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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 11:26:41 GMT
A one handed european sword is not designed to be used in in the very crisp motions that the katana is. I find that cut, back to set is not the way to do it with a euro, you should flow from form to form in your cuts without much if any pause. Also a european sword does not work in that straight forward way that a katana works so applying JSA to euro weapons doesn't really work. Also handshake grip and when you cut, the pommel kind of slides under or over the wrist. I hope that makes sense.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 17:47:19 GMT
Please elaborate?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 18:03:14 GMT
From what I was taught when I was taught from both studying Silver and from re-enactment the european sword has a different mechanic to it, it has a different balance point and is much easier to use with one hand and is almost designed to be used for one hand. The katana strikes in a very forward pattern, the single handed european moves in looping cuts that require more strength to make dance. The way a bastard or two handed sword works is mechanically very different than the way the katana hits, the katana is light an fast, the two hander or bastard is heavy and loops in the same way that the single hander does. The single and two handed swords move in circles, from strike to guard to strike effortlessly, the katana is designed for one hit one kill, the cuts really do strike from front on in straight lines. I hope that elaborates a bit more.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 18:26:25 GMT
It does, but I am in somewhat a disagreement with your description of two handed european swords being heavy, when it is well documented that they generally were around the same weight as most katana, being on average just above 2 lbs to 3lbs. Certain very large european swords get up to 4 or 5 lbs, but then so do japanese o-dachi. Anything heavier than that is rare at best.
As for cutting - when I was at shootermikes I got the opportunity to use a number of swords from Albion Armorers and also Angus Trim. I got to experiment with different methods and opinions on how one should cut with a european sword. Most of them I struggled with. Then, when using an atrim longsword(I don't remember the specific stats on it - but it was just as light and quick as my Kaze katana if not faster - Shootermike will be able to tell you more about the model when I post video) I was able to make, in succession, three very clean cuts that were smooth and relaxed through a double mat - using the technique as taught by Toyama Ryu (which is in accordance with every other form of japanese kenjutsu I have yet come across, ninjutsu being the exception). When I focused on using the technique I learned in JSA - cuts with a european sword were made much easier and cleaner. Of course this is a longsword, not a single hander, but anyway...
There are circular techniques even in the no-frills techniques of toyama ryu, and I've seen more in other Ryu (youtube Iaido if you want to).
I'm really of the opinion that using a european sword and a japanese one are more similar than most would give credit to.
That being said - single-handed swords require different technique than two handed swords - obviously. This is obviously because you only have one hand on the sword and you should mimic the way energy is put into a two-handed sword, with just one hand. I think it's harder to cut with a single hander - though some things (like extension) are easier, in my experience.
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Aug 29, 2008 18:32:00 GMT
Thanks to all who have posted. Today I took my ATrim into the backyard and made several successful empty bottle cuts by transitioning the blade from one form into another, instead of guard to guard. I had especial luck with looping backhanded (downward) strikes.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2008 18:40:25 GMT
Yeah that is the way that a European sword works, it works in looping cuts for what I call straight cuts and and then you have the transitions through forms with the draw cuts. I like the spinning looping backhand cut, not good in a fight but damn good for cutting stationary targets, especially when you are using two swords at once or an axe and a sword.
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Post by ShooterMike on Aug 30, 2008 1:47:04 GMT
Hi Marc! It's good to see you back here on SBG. I seem to always be a day late and a dollar short... Oh well, maybe this can be of some slight use to someone. Back Story: I'm having to learn to use my swords left handed for a while as I have some tendonitis in my right elbow and I'm letting it heal. So, today while I was getting started I shot some video to analyze my lefty technique. Thought it might be appropriate here... s526.photobucket.com/albums/cc350/ShooterMikeSBG/?action=view¤t=LeftHandedCutting01.flv
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2008 2:02:49 GMT
That sure be an awful nice shirt ya got there. Where'd'ja git it?
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Post by ShooterMike on Aug 30, 2008 3:28:13 GMT
Heh, heh... I got it from this really cool outfit called the " White Ash School of Arms". They're really awesome, heh, heh, heh. (Disclaimer: White Ash School of Arms is Adam's and Tom's school)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2008 4:04:35 GMT
ShooterMike, you cut better with your weak hand than I do with my strong. Of course, I have the worst hand/eye coordination of anyone I've ever known, so it's no big surprise. ;D Marc, I sort of have my own gimpy style of cutting in which I basically hold the sword rigid in my hand and move my whole upper body, so pommel bite isn't a problem. ShooterMike's style of moving mainly the sword, with very little upper body movement, and allowing the pommel to slip past your wrist looks like a great solution too, I've just never been able to get consistent edge alignment that way. Try a little bit of everything suggested and develop your own technique that works for you. That' the best advice I can give.
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Aug 30, 2008 11:08:03 GMT
Thanks guys,
Wow Shooter, great vid....real informative , and great off-hand cutting too!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2008 7:08:14 GMT
Adam: I didn't mean the swords were heavy I meant that the cutting styles and balance are different which makes for a "heavier" hit than the katana which allows you to drive the hit through armour. I am not explaining myself very well am I?
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