[Michael Curl]

Hello, I have no experience with japanese swordsmanship at all. I am not interested in learning it, German longsword is what I am currently learning.

However I was wondering if anyone would like to give me a brief run through on it.

What I have in mind is, (to compare it to the german longsword) some guards, some master cuts (popular techniques), and a few notes on how its use differs from a longsword. This is simply as an education exercise, since youtubeing katana techniques gives you nothing but ninja crap.

Both discussion, pictures, and video would be welcomed and appreciated.

Just a few opening questions.



p.s. Yes I know there are many schools, just speak in generalities or whatever school you are most comfortable with. Thank you very much.

[D. Austin]

Hi Michael,

Unfortunately, you may have trouble finding people who really know what they are talking about, who are willing to give you a "brief run through" on traditional usage of the katana.

To find some non-ninja footage, your best bet may be to do a youtube search for "kenjutsu koryu" (oldschool swordsmanship). I remember seeing quite an interesting documentary on Katori Shinto Ryu once which I think was on BBC. You might also want to search for that.

Regards,

Darren.

[Nat Lamb]

"brief run through" is probably akin to Zorro's "the pointy end goes in the other man". But I think you are probaly after a bit more detail. What little I know is what is left over in Judo and Aikido, and I think that compared to Germain longsword the main diferences are that the arms, esp the elbows, are kept a bit tighter into the sides, and that cuts have a slightly more exagerated "drawing" motion built into them. Basic footwork seems to be very similar though, in fact there seems to be more general similarity between GLS as a whole, and Katana use as a whole, then there is specific similarity between individual schools in each tradition. (I think that made sense)

Please bare in mind these are "impressions" of someone who has limited1st hand experience with GLS and only 2nd hand experience and infered knowledge of Kenjutsu.

[Sam Barris]

Since you're in Northern California, you might venture down to SoCal and observe a demonstration or workshop of the Dojo of the Four Winds. Failing that, I second the search for koryu. Koryu refers specifically to classical bujutsu.

Just so you know, there are period manuals in kenjutsu just like in Western swordsmanship. If memory serves, the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu had an illustrated manual of a samurai fencing with a tengu (demon, for lack of a better term). There are four or five from different schools that are available to the public, IIRC. They shouldn't be too hard to locate.

[Michael Edelson]

There are very many schools of iaido, battojutsu,kenjutsu, etc. and each does things a bit differently, so a brief run through with specifics would be difficult. Many "newer" JSA (Japanese Sword Arts) schools have a very limited curriculum compared to German longsword...a few kata, 8 cuts, rinse repeat. However, there are many that are every bit as rich, particularly the Koryu (old schools), and that is what I'll focus on.

Essentially, JSA is a lot more similar to German longsword than it is different. The sword has only one edge, so there are no back edge cuts, and that is the one major difference, but some schools use a motion very similar to the zwerchau to parry on the spine of the sword. There are also philosophical differences. For example, Yagyu Shinkage Ryu will parry a cut to the legs whereas Liechtenauer will void (though there may also be a void in YSR...I don't remember). Also, the cut is generally preferred to the thrust (though the thrust is used) in bind play in JSA.

However, these differences are minor and trivial, and if you watch a couple of good YSR guys doing paired drills you'll be amazed how similar the two arts are. This is largeley unavoidable, as both arts focus on efficient lethality, and there are only so many ways to move with a two handed sword. The guards are nearly identical, though there are some differences.

As for things like footwork, I'd like to say how different or similar they are, but then we can't really know, can we? All I'd be able to comment on is JSA footwork vs. what we think German longsword footwork is. The short answer here is, again, more similarities than differences, though it does depend on the JSA school.

Hope this helps.

[Michael Curl]

Thank you all for your responsis.

I know a little japanese history so I understand what a tengu is, however I was hoping to find some techniques, so I will youtube Kenjutsu.

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Michael Edelson]

Jean, as a gross generalization, what you say is essentially correct, with one possible exception. I have no problems with generalizations (I think they're essential for online communication), as long as people accept them for what they are.

The exception...I've spent a good deal of time in JSA and have never seen footwork that is opposite what we do in German longsword. Now that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but it may mean it's not a very good generalization, since it is probably the exception and not the rule. Then again, I may be wrong about that.

[Elling Polden]

Later european single sword styles also lead with the sword side. One of the 17th c manuals I read states that the reason for this is to move of line faster, and thus cover behind your sword.

I was also under the impression that European longsword featured a lot more grappling than JSA?

[Michael Edelson]

[Jim Mearkle]

I'm not really qualified to speak on either, but I had to say this: Thank you, thank you, thank you! for an intelligent discussion on the subject, rather than just trading insults like children.

[Nicholas Allan Wilson]

[Nicholas Allan Wilson]

It should also be noted that Japanses swords do not fall into the one-size-fits- all categorgory. A sword needs to be fitted to your body as best as possible. If you are trying to make comparisons it would be wise to consider the size of sword you have.

[Nicholas Allan Wilson]

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Elling Polden]