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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 11:41:28 GMT
First off, Hello! This is my first post and I am new here, though I have been reading quite a few of your threads and I have been quite fascinated with all the information you all have on here. I have found myself spending several hours reading all your info and watching a few videos. Everyone also seems to be quite nice here ;D. Though as much of a joy as it would be to own a real sword after all I've seen on here, that is not what I am posting for. Secondly: I am a complete NOOB when it comes to swords. I know absolutely nothing! (Isn't that from a song?). All tips, help, recommendations, and so forth are greatly welcomed! (For instance...is there any kind of maintenance I should be aware of for practice swords?). What I am looking for is a practice sword I can spare with my little brother (I say little...but he's nearly as big as I am..he'll definitely be taller in a year...lucky, lol). I am looking for a good work out, and figured sparing would be quite fun as well. So far I have come across these two options after looking at a few practice swords on this site and 2 others. (I have read almost entirely positive reviews from the reviews posted there. But I feel much safer asking the experts here ). www.trueswords.com/bushido-musashi-unsharpened-iaito-training-katana-sword-p-4991.htmlwww.trueswords.com/cold-steel-highest-quality-bokken-dueling-katana-swords-p-4921.htmlI haven't done too much looking though since I don't know anything for what I should be looking for. I would also rather not spend more than a 100$ total. Unless one of you able to convince me that it would be quite worth it for what I am looking for. I'm a reasonable person . My only preference would be I would like for it to be a Katana. Thank you for taking your time to help me! I also apologize if I'm not suppose to be posting about practice swords here...since all I have seen our discussion's/help about real swords. Lastly, if any of you may be concerned about safety while sparing have no fear! I had just seen that nasty picture of that boy that accidentally cut his leg while cutting a vine...I hope he gets well soon. I have proper protective gear at home (I paintball with my brother as well...and he said he'd only spare so long as I didn't hurt him, lol). Head/face, knee, elbow, and wrist protector's/pad, etc. (And just for the extra bit of info I am 20 years old). Once again, I greatly appreciate all help! Thank you!!! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 11:48:00 GMT
Don't spar with steel you'll kill each other, especially an unsharpened iaito. Are you looking to just beat the tar out of each other or pursue proper training. If you are just larking about, go with foam LARP weapons, they will serve your needs. Normally the training weapons are either bokken or shinai but you can do alot of damage with those as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 11:58:10 GMT
Yeah, if your just playing around some LARP weapons would work, if your halfway serious, padded shinai. Any other practice swords (bokken, wasters, blunts, rattan or waxwood single stick, or plain shinai) require some serious investment in protective gear.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 12:03:28 GMT
Yes, NEVER spar with steel unless you REALLY know what you're doing. Even then it's extremely dangerous, wearing armor limits thge risk greatly but it's still there. Steel as well as wood can deliver deadly hits so always go with rattan or some other softer stuff. Larp weapons work well, problem is that they don't behave like swords. I build my sparring swords myself but if you can't do that get some RSW (realistic sparring weapons), they're better that everything you can make at home anyways.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 13:49:52 GMT
The Cold Steel ones are alright for use in kenjutsu, but they're TOUGH: Some knuckleheads on my college campus used to "spar" (read: wack at each other) with them, and broke the thumb of our SA President. Didn't work so well So yeah if you guys just want to muck around, get those LARP foam swords. They can still hurt, so watch necks, elbows and knees. M.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 17:10:55 GMT
Neither of those are good for noobs to spar with unless you have some REAL armor. Larp weapons can work...but if you want a more realistic option, then go with the RWS. A shinai is okay as well...but donĀ“t even think of anything above a shinai. Even then you should wear head protection (a paintball mask will not be good enough), knee and elbow pads, a cup and gloves at the very least.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 18:37:17 GMT
I have the Cold Steel katana sized and wakizashi sized bokkens and I like them a lot, not for hard core sparring though, I tried that once with a friend and he got me pretty good across the arm. I had a bruise there for over two weeks (had it been steel i'd have gone to the emergency room so they could save whatever was left), and later he split his finger wide open sparring with someone else. They hold up better than the wood bokkens i've had as they don't get dented on impact. They are very fun for light sparring and choreographed fights. Swords are definitely cool, I like cutting with my Oniyuri and it looks great just sitting there as well. You don't really realize how easily these swords can cut through stuff. Even my $90 Musashi Shirakawa katana is ridiculously sharp and I would never think of sparring with it. I'm not in feudal japan, don't know about you, and i'm not trying to fight for survival. I know it seems really cool, I know I thought about it when I first started getting into it a few years ago and got my first swords. Me and my cousin both got a katana and talked about the movies we'd make, but his dad showed us some videos of the disastrous outcomes that have happened to other people. That's when we went for the $12 wooden bokkens in the mall. I have a padded foam one that softens the impact a little. couldn't find the one I have but it's kinda like this one: budk.com/Swords/Black-Sparring-Foam-BokkenI know we make fun of Bud K for the crappy swords but a foam bokken is pretty much the same where ever you go. Cheap. Non-lethal. Oh, here's a set of two for the same-ish price budk.com/Swords/Sponge-Daito-Sword-Setand you could just go to Target they have these nerf swords (they are not katana shaped, they are broad swords) and those are about $17 if I remember right. Point is, for sparring, while the thought of metal swords is cool, and yes you can get some for cheap that are decent light cutters, your safety and well being is paramount, thus non metal sparring tools should be used. I have only seen a couple videos of people sparring with actual swords where the sword didn't break or someone didn't do something stupid and go to the hospital and those were done by professionals who had trained for years in martial arts. I want you to be around to post about your adventures and tell us stories of how you or your brother deftly got the upper hand and disarmed the other. those are fun stories.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 7, 2010 19:01:17 GMT
you want a sword that you can hit your brother with, that is realistic in that it is like a sword? here check out this web site: www.rsw.com.hk/Lancelot Chan is a forum member here and can answer questions you may have. if you check the general training board you will see links to his youtube videos of him and his group using them. this is what I would buy were I you: www.rsw.com.hk/katana.htm
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 19:35:41 GMT
Welcome to the boards! You definitely don't want to spar with steel. That's a real no-no. Even though iaito are unsharpened, you can still stab someone clean through with the tip of the blade and enough force. Bokken are a better option, but even they can break bones if you don't pull your strike. My suggestion would be padded shinai. They still hurt if you get whopped hard enough but I don't believe they can do any serious damage (unless you're REALLY trying ;D). You can buy regular shinai and pad them as per SCA regulations; Tom K or Cold Napalm can help you with ideas for that. Or, you can get boffers, but they will not hold up as well as a well-padded shinai. Practice swords (iaito specifically, the unsharpened katanas) were never intended for sparring. They are for practice of kata, which are martial art forms, and are most commonly used in iaido. Even though the edges are not sharp, they must still be treated with the same respect as a real sword. Depending upon the type of iaito it is, some of them do require regular cleaning and oiling; if they are made of carbon steel they will tarnish and rust without this maintenance. It is the same for any carbon steel blade. Hope this helps..and don't go killin' each other. -Midori Kurogami of Sword N Armory.
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Post by sparky on Jan 7, 2010 20:08:53 GMT
Welcome!
I have the Cold Steel bokkens and they are very durable. I put some foam pipe insulation on the two I have to soften the blow. Still can hurt quite bad if the hit is not "pulled".
I also have two of the Nerf swords and I really like them. These are the ones me and the kids use all the time now. They are more flexible than the cold steel and you can really beat on each other. ;D
Hope this helps.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 7, 2010 20:38:54 GMT
Welcome to the boards! You definitely don't want to spar with steel. That's a real no-no. Even though iaito are unsharpened, you can still stab someone clean through with the tip of the blade and enough force. Bokken are a better option, but even they can break bones if you don't pull your strike. My suggestion would be padded shinai. They still hurt if you get whopped hard enough but I don't believe they can do any serious damage (unless you're REALLY trying ;D). You can buy regular shinai and pad them as per SCA regulations; Tom K or Cold Napalm can help you with ideas for that. Or, you can get boffers, but they will not hold up as well as a well-padded shinai. Practice swords (iaito specifically, the unsharpened katanas) were never intended for sparring. They are for practice of kata, which are martial art forms, and are most commonly used in iaido. Even though the edges are not sharp, they must still be treated with the same respect as a real sword. Depending upon the type of iaito it is, some of them do require regular cleaning and oiling; if they are made of carbon steel they will tarnish and rust without this maintenance. It is the same for any carbon steel blade. Hope this helps..and don't go killin' each other. -Midori Kurogami of Sword N Armory. I would like to point out that padded shinai in no way fall into SCA regulations. the fact that Cold Napalm and I both use them just shows that he and I both had similar good ideas for fighting without armor. it can be a real art to design them to mimick a sword properly but it can be done and cheaply too. i've always wanted to try out RSW's weapons though, I hear good things about them and they look great.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 21:17:56 GMT
Ahh okay; My bad. I'm a n00b to the SCA concept Tom, lol. Thanks for the clarification.
-Midori Kurogami of Sword N Armory.
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Jan 7, 2010 21:57:16 GMT
Welcome to the forums!
Do you have access to a kenjutsu/ iado dojo in your area? Not only will your skill with a sword increase, but you can also discuss ways to spar safely with your sensei, if they are up for it.
Lacking a dojo, *any* sword training (European historical martial arts, sport fencing, etc.) will help you in the long run.
--Edward
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 12:06:13 GMT
Wow so many replies. Thank you all for your help! And the warm welcome! ;D I really should have clarified that too, sorry...I would like to learn and practice properly with my brother. I think it would be fun to learn proper form & technique. Just going "at it" would also be fun too. But I am not quite looking to just beat the crap out of him. I had no idea steel would be that dangerous...wow, I am glad I asked! Thank you all for the information you have provided! As for a dojo, I am uncertain and some what doubt we'd have one out here. At least one that would train in weapons. But thank you for the suggestion, I will now have to look for some in my area! It could be quite fun. After reading twice what everyone has to say, I will most definitely stay away from steel or anything close. Though I don't think LARP weapons would quite be for me. I have decided to go with these three: 2 wood Bokken's: www.trueswords.com/natural-bokken-swords-wooden-training-daitos-p-1263.html2 Shinai: www.trueswords.com/kendo-bamboo-shinai-training-practice-sword-p-2395.htmlAnd 2 Wax Wood Staff's: www.trueswords.com/foot-wood-staff-p-4517.htmlI originally was not planning on ordering this much. But it seems I would save 25$ over all on shipping, instead of if I was to do them all separately at a later date. Though as ever has cautioned me here of the dangers still with using wood. I was most surely make sure to take it slow and easy. Very slow, while practicing/sparring, I'm considering padding them for now too, as some of you have suggested, that would seem to be a wise choice. The last thing I want to do is break my brother's fingers or mine (Or worse). I will make sure to wear proper safety equipment, and maybe go out and acquire some more/or better stuff as well (Something better than a Paintball Mask, thanks Cold Napalm!). Any more information/Suggestion's are welcomed. I will wait a day before buying these. Don't want to buy something I will regret =]. Thank you all again for your help! I greatly appreciate it! After seeing how nice everyone is here, I look forward to being a part of these forums and posting my experiences later ;D.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 15:02:35 GMT
Whereabouts do you live? You might end up being surprised whats in your town or near it. Lacking any sort of training close by the other thing you can look into is a lot of schools or organizations will hold training seminars... basically just a one day thing for several hours, and they'll sometimes just let anyone come in so they can start learning the basics. That would be worth looking into if you can't find a dojo or a WMA equivalent.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 18:17:10 GMT
Glad we could help! It looks like you'll have a lot of fun with those items, and I second what Flashing Steel has said, look around or research what's available where you live so you can get a start in the right direction. I don't know if you have already but I suggest looking for those products at one of the sites with an SBG discount. you can go here www.sword-buyers-guide.com/discount-swords.html to see if one of these sites has those things and you might save a little more. True swords is still a great vendor and you might already have a great deal worked out. Remember to be safe, but also remember to have lots of fun!
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Post by sparky on Jan 15, 2010 20:24:53 GMT
I'm considering padding them for now too, as some of you have suggested, that would seem to be a wise choice. The last thing I want to do is break my brother's fingers or mine (Or worse). I will make sure to wear proper safety equipment, and maybe go out and acquire some more/or better stuff as well (Something better than a Paintball Mask, thanks Cold Napalm!). Any more information/Suggestion's are welcomed. I will wait a day before buying these. Don't want to buy something I will regret =]. Thank you all again for your help! I greatly appreciate it! After seeing how nice everyone is here, I look forward to being a part of these forums and posting my experiences later ;D. I took 3/4" water pipe insulation from Lowe's or Home Depot (or any hardware store) and slid it down on my Cold steel Bokkens. It was the self stick kind. Then I just put a couple of pieces of duct tape to reinforce it. Worked great for me, though if you swing hard you'll still feel it! ;D Bokken = www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Bokken-Md-92bkl/dp/B001S88V72Pipe insulation = www.thegreathardwarestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=453472&click=2744Have fun! Rob
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 23:27:13 GMT
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