How to learn swordfighting?

[kage69]

Cold Steel offers knife fighting DVD's. In the days of old, young men learned the knife before training with the sword and I see no reason this logic would not apply today. The lessons on footwork alone are worth the cost of the DVD's. Cold Steel is also a good source for fighting swords. Their swords, even though monotempered, are very durable (1050 carbon steel). Certainly the best buy around, they surpass other swords costing $200 more.

I have a Wu Jian from them and am extremely impressed with it's quality. Their fixed-blade knives are also the finest on the market IMHO. Lynn Thompson's "Cut and Not Be Cut" method seems interesting, although I have it on good authority that he borrows liberally from fencing, kali & escrima, and tantojutsu. That's not a bad thing by any means, I just don't consider Lynn the guru he likes to portray himself as. The DVDs are good, but there's only so much one can absorb without having an uke to train with.
Cold Steel tomahawks are also terrific - hawk throwing has become my new craze lately.

 

[Shockwave]

List of weapons in Kung Fu

Go there then click on the weapons tab. You can learn all KINDS of weapons in Shaolin Kung Fu, problem is, weapons are a secondary. You have to learn forms first, THEN weapons. In some cases you could be looking at years to even get to the point where they will offer to train you in swords.

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
Why not try Shaolin Kung-fu, not only you'll learn sword fighting, but 18 different kinds of deadly weapons.

Would Shaolin Soccer be a good start?

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: badmouse
My 14-year-old son wants to learn swordfighting. He's been fascinated by it for years, and only recently has he been healthy enough to even consider it.

I don't even know where to start looking for someplace for him to learn. He's not interested in fencing (there's a fencing school here, but they don't do broad swords, I asked).

What do I look for?

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1210987

Be careful.

 

[AmericasTeam]

Rent or buy Pirates of the Carribean and make him watch it over and over.
Either that or watch old reruns of Zorro.

 

[nanyangview]

after that, he should be taught the fine art of sepukku or he could train to become a kaishakunin

 

[sandmanwake]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Why doesn't he want to try fencing? There are different types than just foil fencing that you see in movies all the time. He could check out eppe (sp?) or saber type fencing. I think saber would be more enjoyable though.

Fencers always think their sport is the end-all be-all of swordfighting. Ack.

The kid wants to hack with a big two handed sword, not prance around with a stiff wire.

Actually, I don't consider myself a fencer; only done a bit of foil, eppe, arnis, and kendo as far as weapons go--now just arnis. I just thought I'd point out that there is more to fencing than foil, which you see all the time, and perhaps the kid thought that that's all there is to fencing. Hopefully, I'll have some more free time next semester and I can take that weapons class I heard about from my sensei in karate.

 

[Michael]

JupiterJones - I haven't been the thearma website in a while.

The shrill whining about the SCA seems to be at an even higher pitch (not that the SCA is mentioned by name).

I love the whines about not striking the knee or below.

Just about all the sparring rules (including the ones that ARMA uses) ignore just how effective armor is.

I've done plenty of "full body target" sparring and the lower leg is not any where as easy a target as the whines make it sound. I use a kite shield which makes it even harder to hit.

Blows to the lower legs (as Clement argues) would come from a longer range. He completely ignores the fact that you can see those type of blows easier and avoid them more easily. I am much more of a range control fighter (my sword's 36" long which is just about right for period swords) and I worked on footwork and body positioning for years. Even against heater style shields, I had trouble hitting the lower leg.

A far more valid criticism of SCA style fighting is the lack of punches, shield smashes, grappling and other moves that are much more realistic. I've tried that a fair amount as well (most experienced SCA fighters experiment with the rules away from official events). That makes a huge difference compared to just opening up the lower leg for striking.

The SCA is the largest and most successful medieval reenactment organization in the USA (I think the world as well). There are tons of splinter groups all over the place that all claim superiority in one way or another. Overall, the SCA style is fairly realistic and allows for full contact strikes with unpadded (except for thrusting) weapons.

Michael

ps - the SCA uses rattan as the wood of choice

 

[ndee]

ask nanyangview


(http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1210682)

 

[JupiterJones]

the SCA uses rattan as the wood of choice

You are right, of course. I don't know why I typed bamboo. Guess I got caught up in the moment as I had a flashback of these guys with a year or so of weekend informal "sword practice" bragging about their mastery of the art.

I enjoyed the year or so I participated back in the 80's and met some very fine swordsmen. They would usually end the battle as the lone survivor with three or four guys around them trying to get a hit. You could really pick out the (very few) guys who actually knew something.

Jupe

 

[nanyangview]

if ur kiddie want to learn sword fighting, he must first master the art of sepukku by trying it on himself. If he pass the test, lest the lesson may begin.

 

[Xelloss]

The art of seppuku.

 

[Sundog]

There can be only one!

 

[Babbles]

I would stay away from the SCA, by definition they are not classical and their sword play is . . . not sure of the right way of saying it, but just a bit too 'not right.'

Anyhow, the first thing I suggest is head on over to Sword Forum Online, create an account (must have one to view and/or post) and there are plenty of folks who would be more than willing to help.

Also, for reading material, you may want to check out HACA, or whatever they are calling themselves today.

Much may depend on your geographical location; there simply may not be anybody around for instruction. In that case Olympic style fencing may be your only option for the time being. Not a bad option, I think he would learn quite a bit. I took a semester of it back when I was 16 and I had a blast.

 

[RGN]

Remember the first rule.

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Why doesn't he want to try fencing? There are different types than just foil fencing that you see in movies all the time. He could check out eppe (sp?) or saber type fencing. I think saber would be more enjoyable though.

Fencers always think their sport is the end-all be-all of swordfighting. Ack.

The kid wants to hack with a big two handed sword, not prance around with a stiff wire.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: RGN
Remember the first rule.

Don't talk about it. Shhhhh!!!!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: 3point14

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Why doesn't he want to try fencing? There are different types than just foil fencing that you see in movies all the time. He could check out eppe (sp?) or saber type fencing. I think saber would be more enjoyable though.

Fencers always think their sport is the end-all be-all of swordfighting. Ack.

The kid wants to hack with a big two handed sword, not prance around with a stiff wire.

He does kind of have a point Fencing is generally a superior combat skill to what came before it (hence the reason the others came before it and fencing became popular), but it's hardly liable to get a guy attention from the ladies...of course neither will playing with any sword these days. It's kind of "weird". I did fencing for years, though i was forced to for much of it.

 

[3point14]

When I first started fencing, I thought the same thing about the lack of "attention from the ladies" by holding my dinky lil' foil with my arm cocked out. Once I arrived to class, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the good looking ladies in there.
My "

" was directed towards the "end-all be-all of swordfighting" comment. Not all fencers think that way. I took fencing to get me prepared for other types of swordplay Fencing would be a good start for badmouse's son (e.g. strength exercises, good form, discipline), but just don't pigeonhole him into one discipline.

edit: that wink was supposed to be a smile. Following that sentence with a wink makes it look like I said something dirty

 

[StageLeft]

Ah, well I didn't see any hot chicks back when I had to do it in school. That would likely have changed my opinion of it All I remember for sure is my instructor with god-awful breath breathing through his mask while talking to me. Yuck!

 

[MustangSVT]

kendo.

welcome to blister heaven.. -_-