While it is true that you may not practice all of your skills without a partner you can still train solo and gain a mastery of many important skills.

I have been a student of Combative Weapons for over 25 years and in this time most of my training has been solo. In this article I would like to offer you some of the information and tools I have used in my training.

I use stacked tires, a hanging tire man and a log buried in the ground outside.

Inside I use an old fire hose filled with sand to act as a thin tough heavy bag and a “De cuerdas” device.

“De cuerdas” is Spanish for “the chord” or “the cord” as that is what the device is made from. It is generally seen as a rope with a staff of stick tied to it.

I like to use a “De cuerdas” consisting of a 5′ staff tied horizontally to a rope that has a log on the bottom to be used as a weight and secondary target.

I will use live weapons against the log and sticks or trainers against the other devices.
My present solo weapons’ training is broken down into 3 basic areas of practice.

Power-Precision-Flow

These three words sum up everything I’m trying to do combatively.
Ignore any one of them and your abilities suffer. Ideally they should balance each other and create synergy in your weapons skills.

My normal solo training progression starts with Flow to warm up and work form, then Precision ending the session with Power. During the Power phase I like to combine all three so that I am generating power, applying it to a precise target and flowing to the next available target.

Flow - I do form slowly to promote smoothness. Sometimes it’s a form/kata. Sometimes it’s a free form carenza from Kali. I go very slowly as if I am moving in mud or doing Tai Chi.

I’ve heard it put like this… “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”. Speed adds to power so for me flow is inseparable from power.

During this practice I may use a live weapon and practice drawing it from its sheath or other uses. I may also use heavier weapons during this phase. All of this is to try to establish proper body mechanics and promote power with precision.

The Decuerdas also promotes flow in the way you have to react to the staff as it reacts to being hit. Intuitive reaction is a big part of flow and the Decuerdas can help develop this.

Precision - Power means nothing if you cannot transfer it to the target. I like to use the Decuerdas and a hanging tennis ball for practicing targeting. I tape the ends of the staff to act as targets for my weapons and put a tennis ball on the rope it hangs from. The ball can be slid up and down the rope to vary the target.

Live blades can be used on the Decuerdas, but it can move pretty fast so I normally use trainers and sticks at full speed and live blades at a slower speed.

Another way to practice precision and power is to cut. Live blade practice on various materials like brush and saplings. Pick a branch and just cut it off, then another till the sapling is bare. Then pick a spot on the sapling and try to cut it there, and then repeat till the sapling is gone. The thing to remember here is “Aim small, miss small” this is target practice for your weapons.

If you don’t personally have brush to clear use cardboard, rolled newspaper, plastic bottles full of water or find someone with an overgrown lot. Ask if they’d pay you to clear it for a few bucks. Few will turn you down.

Power - I place a huge importance on this. An evenly matched test of skill will be decided by power. Have power.

Power also means speed. Speed of reaction and speed of movement. The Decuerdas promotes speed of reaction as the harder you strike it the faster you must react.

I have, in the past, used rubber tubing and fitness bands to provide resistance to my strike extension and promote speed in strike retraction. It’s kind of like doing plyometrics for hand speed.

Striking the tire stack and wooden post or sand filled hose is extremely useful in developing powerful strikes. The resistance they provide allows you to hit them without danger of damaging them. Start out slow and build power till you are hitting as hard as possible.

Live blade cutting also develops power when you are using heavier target material. Do not ignore developing speed in your footwork, again using Plyometric drills and concepts.

Solo training is the perfect opportunity to develop the skills that will allow you to apply the concepts of Power-Precision-Flow in real time to a resistant opponent. By working Flow to smooth your motion and train you intuitive reactions, you will be able to quickly adapt to the changing tempo of weapon combat. The use of Precision targeting will allow you to apply Power where it will do the most damage in the least amount of time.