Swordplay on ATS

In a couple of threads regarding firearms and other weapons, I was somewhat surprised to find that a large number of ATS members apparently own and use swords as a true primary weapon. I may well be out of touch with the mainstream, but this was somewhat unexpected.

I would like to ask all ATS members, do you own a sword/s? If so, is it for decorative purposes, or more serious defensive purposes? How many, and what kind do you own? Have you ever been formally trained in thier use? Do you practice with them on a regular basis? In the event that you were forced to defend yourself, are you prepared to use a sword in self defence? Have you ever done so? Is it your first or ? choice as a weapon?

I've been trained in swords, sai's, nunchucku, bo, you name it. I've had my mind on getting a nice samurai sword, although the nice ones are quite expensive!!!

In terms of primary weapon, I stick with my sidearm.

I can certainly see where you would get quite a physical workout practicing with swords and other edged weapons...

The only true impact weapons I have are a nightstick, and a collapsible ASP baton.

The nightstick was given to me by a police officer friend... It is cool, and granted I might feel more confident with it if I was properly trained/practiced with it... however, unless you are a cop and can carry it exposed, or are in a wierd hand weapon only/karate type environment, I really dont see much use for it in the real world.

The ASP baton on the other hand, is quite useful. Mine extends out to 21" and is solid steel tubing telescope. I have had to use it twice. The first time, some gang punk pulled a knife and I hit his forearm with it... the knife hit the ground and he ran, in obvious pain (I think I might well have broken his arm). The second time, the sight/sound of it telescoping out and locking in place was enough for the bad guy to go the other way.

I was a competition level fencer back in the 1970's and coached fencing. Took martial arts later on, and dabbled with the SCA a bit.

I forget just how many pointy objects are around my house... some good replicas, some wooden swords, katana, throwing knives, fencing foil, fencing sabres, fencing epees... bunches of stuff. And lots of knives.

And scissors.

While I am resonably proficient with a sword, I have been trained with a totally different weapon altogether...one that his traditional to my people, The New Zealand Maori...and that weapon is called the 'Taiaha' (pronounced tie-ah-ha)

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON THE TAIAHA

...extremely effective weapon that comprises the benefits of a fighting staff, bladed attack weapon, club AND spear all in one...its prinicple attack strategy is to strike up from below, side, front of an opponent...rather than the usual offensive strikes from above, side, front as with many other weapons from martial arts weapon forms. This gets the weapon underneath an opponents weapon, and proves very formidable indeed.

For instance, I have sparred with friends who have had many years of trained experience with Kendo etc and regularly gain the upper-hand and 'finish' them without too many problems.



Peace,
ALIEN

[Edited on 7-3-2003 by alien]

...I also practise Yari, Bo, Ken, 2 and 3 parts nunchtackus, Naginata, and Kasuri-Gama.
I have a friend who is in orient antiquities bizness in Paris :

My ancients orients collection is composed of :

A XVI century japan 2 hands katana and an old Hagane Naginata still very sharp.

I also got a modern Yemenite dagger (with a marble hand) and a yemenite 2 hands sword but the one I prefer is a Damascus XVIIth century dagger.
Thats all for collection weapons.
I'd like to buy a samourai armor and a Yari but authentic piece are really hard to find.
But to defend myself, I simply prefer a Pepper Spray.

I had a friend who was in trafic about weapons who propose me one day a women gun (something little because I'm not strong enought to use an heavy Magnum 357 and Others but I refused).



and my favorites books are Sun-Tze, The ART OF WAR
And SHIMEN MYAMATO MUSASHI, The BOOK OF 5 RINGS.

And when I say that weapons aren't necessary a good way to self-defence, you'll be surprised to know that the SHIMEN, one of the best samurai earth never know often wins his single fights only with a boken (The wood traning sword).


[Edited on 7-3-2003 by Nans DESMICHELS]

Originally posted by Nans DESMICHELS And when I say that weapons aren't necessary a good way to self-defence, you'll be surprised to know that the SHIMEN, one of the best samurai earth never know often wins his single fights only with a boken (The wood traning sword).

Yeah, there's quite a few sword-masters that are like that...They think using live steel is *too* deadly so they use the *practice* versions of the weapon.

I've been trained in Western European styles of sword/sheild fighting, Ninjutsu & a bit of Kendo (Kendo basically doesn't teach any *defense* while sparring, so I don't use much of that style).

I'm also trained in the use of a variety of thrown weapons, mostly Shuriken & more conventionally-shaped throwing knives.

I can also use Nekodi (Ninja's climbing claws) in HTH combat as well, but it's difficult to use a hand weapon while wearing them. I'm also pretty decent with other Ninja-type tools, such as grappling hooks & smaller weapons.

I'm also a proficient archer: I use a bow that has eccentric pullies & an adjustable pull-tension that ranges from 40 lb to 55 lb (Minimum pull-rating of 50 lb is reccommended for hunting bear...).

Also, I'm trained in a small variety of blunt weapons, but I'm more likely to be actually *using* commonly-found items that I might find at-hand, rather than buying a bunch of them.

Not to mention that I've got lots of ideas for setting traps in & around my home...Mostly coming from Ninjutsu disciplines, but even a few LARP (Live Action Role Playing) games have a bunch of ideas for devious tricks...

I've also kept in practice by joining a group that's simular to the SCA (Not officially affiliated, but does much of the same thing)...I've taken quite a few enemies by surprise with my non-standard tactics & unpredictable moves.

I currently only own 3 swords...One of them is only decorative, but the other 2 (A Katana & a Ninja-to) *are* combat-ready.

Damn!!

You guys must be built like brick # houses!!!!!!!

I'm a brown and white belt at karate (shotokan) and have been doing that for 4 years.

Right now..stuck in the infirmary with 3 wires coming out of my hands!! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I happen to own some swords. I was trained in fencing when I was in High School, I think. Can't really remember when. I was a brown belt in Karate when I took when I was 4 or 5 years old. Then I was taught how to use a normal long sword. Mostly my swords are for collercting only, but one of my katanas might come in handy someday.... in my collection I have about 5 to 10 long swords, mostly for collection purposes but hey the blade is still sharp. I have 4 Ninja Katanas, which I know how to use now. Some short swords, and about 12 letter openers. Pretty nice swords I have.


[Edited on 3-7-2003 by JediMaster]

I have a pool cue? Does that count?

I'm pretty good with it too.

My first is made for staged combat (Renaissance Festival fighting) and is not sharp...it's a one and a half-handed bastard sword and pretty plain. The others are all sharp and actual weapons. I own another one and a half hander with a skull pommel and dragon motif, with two matching shortswords. Another is a wood handled broadsword, with a dragon head pommel, and another broadsword with a demon head pommel and fantasy blade, and then a few others (mostly longswords and broadswords) with various dragon motifs and pommels... I'm looking to buy a nice Katana, but so far, haven't found a really good one worth the dough yet, but I'm always looking...(I have to see it, touch it, so online buying is out). I also own a lot of knives, again, with dragon motifs... Most of them I bought for the artistry, with the exception of the Katana I'm looking for (which must have a dragon motif as well, hehe....)

My training comes from various martial arts over the years, primarily some ninjitsu (as far as the swords go), and also practice in staged combat for entertainment purposes (Ren fests). All of them are mounted in various places in the house, and are easily accessable as weapons. For practice though, I stick with my bokken... I use the sword for it's psyche-out factor... Nobody, not even a crook, wants to mess with a crazy man....

are just imitations and can really hurt, even if you sharp them.
If you really want a sword that is a weapon you need :

A) To buy a ancient japanese Hagane weapon (It cost at least 1000$ for a yari simple or a naginata and 3000 $ for a simgle katana)
B) To buy a recent one, but coming from japan and to sharp it
C) If you want an European or arab sword it's a little bit harder :
You sould just find reproductions, the best ones comes from TOLEDO (Spain) and from FRANCE .
You can also buy a fleuret or a french-saber but its sportive weapons.

Nah.

If you chop them to pieces you have to pay to clean up all the blood.

Wooden sword (like Musashi used) or pool cue or baseball bat is easier.

i got a double edged european style sword from my uncle, but it's dull. normally i just fight with sticks i find on the ground with my friends and haven't received any formal training. it's very fun though and painful. if you get hit. our rules, no head or nut shots, everything else is go. (the importance of leather gloves)

I use kamas in my kobodo class - a seperate class from my Taekwon-Do training. They aren't sharp at all, since we're kids using 'em, but they would be if they were real.

The four weapons that we have learned about (only training in the kamas) are the long-bo, fock-du (sp?)(there like police batons, used to turn things around) kamas, and sys. The first three were farm tools, used by the farmers when a drunken samurai would come to try and take some food. The sys were developed by the police. Kamas will break easily so they come in pairs, used for cutting crops, they have a short handle with a sickle on the end.

Make my day...

The one image that I keep seeing however is the scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where Harrison Ford is confronted by an Arab swordsman... As the swordsman twirls his sword, Harrison calmly draws his Smith and Wesson and dispatches him with one shot....

The swordsman was stupid for coming out into the open & drew too much attention to his presence, that's why...Besides, it was a movie.


The Ninja way would've been to sneak up on Indy from the nearby bushes (or used a nearby group of people to walk up unnoticed) & unceremoniously slit his throat.

The Ninja way would've been to sneak up on Indy from the nearby bushes (or used a nearby group of people to walk up unnoticed) & unceremoniously slit his throat. Posted by MidnightDStroyer

In that event, a sword would certainly be a bit of overkill, and would likely compromise his *sneaking* ability... wouldnt you want something considerably smaller, such as a 3" or so pocket folder you can make *appear* out of nowhere, and then *disappear*?

ermsss
i also have one sword after i finished my graduate from my martial art course karate,judo,aikido,kendo,then i learn ninja after my studies ended my sword i just keep in my room.