The first stage is followed by a ritual greeting to God, to the Guru and to the weapon. This can be used alone or in a pair, and is used to strengthen the vigour and flexibility of the student and to find the balance of the weapon. After this a shorter stick is used with a partner as preparation for using the sword. One tries to hit the body of the partner while the sparring partner will block or deflect the blow and successively counter attacking using the head, neck, shoulder, waist, knee and feet. All this is coupled with the characteristic circular step.
Experienced students use flexible weapons like a belt, rope, whip or chain.
The sword is only used by the experienced practitioner for its nobility, not particularly for its difficulty of use. The first is to ward off and then to hit. Usually there is no winner proclaimed. It can be considered as first essential step to the fight where there will be a winner appointed. In the second type the victory is awarded after three valid scores.