To Move With Grace [ATTN: Marla/Dax]

[Roan]

Riahana couldn't help the smirk, though she let it settle into more of a warm smile, "Anyone who tells you that you can't incorporate your own personal style into the broader context of mastering the blade is foolish and elitist. . .at least in my mind." At the start of the lesson, she wasn't sure if she'd manage to get through to the Ji', but he outright admitted that he'd learned something, and they hadn't really even gotten into the meat of the lesson, as far as Riahana was concerned.

The Gaidar Captain took a few steps back from Dax, "I am going to show you three forms, and I want you to practice each. All three are more offensive in nature, but I've chosen each of them because I think they might compliment your style. I will start with The Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind, which is a great way to take your opponent off guard when used as an opening attack."

Ria brought her blade so that it was held at about chest height, and close to her body. She seemed to pause for a moment before making a powerful leap and spin. Someone with a keen eye might notice the blade barely moved, but the momentum of the body's spin is what brings the blade around with force. Ria couldn't help the small smirk as she finished, her eyes locking on Dax's, "If you do it right, your opponent will be dispatched, and the fight over before it really begins. Needless to say. . .use it when you know your opponent has already issued you a death sentence."

The Gaidar Captain didn't step back, but instead came to stand in front of Dax, "This next one. . .I likely don't need to tell you that not just the blade can be used to your advantage in a fight. The sword is a weapon...all of it, not just the sharp pointy bit. For The Wolf Lunges, you would first deliver a pommel strike from waist or stomach level, and hopefully double your opponent over." She demonstrated this in slow motion, and then explained the follow-through, "Once doubled over, deliver an overhand strike. There should be no hesitation in either movement. It is another move that could end the fight if you get the timing right.

"The Mongoose Strikes the Serpent is another move that uses more than just the sharp end of the blade, and is effective if your blade tip is bound below low guard," Ria moved her position a bit to demonstrate the third strike, angling the tip of the blade below low guard. In slow motion, she brought up the crossguard of her sword towards Dax's neck, "Bring your crossguard up with as much power as you can. . .if you don't crush his wind pipe, you will at least stagger him, and can follow up with a quick thrust or strike."

Stepping back, Ria gave a very slight nod, "Now it is your turn. Practice the first one full speed, and the other two at half speed until you get a feel for each of them. Let me see what you've got."

[Sunny]

Dax watched the Gaidar with an easy smile, taking note of her posture, movement, and the way she moved as she demonstrated the forms for him. If anyone had developed a solid relationship with her weapon, it was the blue-eyed woman in front of him. He wondered, as he watched her, what it would be like to be new to sword play and learning the forms. How could it be possible to do so, without understanding how one could shift from one attack to a parry to another attack, smooth as silk? The knowledge he had from years of fighting and practice served him well as he observed her.

The Gaidar stepped back at last, gesturing for him to take her place as she repeated her instructions. The Tairen checked his feet, lifted his arms and practice blade to shoulder height, and attempted that peculiar leap and spin Ria had performed. He landed, and his blade wavered. That won't do. He adjusted his grip, checked his stance and tried again. This time he knew that if he had faced an opponent, his blade would have done little damage and may very well have sent him reeling. Again. Finally he got it passably right, and dropped his arms for a moment. The Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind was quite a mouthful, but he could see how it would be useful to him once it became second nature.

He took a breath with closed eyes, remembering what she had done next. Ah yes, the Wolf Lunges. This was one he knew, though it hadn't had a name until that moment. Far too many brigands thought a sitting warrior was an easy target, and this move had ended more fights before they began than Dax could count. With a smile for the memories of time past, the Ji'alantin shifted his hands to strike first with the wooden blade's pommel, and then in one smooth motion, back down with the blade. Twice more he tried it. Strength was key in the beginning, and then simply following the curve back to strike again.

The third form also had quite a name: The Mongoose Strikes the Serpent. While he had certainly already accepted that he would learn more if he knew the forms, the names still seemed superfluous to him. No matter. He checked his feet, dropped his blade below low guard, then yanked his right hand back up, lashing out. It did feel much like a punch, though one given force by four pounds of steel when performed with a live blade. If it struck the right spot....oh yes. He practiced that one first slow, as Ria had asked, and then faster. Yes....that one I like.

"So...I knew at least one form," he commented as he dropped back into middle guard. "I just didn't know it had a name." He shook his head, laughing at himself. "So...those were offensive. I'm assuming there are defensive forms to counter them?"

[Roan]

Ria watched Dax practice each of the offensive moves with a critical eye, giving him tips on how place his feet to make the move smoother, or other corrections as they seemed needed. It didn't take Ria's trained eye to see that he was familiar with The Wolf Lunges, as it came naturally to him. The other two, though, took a bit more effort on his part to settle into the motions. She was satisfied with his progress as he returned to a middle guard and asked about counter moves.

With the hint of a spark in Ria's eye, she gave a simple nod, and didn't try to hide her smirk. "There are indeed defensive moves. Those I'll show you may not be the best to counter the three offensive moves I've shown you, but these are three that again I think will work well with your style. The first is meant to disarm your opponent. Hold your blade just as you are, and I will demonstrate The Grapevine Twines."

Taking a half-step towards him, Ria bound his blade with hers, "The first step. . .lock blades with your opponent. You want to bind their weapon, then get the tip of your sword under the hilt of theirs." As she explained the move, she adjusted her weapon so her tip slid under his hilt, "And finally, twist with as much leverage as you can muster." As she twisted her blade, it forced Dax's blade from his grip, "And like that, your opponent is disarmed."

Ria reached down and picked up Dax's practice blade and handed it to him with the hilt towards him, "Another move is The Storm on the Mountain, and it was taught to me as a defensive move because like Grapevine, it can be used to disarm your opponent. As I've practiced it, though, it feels more offensive in nature, and as such, you should be mindful about not leaving yourself open and vulnerable."

Squaring her stance, the Gaidar Captain began to explain the move, "Pivot towards your opponent, and you do so, aim a powerful strike to your opponent's wrist." She didn't demonstrate on him, as she didn't want to injure the man, but demonstrated the move to get the point across. "You finish the move with a thrust towards the chest, which, if you managed to disarm your opponent, would likely end the battle."

Moving back to stand in front of him, Ria went back to a simple middle guard, "The last one I will show you for today is Willow Embracing the Breeze, and this one is purely a defensive move meant to give you the option to either close or increase distance to your opponent. If done right, you can get within your opponent's inner guard, which would be useful for you, given your style." Ria mimicked a vertical parry with her blade pointed straight up, and then moved towards Dax, "You use your blade to parry their's, and move into their guard, or. . ." Ria stepped back and repeated the vertical parry, but stepped back, ". . .you can use it to give space if you have something else in mind or need more distance."

Squaring to Dax once again, the Gaidar nodded to him, "Once again, it is your turn. Just as with the offensive moves. . .do each move at half speed until you have the feel of it, then do them at full speed. For The Grapevine Twines, go ahead and practice on me."

[Sunny]

Each of the forms Riahana demonstrated this time had elements of moves Dax had used in the past, but none were entirely familiar. Which came first: randomly hitting each other with sticks, or the forms? He thought as he watched her. He had no doubt that somewhere in the barracks, at least one Drin'far'ji mused over that very question entirely too much. Shaking his head, he moved back into position.

With careful attention to his feet -had he gotten sloppy, or had the standards he was held to simply increased?- he engaged with the Gaidar Captain. They exchanged two formal blows and then he locked blades with her. His old attitudes about women had faded in the years he had been at the Tower, and yet still he felt a wave of shock when she met his strength without wavering. He frowned as he realized he was at the wrong angle for the Gravevine Twines. He broke away and swung again, this time maneuvering so he could get the tip of his blade below the hilt of hers. He twisted sharply, watching as the guard of her own sword forced her fingers apart. Handy. His foot moved involuntarily to kick the practice blade away as it hit the ground; he caught himself just in time, and instead waited for her to collect her weapon and face him once more.

The way she had demonstrated Storm on the Mountain, he actually understood why it had been given that name. It reminded him a little of a dual lightning strike. He tested the pivoting motion first, moving his feet back and forth until he had the hang of it. Then he added in the overhand strike, imagining himself striking an invisible wrist. The shift from strike to thrust he was familiar with, his blade flickering out and back to guard with ease. He tried again, faster, and then again. "That combination will certainly be useful," he said.

He wiped his forehead, took a breath, and steadied himself again. He lifted his sword, and thought back over Willow Embracing the Breeze. He practiced it slowly, as Riahana had requested, and then faster. Parry, step in. Parry, step out. Then he tried again, only this time when he stepped in, he twisted his elbow out and inverted his hand, punching back up in a modified version of the Wolf Lunges. He brought his elbow back down and his sword followed in a rapid diagonal slice. Riahana did not stop him, so he tried it again, shifting from Willow Embracing the Breeze to the Wolf Lunges until he could do it without thought.

When he finally lowered his blade, he grinned at her, eyes alive with interest. "I could get used to this," he commented. "Thank you!"

[Roan]

Progress. Riahana honestly hadn't known how much progress she would make with Dax during their session. He came into it thinking her style wouldn't suit his style, yet she showed him how to marry the two. With each passing moment, Dax took in what the Gaidar Captain explained and demonstrated. Sure, his footwork was far from perfect, and he needed to adjust his form to optimize his strikes, parries and thrusts, but in a very short time, he showed a great deal of improvement.

Allowing a small smirk, Ria nodded, “Nicely done. . .especially combining The Wolf Lunges/ and Willow Embracing the Breeze. The forms I’ve shown you today are just a few that I thought would work well with your style. There are many more that I’m sure we could adjust to fit your needs, and I will make myself available to anyone who wishes to learn more about the blade.

“Keep in mind, though,” she paused and tilted her head ever so slightly as the smirk grew, “Going through these forms today is not enough. Practice them on your own. Go from one form to another, and when your feet stumble, or your form slips, transition into The Heron Wading the Rushes until you find your balance again.” She did not intend the lecture, but wanted to drive home the key points she hoped he’d take away with him, “And just as you might practice with your weapon, practice pulling the Void to you, as it is just as valuable as any weapon you might wield.”

A bell tolled in the distance, giving notice of the time. “Do you have any questions before we part ways for the day, Dax?”

[Sunny]

Dax nodded his response to her compliment, a smile crossing his face at her offer of further teachings. Someday soon, Gaidar. He hid his grimace at mention of the Void, and instead simply bowed his aacceptance. "Practice is of vital importance," he agreed. "I will make time in my routine for these immediately...as well as any others you may feel fit to teach me when the time is right." He looked around. Light, is this the same day Mortran and I had our....dispute....in the dining hall? It felt like Ages had passed, and yet according to the bells it wasn't even mid day yet.

He propped his practice sword against the fence and scratched his chin inelegantly while he thought about Riahana's question. "I have a lot to practice for now," he said after due consideration. "Once I have mastered them, I will seek you out to learn more. Fair?" He grinned cheekily at her. He half-expected to be sent to Bree's office, but instead the Gaidar simply dismissed him with a nod and a reminder to care for his weapons. Shaking his head, Dax thanked her and retreated to do just that.