Need help learning saber twirls..

[Mr.Griffin]

^That would be great

[Yoda]

Yes I'll talk to Bigdog about it some time this week.
always
MERIDIAN

[Seerdiva]

If you have Phanton Menace on DVD, on the "extras" disc, you can watch Ewen practicing the twirl. Open your hand but squeeze the hilt (don't let it fall) in the fleshy part between your thumb and index finger and flex your wrist the way you would carry a tray full of food like a waiter does.
   Maybe that's not to helpful, I have not even got my saber in the mail yet
 

[Yoda]

That's a good example and your explanation is pretty close
I'd add it's a lot like making the OK sign loosley, now turn
your wrist to point the blade away from you and letting it roll
around the inner of this circle by the swining method used to
make a circle with your wrist bringing the blade to swing back
around and down then again and in to the up position where
you grab hold of it to then make a strike.

I know I know I need to make the video...
always
MERIDIAN

[Ras]

Hi there,

I think I have this down pretty good spinning the saber in my right had on my right side and was wondering what technique/movement is required to move your right arm and hand accross your body and spin the saber in a similar way, but along the left side of your body.

Any pointers on this would be great!

[Yoda]

I'm not sure what you are wanting to do?
Are you refering to doing the figure eight as first
seen in beast master and indiana jones.

This can be done with the saber Blade up or Blade down.
and is different from a momentum building spin.

Imagine trying to empty a glass to the left then right and back
again by simply rotating and rolling your wrist to simulate the
pouring motion.
You'll need to swing the forearm back and forth just enough
to clear your body and as always practicing untill this motion
becomes fluid and smooth is key to making it look right.

[Ras]

I am not sure if we are talking about the same 'move' or not, but what your suggesting sounds interesting so I'll give it a whirl as well.

In Episode II during the Stadium battle scene (where MAce says, 'this party is over') Obi-wan does the twirl right after the part where Anakin and Padme have their 'aggressive negotiation' lines.

I put it in slo-mo and it appears that after Obi-wan does the standard right handed twirl (excuse my terminology as I have already forgotten) he does another but this time begins changing his grip.  He twirls between his index finger rather than his thumb and when it comes around he raises his elbow and switches grips so now he is holding blade down.  With this grip he proceeds to do some more interesting moves on the left side of his body before going back to his right and again switching his grip back to blade up.  It looks very good to my novice eyes.

I have been able to get the first twirl down, and the second twirl that results in the grip change to blade down.  I'm just wondering if you had any pointers to keep in mind with this type of move (The grip change) as well as making the twirls on the left side of the body and moving back etc.

Thanks!

[Yoda]

Once I rent this again I will watch
that part and get back to you.

I'm waiting to buy it untill I can get all 3
in a set to match my Origimal Trilogy set.

[The Abbot]

Yo ras I was just watching ATOC trying to learn the Ob spin.
Like you say it looks to wrap around his finger.

Another scene he does it in is right before he  delivers the final killing saber slice  to the green praying mantis type creature..

I wish someone could capture stills of the spins and berak it down step by step..

I guess I could give that a shot,when i have some time...



On another note.
This reminds me of when I was a kid and we used to watch skate board movies to learn all the new tricks..
Its the same stuff,but now with fx sabers!!
i love it.

[Ras]

That's right illbeats,
Used to slo mo rap videos to learn breakdance moves and this reminds me a lot of that  :)

I am able to do the death blow to the spider lizard thing fairly well.  But the more 'intimidating' stuff just before hand where he manipulates the saber on both sides of his body in one fluid motion looks much for difficulty and I am only about %20 there and probably not doing it correctly  :P but I am enjoying figuring it out.

Looking forward to hearing back from someone that could figure it out or even already may know.

I am looking forward to those DVD releases to Meridian :)

Thanks!

[Ras]

Thanks Meridian, I see what you mean and I tried it out and have started to get the motion down.  And your right it is very different.  It is different form what I was originally intending but it also looks very neat so will work to add it to my 'moves' LOL.  I practiced in front of my mirror and you can really see the wrist and forearm articulating to clear the body and move the sword.  I'll practice to get the fluidity down as it looks pretty jerky now.


Thanks for the pointers :)

I'm not sure what you are wanting to do?
Are you refering to doing the figure eight as first
seen in beast master and indiana jones.

This can be done with the saber Blade up or Blade down.
and is different from a momentum building spin.

Imagine trying to empty a glass to the left then right and back
again by simply rotating and rolling your wrist to simulate the
pouring motion.
You'll need to swing the forearm back and forth just enough
to clear your body and as always practicing untill this motion
becomes fluid and smooth is key to making it look right.

[Yoda]

Hello there RAS...
I'm glad to see you are learning how to become
one with your Lightsaber.

With patience, time and practice I'm sure you will
again and again fugure out the right way to acheive
any move you wish to duplicate, as well as come up
with one you feel is "Your favorite Move" and if you
happen to have some one around you who has an FX
you will beable to teach them what you have learned...

Then if you are both able to control your swing speed
well enough not to hit to hard.
Then you will find it a lot more fun to have duells when
you have some basic moves to refer to like in the tutorial
I created in the "ARTICLES"
"How to properly duel with your FX"
Look at the 1-6 defense moves and think about what
I've told you about the moves you were asking about...
I'm sure as you study the position of the hands in the
tutorial and the fight sceen, you will begin to feel how
your body and saber will respond so you will react as
one fluid motion and your attacks and blocks will look
like they have purpose for where they land.

It can also be helpful if you call out the Number of the
Defense area your attempting to Strike at so the Opponent
can meet you there, and you can work on the correct timing.

Keep up the practice and you will eventually begin to feel
the "force flowing through you" so to speak because like riding
a bike or driving a car learning to swordfight "stagefighting"
will yeild an automatic reaction and you won't even think about it.
You'll just do it.

always
MERIDIAN

[Ras]

Thanks for the good words.  Already with my practicing I can feel when things are flowing properly and the movement is more comfortable and gives the desired effect.

Very interesting stuff!

Ras

[Yoda]

Welcome you are... :D

[Redbeard]

Behind the back saber twirl. This is what I see happening:

http://204.2.104.176/stunt3.mov [nofollow]

I slowed it down a bit so you can see it better. I added sound and a glowing blade just to spice it up.

The move is seen at least 3 different times in the last battle. Keep in mind that different angles, striking effects and faster speeds will make the move look slightly different, but basically this is it.


REDBEARD