Sword Fighting Training

Warm Up

Jog – A jog around the local area is done. The focus of the jog is to limber up. It is designed to get the blood flowing around the body, and is not meant to break a sweat. Hence it is done at a slow jog or a fast walk.

Stretching, each combatant is required to stretch the main body parts used for combat. Legs, Arms, Torso

Any combatants wanting to do sprints or exercises are encouraged to do so.

Basics

Each combatant is to start with basic training.

Every person is required to complete:

4 Sets of Basic blows with a Sword

2 Sets of Random blows with a Sword

Then

Shieldmen to complete:

4 Sets of blows with Shield

OR

4 Sets of blows with Two Weapons

Spearmen to complete:

4 Sets of blows with Spear

Polearm Fighters

4 Sets of blows with Polearms

The Fun Stuff

Once basic training is complete, combatants are free to train with other combinations.

Further training involves various situations depending members present and weapon combinations used by member.

Examples include, but are not limited to,

2 V 2 – 1 Spearman and 1 Shieldman Vs 1 Spearman and 1 Shieldman

2 V 1 – 2 Spearmen Vs 1 Shieldman

2 V 1 – 2 Spearmen Vs 1 Spearman, or 2 Shieldmen Vs 1 Shieldman 3 vs 2 - 2 Spearmen Vs 3 Spearmen

And so on.

These combat scenarios are designed to improve individual skills by creating a complex situation where the odds are stacked against combatants. The aim is not always to win, but to improve your skills by being in a situation where you must improvise, think on your feet, and learn. If you can stay alive against stacked odds, maybe in combat, it may just be enough time for another Uppsalan to come to your aid.

Any combination of weapons and numbers can be used.

Uppsalan basic groups are two people. If problems arise in combat, combatants are encouraged to buddy with another Uppsalan. This gives stability in a crisis situation, and allows for greater effective firepower. Training is designed to reflect this. Individual combat plays an important role, but is limited. Teams form the back bone of an Uppsalan Shield wall. A standard pair is a shieldman and a spearman, but this is not a hard and fast rule. All members are trained to fight in different pairs, with different weapons.