My Shadow and I

[Pacific]

Will someone please explain to me the concept of shadow sparing? I can hardly take care of my own footwork/attack/defense, much less my shadow's at the same time! And when I do try, I always end up standing still, pondering what would i do next.
Its kinda wierd watching someone prance around for full five minutes then come to a schreeching halt for the next 10...

[D'Artagnan1673]

I've never quite heard of anything of the sort. I don't think that you could fence your shadow. Its impossible to hit withou being hit at the same time.

[Peach]

I do it a fair amount. I just take the on-guard position, pretend the referee has said "fence" and do a sequence of actions as if facing an opponent. It's basically tactical drill, putting together your "vocabulary" of actions into logical sequences. I might work my way around the tactical wheel, or practice setting up footwork patterns on an opponent. This way you make your repertoire more accessible in a real bout.

For instance (I'm a sabre fencer), as a beginning sequence I might, following the first advance or jump:

1. advance-lunge cut head.
2. half-retreat parry cut head
3. advance, advance-lunge cut flank.
4. advance-lunge feint flank cut head.
5. advance, false-attack to head, jump-back parry, cut chest.

Choose a set of tactical actions you want to work on--something as simple as feint-deceive or something complicated like a sequence of false stop-hits while retreating in order to set up a real attack in preparation.

Then be prepared to stick out your tongue and go "phthbthhh" at people who give compliments to your imaginary opponent, as they usually do to mine.

[its_me_mango]

i think its a good way to practice your attacks, since everyone has problems with their attack, try several. watch you body language, things like: is my head facing forward, is it tilted, are my arms in the correct position, how's my knee is it turned in? etc. try that first, then try again more quickly, and increase your speed with the same sorts of attacks. there's lots you can do with it.

[shyHeidi]

[quote]Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:
<strong>I've never quite heard of anything of the sort. I don't think that you could fence your shadow. Its impossible to hit without being hit at the same time.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Uhm... Actually... dispite my quote, you CAN hit your shadow without it hitting you, in fact, you can't do it any other way. If you think about it... if you hit your foil on the ground, your point will hit your shadow's point. BUT, if you stab your point AT your shadow, your shadow is disarmed and stabbed.
...And the shadow won't EVER stab you. ... ... ... Er... unless you stab yourself.
(Sad that I've thought about this so much, isn't it? <img src="graemlins/freak4.gif" border="0" alt="[Freak2]" /> )

[Shadow Fencer]

Did someone say Shadow????




This Shadow Fencer was entertained by her shadow while practicing footwork in a parking lot last year, but can't say I've "shadow fenced!"

[shyHeidi]

If you've never shadow fenced, you're not a shadow fencer.

[Shadow Fencer]

In the shadows of my shadowy mind, I am a great shadow fencer!!!

[its_me_mango]

what is the sound of one shadow fencer fencing? <img src="graemlins/freak4.gif" border="0" alt="[Freak2]" /> this is truly evil!

[shyHeidi]

The sound of one shadow fencer shadow fencing is approximately equal to the sound of one foil foiling.
The sound of both put together is approximately equal to the sound of 2 shadow fencers fencing a bout.

[Pacific]

So many answers, such helpful people...how delightful it is to be in the presence of such a warm and fuzzy community...

[Scaramouche]

Warm and fuzzy and wielding swords!

[D'Artagnan1673]

wee!

[shyHeidi]

Fuzzy swords?

[shyHeidi]

!
What happens if you go swimming with snails???

[lochinvar]

schistosomiasis
"(shis´tesomi´esis), bilharziasis,or snail fever,parasitic disease caused by blood flukes, trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma.Three species are human parasites: S. mansoni, S. japonicum,and S. haematobium. The disease is prevalent in Asia, some Pacific islands, Africa, the West Indies, South America, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Cyprus. The larvae of the parasite are harbored by snails, which serve as intermediate hosts, and infect humans who bathe in or otherwise come in contact with infested waters."

There is more information available, Heidi. This is just an extract from an encyclopedia article.

Have you been swimming with snails?

[ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: lochinvar ]</p>

[Shadow Fencer]

ShyHeidi,

One word interpretation of lochinvar's definition:

SLIME

You get slimed when you swim with snails!

[shyHeidi]

Haha.
No, I've never swam with snails, I just thought it'd be interesting to see a snail swim.

[lochinvar]

[quote]Originally posted by Shadow Fencer:
<strong>ShyHeidi,

One word interpretation of lochinvar's definition:

SLIME

You get slimed when you swim with snails!

</strong><hr></blockquote>

I wish it were only that, Shadow.
Schistosomiosis is a very serious parasitic disease. It can be fatal.
If you think you've come into contact with blood flukes because you've been in contaminated water, you need to get checked by a doctor. Now.

[Shadow Fencer]

lochinvar-
Don't mean to negate the seriousness of the infection. A good friend of mine is an Infectious Disease physician and through her I am aware of the sequelae related to such infections. Thank goodness these are not common among the general population!