Practice with sharpe sword? -- myArmoury.com

Li Jin · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 9:32 am Post subject: Practice with sharpe sword?

Hi everyone:)

One of my friend just started German longsword, and he wanted to practice with a Sharpe sword. I was wondering if doing so is illegal? Or does any other practice group does so or recommends so? Thank you guys.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

We make mistakes when we're learning a new skill. Persuade your friend to try a blunt sword or waster for a week. The first time he hits himself in the head or leg, he'll thank you for saving him a trip to the hospital. There's no shame in matching the training tool to the skill level.

There's also the matter of earning the privilege of training with a sharp sword. It's as true in WMA as in EMA. Who walks into their first kendo or kenjutsu class expecting to be given a sharp sword to train with?

Michael B. · Industry Professional

I would check with local and state laws concerning sharp swords. In my state, we are allowed to carry them anywhere, as long as they remained sheathed at our side, or on the back in a baldric, however, we can pull them in self-defense. Interesting enough, only once has any of my associates been questioned, when he was on campus at the univeristy, but he said he was rehearsing for the play and they let him go. But, let's be honest, what person is going to pick a fight with someone wearing a sword?
When students reach a certain level, we don't discourage the use of sharps in practice. It's a very important part, a sharp sword handles very differently than a practice blunt, so to understand the body mechanics fully, you must use a sharp at some point. In our salle, there are no sharps allowed while another student is on the floor, and of course no fighting, winding, or metrics against another with them.
If your friend is just starting out, I would discourage the use of a sharp until he understood the basics at least, and just work with a blunt for now.

Li Jin · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 11:26 am Post subject:

Thank you for replies. I didn't mention the situation clearly, using a Sharpe sword to practice, what my friend did is using Sharpe swords to do sparring with hes partner, is this recommended for anyone? I though people could get cut and hurt for that.

Michael B. · Industry Professional

NO. No one should practice against another with a sharp, NOT EVER. One mistake could cost an arm, a leg, or someone's life! These are not toys, but deadly weapons. Would you shoot at your friends with a rifle with live ammo instead of going to a shooting range? Even going metrics with sharps has too much liability and risk.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject:

Is your friend aware that swords are lethal weapons? It's not meant to be a condescending question--some people genuinely seem to not understand this. You can see the same phenomenon with firearms--note the "adults" who recently thought it would be perfectly fine for a child to fire a submachine gun, and now face involuntary manslaughter charges as a result.

This isn't hard. A sharp sword is designed to make homicide as efficient as possible. Handle accordingly!

Anders Backlund · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

Yeah, this has "Darwin Award" written all over it.

Very, very bad idea.

Gabriele A. Pini · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

In Italy you can move "proper weapons" (as sharp swords) only if you have a pass, and only in safe condition's (i.e. in the back of a truck, locked or immobilized). Even "not-proper weapons" can be subject to limitations, at the discretion of the police (like an axe: in theory you can bring it everywhere, in pratice if you walk in a bar with a double-head unsheathed in your hands you can be arrested).

I'm only a very beginner in the art of the sword, but even with metal blunt weapons I've received some nasty bruises. If that time at Lodi they had use real arrows now I'll be dead for extreme bloody loss...

Felix R. · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 1:32 pm Post subject:

Andreas Auer · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

sorry but i just cant believe this... Eek!

Dan P · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

That's a terrible idea which is going to end badly for everyone involved.
Even if there are no criminal laws against it, sparring with another person using sharp swords is probably grounds for a reckless endangerment or wrongful death liability. And maybe a Darwin Award.

On extremely rare occasions I've practiced locks and disarms- NOT defenses against actual attacks/sparring, and definitely not at full speed- with live knives. Under controlled conditions. Which is still extremely dangerous and no one should really be doing this. But sparring with sharp swords is just a stupid way to get hurt, and no one is going to learn anything except how to get to the hospital really quickly.

Steven Janus · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

I'd say if he wants to do test cutting and get into slicing bottles and such, nothing wrong with starting with a sharp. However why would you want to use one to practice with? I mean, unless if it was a fight to the death which shouldn't be necessary in modern times generally speaking. I mean, common sense should prevail here. If your friend wants to practice form and perfect strikes then setting up a cutting stand with water bottles, milk jugs, listerine bottles, etc. is a great way to learn how a sword cuts and will greatly help improve your form. If he perfers sparing, well then yeah use a blunt. It's not that hard of a concept really. Blunts are for sparing, sharps are for practice cutting. Really, it is that simple.

JE Sarge · Industry Professional

I have to ask, is the OP serious?

If so, please:

NO SHARPS FOR PRACTICE SPARRING!

Joe Fults · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

Recipe for serious injury or death for one practice partner, prison for the other.

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Fri 30 Jan, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

You know, I've witnessed some soldiers in the infantry schools of the Marine Corps practicing with real bayonets, and was wondering if any WMA/EMA people had done the same...personally, I failed to see the value of the exercise, as you could not practice full speed...well, I see some value, but not much.

M.

Reece Nelson · Posted: Sat 31 Jan, 2009 12:07 am Post subject:

This injury was caused by a Gladius sword that missed the target and bit deep into the cutters leg, causing him to lose one gallon of blood and requiring 55 stiches and emergency surgery.

Swords are not toys.

Felix R. · Posted: Sat 31 Jan, 2009 7:01 am Post subject:

@ Reece

Did the cutter wear clothes at the leg or was he bare skinned?

P. Cha · Posted: Sat 31 Jan, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

Bartek Strojek · Posted: Sat 31 Jan, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

@ Reece

ONE gallon? Eek!

But as far as I know humans have about 6,5 liters of blood TOPS. So if gallon is 4,5 liters, he lost almost all to 2/3 of his blood...

Also , it seems that he cut himself in the back of the leg. With missed cut one would expect cutting oneself to the front?

Adam Smith · Posted: Sat 31 Jan, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

I asked myself the same question as Bartek. It seems difficult to slice your own calf that deeply at that angle from a missed cut.