Naginata technique in Dragon Age II (PC Game) Cinematic?

[Tommy_Z]

Hello (Kendo) World,


Working as a 3D artist, I watch game Cinematics and occasionally play games for...research.

Having come across the latest Dragon Age II trailer at;
http://kotaku.com/5623187/dragon-age...-directors-cut

I couldn't help but think that the fight choreography is heavily based off (probably MoCaped from) Naginata technique, and hence might be of interest to Kendo World readers. Okay, technically it's very 'loose' Naginata vs. Nito-ryu ('cept that one weapon is an Axe by a seriously horny Demon), and the hero does that double-footed jumping 'men-uchi'.

[stealth_monkey]

It reminded me more of wushu straight sword, but I do see where you're coming from. Cheers for the link, massive fan of dragon age and hadn't seen that trailer

[Anonymous]

looked like regular twirlyness to me.

[Tommy_Z]

looked like regular twirlyness to me.

looked like regular twirlyness to me.

On the subject of "Twirlyness"...you're right and I do believe that adjective applies to almost all choreographed sword fights (particularly by western fight choreographers). This is something of a pet peeve of mine - Star Wars for example;
1) While twirling Lightsabers are visually impressive, the Kamae and strikes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Quigon Jinn (in the fight vs. Darth Maul) are really bad (i.e. no 'Ki-Ken-Tai-Ichi", bent over forward, too much 'twirlyness'). Jedi strike force on Geonosis were basically just 'all twirl' but otherwise looked like a bunch of five year olds playing swords. So these are supposed to be Jedi?!? really!
2) Ever wonder why they even bother to parry a Lightsaber when you can theoretically switch it 'on' and 'off' in an instant (and thus be able to make it go straight through an opponents parry)? It's funny how this little detail is mostly omitted despite the depth of detail that Star Wars Universe fiction can get into about Jedi, lightsabers, and the various styles associated with using them.

Most sword duels in films/games are mostly BS fantasy, really. 'Tis why I appreciate Kendo - wanting to experience the beauty of the real thing, I'll just go and watch my the videos of the Hachidan championships or watch my Sensei/Sempai go at it! IMHO the real tragedy is that Lucas Film and EA are making loads of money selling derivative fiction/fantasy while the 'real thing' is mostly unappreciated by a large majority.

How's that for a "twirly" rant?

[b8amack]

Jedi can sense intent. They parry because a strike is coming. A parlour trick like that would work with the rubes, but not a worthy opponent. One assumes with the Jedi swordfights that the flourishing moves are part of a larger game.

One COULD make the argument that Obi-Wan had learned from the twirliness of his past, which is why in ep. IV the fights look a lot more like a kendo/fencing hybrid than the fights of his younger years. It is only after Luke meets Yoda, and trains in the old fashioned twirly style, that he starts incorporating flourishing moves and flips into his fights with Vader (who has also abandoned them; he learned a very harsh lesson on theatricality).

[/nerd]

[Tommy_Z]

Jedi can sense intent. They parry because a strike is coming. A parlour trick like that would work with the rubes, but not a worthy opponent. One assumes with the Jedi swordfights that the flourishing moves are part of a larger game.

One COULD make the argument that Obi-Wan had learned from the twirliness of his past, which is why in ep. IV the fights look a lot more like a kendo/fencing hybrid than the fights of his younger years. It is only after Luke meets Yoda, and trains in the old fashioned twirly style, that he starts incorporating flourishing moves and flips into his fights with Vader (who has also abandoned them; he learned a very harsh lesson on theatricality).

[/nerd]

Of course! ...And as we all know, the difference between 8th Dan and 9th Dan is The Dark Side (wooooo...yeah baby! , which is why there no longer any 9th Dan, because the Sith haven't existed for thousands of years. (or do they?...hmmmm)

Actually that's paraphrasing Nic Gillard, the 'swordmaster' for the prequels, and who also played Darth Maul; "The difference between level 8 and level 9 is The Dark Side". (The swordmaster for ep 4-6 was Bob Anderson, who also did Pirates of the Caribbean, Goldeneye, and the classic Princess Bride if I'm not mistaken, which explains many of the stylistic differences between the lighsaber duels in the originals and the prequels).

Good fun!

[ghostdancer]

actually ray park played Darth maul

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661917/