When I started Smash the Beats, my idea was to use it to do sports in virtual reality. If you play the game by simply pointing one-handedly at the boxes, then you don't burn many calories.

Also, it doesn't feel like a good sword fight I know from Kendo. So, I tried some things to improve the feeling!

I started with my right hand, then going to the configuration of my Oculus Go and change to left-handed and then played a few songs with that. It’s quite complicated with all the going back and forth and not the idea I had. It also doubles your training time, as you have to train both your arms separately.

It’s also not what I had in my mind. When I was younger, I did a little sword fighting, Kendo, and I loved dealing double-handed blows. Going for one handed sword fight didn't feel right, though. So now I grab the controller with both hand, even if it is a little off to the right (for me as being right-handed). But it doesn’t make much of a difference, the game works with one and both hands grabbing the controller all the same.

So I now grab the controller with both hands, like a Katana and train both arms at the same time 😉

Other games, like Beatron2000 are more right sided, Beatron it not really made for double hands. Great game, really, you should try it, the graphics are just crazy!

On the other hand (haha) there is Hardlight Blade where you have to use both hands on the sword. And I don’t mean the fighting challenge they have - which is crazily good, btw, but they have their own Beat Saber variation hidden in the game. It's different to Smash the Beat, still a lot of fun.

Another thing that I always use is weights for my arms. I didn’t start out with the idea of a harder training with more effect, but I wanted it to be more realistic. A sword has its weight, as has a hammer. So I ordered two 500 grams/1 Pound weights that I can fix around my wrists. That works like a charm, you really feel your muscles after 30-45 minutes of fighting boxes! Just don’t start too hard or you may hurt yourself. 2 songs without weights, then, when you’re warm, strap them on.

I now ordered Adidas weight gloves with the same weight, they are much better as the wrist weights, as they tend to get loose after 2 or 3 songs. Also, I can combine the gloves with the wrist weights for more impact if I want to - which gives you the weight of an actual hammer 😉