http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx2umUcEsE8

Recently, some of my customers have reported that my sparring swords were broken under forceful sparring. Today I've seen it first handed that a foreign customer came over to spar and broke his new sparring sword in 75 rounds. Thus I've invited him to do some test with me with real swords and made a video to investigate how hard does one have to hit in sparring to inflict effective damage. The partner that held the katana for me to show the real sword clashing effect was the customer. He participated in test cutting afterwards and has since established a new understanding of swordsmanship. I wish to share this knowledge with the community and may everybody enjoy.

Interesting footage. Thank you.

Very interesting, Lance. I must say that I do not envy the fellow who was hit with the Brescia, no matter how well practiced it was. I think you hit upon some good points, though, as I've noticed that effective cutting seems to come much more from proper edge alignment than from raw power.

This is a wonderful demonstartion of the principle that a sword is not an axe or a sharpened club-something that is often discussed but not widely undestood, I think

Very good video Lance. Is it OK for me to use it in my study group? We have a discussion on the matter right now.

Yes, certainly, spread the words as you want. :) That's the purpose, a public service, after all.

And I would like to acknowledge the fact that the conclusion in the video was based on "unarmored combat" environment. I acknowledge that slightly armored combat or fully armored combat are of totally different breeds. I just wanted to make it clear. Big cuts has a lot more value in the slightly armored combat, where the fully armored combat may break the sword upon big cut's contact, thus thrusts were used dominantly.