We finally stopped, and all the students were breathing heavily; half of the students were on the ground while the other half had their hands on their knees to keep balance.
"Good, it seems you are now awake; today, we start with the basics; pick a sword," Sofia said firmly as all the students stood up and picked up wooden swords.
"Your stance, footwork, grip, and simple strikes. These are the foundations of swordsmanship. If you don't get these right, nothing else will matter."
She demonstrated the basic stance first. Her feet were shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. She stood tall, but her weight was balanced.
"Your feet need to be steady but ready to move at any moment," she explained. "Your knees should be relaxed, not locked. This gives you flexibility, spread out"
Sofia motioned for the students to copy her, some adjusted quickly, while others shifted uncomfortably, trying to find balance.
