First Impressions
Jan 18, 2009 21:33:34 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2009 21:33:34 GMT
I just finished oiling my katana back up and cleaning up. I had much fun with my first time trying to cut 4L Jugs (~1.06 gallons each). Yes, canadians use litres. I was even cutting the jugs in the middle of a snow bank I shovelled out. it wasn't high enough to block my swing, but gave a nice area to work in.
Anyways, yes, first impressions. For a $100 katana (Masahiro Elite Fuji Katana if it matters) it cut well. Not as sharp as it probably could be, but I'll forgive it. I suspect with no personal formal training at all, the three cuts that didn't go all the way through were fault of technique, not the blade.
I was able to get the caps well enough, but when it came to taking apart the actual plastic jug I did't get much out of them. I had 5 jugs in total and it didn't last very long. I took my time, however with the angled slashes I was making as the katana techniques seem to go, the water didn't stay in as well as I wanted. After half of the water had spilled out I couldn't cut them anymore as they were too light (technique maybe?).
The highlight, I wish I got it on camera, was when I made a downward slice and it got the handle last so after the chunk fell down (as per pressure laws of physics) there was more water in the top than the handle which created a fun phantom teapot effect releasing water out of what was left of the handle.
I had a lot of fun and can't wait to go again. It being winter and all I just have to watch because at the end I had small beads of ice forming on the blade.
As an aside I just want to make sure I got this straight. The top hand is the strength and the bottom hand on the handle is the direction. So as I'm swinging I'm getting the feeling you need to almost flick your bottom hand up (like a wrist shot in hockey, flicking the wrist) for downward strikes. Does that sound right?
I would like to find a place that offer formal training around here in Winnipeg, but I haven't found anything yet.
Anyways, yes, first impressions. For a $100 katana (Masahiro Elite Fuji Katana if it matters) it cut well. Not as sharp as it probably could be, but I'll forgive it. I suspect with no personal formal training at all, the three cuts that didn't go all the way through were fault of technique, not the blade.
I was able to get the caps well enough, but when it came to taking apart the actual plastic jug I did't get much out of them. I had 5 jugs in total and it didn't last very long. I took my time, however with the angled slashes I was making as the katana techniques seem to go, the water didn't stay in as well as I wanted. After half of the water had spilled out I couldn't cut them anymore as they were too light (technique maybe?).
The highlight, I wish I got it on camera, was when I made a downward slice and it got the handle last so after the chunk fell down (as per pressure laws of physics) there was more water in the top than the handle which created a fun phantom teapot effect releasing water out of what was left of the handle.
I had a lot of fun and can't wait to go again. It being winter and all I just have to watch because at the end I had small beads of ice forming on the blade.
As an aside I just want to make sure I got this straight. The top hand is the strength and the bottom hand on the handle is the direction. So as I'm swinging I'm getting the feeling you need to almost flick your bottom hand up (like a wrist shot in hockey, flicking the wrist) for downward strikes. Does that sound right?
I would like to find a place that offer formal training around here in Winnipeg, but I haven't found anything yet.