Jedi Training

[EVILFACE]

Seems a bit weird to me but those MR lightsabers look cool.

They are kewl.

But at $100 a pop, I don't think I would be dueling like that with them.

 

[galactiboy]

I think those are custom jobs... a number of the blades looked yellow and other odd colors. Maybe they are a bit more impact resistant as well.

 

[pickard]

Kendo would only be a small part, you'd have to learn the Tai Chi forms and all other sword based martial arts.

I don't know that you 'd have to (or could) learn "all other sword-based martial arts". Kendo would be a good start. Some unarmed martial art would be a nice complement for the kicking and punching that get thrown into the duels.

Even training in theatrical swordplay from people who knew what they were doing would be a better use of their training time.

I won't speak too badly of how other geeks spend their time. I'd probably check this out (once) if it was nearby, but I'd NEVER be interviewed on-camera if I was involved. Have a little geek shame.

 

[lerath666]

FACT: Nick Gillard, weapons choreographer for APM, says he has combined kendo, fencing, tennis and almost anything else to develop his ‘Jedi Style’ I suspect more Ken Jutsu than kendo, but I'm being pedantic...(kendo is the sport of Japanese sword fighting. A special, blunt bamboo sword is used and all strikes are centered on armor strong points to avoid seriously injuring participants. Ken Jutsu is the real martial art, uses a real katana and all strikes are intended to kill.)

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I have to say that regular posters on a site decided to collecting dolls calling anyone sad just defies belief anyway...

Exactly.

 

[wax murderer]

A little personal observation regarding the difference between looking cool and actually knowing how to use a sword. These guys were at the Wizard World con in Philly this June. Also present were Garrison Carrida from the 501st, including yours truly in full Vader costume and carrying my MR saber. The NY Jedi were set up right next to our table. Anyway, after watching these clowns spar for about 1/2 an hour, I decided to try my hand at them. Keep in mind, the Vader costume restricts mobility and vision considerably( I can't raise my arms above horizontal, and have no peripheral vision). I therefore expected to have a bit of difficulty with these guys, and I did, but not what I expected.
The first challenge was to get someone to face me! The only member of the troop that would answer my challenge was the group leader, who immediately started trying to choreograph our bout. I just shook my head and moved in. We fought 3 matches, and I got through his guard in about 30 seconds each time. I got more of a fight out of a 10 year old who was watching and decided to join the fun( problem with kids; they don't stop!). After our match, he explained that" we fight to entertain". I replied that the Sith fight to win, which he seemed to have a problem with for some reason. He then mentioned, after I described my costume restrictions, that he'd take me out in "a real fight". Sure.
As to the MR sabers, they can actually take a surprising amount of abuse. I wouldn't recommend using one to play baseball, but they will handle controlled sparring pretty well. Pity that Corgi wouldn't renew the license with Lucasfilm...PS

 

[lerath666]

That's the problem with Choreographers. Just becuase you WATCH alot of fights, and understand the mechanics, dosn't mean that you can actualy do it. The Best way is to have a compentent instructor. Failing that, i find Pain to be a wonderful teacher, Get ahold of a pair of shenai, and Get a partner, and start wailing on each other.

Swordfighting is timing, speed, and knowing when and where to put your blade. I've seen some real goofballs at LARPS doing all moanner of retarded nonsense with foam swords, and they assume that just becuase they swing it like a baseball bat, that they are Mad Martigan.

 

[pickard]

Just watching them in the short clips, you could see people attacking to the area where their opponent was defending. They weren't attacking the person; they were just meeting their block. Any sort of real training, or even good theatrical swordplay training, would clear that up.