TOPIC: Saber spinning Q/A

Hello, just a general question thread on saber spinning.

I've done some limited saber spinning from a couple guides online, but stop short before I put my saber in the way of possible damage, though I know they'll get scratched and dented reguardless, and I have a few dying questions for those who are much more familiar with it.

1. Where do you practice? Do you feel it is easier in a large room with carpeting, or like in a backyard with grass incase accidents occur?

2. What sort of resources do you use, like for specific forms and general spinning? how often do you stick to guides before freeforming?

3. Do you use a practice saber, ie, without sound and save your nicer saber for conventions and events and let a lesser saber take the brunt of your practice, or just have at it with what you have on hand?

4. What do you recommend as a learning path for spinning? ie, What moves after learned first would make other moves easier to grasp?


More questions will follow as I find them, others are free to post questions as well, haha. I'm just really up for learning more, especially since there aren't anyone I know of that practices around me.

1. I practice literally everywhere. Literally... if I have a saber within reach I'm probably spinning it. I do hilt tricking when I don't have a blade handy, and I flourish blades, broom sticks, swords, wrapping paper tubes, anything that kind of works.

To more accurately answer the question you asked, when starting out I wish I had practiced over softer surfaces. Soft grass, soft dirt, foam padding anything soft. You're going to drop your saber. If you're over a soft surface you'll save your saber.

2. There are a number of sources out there. However the most comprehensive and readily available source is Terra Prime Lightsaber Academy. Their videos on major and minor orbits can really help you vault your spin game into motion. As far as sticking to guides, free form isn't something you do after years of training, it's a skill you develop during training. Like shadow boxing, you're fighting imaginary opponents.

3. I'm really hard on all my sabers... my only shelf doll is my Prodigal Son crystal reveal. So all my sabers go for practice. Plus I do pushups every time I drop my saber. So I don't drop my saber often.

4. TPLA'S major and minor orbits are a must imo. It lays the ground work for a lot of the other orbits you'll do. Also ask for tutorials when you want to know something. With Google plus and all the online resources you can basically get 1 on 1 instruction anywhere.

Thanks for the tips! I need to look that up and start working. I can start with one of my smaller, lighter sabers and work my way up.

I never spin in combat.

Spinning is combat can be useful. It can give more power to an attack or can leave your opponent guessing about where the attack will be coming from. That said "flair" in combat is not usually recommended.

My 2 cents.

I know errant knight.

When I say i never spin in combat, that doesn't mean i think it's pointless, it's just i personally don't do it.

I hate flourishes and spins.

But I can see why you like them.

Oh well..

Spinning is good, if you are creating fight choreography, because it's cool. However in real fight it's not practical, because you are uncovered, when you are spinning and if you are fighting against skilled opponent, he'll use it against you.

In answer to the last few posters, spinning is not really a combat art, but it is still an art. It serves a lot of purposes.

Spinning can increase familiarity with your saber. Lucian once said in a post that flips help him learn to control and recover his saber if he starts to lose it. However you cut it, spins and flips are saber use. With them, you get familiar with the use and balance of a particular saber. Also, like a good kata, spinning can help you learn to move with and around your saber without hitting yourself. With enough practice, you begin to develop a good sense of where it is at all times while using it.

Spins are good exercise. Lets face it, it is sometimes hard to find a sparring partner. It only takes one to spin. They help you keep active and fit like any other routine.

Spins are flashy. Not just in combat, where they provide a signature of sorts, but in spin only work. As the other poster said, spins look cool. For this reason, they go well in choreo.

Spins need not be part of combat. There is a growing school of use (of which I am a part) that uses sabers for object manipulation. If you are not familiar with the term, it is akin to juggling but need not involve throwing or catching. It is a use of manual dexterity to move objects in pattern as a form of artistic expression or performance. It includes things like poi, s-staffs, pins, etc, and makes use of orbits, footwork, and isolations. If this is something that interests you, I have a thread on it on this forum on this thread.

To answer the original poster's questions, I do so principally as a spinner and not as a duelist.

1. I find that practicing on grass is best as there is less risk.
2. all the resources I have are on the thread linked above.
3. I use all my sabers frequently though I have had cause to regret this decision as i have disconnected LEDs, shattered battery packs, and dented sabers in past. I find that the dents are not an issue even on an expensive saber as it provides a bit of weathering and can look good in the long run. A saber that looks used, looks more authentic. As to the parts, most of these problems have been quick fixes and not any more difficult in a fully loaded saber than they are in a stunt. The only real factor is the downtime on the saber while you fix it up or have it repaired.
4. In my tutorials, I have what I consider a scaffold system. I recommend starting with single saber and basic spins. Pick up an obi-ani spin, work to a plum flower, go from there until you are ready to move on to dual wield or staff if that is your wish. Though it is worth noting that you don't need to. There are still things you can do with a single saber that cannot be done with other weapon combinations like advances hand switches, flips, or some rolls. My system can be found on my youtube channel , but it is one of many. The TPLA stuff mentioned above is also good though more combat focused.

My views on trying to spin a sword in combat.