Swordfighting beta

[sholio]

Hi flist! There are two scenes in my original novel that involve one character teaching another one some basic swordfighting moves, and I am trying to find someone who knows something about practical combat who can look over them for me and tell me if I am making any really stupid mistakes. It's a tricky thing to research because it's not any specific swordfighting school and it involves a magic sword that does a lot of the work for you, and the person who's learning to use it will be wielding it against magical monsters rather than other people with swords. So it's sort of a combination of "here are some basic stabby things to do with a sword" and "staying alive in a fight 101". Level of real-world plausibility, on a scale of one to 10, is probably about a 3. *g* But I would like, if possible, to avoid giving the impression that this scene was written by a person who knows absolutely nothing about fighting.

I asked some questions about these scenes a year or so ago, when I was originally writing the rough draft of the novel, so I know there is one person who reads my journal (or used to) who has some pretty solid swordfighting knowledge (and gave me extremely useful feedback on the original post!), but I don't know how to contact you because you're anon. I'm not fishing for that specific person, necessarily, but for anyone who would be willing to review two fight-training scenes which are cumulatively about 2000 words and give me feedback on their general plausibility.

Please email me if you can help: - layla at ravenschildren dot com.

ETA: I think I'm pretty well hooked up! Thank you guys SO much!

Comments

[brightknightie]

My practical knowledge is limited to sport foil fencing, which of course resembles what you're doing almost not at all, and my theoretical knowledge is limited to two or three books on the history of swords and swordfighting. And being a big fan of Zorro, the d'Artagnan romances, HL and RK is probably more hindrance than help. ;-) Point being: I'm not very useful! But if you don't get someone better, I'll do what I can to help.

[sholio]

Thank you! :) I will hit you up if I don't get any other takers; I really appreciate the offer. (Since my knowledge of swordfighting is entirely limited to Highlander and other movies/shows/fiction, you're wayyyy above where I am already!)

[lastscorpion]

Huh. I just read a scene like that today in a book from the library. I don't know how derivative you want to get, but it's in The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines, pages 215-219.

[sholio]

Thank you for the heads-up! I'll keep an eye out.

[jjhunter]

The folks at SSG Boston would have the know-how to figure it out - the organizer in particular is sweet, knowledgeable, and deeply enthusiastic about his craft to the point of jumping at any opportunity to encourage others' interest. Lemme know if you'd like his email.

[sholio]

I haven't gotten any other nibbles, and that sounds great! Could you send me his email, please? My email address is in the post. Thank you very much!

[ell]

I can do Japanese style if that helps ( two handed with curved very sharp blades) 15 years of kendo training, 13 of iaido...i can help with other styles, but no formal training...

[sholio]

Thank you! Although they're working with Western weapons, you might be able to help - mostly I'm trying to make my teacher character sound convincing (she's not teaching a specific style, just basic sword handling) and not have it sound quite so much like everything I know about swordfighting I learned from TV (which is tragically true). Can I send you an email or PM?

[ell]

Absolutely, bring it on! Either pm me here or email at: v.velella(at) gmail.com :-)

[astridv]

I think I remember that post. I have practiced swordfighting but only with bokken. I suppose there are some common elements but overall the styles are very different. But if you can't find someone with experience with western sword fighting, I'd be happy to try and help.

[sholio]

Thank you very much! I've got a couple others to hit up with questions now, but I may ask you some questions a little later!