[Vincent Le Chevalier]

[Elling Polden]

I would say that the ability to transfer of energy is what makes a sword blow "strong." It is thus a lot more than the maximal kinetic energy of the sword tip.
The strength of the blow lies in the ability to deliver energy into a bind, or continue a cut. Effectively, preventing energy from "escaping", and transfering potential body energy.

When it comes to rising cuts, the swing itself might be weaker, but if you can get your body behind it, the blow is still quite strong.

But the weapon hand diagonal strike is still the one with the most potential force. If you can get you body behind it. If standing weapon foot forward, your can not do this as effectively as you can by stepping forward in support of a inside blow.

[Patrick De Block]

Vincent,

Don't no much about physics but I do know that I like to play a dick sometimes. (Sam Cooke)

The ground reaction force is equal and opposite to gravity (your weight). So, you are forever standing still, since they cancel each other. What do you do to walk? You move your legs. Did you? And how would you do that? You can't, forces are cancelling each other.

A sword has no energy, it's an object. It's the swordsman potential energy that has to be converted to kinetic energy (and into the sword). The admonition to drop your sword is not about dropping it (just open your hands) but about not interfering with the the kinetic energy. If you muscle your sword with your arms it actually slows down and if you look at people cutting upwards they mostly don't muscle it, it is nearly impossible to do that, although there are exceptions.

And Vincent, all this is written 'tongue in cheek'. We are on the internet and there is no appropriate emoticon for those who can't read, and I didn't mean you. See my first line.