Ria countered and parried each of his thrusts and slashes with ease. She recognized his first couple of moves as Alrim’s way to feel her out. She watched not just his form with the moves, but his focus. He had a look about him, when he started, hinting that he’d slipped into the Void. It seemed to stay with him through not only his opening sequence, but the next series of moves.
After a time, Ria called out, “Hold!” Once he held, she lowered her weapon, nodding, “You have a very solid foundation, Alrim. I would say against most, you could more than hold your own. You know a great number of forms, which can be both an advantage and disadvantage. What I see as you go from one form to another are moments of slight hesitation. Flowing, for instance, from The Lion on the Hill into The Lion Springs, your thrust and slash upward should happen simultaneously, like so.”
The Gaidin demonstrated, holding her sword such that the tip was aimed at him instead of vertically, “Holding your blade like this makes the move upward a bit more natural, especially given the guard stance is a high guard. It may seem like a little thing, but that slight moment of hesitation between the thrust and the slash can mean the difference between getting within your opponent’s guard and not.” She brought her blade down, moving from a guard stance such that her feet were together, “I suggest we focus on two guard stances, two strikes and two defensive moves. You choose what you think would be best for you and show me your choices.”
After a time, Ria called out, “Hold!” Once he held, she lowered her weapon, nodding, “You have a very solid foundation, Alrim. I would say against most, you could more than hold your own. You know a great number of forms, which can be both an advantage and disadvantage. What I see as you go from one form to another are moments of slight hesitation. Flowing, for instance, from The Lion on the Hill into The Lion Springs, your thrust and slash upward should happen simultaneously, like so.”
The Gaidin demonstrated, holding her sword such that the tip was aimed at him instead of vertically, “Holding your blade like this makes the move upward a bit more natural, especially given the guard stance is a high guard. It may seem like a little thing, but that slight moment of hesitation between the thrust and the slash can mean the difference between getting within your opponent’s guard and not.” She brought her blade down, moving from a guard stance such that her feet were together, “I suggest we focus on two guard stances, two strikes and two defensive moves. You choose what you think would be best for you and show me your choices.”