[OOM] The Dragonfly, Cargo Bay.

[stuck_mynock]

Atton's found wooden swords for Guppy and Will (for Guppy, so that he can learn with them, for Will, so that he can help teach Guppy without cutting Guppy's sword up accidentally), and cleared a large space in the cargo bay.

"'Kay. Adjust your stance, slightly," Atton says to Guppy.

Comments

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, like that. Okay, raise it up, and bring it down in a slashing motion. Don't go all the way to the ground."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy has a go.

"Faster, slower, slashier?"

[will_scarlett]

"Ye're doin' fine, but dinna let the sword control the motion."

Will says from where he's sitting.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Just go slowly, for the moment. Precision is more important than speed - when you get the movements right, you can go faster. Again, and this time, bring it up again and do a horizontal slash."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy has a go, trying to remember how it looks in films.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Again."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy repeats, a bit faster.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

Amusedly: "I didn't ask you to go any faster. Okay, something more complex."

He draws his sword, moving into a series of very slow (deliberately slowed down, in fact) movements, before flicking his sword about, sliding one hand over it and sheathing it again.

"S'a kata. Try it."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Sackata." Guppy repeats, he thinks, and tries to copy the action. If the sword was real, he would have just lost a finger.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"No. Is a kata," Atton thins his accent, this time, to get the point across. "It's called a kata, and I'm so glad we're practicing with wooden swords here, otherwise both of us would be nine-fingered. Try again."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy does, without signs of losing any body parts this time.

[will_scarlett]

Will stands up to show Guppy a move he knows that fits rather well into the kata,

"Might be easier for ye cause ye're na as tall as Atton."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

As Will stands up, Atton heads back to sit on a pile of boxes, watching.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy has a go.

"Is the kata the type of sword or the collection of movements?"

[will_scarlett]

"Tis the movements. I just call 'em sword forms. 'ere I'll show ye one I know."

Will goes through a series of movements which are similar to the kata Atton did though their style is different since they're meant for a smaller sword.

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Will's closer in height and build to you, remember, and his sword is a lot closer in size t'yours, too," Atton says. "But remember to go slowly. Speed isn't any good until you have precision down."

[guppy_sandhu]

"What about lack of physical strength on my part? What am I aiming at?"

[will_scarlett]

"Tis 'bout control most o'all, the sword will do the damage for ye."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Remember, it's sharp, and most things you'll be cutting are relatively fleshy. You don't need a great deal of force behind the blows." Atton says. "At the moment, you're not aiming at anything, but run through that kata and I'll let you hit Will." Beat. "If you can."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Okay." Guppy tries again, trying to think of the sword as an extension of his body.

[will_scarlett]

Will nods and gently moves Guppy's stance,

"Will be easier on ye."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"Watch your footwork, too. S'just as important as the arm movements."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Is it the same footwork as hand to hand combat?"

[will_scarlett]

"Nay, tis different cause ye need to support the weight o'the sword an get leverage."

[stuck-mynock.livejournal.com]

"If you don't support the weight properly, your balance'll suffer. Hold on."

He stands, unsheathing his sword and moving into a slow set of movements, so that Guppy can see his footwork for each move.