Swordsmanship

[sbrebaby]

Hi does anyone know anything on swordsmanship for japanese and chinese styles. My ex left me his katana and i have no clue how to use it let alone study the arts. ( He died and before he did he told me to "learn the ways of the sword.") I want to learn but i live in north Dakota in a small farm town on the montana border. I have been on google and yahoo but i have no clue what they are talking about. Please help me. Books magazines and manuals title would really be appreaciated. :catgirl:

[Sandy]

I have a friend who goes to Iaido class (iai is a type of katana, to my knowledge) held by a local Iaido organization, so I guess that you'd be best off if you searched for some local organization from a phone/servicebook (if you have those over there) or from the net.

Just remember that Iaido includes a philosophical aspect as well, so don't expect that you'll go all Kill Bill in the first lesson... or ever. ;P

Learning the way of the sword takes lots of dedication, and the classes aren't exactly free either, so for your own sake you should reconsider if you really want such a hobby.

[Lord Dante]

Iai is not a type of katana, it is the name of the sword art, but katanas used in the art are built for swiftness, and so are often reffered to as "iai katanas" or sometimes just "iai's". if you are looknig to learn from a book, I suggest either "the five rings" by musashi miyamoto, or "the art of japanese swordsmanship" by niklaus suino. The five rings is an anceint text, providing the basic underlying principles for the art of iaido. the belief is that if you can end the fight before the enemy has a chance to act, there is no fight. idao literally means "quick drawn sword" or "quick striking sword". thus the style focuses on being able to draw your sword quickly, strike once, and sheathe your sword. when done right it is a beautiful art to watch.

[QUOTE][B] a review of "the art of japanese swordsmanship"[/B]Iaido began as an offshoot of kenjutsu, or sword art. The original purpose of iaido was to slay an opponent with one stroke of the sword immediatly after unsheathing; today it is practised as a martial art, one that improves concentration, develops strength and co-ordination and cultivates awareness of another culture and its traditions. The kata, or forms, of modern iaido include drawing, parrying and cutting motions, as well as various ways of returning the sword to its scabbard.This manual of Eishin-Ryu, or Pure Faith iaido teaches the most widely practiced style of the art and is illustrated with step-by-step drawings to help practitioners, from beginners and advanced iaidaka, hone their forms and techniques. Introductory chapters explain the history and evolution of the art, the Japanese sword and related equipment, and the etiquette and code of the samurai[/QUOTE] so if it is iaido you're after, then I'd go for the art of japanese swordsmanship.

[Oceanborn]

Thank you Dante-sama T__T Ialmost had a sheer heart attack reading through this.

Also, sbrebaby, you are something. Having a katana left is extreme luck, I used to do kendo but I had to drop it since even if I had the few thousand bucks you need for a good katana, I'd spend them on a new lec' guitar anyway, lol.

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I advise kendo for starters. The art of Iaido is usually considered advanced if you are a total newbie. Goggle "Kendo". There are world/international/local/anything organizations for kendo. I mean, you'll be able to find something kendo nearby. Also there are lots of web literature on the subject. :catgirl:

[Doukeshi]

[SIZE=1][QUOTE=Oceanborn]Also, sbrebaby, you are something. Having a katana left is extreme luck, I used to do kendo but I had to drop it since even if I had the few thousand bucks you need for a good katana, I'd spend them on a new lec' guitar anyway, lol.
[/QUOTE]

A few thousand for a very good Katana yes, but you can get a great variety of Katanas that range from $50 upwards. My bro has one, its pretty poor but hey, he likes it.

Kendo is a good way to go for beginners, it'll teach you the basics.

[B]P.S[/B] Did he honestly say "learn the ways of the sword" before he died? What is this, Feudal Japan?[/SIZE]

[Zidargh]

[quote name='sbrebaby']Hi does anyone know anything on swordsmanship for japanese and chinese styles. My ex left me his katana and i have no clue how to use it let alone study the arts. ( He died and before he did he told me to "learn the ways of the sword.") I want to learn but i live in north Dakota in a small farm town on the montana border. I have been on google and yahoo but i have no clue what they are talking about. Please help me. Books magazines and manuals title would really be appreaciated. :catgirl:[/quote]

And then he took his last break, death rattled and faded away to the "Land of the Giant Oni." Please don't do this again.

Anyway, as far as I know, you should take up something like Aikido. Wait, that's mainly hand to hand combat. Try Kendo or something.

[sbrebaby]

[B]P.S[/B] Did he honestly say "learn the ways of the sword" before he died? What is this, Feudal Japan?[/SIZE][/QUOTE]


No he did not say it while he was dieing. He was really into the samuri. He told me months before he died. He had leukemia. He said if i wanted peace with myself (i am a very angry person and when my temper rages i :animeblus well i throw things and stuff.) to learn the way of the sword. He was really something and i loved him dearly.

[Guest RulerOfDarkness]

[quote name='sbrebaby][B]P.S[/B'] Did he honestly say "learn the ways of the sword" before he died? What is this, Feudal Japan?[/SIZE][/quote]


No he did not say it while he was dieing. He was really into the samuri. He told me months before he died. He had leukemia. He said if i wanted peace with myself (i am a very angry person and when my temper rages i :animeblus well i throw things and stuff.) to learn the way of the sword. He was really something and i loved him dearly.[/QUOTE]
i think its a great idea i'm very much into katana swords as well as spears an halberds. i plan to learn each style when i get the chance. but yea i think its a good idea it will really help with the temper i would know i took a demo class with swords so go for it an if u need help just pm me an i will see what i can do ok

[Drizzt Do'urden]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by [B] sbrebaby[/B]
Hi does anyone know anything on swordsmanship for japanese and chinese styles.[/QUOTE]

I don't know much about swordsmanship styles. Persoanlly I'm more into medieval Europe when it comes to blades/swordplay. But make sure if he was into the "way of the samurai", and you feel that it was a sort've last wish and feel obligated too, that whatever you do begin your studies with that it is truly japenese. And be prepared to learn more than just swrodplay, you have to learn a whole culture when it comes to samurai. The sword really can't teach you self control, it's everything around it.

Also this is just a side note about this. Don't you sort've wish he'd suggested anger management classes instead of learning a very difficult(i'm guessing) style of swordplay.

[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.[/SIZE]

[quote name='sbrebaby']He said if i wanted peace with myself (i am a very angry person and when my temper rages i :animeblus well i throw things and stuff.) to learn the way of the sword. He was really something and i loved him dearly.[/quote]

[SIZE=1]And he wants you to become proficient in sword combat with a temper like yours ? Not to sound cruel my dear but that sounds like a very bad idea to me, though I suppose if you do derive some inner peace from learning how to use a katana to it's full lethality then it's not time wasted. I would just be somewhat cautious in allowing someone with an admitted temper to become very good with a particularly dangerous weapon. [/SIZE]

[BlueYoshi]

[color=darkred]Iaido is a good choice if you want to find your inner peace, plus it would be effective as a martial art, though I can't think of any situation where you'd have to use it, heh. It mostly involves attacks from the sheath of the sword, so there'll be no Jackie Chan mumble jumble. You'll need a different kind of katana, I think, but a bokken would do. Real blades aren't permitted until you reach a good enough level anyway.[/color]

[Bloodseeker]

I shoot you. I win.

Swords are outdated. You're better off becoming a more accurate shot at a shooting range and/or learning hand to hand martial arts that don't require you to carry around a weapon. (make sure that the dojo is hard contact and doesn't charge you for belt lessons)

[Lord Dante]

[QUOTE=Bloodseeker]I shoot you. I win.

Swords are outdated. You're better off becoming a more accurate shot at a shooting range and/or learning hand to hand martial arts that don't require you to carry around a weapon. (make sure that the dojo is hard contact and doesn't charge you for belt lessons)[/QUOTE]
Actually, It has been proven that a katana can cut a bullet in half, so [I]technically[/I] a sword could best a gun.

if you want proof, check out the video on [url]www.compfused.com[/url]

[Bloodseeker]

But if you think that any swordsman has the reflexes to cut six bullets in half in a non-scripted environment, especially when its an experienced gunman shooting at them, you've been watching too much anime. There's a reason why the sword has fallen into disuse, and its not just because its easier to learn how to pull a trigger than it is to learn how to quickly kill someone with a blade. Guns are quick, long range weapons. If you came at me at with a sword and I had a semi-automatic, or even just a regular pistol, you'd be screwed.

[Doukeshi]

[SIZE=1][quote name='Bloodseeker']But if you think that any swordsman has the reflexes to cut six bullets in half in a non-scripted environment, especially when its an experienced gunman shooting at them, you've been watching too much anime. There's a reason why the sword has fallen into disuse, and its not just because its easier to learn how to pull a trigger than it is to learn how to quickly kill someone with a blade. Guns are quick, long range weapons. If you came at me at with a sword and I had a semi-automatic, or even just a regular pistol, you'd be screwed.[/quote]

Well yes, but to be honest few people learn swordsmanship these days with the intentions of going up against anyone with a frigging gun, be serious. Even if, say, I did go up against you with a sword and you had a gun, I'm not just going to run straight at you so you could just shoot me, hell.

To learn something like this is a dedication to itself. Saying don't learn it because it's outdated is like saying don't learn history 'cause its in the past. It is an art form unto itself. Learning a martial art is not only based in the practicalities but also in the theology and philosophy.

Where is the art in a gun huh? There is no grace or finesse in a gun, unless you're looking at something like Equilibrium, now [I]that's[/I] something worth learning.

Also, I appologise for my previous harshness sbrebaby but it did seem a little melodramatic, I see now my error.[/SIZE]

[lilkid]

i have my own style i use sticks to practice..you have to put your soul into it no one can touch me in fighting cause you tap into a higher sensitive reflectsive you so it helps when someone fights you and you don't want to fight them back

[Tatsubei Yagyu]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Comic Sans MS]I'm going to learn swordsmanship, because I already bought a wooden sword...I just need a sensei... :animedepr [/FONT][/COLOR]

[BurnerMan]

My brother taught me some basic kendo, but that's about it. It's pretty cool because it seems easy just because it's just basic kendo, but it is hard to memorize which way to block.

Kendo:the art of Japanese wooden sword fighting.

[wayofthreversed]

I find that this is a pretty good site for the basics and to learn about swordsmen like yagyu jubai,Kawakami Gensai (he is who kenshin is based on I think), and Miyamoto Musashi. anyway the site is [url]http://www.sword.ne.jp/dojo.htm[/url]