Where can I learn how to fight with a sword?

Question

Where could i learn to fight with a katana?

Answer 1

Like just about every question concerning the martial arts, there are several answers, and you will have to decide for yourself which one is the right one for you. Here is what I have learned:

1. Iaido is the art of drawing the sword. The Samurai did not use the 'hack and slash' method that medievil knights used. They would draw their sword and with one swift motion, kill their opponent and return the sword to it's scabbard.

2. Kendo litterally means 'Way of the sword'. the techniques you use with the bamboo shenai can be used with the katana.

3. Aikido, Karate, Ninjutsu all have sword techniques which are usually taught to senior students.

What you need to do is determine what it is you want to learn. Is it for competition? Do you want to chop rolled bamboo mats in half? Or do you want to carry a katana in your trunk for those chance encounters with street thugs (not recommended by the way). All of the choices above will accomplish different things.

Answer 2

If you strictly want to learn to fight with a katana for anachronistic purposes, you need to find a kendo or iaido school. If you're really interested in learning to creatively fight with a sword, you might want to think about getting into Filipino martial arts. They start training with weapons as a way of developing fast hand-eye coordination and body angling. Although they primarily begin with sticks, the motions transpose to other weapons, such as the sword or dagger.

Answer 3

If you are looking for Japanese sword fighting techniques, look at Kendo or Kenjutsu. It is a very expensive martial art since you will have to buy 'bogu' (body armor) and the shinai - pronounced "shin-nye"(fencing bamboo swords), and depending on the school, also bokken or bokuto (wooden swords). Kendo normally won't let you use a real live blade katana unless you are highly trained and highly ranked.

If you want to learn the art of drawing the sword, you could try Iaido (pronounced "ee-eye-doe") or Iaijutsu (pronounced "ee-eye-joot-sue"). They allow you to use a practice non-sharp metal sword at middle levels, and a real steel sharp sword at higher levels. This art is mainly about drawing the sword quickly and striking your opponent in one fluid motion.

Since a live blade is very dangerous, you won't get to use it in the dojo against human opponents. In some schools, you may get to use your live blade for cutting practice "tameshigiri" (pronounced "ta-may-she-gee-ree") against a traditional tightly wrapped straw mat with a bamboo core.

Answer 4

There are several schools for Kendo and that is great to learn the proper sword technique. But if you want to learn real world applications I would suggest your local Society for Creative Anachronism. They are a medieval reenactment group. Instead of the rigid rules of engagement you get hands on practical knowledge of how to use a blade in a real combat situation.
There are other groups several of which use live steel but the Society is the safest since they use wooden swords. They provide the best balance between reenacment of actual medieval combat and safety.

Answer 5

Depends on what type of sword you wanna fight with, really. Most people confuse fighting and fencing and mar the lines between them. I suggest you lear basic fencing with a rapier, or foil, then move to other types. in this manner, you will learn balance first, as well as economics of motion.

Answer 6

Consider Hai Dong Gum Do. It is a very effective, soft style Korean sword practice. The poomse are very enjoyable and very circular, not like Ken Do, which is very linear and a "hard style" practice with a sword.

Of course, linear study of sword technique is also beneficial. I don't wish to suggest that a master kendojin is not effective.

I have seen very high ranking kendojin in sparring devistate their opponents; because they have learned to through "hard practice" to apply "soft technique."

I wish you lots of luck on your journey.

Answer 7

Truthfully, the real answer to this really depends on what is available to you. There are very few Iaido or Kendo schools out there, much less some weird exotic styles that people may mention.

So it all depends on what is in your area.

Answer 8

you can take kendo or iaido class.

In kendo class, you practice sword fighting technique, and you train with bokken (wooden sword) and shinai (bamboo sword).

In iaido class, you practice sword drawing technique, and you train with training sword as well shinken (real sword). You also learn cutting technique (tameshigiri).