What can you hit with aluminum training blades?

[Carol]

On this thread (http://www.fmatalk.com/showthread.php?p=6514#post6514) there is a mention of the use of large diameter rope for striking drills.

Something I wondered about in the thread is whether a heavy rope would be a good thing to strike with an aluminum trainer? I can't see striking a BOB or a heavy bag with an aluminum trainer.

What types of objects (or surfaces) are good for striking drills with aluminum trainers?

[arnisador]

A BOB will take a surprsing amoun tof abuse, but I imagaine an aluminum trainer would sooner or later start chipping away at it. I've done it on occasion, though, without damage to the BOB. (The weapon bouncing back into the wielder is another danger.) I don't know about the ropes...just how heavy are they?

For the trainers, I usually practice striking things with wood, and use the trainers in the air or in partner practice.

[Carol]

They are very heavy. A 3.75" diameter polyester rope is 7 pounds per foot. A 6 foot length would be 42 pounds.

Naturally the total weight will vary by length and diameter. The 3" diameter rope for sale did not have an associated weight, but I'm sure it has similar heft.

Is it unconventional to do strike drills with Au trainers? I would think it offers a more realistic approximation of a bladed weapon than hitting with sticks. Not that hitting with sticks is a bad thing! I guess i can see where they both have merit.

[arnisador]

Thread moved.

-Arnisador
FMAT Admin

[James]

Yes, you can use aluminum trainers on the heavy rope. It works great and doesn't injure you trainers (from my limited experience).

[Douglas]

If you are training for blade work, maybe it would be instructive to train with sharp blade against something that would help you gauge your cutting technique? Cutting tatami mats is de rigeur in many JSA schools, no reason you can't safely and carefully adapt it to bolo/barong...

[Ron B]

I use a tire stand to practice my striking with sticks and aluminum training knives.

[Datu Tim Hartman]

You can hit anything that is not metal or stone.

[arnisador]

But again , it must be emphasized that you don't want an aluminum trainer bouncing off a tire and into your face. Be careful out there!

[Brian R. VanCise]

You can hit anything that is not metal or stone.

That is how I feel as well! Work then on all kinds of different things and do not worry about damaging them just train hard and see what happens.

[JohnJ]

A rope is better than a heavy bag cause it has just enough wait but still gives unlike the the over weight heavy bag that is stressful on your joints. However, with that in mind...using a machete, bolo or even barong is a different handling cause they implement more hacking methods. Hitting a tire does not seem appropriate cause a real blade will not bounce.

Even the thought of cutting practices in JMA does not work as well with FMA cause the weapons and methods of use differs too. I personally like the Spar Pro over the Bob because it offers a change in angle and slight ingenuities on the post can increase over-all use. Both are somewhat anatomically correct which allows you to target slashes and thusts.

If you want to get the so-called "real feel" with a real blade or sword do what some others are promoting...find a carcass :-D

[Douglas]

To my mind, if you're learning a style that involves cutting, particularly if you consider it for self-defense, then you should have some experience cutting something, since bouncing a stick off a tire is quite a different movement from cutting, with the required follow-through, etc.

[Carol]

To my mind, if you're learning a style that involves cutting, particularly if you consider it for self-defense, then you should have some experience cutting something, since bouncing a stick off a tire is quite a different movement from cutting, with the required follow-through, etc.

Douglas...that is an EXCELLENT point...and if you don't mind I'd like to continue a discussion on exactly that on this new thread here (http://www.fmatalk.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=24) :)

I hope you all join me there, I'm really curious to see what you all think.

[Carol]

You can hit anything that is not metal or stone.

Datu Hartman, when I visted you school you had several heavy bags and BOBs in place for your students to use. Have you ever had your students use their trainers with them? I'm just curious. :)

[Datu Tim Hartman]

Datu Hartman, when I visted you school you had several heavy bags and BOBs in place for your students to use. Have you ever had your students use their trainers with them? I'm just curious. :)

I use them all of the time. I wouldn't reccomend stabbing them with a lot of force, but that shouldn't be a problem with cutting. They are also great for stick use!

[Carol]

But again , it must be emphasized that you don't want an aluminum trainer bouncing off a tire and into your face. Be careful out there!

Sound advice, Arnisador :)

I went to my school early on Friday in order to put in some extra time in their training room. So far when I've gone in there I've spent most of my time pounding, kicking, and bodyslamming the Wavemaster XXL that is in there. ;)

On Friday I got in my usual bag work but I also pounded on the tires for a bit for the first time. The tires weren't bouncy at all. They were quite hard. There was no tactile springiness to them at all. Drilling on the tires wasn't as tiring as I expected it to be....which makes me think there was enough give in them to absorb some of the impact, but not enough make a stick or a trainer bounce.

The first thing I tried to do when hitting the tire were #1 and #2 strikes....and unfortunately it didn't occur to me until after the fact that I probably should have chosen a lower strike to test out the surface. If my trainer did bounce back after I hit it hard, at least it wouldn't be bouncing towards my face. :D