Thread: Dropping your sword head to belly

A while back Cory Zamora was describing how she has her students drop their swords from head (or chin?) to belly, and then roll the swords down their bellies. I kinda sorta have the drop figured out, but I'm clueless as to the rolling part. Also, I have no idea what to do with the sword once it's on my belly. End the some with a flourish? Put it back on my head?

Does anybody do this move? Are there youtube clips out there showing it? Any pointers for how to roll the sword/what to do next?

Thanks!

ooooooo, how about popping your belly, catching it in your hands in the air?

I'm gonna hafta try this whole thing...

if I'm not back by midnight, please call 911

I do it, it's belly muscle control. take practice is all I can tell you!
practice your rolls and abdominal control first.

What kind of sword rolls? Mine are both curved, how do you get them to roll? When rolling quarters, I usually have to place them on a pudge area where there will be a crease, then flip them from there. At my weight back when I tried this, I could only get one crease, hence one roll of the quarter. Is rolling things like quarters or swords a matter of having some creases for things to rest in? Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Kittie

We do a move like this in our sword routine. You are in a table pose, and you pop it off of your head and on to your belly, I have to sink my hips a bit to catch it, and then we pop it, or flutter it in the table pose (hips back up), then we simply put our butts down and draw then knees up, pointing the toes a bit, take it off our laps and put it back on our heads, go into "princess turns", etc.

...to answer the actual question.


Kittie

hi, cory here.where as i do put the sword in my chin, the pop is from the head, to ..hopefully....just under the ribs.i usually get it on my diaphram, then pop it to my lower area, roll it down, just like you roll at anytime.if it gets stuck, i pop it,to get it back into play.
i have to raise my pelvis up to catch it..if on palms and heels, your body is hammock like, and you can move to catch.
z

So Cory, what do you do from there? Put it back on your head? I'm kind of at a loss.

I know there was a video posted here that showed this...any youtube gurus want to try and find it?

after i roll it down, i usually do a full body "posession" freeze,curl my legs under, pull my self up through a back bend, lifting my sword up with both hands at the last sec.
usually by now, i have already done the back bends, rollovers, chin etc.

How light does your sword have to be to do the drop? I have one of the Baladay Scimitars from Kult of Athena (weighs about 3 lbs), and I worry I'd break a rib if I tried this move.

One of the dancers on Bellydance Underworld does it -- Katie Kay, I think? I just watched it the other day. I'll have to check it out again to see how she recovers the sword afterwards.

I use a CAS Iberia scimitar, which is heavier than the Kult of Athena ones. When I was practicing the other day my stomach turned a bit red, but there was no bruising. As someone mentioned above, it helps to collapse your stomach as the sword hits it, both to cushion your tummy and to keep the sword balanced.

I was scared that 1) the point of the scimitar would take off a finger if it didn't balance when it fell and 2) the sword would catch on my belly ring. Neither happened, but it took me a while to work up to doing the drop. I'm a wuss that way!

Originally Posted by lilya

I was scared that 1) the point of the scimitar would take off a finger if it didn't balance when it fell and 2) the sword would catch on my belly ring. Neither happened, but it took me a while to work up to doing the drop. I'm a wuss that way!

Oh good to know. I was worried about both happening. Last thing I need to do is injure myself. .w.:

What a cool trick! I too would love to see video of this! :)

I wish I didn't have to work today, I'd run off and practice with my sword! :)

i have used the same sword from india since the 70'2.

What is the movement required to 'pop' the sword off the head and onto the belly?

I just kind of bob my head down. I haven't seen video of myself doing it, though, so I'm not sure if I look like a dork. :)

ETA: I've been trolling youtube and found this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KCEJueA_JnU

It features Boston's own Melina balancing a sword on a dagger. I'm impressed!

I've done the move as well. I'd start on standing with the sword on my head then go into the splits. I'd then get out of the splits and move into a modified bridge position. I'm on the floor face up, with the sword on my head, heels on the floor with my body raised. I do belly rolls then drop the sword from my head into the crease of my stomach. You just drop your head with a quick movement and the sword falls. There was a little trick to get it to land and fall with the beat but that just takes practice. After doing a few belly rolls, I'd pick the sword up as I come first into a sitting position, then a kneeling position. I'd wave the sword over my head or point it forward as I then move into the berber walk.

Originally Posted by lilya

I use a CAS Iberia scimitar, which is heavier than the Kult of Athena ones. When I was practicing the other day my stomach turned a bit red, but there was no bruising.

That's reassuring. You've inspired me to give it a try! Like you, I think it'll take me a while to work up the courage, though.

Originally Posted by lilya

A while back Cory Zamora was describing how she has her students drop their swords from head (or chin?) to belly, and then roll the swords down their bellies. I kinda sorta have the drop figured out, but I'm clueless as to the rolling part. Also, I have no idea what to do with the sword once it's on my belly. End the some with a flourish? Put it back on my head?

Does anybody do this move? Are there youtube clips out there showing it? Any pointers for how to roll the sword/what to do next?

Thanks!

Rolling the sword down your belly can be done with side to side belly rolls. Practice pulling your tummy in, and instead of pushing the entire tummy out for a roll, concentrate on doing just the left side, then just the right side. (It's also good to practice reverse belly rolls on the sides, too). Once the sword is on your tummy, at around the navel or below, do the left roll, right roll, and continue alternating sides, and this will rock and roll the sword down your tummy. When you get to the lower abdomen (this is a hard one for me) pull your abs in really tight, then let them go so the sword pops up, and try to get your outstretched palm under it and catch it. I find this last move easier with a light sword, but I prefer the heavy sword for the rock and rolls themselves. And I like the straight swords for these movements - the curved swords are harder to use, in my opinion.

Give it a try and let me know how you do!

Happy tummy rolls,
AlairaCat

Okay, I have a question about the premise behind this thread.

When doing sword work, isn't it part of the show to present the *illusion* of deadly sharpness? If so, wouldn't these acrobatic moves destroy that illusion?

If not, forgive my intrusion into the discussion.

Taj -

Dancers usually balance the sword SOMEWHERE, and I don't think the audience is under the impression that they're balancing the sharp edge of the sword on their head. This tummy drop doesn't change that...you don't touch the top side of the sword, which is (at least on my sword) the sharp side.

Does that make sense?

Alaira - thank you for the tips! I'll try the sideways roll and pop tonight! The ending sounds really cool, but I don't know if I have the abs for it! I'm going to tote my sword to my gym tonight so I can use their mirrors. And space. And not gouge my own floor.

Good point Taj, I do think it's still a neat trick, but I don't think I could actually roll it. Unless by roll it down you mean it jiggles down and does not actually turn over like a quarter does. Again, does one need some extra weight on for that or is there some other trick?

Thanks for the tip about rocking Alaria, that could be interesting. I can actually do that, so I may try it with sword and see what happens.

The video of the dagger and sword, well all I can say is "wow." That's pretty crazy. Looks like she's got the dagger balanced on her chin, not in her mouth, right?

Good point, KittieSparkle - I use a scimitar, so I was assuming that by rolling the belly you just inch it down the belly, not actually roll the sword over. Sorry for the misunderstanding! I suppose if you use a light, straight sword you could roll it over, but then I agree with Taj - it would ruin the illusion. Hm.

Thanks for the tip...I'm going to try this with a big cushy towel on my abs first...I bruise easily!!!
Gia

UPDATE! I tried this last night and it worked REALLY well...I began with a towel on my abs...realized that the impact from the sword wasn't that massive and just worked it. I has less luck this a.m., it seemed to want to BOUNCE on my abs (I think the trick is to keep the abs soft so it doesn't bounce!?) and ended up on my chest as well (not that it looked bad...kind of an interesting balance point).
I guess I just need to keep working on it to get the right 'zazz' from the head...thanks again all!

Really good suggestions here...I would just add the obvious tip that rocking the sword down your belly works best on bare skin (I often wear body stockings but they are much too slippery for sword work on the belly). If your skin is slightly wet (i.e. sweaty), that also helps control the sword movement.

Also, I can't think of a way to avoid having the sword drop to my chest on the way to my belly. Do you drop into a full backbend or something? I'm pretty sure my old knees couldn't take that. I usually lay the sword on my belly using both hands...playing up the drama of the "sharp" sword and potential danger to my belly if I don't position it just right. ;o)

I'll check out that YouTube clip when I get home...they won't run here at work.

Very interesting thread!

actually, if i remember to move my necklace, at faire, i pop it to my "chest" and then pop to tummy.
this skill and many others require bare skin.we get a lot of bad lip at faire because of this, but the hosting guilds are including us for these skills, as well as oue encampment.

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

What a cool trick! I too would love to see video of this! :)

I wish I didn't have to work today, I'd run off and practice with my sword! :)

I first saw this move on a video performance of Suzanna Del Vecchio 6 or 7 years ago.
I cant remember if Veda Sereem's shows it on her advanced sword video.

Originally Posted by palmier

I first saw this move on a video performance of Suzanna Del Vecchio 6 or 7 years ago.

Suzanna is the only one I've seen pop a sword from head to belly. You can email her and/or order the dvd from her website.

The sword balanced on the dagger scared me (the youtube clip of Melina). I almost couldn't watch, and would be terrified to do that! Its so dark, though.. I can't see it very well. But that's an amazing balancing act.
What a great thread. Now I'm going to try this at home. : )
Not the dagger thing though...
Jillanna

After seeing Cory's thread earlier, I tried this too. My sword weight about 4 lb, and though there was some redness after a while I didn't bruise at all and I managed not to hurt myself. ..l;, Unfortunately I still haven't managed to fix the bounce once it lands. Practise, I guess.

By the way, I found some gorgeous swords here: http://www.forbiddenfruitsbazaar.com/swords.htm

Has anyone ever ordered from this company? In the description, it sounds like the swords are too light to be very useful.

I tried it this morning before I left for work. It dropped right on my belly! I may try this out in performance very soon. Hopefully it will go as well in front of a crowd as it did in my basement!