I'm hoping someone can explain me why there are so many people suddenly coming and start to ask about buy a sword made for fighting or how to fight with a sword. Today people don't attack with sword and it's illegal to carry sword on the street. Plus if you really want to kill someone with sword, a simple good old fashion slash or stab would get it done.
btw I do understand if someone collect sword because they like it. I have five handmade swords/daggers from middle east that my dad got for me. Even if they are made for fight, I wouldn't dare to use them or test them out. It's too pericious to me. That's how a antique sword should be treated since they're rare today. It's the whole wanting sword for fighting or know how to fight with one that I don't understand. Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.
2006-11-01 17:07:30 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
I studied sword for 8 years and I can say it is simply for the fun of it.
It doesn't have much practical application, but ironically it did teach me the most important martial arts lesson there is to learn.
A weapon changes everything. The most positive aspect with realistic sword training is that you learn how final and fatal and see and experience it. Yes everyone knows a knife or gun or bat is deadly, but a lot of people don't REALLY have it register how quick it ends. Many schools teach that it is easy to defend against weapons, when that is not the case. It really drives home the notion that all you really need is one hit, regardless of whether it is a "good" hit or not, you usually are able to disable the person with that strike then follow it up. Whether it is knife, staff, escrima stick or sword.
There might be limited practical application in that the same techniques can be used if you pick up a broom or bat, etc. but most people study sword for the fun of it. I mean real sword as opposed to SCA dungeons and dragons style LARPing. or just studying forms (iaido).
There also are sport applications to some of the systems like sport fencing and kendo, however I personally do not consider this real sword study as it is not training you in traditional techniques.
2006-11-02 04:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As someone who would like to learn fencing some day (when I have free time...) I can say that for me, it's the romanticism of it.
For a long time after the gun came along and was the accepted method of attack in war, assasination, and hunting, the sword was still the preffered weapon for a duel. Even into the 1800's, when Jim Bowie was challenged to a duel he prefered his knife to a gun. A gun duel was settled quickly: whoever could draw first and shoot truest won. The looser usually died. If both drew, both shot, and both missed, it was a draw. Sword duels were different. It allowed you to actually get your aggression out, and there were rarely draws. Also, it was easy to set the rules of the duel such that "first blood," "first touch" or some other relitively minor strike could end the duel. A man could walk away from that. Sometimes, a man could even go to work the next day hard labor. Having a non-lethal duel has certain advantages: namely, you're less worried about dying!
There is a man I have a lot of resentment toward, and I really wish I could work out that aggression in a non-lethal, yet decidedly combattive way. Sparing is out of the question: he is the type that I would actually have to beat into a pulp before he admitted I'd won, and he'd be afraid to fight because he'd know I could beat him into a pulp if I really wanted to. And really, I don't actually want the guy dead. (OK, I won't exactly cry if/when he dies, but I'm not going to do anything to speed it along, and I won't speak ill of the dead when it happens.) But sabres at sunrise, fight to first blood, no back stabbing or strikes to the legs or arms or head... that he'd agree to, and there would be no doubt who won.
2006-11-02 03:51:27 · answer #2 · answered by Sifu Shaun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people are interested in traditional martial arts like kenjutsu and naginatajutsu for their own sake. There are also modern alternatives that can involve live blades such as iado. The martial arts are about personal development, not just self-defense. There's a certain satisfaction in preserving classical technique as a living art. It needn't be an esoteric exercise, many kendoka learn some kenjutsu kata as part of their training. I think it's fine to use collectible swords for kata (although a boken is just fine too), but there are some swords I would not use for cutting demonstrations.
2006-11-01 20:47:19 · answer #3 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is an asthetic thing to do, it's mostly the practice of the spiritual side of sword fighting and the honor code that goes along with it.
Much like the art of fencing, and the sword fighting styles of France, England etc. it's to better understand the culture and ideals that surrounds it. such as the Samurai and their code of Bushido. Aikido and Hapkido also use similar movements in their fighting disciplies that mimic single and double handed sword fighting techniques.
2006-11-02 01:33:55 · answer #4 · answered by quiksilver8676 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you train so you can go out and beat people up or fight people on the street? If you do well you should be kicked out of your dojo/club. Are you going to war or do you live in a country where war is present and you need to know how to fight to survive? doubtful and don't say you live in a rough city and you need to learn how to defend yourself....
Who cares why they want to learn how to use one. I think it would be cool being able to use a sword properly. Just as I would like to learn how to drive an indy car. Not so I can race so I can say I know how and experience it. You like to hang your swords on the wall and talk about who gave them to you and what they mean. The other person likes to take them off the wall and show how to use them. These are the people that keep the history of arts and the world alive for our children to learn where they come from and how far along the world has come. Remember in 100 years from now some guy like you is gonna be talking the same way about why another wants to buy and shoot a glock....
2006-11-01 18:56:17 · answer #5 · answered by Judoka 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Personally I want to learn to sword fight because it pertains to the martial art ( Shorinji Taegar Kenpo) I practice. There are whats called sword cuts that are linked to Aikido and Aikijujitsu that help in the defining of a certain movement. The only way to comprehend what my sensei is teaching is by sword cuts whether you are holding a sword or your arm is the sword, its the action of stepping back or closer to simulate the sword cuts.
2006-11-01 18:20:22 · answer #6 · answered by fuyutora87 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
After reading all the other answers I had to tell you that you arent the only person who thinks they are wasting their time learning sword combat: This has been happening at a small scale in my club recently and I am really bored with it.
Also people have become obsessed with doing backflips and other gymnastics that Im really annoyed with cause Im spending my time and money to learn Karate not bloody gymnastics dancing crap. If I wanted to learn that Id go where they taught it!!!
Im also over learning other stupid defence using weapons such as nanchaku or sai defending sword. I mean whats the fu**ing point???
2006-11-01 19:04:33 · answer #7 · answered by master_betty_101 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
One could ask why anyone would collect blades that they never wanted to use, or antique cars they never would drive. It is a matter of interest. I collect swords too, but the difference is that I believe they were meant to be used, so I learned how to use them. No, I never expect to use one in real combat, but I didn't study karate for the sole purpose of going out and fighting either. I did compete locally in kata and kumite and won some trophies, but competetion really didn't interest me.
I have studied multiple sword styles of iaido and battodo, but only one where I have studied for years. I am interested in the sword, the esthetics of it, and the technuqies involved in using it. You really focus on your technique when you have 29 inches of razor sharp steel in your hands.
The training was a good compliment to my karate. I learned to move in different ways, and to better judge distances so that I can move just enough without expending more energy than necessary. We also practice two person bunkai versions of the kata with bokken where if you don't perform your technique correctly you will get hit, and we have sparred at full speed and power with shinai (as some of our students also study kendo), using appropriate protection, which was educational and also fun. You get a greater respect for what the people who fought for their lives could have gone thru and just how quickly a fight could be over, despite what Hollywood shows.
As for being practical, it really isn't, but that's not why I study. I am interested in it, I like to train with the sword, and I think it's educational and fun. One student in our sister dojo in Phoenix heard someone breaking into his car and happened to grab his bokken instead of his baseball bat when he went outside to chase off the robber. He actaully encountered three, two at his car and a third who came at him. He dropped the first one with an overhead cut that landed on the guy's sholder and snapped his collarbone. He chased the other two off and the third ran away when he went after the other two.
2006-11-02 05:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by Jerry L 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's more of an aesthetic thing. It's not necessarily about practical application. It's practicing an ancient art to show respect for the tradition of those who lived by the sword in the past.
2006-11-01 17:12:28 · answer #9 · answered by straight_shooter526 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do some people dress up in medieval gear and stage battles while not even actually hitting each other??...same as pretend swordfights...
.. I think It's all childish games for Adults that aren't actually brave enough to endure any rough or tumbles, but still sound tough to people that don't know any better... Actually Iv'e seen six year old's pretend sword fights with sticks and look more realistic than some So-called samuraist's.. ..
ha,ha swords are cool decorations, I bought my old boyf a sword for his birthday and he used it to cut the cake...ha,ha..
2006-11-01 18:25:13 · answer #10 · answered by channille 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋