Inktober 2018 - Day #2: Fundamentals: Grips

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 2!

Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. This year's focus/theme will be on the staff/spear with my notes. Please forgive my crappy picture of the page.

Enjoy!

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NOTES

1. Palm Up/Down grip - Fight initially at long ranges and can rapidly shift hands to center of staff for close-quarters. Powerful long and short strikes using 'push-pull' action of the hands.
2. Palms Down grip - For close-quarters and levering. Effective for blocking and pushing.
3. Baseball bat grip - Facilitates rapid, circular, flourishing attacks, where the staff makes a series of vertical spins to block and strike. Best for 5-6 feet staves. If hands closer together, can deliver powerful strikes like holding a baseball bat.
4. Single-end grip - Used at long range. Facilitates long- and medium- range fights. Can deliver fast long-range thrusts.
5. Reverse grip - Good for ascending strikes or levering between legs for takedowns/trips.

KEY POINTS

1. Some grips may be better for attacks, blocks or both.
2. Practice various grips in various situations.

SOURCES

1. McLemore, Dwight C. "The Fighting Staff". Paladin Press, 2009.
2. Demura, Fumio. "Bo:  Karate Weapon of Self-Defense". Ohara Publications, 1976.
3. Varady, Joe. "The Art and Science of Staff Fighting". YMAA Publication Center, 2016.

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My drawings for Inktober 2018 (this will be updated daily to add links to each subsequent picture in the series):

• Inktober 2018 - Day #1: Fundamentals: Staff Lengths
• 
  

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Inktober 2017's focus was predominately knifefighting and if you want to check it out, please visit my Projects page.

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Inktober 2018 - Day #1: Fundamentals: Staff Lengths

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 1!

Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. There is an official prompt list for the picture of each day. Last year, I put my own spin to Inktober by focusing each drawing on the martial arts. After the first few pictures, I decided to focus on 1 theme for the whole month. Last year's focus was knifefighting and if you want to check it out, please visit my Projects page.

This year's focus/theme will be on the staff/spear. I am ambitious with this project, will do my best to post 1 picture a day. I also will be jotting down notes to each drawing as after all, I'm trying to learn staff/spear. Additionally, I need to hone my 'gesture drawing' skills as it will be beneficial for notes taking after a martial arts class/seminar. Drawing and notes will be on an 8.5" x 11" paper and I will collect them into a folder.

Enjoy!

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NOTES

1. "...you shall stand upright, holding the staff upright close by your body, with your left hand, reaching with your right hand your staff as high as you can, and then allow to that length a space to set both your hands, when you come to fight, wherein you may conveniently strike, thrust, and ward, & that is the just length to be made according to your stature."
   ~George Silver's Paradoxes of Defense (1599)
2. George Silver is saying length of staff is determined by one's height.
3. Waist height and shoulder height - best to use sword techniques
4. Some Chinese styles consider eyebrow height as ideal
5. Chinese and Germans used 8'-12' staves.

KEY POINTS

1. Shoulder height or shorter, use the staff as a sword.
2. Eyebrow height (~5') up to 12', use staff techniques.

SOURCES

1. McLemore, Dwight C. "The Fighting Staff". Paladin Press, 2009.
2. Lindholm, David. "Fighting with the Quarterstaff". Chivalry Bookshelf, 2006.

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My drawings for Inktober 2018 (this will be updated daily to add links to each subsequent picture in the series):

• Inktober 2018 - Day #2: Fundamentals: Grips
•  

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Paladin Press - Dwight C. McLemore's The Fighting Gladiator

The Fighting Gladiator

by Dwight C. McLemore

SKU FIGHTG

Softcover
978-1-61004-882-8
278 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illust.

DESCRIPTION

When it comes to fighting manuals, no Paladin author is better known than Dwight McLemore. His Fighting Weapons series—including books on the tomahawk, staff, sword, and Bowie and other big knives—has earned him a legion of loyal followers. Now in a labor of love that took decades to complete, McLemore incorporates his eclectic knowledge of combat techniques into this long-awaited manual on the bloody and brutal sport of gladiatorial combat. 

As always, McLemore's focus in The Fighting Gladiator is on training and fighting techniques. His book presents one-on-one, squared-off, dueling-type fighting in the context of a blood sport fought to the death before cheering crowds. To prepare this manual, McLemore scoured everything he could find—including scholarly papers, contemporary sources, and surviving pieces of art—to learn about gladiator fighting arts, including equipment, pairings with various opponents, how the gladiator games were organized and conducted, and the operation of gladiator training schools. From his research, he distilled his own curriculum featuring five types of gladiators from Rome's imperial period: the murmillo, thraex, provocator, dimacherus, and hoplomachus. 

Richly illustrated with hundreds of McLemore's signature dynamic drawings, as well as dozens of specific combat training tasks and engagement sparring sets, The Fighting Gladiator is for martialists of all disciplines—or for anyone who just wants to learn more about the "sports superstars" of ­ancient Rome!

AUTHOR BIO

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The owner of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu and holds 1st dan in kendo.

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Dwight C. McLemore's The Fighting Kukri

The Fighting Kukri

Illustrated Lessons on the Gurkha Combat Knife

by Dwight C. McLemore

SKU KUKRI

Softcover
978-1-61004-572-8
302 pages, 8.5" x 11"
Illust.

DESCRIPTION

The kukri is one of the oldest combat/utility knives in existence today. Recognized as the national weapon of Nepal, the kukri has been associated with the British Army's fearsome Gurkha brigades since their creation. The unique downward slope of the blade gives the kukri its distinctive look and renowned ability to effect powerful, accurate cuts. 

In this latest addition to his "Fighting Weapons" series, Dwight McLemore explores the full range of kukri training and deployment. He presents a sprinkling of history with informed discussions of fighting approaches and numerous training exercises on cutting, thrusting, blocking, and the associated movement of a kukri fight. By mixing modern and historical concepts and illustrating the text with hundreds of his highly acclaimed instructional drawings, McLemore has created the first and perhaps ultimate training guide to this unique weapon. 

The Fighting Kukri is a must for martial artists, blade enthusiasts, historical reenactors, fight directors of stage and screen, and men and women of the armed forces.

AUTHOR BIO

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The owner of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu and holds 1st dan in kendo.

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Dwight C. McLemore's The Fighting Sword

The Fighting Sword

Illustrated Techniques And Concepts

by Dwight C. McLemore

SKU FSWORD-P

978-1-58160-660-7
266 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illust.


DESCRIPTION

The second in Dwight McLemore's Fighting Weapons series, The Fighting Swordbegan as a way for the author to chronicle his experience of commissioning a custom-made sword and then designing a training program to use with it. As he developed the sword-fighting concepts, techniques and combat scenarios for use with his sword, however, he realized that they could be adapted and used by anyone with a sword.

McLemore brings the fighting sword to life with his unique style of dynamic drawing, seen also in his books on the Bowie knife and in The Fighting Tomahawk. First he gives a crash course in how to balance form and function in a sword and then focuses on tactical techniques and concepts. He teaches you how to train for a confrontation by using visualization and training partners, as well as how to instantly and accurately evaluate an opponent, his weapon, the terrain and environment, and your advantages or disadvantages in various combat scenarios. Following his precise instructions and skillfully rendered illustrations, you will learn how to master cuts, thrusts, blocks and parries, which you can then use for the more advanced techniques of disruption, working the inner circle and single-hand use.

When it comes to fighting weapons, there is no better instructor than Dwight McLemore.

AUTHOR BIO

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The owner of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu and holds 1st dan in kendo.

CHAPTER LIST

BOOK CHAPTER LIST 
1) The Birth of A Weapon 
- Deciding on a Sword Maker 
- Choosing a Design 
- Selecting a Name 
2) In Search of Form and Function 
- Handle 
- Pommel 
- Guard 
- Blade 
3) Techniques and Concepts 
- The Influence of Kumdo 
- Guards, Footwork, and Movement 
- Ground Considerations 
- Visualization 
- Cuts 
- Thrusts 
- Blocks 
- Parries 
- Summary of Book three 
4) Nonstandard and Advanced Techniques 
- Disruption Techniques 
- "Spanish Circle" 
- Single-Hand Techniques 
- Working the Inner Circle 
5) Combat Scenarios 
- Tactical Theory 
- Combat Scenarios

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Dwight C. McLemore's The Fighting Staff

The Fighting Staff

by Dwight C. McLemore

SKU STAFF

Softcover
978-1-58160-714-7
234 pages, 8.5" x 11"
illust.


DESCRIPTION

In the latest addition to his Fighting Weapons series, Dwight McLemore does for the staff what he did earlier for the Bowie, tomahawk, and sword. The Fighting Staff is a modern illustrated guide to using one of man's oldest weapons. In keeping with his philosophy on fighting weapons, in this workbook McLemore does not attempt to duplicate methods from a specific period in the past. Rather, he offers an eclectic approach that borrows the most effective techniques from Asian and European martial arts throughout history. The Fighting Staff covers such essentials as footwork, grip, strikes, thrusts, blocks, and targeting. But its real value lies in the fighting concepts imparted, which serve as a language for advanced training. As always, your martial arts training is greatly enhanced by McLemore's beautifully executed drawings that take you step-by-step through 25 fighting drills for the martial arts staff. His use of frontal, side and overhead views, as well as his unique "floating staff" perspective, allows you to truly see how your actions correlate with those of your training partner (or opponent), as well as how and where your weapon moves. The training techniques taught in this book are not limited to the staff. They can also be used effectively with other weapons.

AUTHOR BIO

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The owner of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu and holds 1st dan in kendo.

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Dwight C. McLemore's The Fighting Tomahawk: The Video

The Fighting Tomahawk: The Video

by Dwight C. McLemore

SKU HAWKDVD-P

805966 062136
250 minutes

DESCRIPTION

A uniquely American weapon, the tomahawk has been used in warfare from 18th century colonial skirmishes to the modern battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. In this groundbreaking video, veteran Dwight McLemore has taken the painstaking research that made his book The Fighting Tomahawk such a best-seller and adapted it to video, showing not only how the tomahawk was used during the Colonial era, but also how it can be used as an almost unbeatable self-defense tool today.

In addition to the hard-and-fast tactics of tomahawk fighting, McLemore takes you through the history of the weapon and its evolution from the ball-headed war club that made the American Indians such feared hand-to-hand fighters to the razor-sharp field axe and beyond. The fighting techniques taught include learning basic grips and angles, mastering footwork that will always put you at the most advantageous position to attack, striking at close range, combining cutting and chopping, surprising your opponent with low-line kicks, and much more. He also includes dangerous live-blade work, sparring, and throwing of the weapon to give you the combat skills any frontiersman would have. 

The pioneers didn't bother with martial arts dogma, and neither should you – let this video teach you how to fight like a true American warrior. For information purposes only.

AUTHOR BIO

Dwight C. McLemore is a retired combat arms officer with the U.S. Army and is an accomplished bladesman and instructor. He is renowned for his vast knowledge of Bowie and big-knife fighting and has more than 18 years of experience in self-defense and martial arts. The owner of the School of Two Swords, McLemore is rated expert level with the American Knife Congress, is certified in kung fu and holds 1st dan in kendo.

CHAPTER LIST

DVD CHAPTER LIST 
1) Grips, Stances, and Guards 
2) Accessing the Tomahawk 
3) Interlude: Touching the Face of History 
4) Angles of Attack 
5) Interlude: Just What Is a Tomahawk? 
6) Movement 
7) Interlude: Types of Tomahawks 
8) Cutting, Chopping, and Flourishing 
9) The Punch and the Rake 
10) Interlude: Cultures in Conflict 
11) The Kick and the Backspike 
12) Interlude: The War Club 
13) Blocking and Deflecting 
14) Interlude: Training Equipment 
15) Live Blade Practice 
16) Interlude: 18th and 19th Century Rough and Tumble Fighting 
17) Throwing 
18) Interlude: Hammer and Screwdriver 
19) Sparring 
20) Combat Scenarios 
21) Interview with Dwight C. McLemore

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More