xtreme martial arts

[Hai_hai]

I watched this program on Discovery Channel called Xtreme Martial Arts. They showed this kata competition where one person used a katana. Well, he wore a custom-made hakama that was black and the fabric between the pleats were a light color. The gi or jacket was a sleeveless jacket. Overall, he placed high but what he performed was not anything like real iaido or kendo. It was more like made-up stuff to look flashy. At one point, he spun the sword in mid-air above him, kind of as if it was a helicoptor blade and he did some gymnastic spinning stuff below. Then, he caught the sword handle. It was pretty impressive that he didn't grab the blade by accident but it was kind of a useless fighting move.
It sucked overall so I don't recommend the program to anyone into real martial arts.

[hyouriittai]

I don't know about you ,but I don't practice a martial art unless it's "xtreme" enough.

But seriously, I watched part of that show and though it may have had some interesting segments, (pretty much just those with the computer animated human cross-sections) it looked like if the art they were presenting wasn't too strip-mall, it was a generalization of a traditional art (i.e. Shaolin demonstration teams.) I didn't watch the whole thing, because I decided to turn it off after watching some US Open footage. I don't have a problem with the US Open, if that's your thing, but there's just something about ripping license plates in half that seems to detract from the whole martial arts mind set.

[luckyb]

The presenters specified that that competition was the freestyle weapons competition, that there are different ones you can participate in, but the freestyle one was the one that judges look for flashy stuff, new ways of twirling swords, etc. The katas would fall on the traditional weapons competition. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[hyouriittai]

The presenters specified that that competition was the freestyle weapons competition, that there are different ones you can participate in, but the freestyle one was the one that judges look for flashy stuff, new ways of twirling swords, etc. The katas would fall on the traditional weapons competition. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Yeah, that sounds right. However, I didn't see that particular segment in the show. If they'd said that the clip itself represented a stylistic demonstration, then I'd be cool with it. On the other hand, if it was supposed to represent iaido, kenjutsu, or any sword-based budo exclusively, I think I'd be a bit steamed. Then again, it's just a TV show, heh heh.

[Fyzle]

Where can I get a clip of that katana guy?

[Jacynth]

Go to Google and type ( Xtreme Martial Arts ).

The First one about the discovery channel shows you a whole range of vidoe clips.

[gsx1100s]

Seems to me the only extreme part is the fact that you'd be Xtremely dumb to twirl a sword around as your opponent ( with a slightly perplexed look on his face) gave you a thumping strike to all the exposed body parts.


cheers Michael

[Twobitmage]

its called wushu

In china they tried to abolish the old "real" martial arts, by changing it into a fancy looking gymnastics thing. I guess it leaked to japanese martial arts too

[Alex]

I wouldn't say it leaked to Japanese martial arts per se , but American versions of...

[webjunkie401]

Umm, I went to their site with the clips and watched the clip about the katana....

This might be more of an iaido question, but everything I've been taught so far tells me that a lot of this guy's form is wrong. When doing noto (sp?) shouldn't both the sword and the saya be almost parallel to the floor? He just leaves the saya pointing downwards and tips the entire sword up in order to sheath it.

[Ben F.]

Hai Hai,

Actually if you watch closely enough you will see this nitwit actually grabs the BLADE of his "sword" after the big twirly, throwing his sword in the air movement.

I hope that will years and years of dilligent training, I too will be able to master that move.

[KATSUJIN]

Oh tat show.... watched it... the only thing tat caught my eye was the segment where they used cg graphics and biomechanics to understand the muscle control capability and so on... Tat was interesting.. Other than tat, the 'martial arts' was...... .. u know wat I mean...