Sharpen your Combat Skills
Make foam practice swords and follow safe footwork, striking drills, and reaction games to improve coordination, timing, and non-contact combat strategy.
Step-by-step guide to Sharpen your Combat Skills
Step 1
Clear a safe open space about 6 big steps long and remove anything breakable.
Step 2
Use the ruler and marker to measure and mark a 60 cm length on one pool noodle.
Step 3
Cut the pool noodle at the mark with scissors to make the sword body.
Step 4
Wrap duct tape around one end of the noodle to make a sturdy comfortable grip handle.
Step 5
Wrap coloured tape or add stickers to the other end to make a padded striking tip.
Step 6
Repeat Steps 2 to 5 to make a second foam sword for a partner.
Step 7
Place two cones or small objects about 2 big steps apart to set your footwork line.
Step 8
Put on your comfortable shoes and tie back long hair.
Step 9
Stand in a guard stance with feet shoulder-width one foot slightly forward knees bent and sword held with two hands in front.
Step 10
Practice step-and-slide footwork by taking five smooth forward slide steps then five smooth backward slide steps along the cone line.
Step 11
Practice three slow controlled non-contact taps to your partner’s sword tip while staying in guard.
Step 12
After each tap return immediately to your guard stance.
Step 13
Play five rounds of a reaction game where one person calls “Strike” and the other must tap the partner’s sword tip as quickly as they can then switch roles.
Step 14
Walk slowly to inspect your swords and tape any loose spots to keep them safe for more play.
Step 15
Share your finished practice sword and one drill you learned on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of a pool noodle if I can't find one?
If you don't have a pool noodle, use a rolled-up towel or the cardboard tube from wrapping paper as the sword body and secure it with duct tape, then follow Step 3 to trim or tape it to a 60 cm length.
My scissors won't cut the pool noodle cleanly — what should we do?
If scissors struggle at Step 3, have an adult score and cut the noodle with a serrated kitchen knife or make small snips and tear along the line, then smooth any rough edge with duct tape in Step 4.
How can I adapt the activity for a 4-year-old or a 12-year-old?
For a 4‑year‑old, have an adult do Step 2–3, pad the tip extra with layers of coloured tape in Step 5 and shorten the footwork line to one big step, while a 12‑year‑old can use the full 60 cm sword, extend the cone line and add faster timed reaction rounds from Step 11.
How can we make the game more challenging or personalize our swords?
Make coloured tape target zones on the padded tip in Step 5, keep score and time the five reaction rounds in Step 11 with a stopwatch, and decorate each sword with stickers before sharing on DIY.org as in the final step.
Watch videos on how to Sharpen your Combat Skills
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Facts about martial arts and safe swordplay for kids
⏱️ Average human reaction time to visual cues is around 250 ms — reaction drills can shave precious milliseconds off that time.
⚔️ Fencers can land a valid touch in under 300 milliseconds — quick timing often beats raw power.
🧽 Foam 'boffer' weapons are padded to absorb impact so players can practice full-speed strikes with much lower injury risk.
🦶 Great footwork is a superpower: practicing steps and angles improves balance, speed, and the ability to control distance.
🎭 Stage combat uses choreography, misdirection, and timing to make fights look real while keeping performers non-contact and safe.
How do I run the "Sharpen your Combat Skills" activity with foam practice swords?
What materials do I need to make foam practice swords and set up drills?
What ages is the foam sword combat activity suitable for?
What safety precautions should I follow for non-contact foam sword practice?
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