I happened upon the following theatrical lesson at the end of the day.  This young boy was learning that you protect your neck by thinking of his sword as a pendulum on a clock, suspended from the tip, to block your opponent’s blade.  Let the sword swing right…

…then left…

And you protect your legs by thinking of the sword like a golf club…swing right…

And your shoulders from an overhead assault with a held block!

which then you could, slide down your opponent’s blade, catch his guard, and ram your hilt into her gut!  (Wish I’d gotten a picture of that – this little guy was the best at that part.)

This theatrical swordplay company is called Phoenix Swords, and the gal teaching did a really good job.  I now have a better idea how to learn choreography – I always wondered about that in movies.  I knew it was all choreographed, but how to break it up so you could name it and remember it…voila.