Advanced techniques (Solo)

[Markus Andres]

8th of Summer. 512 AV. It had been a week since his last training exercise and his body should be ready for some more punishment. This time it was not about mastering the djed and flow and what not. It was practical combat use he desired. Before him was nothing. A mere room with air and space. On his left arm was his trusty toothed shield in his right hand, Markus held a bastard sword he had inherited. It was a good blade, but its age was beginning to show. Still, sentimental value made him keep it rather than replacing it with something new. On the subject of old and worn items. His armor. Good sturdy training armor. The training part meant that if you wore it to actual combat, you would do well not to rely on it for protection. But it served its purpose in this training. It put Markus in the right mindset and it added weight. Markus eyes closed as he mentally went through the routine. It was not long, nor was it hard. It was the most basic of the basics. Every sword strike imaginable. Covering the 9 basic swings and thrusts. But that was just the sword. The shield, had to flow perfectly with the attacks. Cover vulnerable areas. Never be stationary for too long, never give the opponent a wide gap to strike. Markus muscles were tensed lightly. Every muscle bulging a little under the armor. His blade swung, slowly, carving through the air in a controlled motion. A vertical swipe, followed by a backhand from top left corner to the bottom right. His motion slow. Getting the feeling into his muscles. Soon he would have to devote his conscious mind into something else entirely. By then, he hoped the repetitions would have caused the routine to stick to his muscles for the evening or day. A mild form for muscle memory. The blade came down hard in a chop. Markus pivoted. The second basic form of sword fighting. The footwork. He pivoted a perfect 180 degrees. Even with his eyes closed he knew he had pulled it off. His shield was leading. One of his favourite moves. Just a shame he so rarely got to use it outside practised circumstances. His shield lead, to knock aside any defence, as the sword came in and the routine repeated itself. Except now he was no longer semi-stationary. He took a gathering step forward (his feet never passed one another, his left foot stepped forward, the right dragged to maintain the stance), sword thrust directly into the imaginary opponent's right shoulder. Shield lowered automatically to deflect the attack that had opened up that shoulder. This was so mundane that Markus had no problem easily going through the attacks. But that was the point of it all. So mundane that he could devote his mind on a thing far, far more difficult. For as he did the routine, his mind would be busy working on summoning the djed inside of him to do his bidding. The target area of his training would be his core muscles. From there the power of every block, swing, chop and attack came from. Strengthening the arms or legs would only strengthen part of the system. By strengthening the core, he strengthened the whole. He took a gathering step backwards then stepped off center and voila, he was back in his starting position, just a step or two further back. It had been a while since he had last done this routine. It was good to get into the familiar style again. Like wearing a old pair of pants. Nice and comfortable.