At a recent practice, a number of us were discussing combat with a newer, as yet unauthorized fighter, who was trying to determine what his "next step" should be. I'll offer up the following distillation of that conversation, in hopes that it might present an opportunity for reflection for folks who'd like to get the most out of their combat.

First, and foremost -- enjoy the process and have fun. There will be plenty of challenges and rewards for you, but the greatest one will be assuring yourself that it's okay to to try something and not be good at it immediately. Actual combat is only a portion of this activity, and at times, is the least satisfactory.

Second -- conditioning is paramount. This is a physical activity, and if you're out of shape, you're going to be frustrated, and likely injured. Weight training and even walking are good gateway activities to build endurance and conditioning.

Third -- practice, practice, practice. The return you get back from any activity is directly related to the amount of quality time and effort that you put into it. Nobody learned to walk or speak perfect English in their first try and good fighters didn't just snap their fingers and become effective.

Fourth, and finally -- determine and develope your natural ability as a fighter and build your fighting foundation on those natural abilities. Those abilities normally fall into five broad categories: accuracy, movement, reflexes, strength, and speed. An awareness of what works for you (as well as what doesn't work) will allow you to influence a fight to the point that your best attributes come into play.

As an example of how these thoughts apply to a fighter, I'll offer up the following analysis of my natural abilities and how they shape my combat choices and strategies. I see my own foundations, strongest to weakest, as follows: movement, reflexes, accuracy, speed and strength.

Movement: I'm highly mobile, and have really good balance, rarely mis-stepping. I do a lot of off-line tangental attacks, void, dodge, and use many planes of attack; I reverse faster than many people advance....

Reflexes: I tend to be a counter-puncher and prefer attacks in mezzo-tempo, where I can use my opponent's good technique against them. I've been described by one of the more analytical fighters out there as "sudden" because my reactions to circumstances seem to explode from restfulness to full-out attack without warning. It allows me to work range with most opponents.

Accuracy: I've got solid eye-hand co-ordination, and pretty much treat my weapons as if they were extentions of my hands. I don't make many mistakes in regards to range.

Speed: I don't consider myself to be a fast fighter -- there are lots of fighters out there who can blaze me with speed, but my movement and reflexes generally keep me out of harm's way. I'm designed more for endurance rather than quick sprints....

Strength: I can't out-muscle my opponents, so I have to rely on leverage and avoidance. Fighters who can engage my blades and then press me will always give me trouble.

Hopefully, others out there will give some consideration to their abilities and share their foundation choices as well.

It's my hope that what people get out of this discussion is not only an awareness of physical foundations and how they tailor your combat, but also that in understanding them, how one can become a more natural, and thereby, more effective, fighter. And by the way -- you'll discover that most of the better fighters will readily tell you their weaknesses, in an effort to improve not only your combat, but theirs as well.

Best regards,

Majster Axel Stureovich