![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
How to make a Triangular Lock in Longsword Dancing
I'm writing this here mainly so that I can find it again in years to come.
I did two longsword workshops at Purbeck Folk Festival and both went very well. I taught the North Skelton dance on the first day and went for broke and did Helmsley on the second. The second dance is not nearly as well known and includes a rare triangular lock.
I spent several hours with the aid of several kind volunteers on and off the campsite figuring how to make the figure from the very ambiguous instructions in my longsword book. (To be fair, it's very difficult to describe longsword moves to someone who has never seen them.) As you can see, the research paid off. Here's the workshop group with their completed lock.
I've tried to write my own set of instructions (after spending most of this morning fiddling around with swords laid out on the floor), and I think mine may be easier to follow - but possibly only by me....
Form a hilt and point ring numbered 1-6 clockwise
Even numbers, release the hilt of your sword.
Odd numbers, fold up the two swords you are holding like closing a pair of scissors. The sword in your right hand will remain pretty much where it was, the sword in your left will be parallel to it, but closer to the middle of the set.
There will now be three sets of parallel swords.
Close up the set - everyone shuffle a little towards the middle (or you can do that while folding up the swords.)
Evens, reach out with your empty right hand and take the point that is closest to you - Odds, release the point that you are holding and let the even to your left take it. (We're talking about the same point here) Keep the swords parallel and cross your right hand over your left hand in order to make the parallel sets overlap correctly)
Odds, in your empty left hand, reach out and take the hilt to your left. Cross your right hand over your left in order to make the parallel sets overlap correctly.
You should now have three sets of parallel swords (each pair should have a point and a hilt at each end) and the pairs should all overlap a bit like an Escher ascending staircase. If you're using wooden swords, you'll need to have parallel lines 10-15 cm apart in order for the next move to be possible. Metal swords are a bit more flexible, but you'll still need a gap between the parallel lines
The dancers will find that they are in pairs, with two people very close (arms partly overlapping) at each apex of the triangle.
Evens - cross your left hand over your right hand.
Odds - cross your left hand over your right hand. (You can do odds first if you want, but I think it works slightly better with evens first)
Tidy up the corners ( you'll see the pattern and how it should go) and take some time to get the whole lock looking neat - it'll be pretty ropey for your first few attempts)
Number one lifts it in the air, and the audience cheer.
I did two longsword workshops at Purbeck Folk Festival and both went very well. I taught the North Skelton dance on the first day and went for broke and did Helmsley on the second. The second dance is not nearly as well known and includes a rare triangular lock.
I spent several hours with the aid of several kind volunteers on and off the campsite figuring how to make the figure from the very ambiguous instructions in my longsword book. (To be fair, it's very difficult to describe longsword moves to someone who has never seen them.) As you can see, the research paid off. Here's the workshop group with their completed lock.
I've tried to write my own set of instructions (after spending most of this morning fiddling around with swords laid out on the floor), and I think mine may be easier to follow - but possibly only by me....
Form a hilt and point ring numbered 1-6 clockwise
Even numbers, release the hilt of your sword.
Odd numbers, fold up the two swords you are holding like closing a pair of scissors. The sword in your right hand will remain pretty much where it was, the sword in your left will be parallel to it, but closer to the middle of the set.
There will now be three sets of parallel swords.
Close up the set - everyone shuffle a little towards the middle (or you can do that while folding up the swords.)
Evens, reach out with your empty right hand and take the point that is closest to you - Odds, release the point that you are holding and let the even to your left take it. (We're talking about the same point here) Keep the swords parallel and cross your right hand over your left hand in order to make the parallel sets overlap correctly)
Odds, in your empty left hand, reach out and take the hilt to your left. Cross your right hand over your left in order to make the parallel sets overlap correctly.
You should now have three sets of parallel swords (each pair should have a point and a hilt at each end) and the pairs should all overlap a bit like an Escher ascending staircase. If you're using wooden swords, you'll need to have parallel lines 10-15 cm apart in order for the next move to be possible. Metal swords are a bit more flexible, but you'll still need a gap between the parallel lines
The dancers will find that they are in pairs, with two people very close (arms partly overlapping) at each apex of the triangle.
Evens - cross your left hand over your right hand.
Odds - cross your left hand over your right hand. (You can do odds first if you want, but I think it works slightly better with evens first)
Tidy up the corners ( you'll see the pattern and how it should go) and take some time to get the whole lock looking neat - it'll be pretty ropey for your first few attempts)
Number one lifts it in the air, and the audience cheer.