Posted by Fulgore

When you c-style you tend to move in pretty wide, predictable arcs. This makes someone with good timing able to hit you while you're still in the arc of the "c" and not at the ends, and since your character tends to not be facing inwards of the "c" when they strike, even trading isn't an option. It's why c-styling has fallen out of favor I think, unless vs. delay when a rush isn't as likely to counter it.

Well W-style is basically C style, its a means to contain your opponent within your 2 endpoints. As for fighting someone using this sort of style, it depends on how wide of an area the person is using with his arcs.

If your opponent has a somewhat wide arc in his C/W style, you're gonna want to run towards the centre of this arc as soon as he slashes his sword. Factoring in the delay, you'll hit him as he's running. If he instead uses small arcs, get in as close as u can without stepping into his sword range, and then quarter-circle move and slash. Good sparrers will mix these two up though.

EDIT: If you're in the lead after getting in a hit, a good way to force a trade that I sometimes use is to guess which way (he'll prolly be running towards you) he's gonna start running, and go there immediately and start spamming your sword. Most people will instinctively start running towards this point and as they see you standing there they'll slash and you'll get your trade or even a free hit if he messes up. Trades are so much better for you even with just 1 hit advantage.  

IMO sparring in the shape of a letter or other symbol is helpful if you don't know what to do in neutral. It gives you something to do while your mind watches the opponent, and you react from your "home" position before returning to neutral. As you improve, you will realize that these shapes limit yourself to a single form of offense (easy to defend) and a predictable form of defense (easy to attack). You effectively block yourself from adapting and challenging an opponent properly as the state of the match changes over time.

If I watch my spacing and force you to back into a wall without either of us getting hit, you will realize you can't do your full letter or shape and will try to find a way to push me back or move to another zone. So I know you'll either be a bit more offensive (lack defense in panic?) or find a zone to run to safety (and I expect this, so reacting and punishing isn't difficult). This kind of thought process happens very quickly, and you won't notice it unless you consider it before the match or are trained to identify the situation as it comes up. Practice makes perfect.  

So I've been practising with the O technique (the books in the library are really useful). I use fakes in my pattern and usually move in diagonals because of the slight speed advantage. But people always go to the walls to prevent me from completing the O pattern which is smart. I try to cut to their sides but that's pretty much what they wanted and I get hit from my sides. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas on what I could do to approach them safely without getting hit. Btw sorry for the bump but I really needed help.  

Posted by Arsenal

So I've been practising with the O technique (the books in the library are really useful). I use fakes in my pattern and usually move in diagonals because of the slight speed advantage. But people always go to the walls to prevent me from completing the O pattern which is smart. I try to cut to their sides but that's pretty much what they wanted and I get hit from my sides. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas on what I could do to approach them safely without getting hit. Btw sorry for the bump but I really needed help.

If people are walling, pretend you're going to run straight at them then hit them from underneath.
You might have to change your style for this though  

How to upload "stab" swords? You keep empty some frames?  

There are templates online.