Praveens questions about Kendo

[Martino]

You see to have a few questions for a Praveens no of which were related to reflexes so here is you own thread.

(Sorry couldn't split threads as I am not an administrator so i did the next best thing)

I have a question for all of you martial artists, swordsmen, and even if there are any ninjutsu followers out there. Well lets start when it all began...I was very young about 12 years of age and my goal was to wield a sword. I went to a teacher and he showed me how to wield a bokken. After I had reached the age of 15 I had gotten my first sword (this might sound late but I was told by my master to wait until adulthood to use a weapon) when he told me to strick at air and to practice what I had learned with my boken I was fine, even a sense of power came to mind. But when I had to strick him I couldn't move my thoughts were of painful accidents that could happen if I had swung wrong. How do I Overcome this fear it drives me crazy I never have hesitated to strick with a bokken, but with a sword? Is there something wrong with me? I always thought at first that I would counter any attacks used against me, mabey this is because I use jujutsu.


Are you telling us that you had to strick your Master?


He wanted me to use teh same form I used as a boken against him, he said he would be able to teach me my mistake in the techniques if he had acctually felt it.


Take up Kendo. In Kendo you can hit your opponent with out fear of injuring them or been injured yourself.

Going by what you have said for the last three year you have not had a target to aim at now you do and have to relearn/refine your technique.

Anyway this is a kendo Forum and by the sounds of thing our learning process is different to yours (at our club beginners are hitting people about 5 or 6 weeks into the beginners course). So there is most probably very little advice we can give you. I recommend looking for a ninjutsu forum for this kind of advice.


Thank you, :happy: however I have had an enemy to attack but usally I just wait for them to strick then get a hold to the attacking body part lock it and with little force pull the person on to the ground...not hurting the enimy but leaving him unable to attack me and giving his wepon.

[Martino]

Don't you think being away from the enviorment is leaving you unprotected to attacks from enimies in the enviorment? Not to be rude, but I think you should stay aware of the enviorment as well...
No not been in a environment where my enemy resides means they cant attack me. This is my preferred method of defence.


Thank you, :happy: however I have had an enemy to attack but usally I just wait for them to strick then get a hold to the attacking body part lock it and with little force pull the person on to the ground...not hurting the enimy but leaving him unable to attack me and giving his wepon.
Well if a sword is used correctly an unarmed opponent has real issue getting in to attack a body part. Been swords wo/men we tend to be a lot more aggressive and usually seek to attack our opponents before they attack us. An opponent waiting for you to attack give you the opportunity to get into the optimum position for your attack (this is really bad news for your opponent).

[Kaoru]

What the heck was all that?? I was really confused... Who is this Praveens person? I haven't seen any of his posts yet.

All I can tell is that his teacher isn't a real sword instructor, and that he should immediately be pointed to the direction of a legitimate dojo. So, I'm kind of wondering why you didn't suggest that? This guy could be permanently injured or killed by this "teacher." What he was saying they do sounds very dangerous, if I read all that correctly. It sounds like they use live blades to attack each other. Or did I read that wrong?

Please explain?

Kaoru

[praveens]

No not been in a environment where my enemy resides means they cant attack me. This is my preferred method of defence.


Well if a sword is used correctly an unarmed opponent has real issue getting in to attack a body part. Been swords wo/men we tend to be a lot more aggressive and usually seek to attack our opponents before they attack us. An opponent waiting for you to attack give you the opportunity to get into the optimum position for your attack (this is really bad news for your opponent). I see however in jujutsu there is no need to strick first...and there is a special training in the arts of defending a sword. I also find aggresiveness in most of my oppoments and have found aggression leads to over confidense which can seriously harm the defensive part of your stance...allowing the jujutsu to lock your arms and eventually pinning you. If the opponent is pinned down I can easily acheive his sword.



But Don't get me wrong I am not totally disagreeing with you, swords do make me feel the shivers...and put me in at a disatvantage.

[praveens]

What the heck was all that?? I was really confused... Who is this Praveens person? I haven't seen any of his posts yet.

All I can tell is that his teacher isn't a real sword instructor, and that he should immediately be pointed to the direction of a legitimate dojo. So, I'm kind of wondering why you didn't suggest that? This guy could be permanently injured or killed by this "teacher." What he was saying they do sounds very dangerous, if I read all that correctly. It sounds like they use live blades to attack each other. Or did I read that wrong?

Please explain?

Kaoru
O sorry, I ment to say I had to attack him with a bokken...sorry but what I ment to say is that in the art of kendo or any form of swrodsmen ship I am weak and need some advice. I prefer jujutsu but my brother told me that I should try swordsmenship.

[praveens]

I am new to these forums

[Kaoru]

Hi Praveens-san,

I asked a question above, and I thought you might be helpful and explain yourself, since I realised you are online after I posted. :)

Anyway...

I can help you find a safe and legitimate dojo if you will give me your location-state and city or town.

If your teacher isn't trained(dojo trained, that is by a qualified teacher.) in a legitimate Iaido or Kenjutsu Ryu(style), you could be put in real danger by a person who is claiming to be what they are not, and having you use a live(sharp) blade for sparring.(What it sounds like you guys are doing.) Even a bokken can cause serious injury or death.

No sane teacher in his/her right mind, would have you spar with either a bokken or live blade.

I am offering you a safe environment to train in. I suggest you please take me up on it. I have the resources to help you if you are really serious in learning the real thing.

Please remember, once you die from a bokken or sword injury, you are dead forever. Once you are crippled or brain damaged by a bokken striking you on the head, or other such live blade/bokken injury, you are permanently stuck that way.

So, please seriously consider those things.

You haven't said anything yet about my post above, so I'll think what I just wrote until I hear otherwise, ok? No offense is meant. I just think what I read so far sounds like a dangerous situation.

Feel free to respond. I just am concerned for your safety, that's all. :)

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

O sorry, I ment to say I had to attack him with a bokken...sorry but what I ment to say is that in the art of kendo or any form of swrodsmen ship I am weak and need some advice. I prefer jujutsu but my brother told me that I should try swordsmenship.

Hehehe, well, I guess our posts crossed because you posted this, while I was writing my post just above! I should have waited longer. Guess I need more patience, huh? :D

Well, I'd have said the above anyway in response to this post.

I'm sorry to say, but you aren't really learning real kendo or any other Japanese sword art. We NEVER attack each other with a bokken(or a real sword, for that matter, to clarify things.) in any Japanese sword art. Not even in our kata. We don't actually touch a person. We don't want to kill or maim anyone.

IMNSHO, the guy is crazy for WANTING you to hit him with a bokken. Is he asking to DIE?? Or, at the very least, sustain a serious injury?

Seriously, the guy is totally out of line, and it's painfully obvious now, that he's not a real sword instructor. Next thing you know, he'll be wanting to hit YOU!

It is a death wish to stay with this nut. (Sorry for saying that, but anyone stupid enough to want to be hit with a bokken IS nuts!)

So, please, I'm begging you, let me find you a real teacher!

The rest of what I'd say next is above. ;)

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

I am new to these forums

Oops, missed this post. Sorry! *bow*

So you are! Welcome to the forums! :)

Kaoru

[praveens]

Well I live in the state of california in morgan hill.


O and thank you for awaring me about my sensi

[praveens]

just a question not really related to this topic but when I first looked at these forums I saw a guy by the name of kenshin himura, I think. He was talking about a reverseblade katana and he seemed to copy an anime....does he still post?

[praveens]

I also have a questions about swordsmenship....is there a way to take out the opponent in an instant? If you use your draw as a major attack wouldn't you be left open to a direct attack? Also have any of you been in a state where you are forced to attack?..In self defense of course.

[Martino]

It is a really quite day at work and I have nothing to do. So time to humour everyone with my poor grammar skills.


I'm sorry to say, but you aren't really learning real kendo or any other Japanese sword art. We NEVER attack each other with a bokken(or a real sword, for that matter, to clarify things.) in any Japanese sword art. Not even in our kata. We don't actually touch a person. We don't want to kill or maim anyone.

Never is a bit strong. We do Kata against an opponent. And I have been hit on the head by a bokken by a person who didn't pull his cut.
I fount it pretty amusing. The guy was going for his Shodan (so knew what he was doing) and he was meant to stop the cut just above my forehead. However he was so nervous he forgot to pull the cut and gave me a decent wack. I didn't flinch and continued on with the kata, The guy was shaken and with his next attack pull it way to short (a cut to the wrist). Observers noted that the blow to my head looked painful.
Also high level Dan grades do kata with metal blades. These blades are not Iaito or Shinken, they have been tempers to handle the impact of collision with another blade (I have seen Iaito get bent out of shape due to been used in kendo kata).

Anyway what I am trying to say, Bokken are ore dangerous when people become comfortable using them. At the moment Praveens is worried about hurting his instructor and pulling his cut early. The real danger is when you get confident but lose focus or don't yet have enough control.

<Disclaimer> As I said in a earlier post this is revenant to kendo, as I don't have experience in other arts</Disclaimer>

[Kaoru]

Ok, I'm combining your posts so I don't clutter this thread up with my replies. :)



Well I live in the state of california in morgan hill.


Hey, I've been there! Just a beautiful place... At least it was, about 20-25 years ago, when I visited a friend of mine, when I was a kid. The sky was so free of smog it was purple! I think the altitude had a lot to do with that, too. Is it still like that? Dumb question, I guess... I'm
from So. Cal. originally. I just live here. :D



O and thank you for awaring me about my sensi


You are quite welcome. :) I will see what I can do to find you a real teacher. Cali has a lot of legit kendo dojos. I'll see what's in your area.


just a question not really related to this topic but when I first looked at these forums I saw a guy by the name of kenshin himura, I think. He was talking about a reverseblade katana and he seemed to copy an anime....does he still post?

Actually, there were two of them who posted about this around the same time: Kenshin Himura and Himura Kenshin.

But I remember both, as it was me who did all the talking with both, for the most part... Hehehe, I spent a LOAD of time trying to convince the one you mean(And the other, as well.), that reverse blades are extremely dangerous, and that they are NOT meant for use and not only that, ALL reverse blades sold are cheap wallhangers, which are, in themselves, very dangerous for use, on top of being extremely dangerous to use due to being a reverse blade. They are fantasy swords and are meant for the wall, only. hehehe, If you read all his(and the other guy's) threads, you'll see my posts telling both of them that and a lot more! I told both to stop playing with them immediately, too. I wrote a ton of posts on this, to both. Kenshin Himura actually listened. I forgot if the other guy did or not.

Hiten Mitsurugi isn't a real sword art. :) The mangaka who created the manga/anime, made it all up, INCLUDING the reverse blade. That sword is a symbol of Kenshin's vow to never kill again. It's just pure symbolism, that's all. Good stuff for philosophical thought. The sword can't safely be used in real life.

Do either post anymore? No. I love the anime, but one has to understand the difference between fiction and reality when it comes to anime and manga. :) One just can't learn how to do anime waza(technique). Besides, stuff you see in anime/manga isn't the real thing most of the time. It's best to just join a legitimate dojo.

I don't know why people buy real swords and try to copy anime. It's dangerous and stupid!

Anyway, hehehe, I probably just gave you more info than you wanted! But, maybe it will help answer your question. :)

Kaoru

P.S. Can I ask a really stupid question? How come you wanted to know if he still posts? :confused: Just wondering...

[praveens]

Ok, I'm combining your posts so I don't clutter this thread up with my replies. :)



Hey, I've been there! Just a beautiful place... At least it was, about 20-25 years ago, when I visited a friend of mine, when I was a kid. The sky was so free of smog it was purple! I think the altitude had a lot to do with that, too. Is it still like that? Dumb question, I guess... I'm
from So. Cal. originally. I just live here. :D



You are quite welcome. :) I will see what I can do to find you a real teacher. Cali has a lot of legit kendo dojos. I'll see what's in your area.



Actually, there were two of them who posted about this around the same time: Kenshin Himura and Himura Kenshin.

But I remember both, as it was me who did all the talking with both, for the most part... Hehehe, I spent a LOAD of time trying to convince the one you mean(And the other, as well.), that reverse blades are extremely dangerous, and that they are NOT meant for use and not only that, ALL reverse blades sold are cheap wallhangers, which are, in themselves, very dangerous for use, on top of being extremely dangerous to use due to being a reverse blade. They are fantasy swords and are meant for the wall, only. hehehe, If you read all his(and the other guy's) threads, you'll see my posts telling both of them that and a lot more! I told both to stop playing with them immediately, too. I wrote a ton of posts on this, to both. Kenshin Himura actually listened. I forgot if the other guy did or not.

Hiten Mitsurugi isn't a real sword art. :) The mangaka who created the manga/anime, made it all up, INCLUDING the reverse blade. That sword is a symbol of Kenshin's vow to never kill again. It's just pure symbolism, that's all. Good stuff for philosophical thought. The sword can't safely be used in real life.

Do either post anymore? No. I love the anime, but one has to understand the difference between fiction and reality when it comes to anime and manga. :) One just can't learn how to do anime waza(technique). Besides, stuff you see in anime/manga isn't the real thing most of the time. It's best to just join a legitimate dojo.

I don't know why people buy real swords and try to copy anime. It's dangerous and stupid!

Anyway, hehehe, I probably just gave you more info than you wanted! But, maybe it will help answer your question. :)

Kaoru

P.S. Can I ask a really stupid question? How come you wanted to know if he still posts? :confused: Just wondering...


I wanted to know if he posts because he seemebed to like the way kenshin fought. I know this might sound a little strange but I wonder if he is still cabable to use a sword...a reverse blade could cut the saya and in a proper stance it might led to his leg....

[praveens]

O and morgan hil is still great! =)

[Martino]

Still more waffle....

Let me give you some back ground about kendo and arts around it.

1) Kendo has nothing to do with Self-defence, never has and never will.
2) Iaido is related to drawing and attacking with your weapon. Some again one opponent other against many opponents.
3) In kendo you only ever fight one opponent. Think of it as a duel. There are (usually) no low or underhanded tactics/techniques.
4) Because we use shinai (bamboo) instead of wooden or metal swords and we were protective armour we are able to committee full blown strikes with out fear of injuring our sparing partners.
5) Because we have limited targets areas and requirement for a cut to be scored people can focus on doing correct attacks rather than worrying about getting hit in an unusual place.
6) Kendo is not about winning or losing. It is about doing the best you can.
7) Kendo is meant to be used against a partner who is also practising kendo not a person of the street. You can only do good kendo when your partner is doing good kendo.


I also have a questions about swordsmenship....is there a way to take out the opponent in an instant?
Yes I did it last night.


If you use your draw as a major attack wouldn't you be left open to a direct attack?
If there is one opponent it doesn't matter, if there are multiple will your stuffed anyway....


Also have any of you been in a state where you are forced to attack?..
Been in a state where your are forced to attack is bad, been in a state where you want to attack is good.


In self defence of course.
Hate to break it to you but swords have been superseded for well over 100 years now. Best form of self defence is still not getting into trouble followed by having friends around.

[Kaoru]

It is a really quite day at work and I have nothing to do. So time to humour everyone with my poor grammar skills.



Never is a bit strong. We do Kata against an opponent. And I have been hit on the head by a bokken by a person who didn't pull his cut.
I fount it pretty amusing. The guy was going for his Shodan (so knew what he was doing) and he was meant to stop the cut just above my forehead. However he was so nervous he forgot to pull the cut and gave me a decent wack. I didn't flinch and continued on with the kata, The guy was shaken and with his next attack pull it way to short (a cut to the wrist). Observers noted that the blow to my head looked painful.
Also high level Dan grades do kata with metal blades. These blades are not Iaito or Shinken, they have been tempers to handle the impact of collision with another blade (I have seen Iaito get bent out of shape due to been used in kendo kata).

Anyway what I am trying to say, Bokken are ore dangerous when people become comfortable using them. At the moment Praveens is worried about hurting his instructor and pulling his cut early. The real danger is when you get confident but lose focus or don't yet have enough control.

<Disclaimer> As I said in a earlier post this is revenant to kendo, as I don't have experience in other arts</Disclaimer>

Uh, uh. *shakes head*

We DON'T ever hit each other in our paired kata. Not on purpose. Praveens-san said his teacher wanted to be hit. I have NEVER been asked by ANY sensei I've done kata with-a nanadan included-to hit them with my bokken.

What you are describing, was an accident that happened as a result of a tenouchi problem, most likely. We do the same with shinai. Bad tenouchi means the shinai will club someone and hurt them.

I hit that nanadan by accident on the head once because my maai was off and I accidentally got too close. It was SO embarrassing!! Fortunately, I didn't follow through, and stopped my cut. I had been learning one of the kata I didn't know. I then bowed and said profusely how sorry I was. That was during my first year in kendo at summer camp that year.

As to the iaito, yes, I know all about that. The only contact they get is the same as when one uses the bokken, and that's sword to sword contact in kata No. 4-10.
Nobody ever strikes the person themselves. With Iaito, it can mean death in our kata if we got too close for a shomen cut and forgot tenouchi(to pull), or an injured hand, etc. As far as I know, that's the main reason why only higher dan level people use the iaito, and for demos only. It's just too dangerous otherwise.

In case anyone wonders, having good tenouchi and pulling are the same animal, to me. As far as I know, this is correct, from what I have learned in the dojo. If anyone doesn't agree, please explain. I'd be happy to hear it! I'm only now considering this because of how Martino-san is using the word "pulling." I've never been told that so far. I've only been told I must use good tenouchi to stop the shinai or bokken.

As to your last paragraph, I understand what you are saying, and it's true in a normal situation.

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

I wanted to know if he posts because he seemebed to like the way kenshin fought. I know this might sound a little strange but I wonder if he is still cabable to use a sword...a reverse blade could cut the saya and in a proper stance it might led to his leg....

Oh, I see. Well, I know he didn't get hurt. He got very lucky! It's more like, he could have lost a lot of fingers or his hand, due to how the saya is held and a sword is drawn. Ask the Iaido guys here about this. Charles Mahan, who teaches Iaido, once talked about this subject, if I remember right. If I knew where to find his post, I'd give it. You should pm him about it, if you want to know more about why/how drawing one is so dangerous. I only know so much about it...

About it cutting the saya? Possibly. But don't quote me on it! A trained Iaidoka will know more than I do. I may know something, but I don't know enough on this to tell you more.

Kaoru

P.S. Yes, the way Kenshin fought is kinda cool... for anime. I prefer the OVA version though.
Geez, I sound like a geek! :eek:

[Kaoru]

O and morgan hil is still great! =)

Awesome!! I thought it was really a neat place, back then. :) I'm glad it's still nice!

Kaoru

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

I have adifferent understanding of tenouchi but I don´t feel capable of explaining this in english, it´s quite complicated and I don´t consider myself clear on this as I don´t know how to read kanji, but I´ve discussed this many times with different senseis and they agree on the explanation, I find it to be quite different to what tenouchi is meant when mentioned on this forum anyway.

[Martino]

We DON'T ever hit each other in our paired kata. Not on purpose. Praveens-san said his teacher wanted to be hit.

Yere we could haver read his comment differently. If Praveens teacher want him to connect that not the best move.

re: tenouchi and pulling and as Kaoru aluded to.
I have dumbed down the use of kendo termonoligy on the assumption that Praveens wouldn't understand what I was saying. "Tenouchi" has more meaning that the word "pulling". When explaining Tenouchi other descriptive work are used as well like Snap, Focus, Wringing, etc

[Hisham]

Praveens, what's the name of the sword art you're being taught?

[theicychameleon]

"I also have a questions about swordsmenship....is there a way to take out the opponent in an instant? If you use your draw as a major attack wouldn't you be left open to a direct attack? Also have any of you been in a state where you are forced to attack?..In self defense of course."

Sounds like Iai to me :)

"We DON'T ever hit each other in our paired kata. Not on purpose. Praveens-san said his teacher wanted to be hit."

Maybe we're misinterpreting this. I remember once my teacher was in front of me while I was practicing tsuka ate and he decided that I wasn't putting enough feeling in, so he sat down in front of me and told me to try and hit him with the initial ate. He was ready for it of course and he didn't actually desire me to hit him but he wanted me to feel like I was going to. Similarly in Karate (yeeeears back) I was doing... kumite is it? The paired blocking/attacking thing, and I'd started to aim my punches where he was blocking them instead of my target. He noticed this and asked me to try and hit him. of course he was quick enough that I never could but thats what he said. Is that in any way applicable?

[h2o]

We DON'T ever hit each other in our paired kata. Not on purpose. Praveens-san said his teacher wanted to be hit.
I might have read the posts in a bit of a hurry, but where does it say that his teacher wanted to be hit, as in sword connecting with body?
As I read it, the teacher either wanted him to cut at him but stop before contact, or try to hit him in order to make him be able to carry out a specific technique.

As you already might be aware of, kendo no kata requires that you actually try to hit your opponent in order for the kata to work.

[Drew]

I'm sorry to say, but you aren't really learning real kendo or any other Japanese sword art. We NEVER attack each other with a bokken(or a real sword, for that matter, to clarify things.) in any Japanese sword art. Not even in our kata. We don't actually touch a person. We don't want to kill or maim anyone.

IMNSHO, the guy is crazy for WANTING you to hit him with a bokken. Is he asking to DIE?? Or, at the very least, sustain a serious injury?

Seriously, the guy is totally out of line, and it's painfully obvious now, that he's not a real sword instructor. Next thing you know, he'll be wanting to hit YOU!

So, please, I'm begging you, let me find you a real teacher!

Erm.... Kaoru, you might want to be a little less, erm.... vociferous in your condemnation of Praveen's sensei. It's quite possible that Praveen is unable to communicate clearly what his sensei required of him.

[shred_lord]

And for Drew's next trick he will tell the tide to stop!

[Drew]

And for Drew's next trick he will tell the tide to stop!

That bad, huh?

[kartoffelngeist]

Kaoru: From what I've read, Praveens has never stated he does kendo, iai or any of the sword arts in which you seem to have authority.
To talk about his sensei like that when you don't even know what art he's doing is just plain rude.

I really think you need to do something about your dogamtic, black and white attitude. Things like 'we never do this in any Japanese sword art'. There's no reason why people should have to conform to your ideas of what is 'legit', and just because you don't have experience of something doesn't mean it is wrong.

Once you have more experience in every aspect of Japanese sword arts, then you can probably criticise. Until then you come accross amazingly arrogant.

[praveens]

Praveens, what's the name of the sword art you're being taught?

I learn Iai but i am still a begginer

[praveens]

I might have read the posts in a bit of a hurry, but where does it say that his teacher wanted to be hit, as in sword connecting with body?
As I read it, the teacher either wanted him to cut at him but stop before contact, or try to hit him in order to make him be able to carry out a specific technique.

As you already might be aware of, kendo no kata requires that you actually try to hit your opponent in order for the kata to work.
He wanted me to pull back his hit but I still didn't like the fact of useing a wepon.....

[theicychameleon]

"And for Drew's next trick he will tell the tide to stop!"

Wasn't that originally a demonstration of piety, as in he knew the tide wouldn't stop but he wanted to shut his syncophants up? :)

"He wanted me to pull back his hit but I still didn't like the fact of useing a wepon....."

Bokken or Iaito? I know what you mean if it was an Iaito, I get real uncomfortable using near other people, but if its a bokken... well we are supposed to be learning to use a sword against someone.

[Kenzan]

Personally, I think some people should master proper English grammar before the sword.

[Hisham]

I learn Iai but i am still a begginer

Ok, don't want it to sound like an interogation but what is the name of your dojo, some members here might recognise it and based on that, answer your questions more to the point.

[Mr. T.]

Holy $h!t, this is one very confusing thread. First, praveens, may I suggest that you use a spelling check when you post, Your spelling is even worse than mine. I not attacking you, I just have some serious problems reading your posts.

Ok, let's give it a try. I'll start at the beginning of the thread and work my way up. A little back ground here (I hate it when newbie’s don't take the time to fill in their public profile). What are the MA that you practice? Also, are you wielding a live blade or an iaito? Next are you practicing sword to sword, or bokken vs bokken? Some one suggested ninjutsu, I'm not a ninjutsu fan and a serious non-believer. Just don't go there, If some one says they teach ninjutsu, it's BS. Budo Tai Jutsu (Hatsumi) or any of the X-kan groups claim some connection to ninjutsu, but so far I haven't been convinced.

I agree with Kaoru here, you sensei isn't described as regular JSA practitioner, but that might be because of the confusing posts, could you give us some more background info on his JSA/MA history, name, grade, name of the school, ryu, etc.

So you do Ju Jutsu? Some one should have told you that disarming a swordsman must be a last resort measure, a skilled swordsman is very dangerous and almost impossible to disarm. Striking first makes surviving an encounter with a swordsman a lot more plausible.



But Don't get me wrong I am not totally disagreeing with you, swords do make me feel the shivers...and put me in at a disatvantage.

That's the whole idea of owning a sword in the good ol'days :D


k and need some advice. I prefer jujutsu but my brother told me that I should try swordsmenship.

Go and find a dojo then, we internet warriors agree on on thing: Proper swordsmanship can only be learned at a legit dojo with proper instructions.


just a question not really related to this topic but when I first looked at these forums I saw a guy by the name of kenshin himura, I think. He was talking about a reverseblade katana and he seemed to copy an anime....does he still post?

If he still does, avoid him, reversed blades are BS


I also have a questions about swordsmenship....is there a way to take out the opponent in an instant?

That's what iai is for


If you use your draw as a major attack wouldn't you be left open to a direct attack?

Not if you do it right ;)


Also have any of you been in a state where you are forced to attack?..In self defense of course.

No, I try to avoid street fights and up north we are allowed to carry swords in public, it tends to get you shot by the local police force. :D In kendo and kenjutsu there are some tricks to fool your opponent into attacking you first, but you have to be very good to pull of without getting hit.

That's about it. This is one very confusing thread. I hope it will make some sense... soon

[theicychameleon]

"and he seemed to copy an anime"
Ah! Theres the problem right there ;)
"If you use your draw as a major attack wouldn't you be left open to a direct attack?"
Are you talking about that bit where kenshin resheathes his sword to take advantage of saya banare? Noone actually does that as far as I know. Drawing cuts are so you don't have to walk around with your sword in your hand the whole time. Also see furikiburi.

[Hisham]

I hereby declare that we made some progress as far as tolerance is concerned :square:
The record of post counts before anvils start raining was by far broken :D

[theicychameleon]

Scott UK hasn't even said anything :D

[Nige]

Scott UK hasn't even said anything :D

We tied him up :p