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Saber Standard Notation

What to learn first

Do not start by memorizing the full notation legend. Begin with the beginner core — the six beginner target lines, the basic attacks, their matching parries, the two-Saberist table format, and CM-A, the first core movement — which is enough to read and practice your first Saber Standard sequence. The full reference is waiting in the Notation Legend when you need it.

Prefer to watch? — 10 minute lesson

Play: saber combat choreography for beginners, starting with CM-A

Saber Standard Notation is an open-source weapon combat notation system used for SaberCraft choreographies. It is the written movement language of the Saber Standard, and it helps students, instructors, clubs, schools, and performance groups write choreographed saber movement clearly enough to teach, rehearse, review, and preserve.

Target numbers are named from the attacker's perspective: the clock face sits on the partner, and the number is read from the attacking side. That is a rule about naming lines, and it is the only place the attacker's view is privileged.

The system itself is written for both Saberists. Every movement is notated as two rows of equal standing — each Saberist has their own line, and either may attack or defend at any step. Notation that records only the attacking line can express one thing: a run of attacks answered in turn, one person acting and the other reacting for the whole sequence. That is a monologue, and on the floor it looks staged.

Saber Standard Notation is built to write a duel as a dialogue, where the initiative passes back and forth the way it does in a real exchange. That is what makes it a language rather than a list of targets. CM-D is where a Saberist first meets it directly: the attack changes hands mid-sequence, and both rows are active.

It is also meant to be built with. The choreography is not the standard — the notation language is. Saberists, schools, and clubs use it to write, teach, and share choreography of their own, not only to reproduce SaberCraft's.

Below is a quick overview of how the notation works and the intended target points. Once you understand that, begin learning the Choreography Movements.

The target points
The first six targets
The 1st six targets		 The second four targets
The 2nd four targets		 The three deadly shots
The 3 deadly shots

Select any diagram to open it full size in a new tab.

Attacks and parries

The simplest Saber Standard notation uses numbers and the letter P.

Symbol type Meaning
Number Attack toward that target line
Number + P Parry against that target line
Attack Matching parry
1 1P
11 11P

The two-Saberist table

Most beginner Saber Standard sequences are written as a two-row table.

One row belongs to each Saberist. Each column is one step in the choreography.

Player Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Saberist A 1 11 3
Saberist B 1P 11P 3P

Read the table vertically, one column at a time.

  • Step 1: Saberist A attacks 1; Saberist B parries 1P.
  • Step 2: Saberist A attacks 11; Saberist B parries 11P.
  • Step 3: Saberist A attacks 3; Saberist B parries 3P.

The table keeps both performers connected to the same timing.

Attacking

Picture a clock and place your partner in the middle of that clock. When attacking, you swing the saber so that the tip arrives at the appropriate target point.

When you attack a 1, you are swinging the saber so the tip reaches the 1-o'clock mark, which is around the left side of your partner's head.

In the Saber Standard there is no actual contact, so the saber comes to within six inches of the target and stops there. The key to attacking is controlling your saber so it arrives firmly and accurately at the target point.

While attacking, you step forward with your attacks.

The beginner path uses six target lines:

Target Attack Description Target Attack Description
1 Attack 1 High / upper center line 11 Attack 11 High opposite line
3 Attack 3 Side line 9 Attack 9 Opposite side line
5 Attack 5 Low line 7 Attack 7 Opposite low line

These six lines are used in CM-A and give new Saberists a simple starting vocabulary.

For more detail, see Targets.

Defending

Picture a clock. Now mirror it and place yourself in the center of that clock. When defending, imagine that you are the clock. You are positioning your hands at a number on the clock.

As in many martial arts, defending is more difficult than attacking. Hold your saber firmly, and remind your partner to attack a particular target point with accuracy, focusing on meeting your blade, not your body.

While defending, you step backward with your defended attack.

Each attack line has a matching parry:

Parry Defense Description Parry Defense Description
1P Parry 1 High / upper center line 11P Parry 11 High opposite line
3P Parry 3 Side line 9P Parry 9 Opposite side line
5P Parry 5 Low line 7P Parry 7 Opposite low line

For more detail, see Parries.

First complete example: CM-A

CM-A is the first official core movement sequence.

Player Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Saberist A 1 11 3 9 5 7
Saberist B 1P 11P 3P 9P 5P 7P

The choreography above states the following:

  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 1-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.
  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 11-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.
  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 3-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.
  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 9-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.
  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 5-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.
  • Saberist A attacks their partner's 7-o'clock target; Saberist B parries the attack.

CM-A teaches the basic attack/parry relationship across the six beginner lines.

For the full teaching page, see CM-A.

Beyond attacks and parries

Attacks and parries are only the beginning. Saber Standard Notation also records blade contact, body movement, grip, footwork, and flourishes, so a written sequence can describe a whole exchange rather than just where the saber goes.

A few examples:

Symbol Meaning
© Complete
B Bash
Ig Inverted grip
K Kick
D Duck
St-B Step back
Fl-Rev Reverse flourish (saber spin)

These are a sample. The Notation Legend holds the full vocabulary.

Next steps

Moving to the next stage means becoming part of the community. This is about building groups so you can practice, learn, and grow with others.

As a Saberist, you learn the system, memorize the Choreography Movements, then build your own choreographies and a community to share them with.

What notation does not replace

Notation is powerful, but it does not replace live teaching.

A notation table may not fully show:

  • speed
  • distance
  • acting intention
  • emotional tone
  • exact footwork
  • safety adjustments
  • camera angle or staging

Use notation with instruction, rehearsal, video, or coaching when needed.

A note on the name

The system carried several names during its development, including the Temporal Notation System, the LUMINA Notation System, and the SaberCraft Notation System. It is now the Saber Standard Notation System, for clarity and ease of adoption. Older material may still use the earlier names; they all refer to the same notation.