"Hm." He looked around. "Not too horribly hot yet. Yeah, sure, but let's find some shade."
The stand of mangroves nearest was way too muddy, so they settled for a couple of coconut palms nearish the bower that had been kitted out like a birthday cake the day Carlos arrived. Carlos knew she'd have to get used to the weight of the staff, so he laid the bamboo aside and showed her a few basic moves to practice. "You basically go pick up Stick at least twice a day, every day, extra when you're frustrated or pissed off. You go through these motions over and over again, and they get into your muscles. It becomes like a moving meditation after a while."
"These are all blocks?" George guessed, accurately.
"Yup. Absolute first thing you want to get into your reflexes. That and how to fall, but that's for another day.
"The thing about cane-fighting is, it's versatile. Most people who don't know much about how to fight with a length of wood want to grab it by one end and swing it like a baseball bat, but the problem is, that's tiring and slow. You have to grab it, bring it all the way up, bring it all the way around and hope your target doesn't rush you in the meantime.
"Better to be sneaky. LIke, for example, grabbing your stick-o-doom in both hands, arms shoulder width, and--" he demonstrated blocking blows from all sides. "Now, some guy tries to rush you from behind, you don't have to change your grip and swing on him. Just turn around and give him a hard tap in the solar plexus with the end. You'll have the whole force of your body pivoting behind it, and it's a lot faster than the club approach."
"So what happens if someone grabs the stick?"
Carlos grinned. "Then you let them hang onto it while you beat them with one leg, your free hand and whatever else is handy. Don't waste time struggling over a length of wood. You hit them hard enough and they'll let it go anyway."
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timeasmymeasure
[Carlos] Head-thwackin' 101 (tag George, open)
Date: 2006-04-25 07:01 am (UTC)The stand of mangroves nearest was way too muddy, so they settled for a couple of coconut palms nearish the bower that had been kitted out like a birthday cake the day Carlos arrived. Carlos knew she'd have to get used to the weight of the staff, so he laid the bamboo aside and showed her a few basic moves to practice. "You basically go pick up Stick at least twice a day, every day, extra when you're frustrated or pissed off. You go through these motions over and over again, and they get into your muscles. It becomes like a moving meditation after a while."
"These are all blocks?" George guessed, accurately.
"Yup. Absolute first thing you want to get into your reflexes. That and how to fall, but that's for another day.
"The thing about cane-fighting is, it's versatile. Most people who don't know much about how to fight with a length of wood want to grab it by one end and swing it like a baseball bat, but the problem is, that's tiring and slow. You have to grab it, bring it all the way up, bring it all the way around and hope your target doesn't rush you in the meantime.
"Better to be sneaky. LIke, for example, grabbing your stick-o-doom in both hands, arms shoulder width, and--" he demonstrated blocking blows from all sides. "Now, some guy tries to rush you from behind, you don't have to change your grip and swing on him. Just turn around and give him a hard tap in the solar plexus with the end. You'll have the whole force of your body pivoting behind it, and it's a lot faster than the club approach."
"So what happens if someone grabs the stick?"
Carlos grinned. "Then you let them hang onto it while you beat them with one leg, your free hand and whatever else is handy. Don't waste time struggling over a length of wood. You hit them hard enough and they'll let it go anyway."