Thread: Sword twirls?

I love Yasmina's sword performance - [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M6ojzbkjoI]YouTube - Yasmina sword dance[/ame]

And, I am trying to figure out how she does those awesome, fun sword twirls. I practiced, hit the lamp repeatedly, hit my desk chair, and ended up with an aching wrist - I suspect I may be doing something wrong ;-)

Does anybody know whether I am correct assuming that this twirl comes from the wrist, and does not work like a cane twirl from the hand?

Further, I am not aware that there is any instructional that teaches this style of fairly high-energy, spiffy sword technique - am I right? I am explicitly not looking for instruction on how to balance a sword on my head or other parts of my body or hpw to do dramatic floorwork, it is more in line with my persona to swing my sword around to fast music (don't tell anybody who knows me, they will be mortified by the idea).

I like that video too, but what I don't like is that she treats the sword like a prop and it ceases to be a dangerous sword (yes, even though we all know it's just a play sword and not THAT dangerous - but the audience doesn't know that!) and she treats it like a cane. I don't mind the twirling but the passing front and behind with both hands is what I'm talking about.

check out this video at 1:55. She does the passing of the swords front and behind but it seems more dangerous.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NPL1wF81eY&feature=related"]YouTube - Morgana - Solace Live - Belly Dance - Nieblas de Avalon[/ame]

oooh that was a great video! she does some wonderful things I'd not seen before! Are you talking about the over the head horizontal twirls or the side to side like a cane dance twirls?

Originally Posted by steffib

I love Yasmina's sword performance - YouTube - Yasmina sword dance

And, I am trying to figure out how she does those awesome, fun sword twirls. I practiced, hit the lamp repeatedly, hit my desk chair, and ended up with an aching wrist - I suspect I may be doing something wrong ;-)

Does anybody know whether I am correct assuming that this twirl comes from the wrist, and does not work like a cane twirl from the hand?

Further, I am not aware that there is any instructional that teaches this style of fairly high-energy, spiffy sword technique - am I right? I am explicitly not looking for instruction on how to balance a sword on my head or other parts of my body or hpw to do dramatic floorwork, it is more in line with my persona to swing my sword around to fast music (don't tell anybody who knows me, they will be mortified by the idea).

I see cane moves and baton twirling moves. You can find instructional on both easily.

~~Kimahri

awesome clip! I do & teach a fast style similar to this, tho she does a few things I haven't tried yet. Unfortunately, it might be a bit of a commute all the way to Alaska if you want to take my class in the spring! honestly, I haven't seen this faster sword style performed anywhere else before, but there are only so many ways you can move a sword and still look like you know what you are doing ..c::
Most of the movements are variations of circles, eights, swooping (like the dip with point down & then brandishing) body skimming or brandishing. play around with it, I'm sure you are just as capable as I am of coming up with cool stuff (and again, since there are only so many ways to move a sword, it will probably look similar!)

It does take a LOT of wrist and arm strength- you are correct that with a sword hilt, you can't really spin it in the hand like a cane. Also, I started noticing a significant difference in the size of my two arms- so now I train both sides (not necessarily at the same time, tho that does look really cool!)

a couple pointers- most of the time (as in whenever it is not balanced somewhere or for 'skimming') lead with the sharp edge. Think pathways instead of destinations, and I spent a heck of a lot of time just working on keeping things even- like with a swoop around the head, keeping it parallel to the floor. Take it a little at a time since you are building new muscle strength (you wouldn't decide overnight to do 100 straight push ups, for example)

kind of weird, but the move that gets the most gasps/oohs & aahs out of the crowd is doing and undulation and skimming down (& back up) my body with the sword held in both hands- easiest move on the planet, but I guess it looks impressive?

Good luck & have fun!

Yeah, those are cane and baton twirls. If you're interested in sword twirls, try sword tai chi or a sword for stage combat tutorial (I bet there are some on YouTube). You will need strength in your wrists and forearms. Aruna (Karen Andes) made an excellent sword for dance video years ago, and she covered twirls extensively. She no longer has them available, but you might find one on Ebay?

Nitara,

Do you know the actual title of Aruna's sword video? I'd love to find one!

Way back in the early cretacious period,
I twirled a baton. (yeah, I admit it)

Lots of similar stuff here. Particularly the figure eights.

It's got me thinkin'................hmmmm

With the heavier swords, you can't "twirl" them the same as a cane; you will torque your wrist.

BUT you can do a 2-handed twirl. Here's my troupe doing sword with Cas Iberia and Baladi swords--both heavy swords. The twirl part is near the end, at about 8:48.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlaSKpatlQw]YouTube - Tribal Fest 7 Performance - Sabine & Tribalation[/ame]

I can do this kind of "twirl" at half time(like in the video) or at full time. I hook my left thumb under the beak of the hawkshead pommel to keep the blade steady.
Arm and wrist exercises are critical to being able to do successful, strong-looking sword manipulations.

~Sabine
"Swords are Fun"

Aruna's video was called "Single and Double Sword Play with Karen Andes". She uses two tai chi swords.

I emailed her a ways back because my VCR ate my copy, and she said at the time she didn't have any more. Wah! But, maybe Ebay or an Amazon seller might have one somewhere?

I like that video too, but what I don't like is that she treats the sword like a prop and it ceases to be a dangerous sword (yes, even though we all know it's just a play sword and not THAT dangerous - but the audience doesn't know that!) and she treats it like a cane.

I agree - I like sword presented as a weapon. I really like this clip though - I don't think the sword comes off as completely un-dangerous.

Not every sword a person dances with is "just a prop". My teacher's sword was real, and sharp.