Custum Sword Design

I feel the answer to that question is actually a resounding YES!

As I've recently tried to explain in my 'stylistic disclaimer', anyone who thinks they can follow all the techniques of uniquely one master are fooling themselves. We are by our very nature incredibly unique individuals, literally the mix of our parents, who are themselves the mixes of their parents, etc, and what I get from my Dad he might not himself have, it might have been passed from his great grandmother on his father's side, etc.

This inherent uniqueness implies that we all have differing perspectives on things - particularly subjective things like 'good' technique. While there are many movements with a sword only a fool would call good, and many movements you'd have to be a dumb$emprini to call bad; at the end of the day it only comes down to one thing: Did it work.

Do a youtube search for 'Mitsuge Saotome', and then another one for 'Morihiro Saito'. Both of them trained and study the same art and way from the same guy for years and years - yet their technique is obviously very different from one another. Both of them could take a man and mop a floor with him, both use the same 'techniques', but there are differences in execution that are unique to them. Neither one even does their techniques the same way as Ueshiba, their teacher.

Same applies for the Longsword. In his manuscript, Fiore Dei Liberi(one of the two Italian masters who wrote on longsword who's work we still have) says it right out that he studied under a number of other great masters, of various ethnic background, and that in his system he only includes techniques that he has used, been taught, seen, or MADE UP. Just because someone makes up a technique does not make it invalid(in fact, all martial techniques were made up by someone...). There are certain dynamic principles inherent to any martial conflict and proper application of those principles can yield an innumerable amount of techniques.

Of course, we all start learning the techniques of the masters to learn those principles and to get ourselves started. But as we become proficient, I think it's important to get together with a group and to literally just forget everything in the manuals and just start experimenting from the ground up. It's a wonderful learning device to use, and often illuminates the techniques that ARE already in the manuals. So by so doing, we not only get a more fundamental and greater understanding of the 'codified' techniques, but we learn some technique that we can attribute to our own creativity and dedication to the art - even if someone else already come up with the same technique it doesn't matter. In fact I guarantee someone else has already experimented with the same. What matters is that you come up with something martially sound that works according to the principles of swordsmanship.

What matters is you stop imitating the masters and instead assimilate what they all have to teach into something a little more true for you.

#5

certainly!

In fact, I don't think ANY custom maker takes that into account. If you're thinking of a design, please let us know! I for one am very interested and I have my designs posted here during the sword design contest.

well for me, I guess my main goal is just finding a sword that will last longer than a year through normal practice, (well I wouldn't call draw cutting wasps normal) But they seem to be a neat thing to practice on if you can acually get them before they get you. It's awesome when you take out 3 or 4 consecutivly. just don't hate me for killing wasps, they do nothing to help here in Utah. And there are alot to use for targets. besides that I feel it's great for hand eye coordination. although it sucks because you can't use any fancy spin moves... it's like a blind landing and you just have to hope you know where your going.(Used to do competative Gymnastics.)

well on the note of custum designs for things I don't fuss alot with swords but I have a neat Pair of Throwable Balanced Side Claw Katars I'm working on. you can spin them in your hands either 180 degrees to face backward or 90 degrees to use them more like hand axes. or turn your hands sideways and its a evil set of Claws but it's great that you can just chuck them from 20 someodd feet away at targets.

well I'm looking at a number of swords... some for a collection and others to acually use. Here's a question I have.

I Really like the look of Blades in Shirasaya, but I recently read that these are only used for blade storage or transport etc... so I guess I'm asking if there are any shirasaya on the market that are Combat Ready or will stay together through normal use.

also I'm wondering if there are any shirasaya that do not use wood but rather any types of metal or reinforced material for handles etc... I'm sure the demand is there but unsure of blade mechanics or cost...

If a battle ready shirasaya doesn't exsist then I am going to start to get mad at animes.

Oh trust me I wouldn't be doing those with a real sword... maybe you know a wooden bokken or something if I'm gonna be doing backflips off walls and crap like that.

Extreme Stunts... there is a reason actors use Latex Swords and a reason they arent recorded in historical battles... haha

Movies are not historical battles

and the spin moves I did play around with were done with my unsharpened one so I really didnt feel in any danger since the margin for error is only a small percent of getting impaled etc...(oh yeah and the one time I smacked the back of my head with the side... so I guess getting concusions is another small percent)

the closest thing to a shirasaya that would be consided safeish to use would be the musashi kazemusha Aikuchi style katana
/index.cgi?board=japaneseswords&action=display&thread=1173224636&page=1
if you do plan on using a shirasaya never do any thrusting for obvious reasons

Hey Jason!

1. I don't think so, but I would encourage training with groups such as ARMA if they're in your area because they are very knowledgeable and can teach you alot.
2. If you feel you can justify buying an expensive sword which Im assuming is above 300 (at least for me ;D), go for it. I'll eventually buy a sword above 300 if I have the financing but for now I'm content with sub-300 swords.
3. Right now its a hobby but I hope to be going to college to major in medieval military history.
4. Based on my experience with fencing, I would think they wouldn't let you develop your own techniques right from the start to prevent bad habits from developing. Most people have their own style of fighting to some degree in that they use something that will maximize their strengths (speed, strength, reach, etc.) but teachers may want you to learn the basics and perhaps more before they let you start developing your own style. However, once you've been training for quite some time, I would assume that they would let you start developing new techniques and your own style under their guidance. After I had been training for awhile my teacher started working with me to develop my own style of fighting and techniques for sabre and we ended up coming up with an effective new guard stance in the process . Again, this is with my experience with fencing although I don't think it would be much different from non-sport training.
5. Yes, if it's legal of course. Bladesmiths such as Gen 2 warn theirs customers that swords aren't toys and should be treated carefully.
6.Blunted blades definately. It reduces the risk of injury using blunted blades. Besides, you wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly sharp blade right?


You mentioned you're attracted to Japanese katanas so I would suggest a katana because you're 5'2 and most katana blades are already shorter than most European blades, being around 25 inches long I think.

Actually if anyone could find a European short sword that isn't a Roman or Celtic sword, I'd be grateful. I already own Gen 2's Celtic sword and am not too fond of Roman swords.

Thanks

I liked the Type IV sword by Windlass alot and might consider that as my next purchase. Sadly Reliks.com doesn't carry it so no discount. I was also debating between Hanwei’s Practical Ninjato and the Gen 2 Ranger sword although the ninjato is more likely since I'm clumsy with anything over 28 inches .
Thank you for the help.