It's different, innit? I've watched you armour-boys doing your thing on the field, and in practice. The shield makes a huge difference to technique, of course. So does plate armour. But... you guys don't move your feet much, do you? Comparitively speaking, that is.
I can understand that. Heavy armour. Uncertain battlefield footing. Not the best conditions for dancing and gliding about the place. But it does make a difference, doesn't it?
I wouldn't mind trying kendo myself. But I can't find any 'round here. Iaido will have to do.
While we are doing a lot more movement in SCA stuff - you are spot on. Lighter armour and good floor make a lot of difference in being able to move. And - bloody hell they can move fast...
Ah. Yes. That they can. But then, your lads are pretty spry too.
Ju-jitsu (my first art, as you know) is nothing if not practical, and over the years, I've made a point of observing other arts, and considering what I'd have to do if I needed to deal with a practitioner. I doubt you'll be surprised to discover that I've included the SCA lads in that kind of consideration. One of these days, we'll have to sit down and talk about it, just for fun.
Anyway - my bet would be on you. Close the range and absorb the initial strike (this will hurt but better than letting them hit you in the head) and then turn them into a pretzel as the SCA people have no idea about unarmed work....
I've been thinking about doing some kendo again, mostly because it's fun and it is actually exercise. I had a go for a couple of sessions a few months ago, but a couple of people told me off for hitting too hard, which I guess is natural.
Do you think that training yourself to hit for the surface in kendo will translate to rattan, or vice versa? Or will you be able to keep the two separate easily?
Yes - i also have the hitting too hard issue. This can be fixed by focusing on just hitting the surface rather than though the target. Tenuchi also is important here.
Anyway - I am finding kendo helpful for SCA fighting. General fitness and the concentration on form are excellent.
Both you and the previous commentator are dealing with one of the big Japan/Europe dichotomies. Bugger-all iron in Japan kept the armour relatively light... and because there wasn't a lot of steel to be had, they took what was available and treated it very, very well. A proper katana is genuinely a scary motherfucker of a weapon, and applied with the kind of force they use in kendo, quite lethal through most Japanese armour. (Though Kendo doesn't target weak points in the armour the way Iaijutsu and kenjutsu do.)
You lads train in a style that was shaped by huge deposits of iron in Europe. Swords were almost a throwaway item, relatively speaking, and armour was of value for the workmanship far more than for the metal. And so you get techniques that have to account for tough, metal armour -- techniques which really don't concern themselves too much with the long-term welfare of the weapon.
Almost my anonymous friend. I am really only talking about the cross overs in the modern styles. They are more governed by the current rule sets than the historical precedents. Anyway - the biggest difference is the use of shields
Comments 14
I can understand that. Heavy armour. Uncertain battlefield footing. Not the best conditions for dancing and gliding about the place. But it does make a difference, doesn't it?
I wouldn't mind trying kendo myself. But I can't find any 'round here. Iaido will have to do.
Reply
Reply
Ju-jitsu (my first art, as you know) is nothing if not practical, and over the years, I've made a point of observing other arts, and considering what I'd have to do if I needed to deal with a practitioner. I doubt you'll be surprised to discover that I've included the SCA lads in that kind of consideration. One of these days, we'll have to sit down and talk about it, just for fun.
Reply
Anyway - my bet would be on you. Close the range and absorb the initial strike (this will hurt but better than letting them hit you in the head) and then turn them into a pretzel as the SCA people have no idea about unarmed work....
Reply
Do you think that training yourself to hit for the surface in kendo will translate to rattan, or vice versa? Or will you be able to keep the two separate easily?
Reply
Anyway - I am finding kendo helpful for SCA fighting. General fitness and the concentration on form are excellent.
C.
Reply
You lads train in a style that was shaped by huge deposits of iron in Europe. Swords were almost a throwaway item, relatively speaking, and armour was of value for the workmanship far more than for the metal. And so you get techniques that have to account for tough, metal armour -- techniques which really don't concern themselves too much with the long-term welfare of the weapon.
Reply
I am really only talking about the cross overs in the modern styles. They are more governed by the current rule sets than the historical precedents.
Anyway - the biggest difference is the use of shields
Reply
Leave a comment