of the lessons are designed to be taught without armor as slow work.  Students and demonstrators will need an appropriate weapon set for the lesson.

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 9 - The Thrust of Things

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. How to throw an effective thrust.
  2. How to see a thrust coming and deflect it.
  3. How to use one shot to set up another.

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, in stance, 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 flat snap with primary weapon to the upper edge of the defender's shield, using primary hip to drive.  The flat snap does not recover.
  5. Defender executes a punch-block with shield.
  6. Attacker executes a thrust from where the flat snap hits "neutral" balance to the defender's face.
  7. Defender executes a parry with primary weapon.
  8. Attacker returns to guard and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Attacks may be executed from movement.  This is recommended.
  2. Thrust may be executed against body instead of face.

Week 10 - Two-Fisted Tales

Equipment Required

This drill requires two weapons per combatant, rather than sword and shield.

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. How to take a two-weapon stance.
  2. How to power a shot from the off-hand.
  3. How to use an off-handed weapon for defense.

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, in stance, verifying that they are in measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker executes a flat snap with primary weapon to the defender's head, using primary hip to drive.
  5. Defender executes a punch-block with off-hand weapon.
  6. Attacker executes a flat snap with off-hand weapon at defender's head, using off-hand hip to drive.
  7. Defender executes a parry with primary weapon.
  8. Attacker returns to guard, withdraws, and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Attacks may be executed from movement or defender may move.  This is recommended.
  2. Defender may counterattack instead of one of the defenses.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice throwing shots with each hand, focusing on free rotation of hips through each direction.

Sparring

Focus on throwing shots with each hand.  Focus on mobility-based defense, because there is no shield.

Week 11 - A Great Night

Equipment Required

This drill requires a great weapon per combatant.  This drill assumes a longsword, but can be run with Dane-axe, greatsword, or glaive, with stance adjusted appropriately.  Gauntlets are recommended, but not strictly required.

Skill Focus

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

Technique Focus

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

  1. How to attack with a great weapon using through steps.
  2. How to defend with a great weapon using cover and parry.

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 one step out of range in zogho largo, verifying that they are in correct measure of each other.
  3. Leader walks through commands - Are you ready? Salute.  Lay on.
  4. Attacker throws a mandritto fendente (diagonal blow from primary side) with through step.
  5. Defender raises sword to "shedding" block to make cover against attack.
  6. Attacker throws a mandritto reverso (diagonal blow from offside).
  7. Defender parries sword at forte.
  8. Attacker retreats, returns to guard, and goes to point #4.

Variations

  1. Attacker may change entry or exit angle, or targeting.
  2. Defender may move to change defense.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice throwing blows with through step and practice cover or .

Sparring

Focus on throwing blows with through steps.

Week 12 - Standing In Lines

Equipment Required

This drill requires a minimum of one melee shield and melee-suitable weapon per two combatants, and one great weapon per two combatants.

Skill Focus

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

Technique Focus

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

  1. How to stand as a melee unit.
  2. How to move as a melee unit.
  3. The first rule of melee combat - keep yourself and your unit alive.

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 side is designated attacker and one as defender.
  2. Both sides 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 advances.  Advance should be a through advance, not advance to contact.
  5. Defender braces to receive advance and stops advance.
  6. Attacker breaks contact, resets to start, and advances to contact.
  7. Rear-rank weapons throw one shot per side, and shield rank defends.
  8. Both sides reset and go to point #4.

Variations

  1. Defender may maneuver to attempt to avoid contact.
  2. Defender may maneuver to attempt a better position.

Outside of Class Recommendations

Homework

Practice standing in appropriate melee stance, with melee shield.

Sparring

Focus on command language and communication.

Week 13 - Bringing It All Back Home

Run Week One drill, but at near full speed rather than slow, to demonstrate the growth in skills.  Encourage students to create and work through variations.

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