Solo drills

Footwork

Footwork rounds (abbreviated)

Footwork is fundamental to good fencing and these skills should be practiced in isolation as well as application as often as possible

• Rounds for

  • simple step

  • Passing step

  • Offline gather steps

  • Offline passing steps

  • Gather steps

• Compass steps

• Direction changes

Sword solo drills

Guard Infinity cuts

This is good to develop familiarity with the sword and the endurance to keep cutting even when your arms are tired. It’s also a wonderful warm-up to go through the primary guards in a small space

• Stand in right Vom Tag and perform a left-right oberhau with a triangle step

• Perform 2 left right unterhaus ending in right Ochs

• Perform 4 zwerchs to the 4 openings ending in right Vom tag, then drop to right Pflug

• Perform 2 thrusts from Pflug ending in right Alber

• Perform 2 false edged rising cuts ending in right Vom Tag

• Direction chance, so you face backward on the left side and repeat

Zwerch infinity cuts

This is a basic drill for practicing the different variations of the zwerchau

• Start in Ochs on the right side and perform a Zwerchhau to any of the four openings

• Pick another opening and cut to it

• Cut to the third opening

• Cut to the last opening

• Without breaking tempo pick a different opening and do the drill again

• Do this till you run out of room, then direction change and come back on the other side

80 x 120

This is a simple conditioning drill that also doubles as a cutting practice drill

• Except for the static straight cuts perform a planted step with each cut, to protect the knees and condition the legs as well

  • 20 straight cuts with short edge rising cuts

  • 20 Oberhaus then short Unterhau on the left and right

  • 20 Unterhau then short Oberhau on the left and right

  • 20 Zwerchhau left right on the right side then 20 Zwerchhau left right on the left side

  • 20 Thrust from Pflug on the left and right

  • 20 Thrust from ochs on the left and right

Windmills

This is a high-intensity drill that helps to practice multiple rapid cuts on the same side

• Start in right Vom Tag

• Perform four Oberhaus forward and back on the right side accompanied by oblique gather steps

• Pause in right Vom Tag

• Perform four Oberhaus forward and back on the left side accompanied by oblique gather steps

• Pause in right Vom Tag

• Perform four Unterhaus forward and back on the right side accompanied by oblique gather steps

• Perform four Unterhaus forward and back on the left side accompanied by oblique gather steps

• Switch legs and repeat

Scorpion cuts

This is a fun drill you can use as a party trick and teaches familiarity with false edged cuts from Nebenhut.

• Start in right Nebenhut and cut a false edged Oberhau into right Ochs (like the tail of a scorpion)

• Circle around and cut a true edged Oberhau with a passing step, ending in Nebenhut on the left side, repeat to end back on the right side

• Do a false edged rising cut then a true edge rising cut with a step, ending up in left Ochs

• Do the same from left to right

Moulinette Cuts

This is a class saber drill that strengthens the wrist and is just as valuable with a longsword.

• While these were originally designed for saber, they translate well to longsword

• Stand with the sword in the right hand with right foot forward

• Perform five diagonal number 1 saber cuts from right to left always returning to the right side

• Perform five diagonal number 2 saber cuts from left to right always returning to the left side

• String cuts 4 and 3 from left to right together to make a smooth flourish that goes from left to right then right to left starting and ending on the lower left side

• Switch hands, place the left foot forward and repeat

AP drills

These are written for partner drilling but can be adapted for solo drilling as well.

Note: there are 7 cuts we use that number from 1 to 7 to make it easier to use in drills. odd numbers on the right side, even numbers are of the left. This is the same numbering pattern used for saber.

1. Oberhau from right to left

2. Oberhau from left to right

3. Unterhau from right to left

4. Unterhau from left to right

5. Zwerchhau from right to left

6. Zwerchhau from left to right

7. Thrust to the chest or face

Combinations

This drill is a very fast way to drill creative combinations and train to move the sword in new and inventive ways.

• Fencer A and D stand so A can hit D’s sword

• D calls out a combination, and A performs it to D’s outstretched sword

• The goal is not to hit the person but practice the combination against the sword

• Example: 1, 6, 2, 7, defend 1. This translates to an oberhau from right to left, zwerchhau from left to right, oberhau from left to right, thrust to the face, defend an oberhau from right to left

• Additionally, D can make them as complex or simple as they want, detailing when to step or not to step, if the cut uses the long or short edge, or if A has to defend an attack or use a particular cut. Cutting without a step or on the same side as your lead leg is very difficult at first but it’s good for you and D is encouraged to drill these moves

• This drill is so valuable because it allows D to set up situations that A might encounter in sparring then drill them again an again. For example, 1, 2, 5 translates into A throws an oberhau that D strongly parries, A lifts off and attacks the upper right opening. D parries stronger so A performs a right zwerchau to the upper left opening and lands a hit.

Sword focus mitts

This drill allows you to apply the creativity of the last one in a situation approaching the intensity of a sparing match.

• This is the same as combinations except more active, D can move forwards or back and it's up to A to keep the distance constant

• The combinations D calls are shorter and more complex

• Example: “1, 3, defend 7” while A performs the combination D parries with Ochs, Pflug, then attacks from Langort all while moving backward for the first strike then forward for the next 2

• This drill is fantastic for warming up and drilling comfort and confidence in thinking on your feet

Nicholas Allen, VCU HEMA

HEMA Lesson & Lecture Repository

This group serves as a central repository for complete lessons and lectures, as well as lesson plans and notes for all HEMA groups around the world.

View Group