thegirlsclub

elizabethpleyledere · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject: pulling shots

Over the summer I began fighting with rattan in the youth division. My technique's pretty good and I don't have problems with my power when I do pell work or when I'm fighting the two Knights who have been training me, but when I fight someone else, I tend to lose power and pull my shots. I don't realize I'm doing it until after, but it gets really frustrating when I land shots in openings and they get called light because I pulled them.

I have no idea how to get over this. My dad tells me not to worry about hurting people because they have armor on, and if the armor doesn't do it's job then it's their fault for not having adiquate armor.

Elizabeth

freiman the minstrel · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

Elizabeth,

This is a tough one to get over, but you can do it. It takes a while, and you have to have faith in your own ability to beat it.

I am sure that the ladies on this board will have good advice for you.

I would recommend doing three things.

First, ask your practice opponents to not call light blows from you. Many fighters will do that with female opponents, and that is a great disservice.''

Second, make it a point to remind yourself before every bout to not pull blows.

Third, make it a special point to practice "striking through". Remember, your stick needs to move the head around a little, not just make contact with the skin (which is armor). One way to practice that is to hit things around. Cans work. Water and soda bottles filled with water work too.

Good luck.

f
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Cunian · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:40 am Post subject:

I have some trouble with it too - so I am really probably the last person to tell you how to fix it, but since you're low on answers:

Learning to trust that they will be happy that you hit them hard will help. For me, visualizing something like hitting the pell or imagining it's a pillow fight and the pillow will explode spectacularly if I hit hard enough is good. I need happy imaginings - not violent, hating or scary ones. Sometimes I just close my eyes for the last bit of the blow so I don't watch it go in and pull it.

Good luck.

Isabella E · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

Your dad tells it true. We're playing a game where it is expected that the blows will have a certain level of force. Most fighters who wear the minimums or don't armor certain places accept that there is the possibility they will be hurt. By pulling your shots you're only handicapping yourself because they choose to be armored lightly.

I don't have any advice for how to get past the mental aspect of the problem though.
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Wrenn · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:25 am Post subject:

Something you might try:
Get them to call your shots light, ask the people you train with (even the knights, who you're doing fine with ) to let you know when you land a light shot- let them know that you're working on consistant power and if that's not enough to get you hitting hard most of the the time give yourself a time out (like 2 minutes) after every fight you land light shots- it might help you to keep up the power.

Let us know what helps you move past this- it might take a while, but you aren't the first, and will likely not be the last to have this poblem.

All the best!
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elizabethpleyledere · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:17 am Post subject:

Thanks so much! The problem still exists, but I've noticed(well my dad noticed) that, like Cunian, i also close my eyes when i'm throwing blows. Starting to work on it with some people and i'll let you know what works.

Cunian · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject:

You might try the "punch the parrot" drill down in training and drills. With that, you are focused on abusing something different from your actual sword target, and it might be easier to not pull the blow.

lyonnete · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject:

A friend suggested to me once hitting aluminum cans with my sword.

I set a pop can on my workbench, swung at it - and pulled the shot! Can wobbled away, unharmed! It took me a few tries to smash the can.

And that was an inanimate object! Still, I think it was a drill that helped. Then imagine cans taped to your opponent! Very Happy

LadyLia · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:31 am Post subject:

Am I incorrectly assuming that the can was empty? It would kind of be messy otherwise.
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ChloetheEvenhardt · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:44 am Post subject:

I thought I'd pull shots too. I had the Baron of Glymm Mere (a fighter of 15 years, and a very hard hitter) hit me as hard as he could with armor on against my shield. I *had* to know what it was like. He said it doesn't get any worse than that, not even in Tourney.
That did it right there. I don't pull shots. I didn't get hurt. I doubt I hit as hard as he does, and I don't have a really high pain tolerance either.