Has anyone tried Chanbara/Goshindo?

[lewis]

See http://www.angelfire.com/sports/chanbara/main.html and
http://www.samuraisports.com/Chanbara/Goshindo/goshindo.html


Has anyone tried this? I am interested in your thoughts. How well do the padded weapons work? How similar is it to free practice with a shinai and bogu? If it is taught with the same earnestness (as opposed to a 'let's just goof around with padded swords' attitude) as traditional kendo, what is missing because of the different equipment? Do you learn more from free practice when you spar against a number of different weapons during practice?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and the benefit of your experience.

[JSchmidt]

I think this quote from one the websites says it all :D :

"Moreover, younger students enjoy pretending to be a secret ninja or a great knight, while learning the basics of simple weaponry techniques without realizing it. "

Or this one

"A new era in swordsmanship has begun."

Or :

"During the intense two-day course you will learn:

1. Kihon kata (basic forms with the weapons)
2. Striking sets
3. Blocking sets
4. Sparring techniques
5. Correct ways to handle the weapons such as swords, double swords, staves and pole-arms
6. Tournament rules and fighting, and
7. How to be a certified Chanbara judge at soon to come Chanbara events in your area.
"

Hmmmm... 2 day course to become a certified instructor?:D

Jakob

[lewis]

Additional (better) links for Chanbara:

http://www.samuraisports.com/Chanbara/Articles/Melee_Combat/melee_combat.html

http://www.samuraisports.com/Chanbara/Articles/Wrong_Move/wrong_move.html

http://www.internationalsportschanbara.net/index2.html

http://www.internationalsportschanbara.net/what2.html

[lewis]

Actually my favorite piece of marketing you-know-what was "Needless to say, the sport swept through Japan like wildfire..." Yeah, right.

However, I was more interested in the reality of it rather than the perception from the outside, which I share with you.

GCL

[Will]

omg, i can't believe this is real...while reading about chanbara i couldn't help but think of www.realultimatepower.net .

not to offend anyone who does chanbara but it seems kind of like, gay (no offense to homosexuals either). I mean, come on, your waving around a foamed pad....if i wanted to do that i would have gone to the swimming pool and use one of their tubed floating devices...

and more quotes...
"Children love chanbara. An instructor can take an entire classroom of students and teach them the basics in less than an hour. It is easy to introduce into any school's physical education program, be it Kindergarten or College."
That's what i want, my kid beating other kids senseless! Great! Let them enjoy violence! Let them enjoy beating other kids senselessly at a young age not learning that beating people up actually hurt! at least with kendo discipline is involved and the kids can feel the pain...

[David J]

Originally posted by Will
omg, i can't believe this is real...while reading about chanbara i couldn't help but think of www.realultimatepower.net .


Will, you are a bad man. I am in pain. "Seppuku with a Frisbee" was the funniest thing I'd read in ages.

Ow...

Dave

[Will]

NO!!! www.realultimatepower.net is down now!!! NO!!!!

[GMason]

I've been told, that Chanbara is often used to encourage kids to get into Kendo.

They let the kids have a bash around with the foam sticks and they really enjoy it.

Then two high grades demostrate Kendo and how it should be done. This usually blows the kids minds and they want to practice Kendo.

Sounds like a good plan to me !!!

[damocles]

there was a documentary about the katana on the disovery channel... or was that national geographic... anyway, at the end of it there was a 5 minute segment on chanbara.

can't say I was too impressed.

in any case, the founder of the activity, who makes a living bringing antique blades back to japan, created the game because he noted that japanese children are not too interested in the sword arts these days... or rather the discipline and practice involved.

hence the rather nerf-like chanbara.

if people can slippery-slope it to get kids into kendo... well... I can't say I'm against that. but in and of itself... a waste of time methinks

[Hagakure]

Its like a scary childish version of Kendo. I'm VERY inclined to agree with damocles, a sort of watered down Kendo to spur interest in sword arts.

I hate to say it, but I feel somewhat offended. I am reminded of a good friend of mine who wanted to argue with me over which was better, Kendo or French fencing. I was not interested in professing into him the past or art of Kendo, because I was knew he was set in his way. (not that I would argue against fencing.) I feel as if now these little kids in these photos will never be able to appreciate Kendo, because they will be caught up in the stupid supieriority struggle.

So I'm not making much sense. I guess what I'm saying is I will rue the day (if it ever comes) when I tell someone I practice Kendo and they say "thats good, but have you tried Chanbara?!"
I hope we are never faced with that.

If people recognize it chance to stepstone to Kendo at a younger age, that is great. I feel somewhat inclined to say however that the young are capable in Kendo. I know eight year olds who are quite good. Better than me in some cases from weight of expirience.

I would like to see it lead to more Kendoka, but otherwise, its a ripoff. Or at least it something the people here are well beyond.