what is the longest/largest sword that has a style behind it???

Question

like german swiehander swords are really large, but they have no style with it. if one were to learn kendo would you be able to use a kendo-like sword that is really large???

I am fascinated with large swords--enlighten me

Answer 1

You are dead wrong.

Now, I'm not sure what you mean by the zweihander, considering your lack of understanding of Western Martial Arts, so I'll address both the concepts I think you might be referring to.

The two-handed longsword is a fairly large weapon, roughly four feet long and weighting in under four pounds. It is a weapon that requires extensive training to use effectively, for it was largely used unarmoured, and as such a single properly applied cut anywhere had the potential to end a fight. There were several masters in the German tradition such as Johannes Lichtenhauer, Sigmund Ringeck, Hans Talhoffer and Meyer who were unquestionned swordmasters. The styles they have taught were extremely elaborate, relying on timing, range, footwork, angles and leverage to get the job done instead of raw strength and speed, which are more apt to get you killed.

As for the true Zweihander (sometimes aka Flamberge), which goes to about six feet in length if not more and tended to be somewhere near the eight pound mark, was also a very elaborate weapon in its use. While I am not extremely familiar with any of the masters who taught its use (Filippo Vadi has something about such a weapon, if memory serves, as does Meyer), simply swinging the bloody thing would amount to suicide. The use of such a sword requires short, controlled movements and they were very frequently half-sworded, which means that one hand was taken off the hilt and onto the blade, and it was commonly used almost as a sharp spear. I have seen people train with zweihanders, and trust me they were following a set style. Otherwise, things would have been a great deal uglier than what I had seen.

Answer 2

Hi there!
Kendo uses a bamboo shinai, it is also a contact sport so it will make your heart/adrenaline pump faster!
Iaido, which is what I practise, is the art of Japanese sword-drawing, uses an iaito, which looks identical to a katana, the good old Japanese samurai sword. We also use a wooden bokken for the more contact 'pre-arranged sparring' techniques.
Then there's tai chi and kung fu, which also uses various swords.
Check out the links below and good luck in whichever art you decide to practise.

Answer 3

15-07-2004, 10:15 AM
Well the "Daitou" or "nodachi" (sometimes called Daikatana) pre-dates the present-day katana... and it was bigger.
Daitou were curved because they were used like big two-handed axes from horseback, meant to cleave through footmen as you galloped past. The curve allowed for a greater cutting force. Apparently they were too big to wear on your side and generally were slung across your back. And apparently they broke pretty often, because the tempering process hadn't produced strong enough alloy yet.

So the Katana was modelled after the daitou and meant for footsoldiers AND horsemen alike, but was forged in the new (now traditional) way to be quite resilient.but for the life of me i can't find measurements of the daitou....i'm guessing 1.5m... because 2m is a bit silly unless you're Sephiroth

OMG. Where on earth do you get this info from? Slung across the back, broke pretty often?

Unless its just the kensaki swords "bend" they dont snap. The longer it is the more likely it will bend. So the smith has to play with added weight and width without making it too big to use. If you wore on on the back how could you possible draw it? Can you touch your toes without bending over?

Most of long ones shown are mad for Japanese Shrines. As one of Japan's regalia the longer and bigger it is, the more homage we are paying to the gods. A Yon-shaku can be effectivley drawn form the waist. Mount it as a tachi and we can up the length not being restricted by sayabiki the Obi

Please seperate the fantasy from reality.

Edit: The person above me who answered, you are incorrect, the chinese ring word isn't the largest or longest, it is the daikatana.
You can find this on www.daikatana.com
www.chineseswords.com/daikatana.html

The chinese sinai is the same as the daikatana with different names, and can be found here :
http://hem.passagen.se/tkolb/fun/kendo/k...
http://www.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~baba/...
http://www.naginata.org/background.html...
http://www.taichiacademy.com/01aboutacad...
http://www.taichi-europe.com/teach.htm#w...
http://www.dotaichi.com/articles/taichis...
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~austnf/page4....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sayrqbuz...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kbnimuyegl0...
The sinai is used usually in the arts of Kendo or Kendojujitsu.
Thanks for your times and efforts.

Answer 4

You will like this sword:
http://www.swordandstone.com/weapons.html

Made by a friend of mine,Tony Swatton

In answer to your question:
The 9 ring Chinese sword is the largest that comes to mind.
http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=15910006&an=0&page=0