Q: Which Martial Art Is Best for the SCA?

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

I once asked an SCA knight and ~koryu sensei which MA was best to train in for SCA purposes - aikido, kendo, or something else.

So now I ask you all the same question. Which MA do you think is best from an SCA perspective? What crosses over into SCA combat. Into SCA persona? What differences do you see in modern budo and what may be have been practised in period? Which arts have you practised and how has it influenced your SCA portrayal?

Aikido
Iaido
Kenjustsu
Kendo
Kyudo
Karate
Judo/Jujitsu
Something else?

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

BTW: His answer was aikido. His argument was that the flowing randori was closer to SCA combat than that found in other arts; that the footwork and balance were easily transferred to other combat situations.

[OgamiBusho]

I don't believe that there is a best. I think that all prepare you equally.

SCA combat is a martial art in it's own right. Experience in other martial arts provide a depth of knowledge and training which translate rather easily, regardless of the discipline.

The variation in basic precepts among the different martial arts isn't very dramatic. They all share fundamental principals. These principals can be applied equally in every situation.

If you learn how to ride one horse, then learning to ride a second one isn't that hard.

[raito]

OgamiBusho said:

I don't believe that there is a best. I think that all prepare you equally.

... Or equally poorly, if it comes to it.

In general, I've found that those who are able to take their non-technique skills from their former arts become more effective earlier in their SCA careers. Those who are tied to their technique sometimes struggle.

Same idea as an armoured fighter taking up fencing.

[BigMek]

hmm I dont know how SCA combat is done, but I would say kenjustu (tried it for a short while and tae-kwon-do for 8 years) and if Im not mistaking Kenjutsu is the way the japanese warriors fought with katana, naginata, yari and wakisashi (sp) or am I totally wrong?

[rjsimmons]

Ronin said:

hmm I dont know how SCA combat is done, but I would say kenjustu (tried it for a short while and tae-kwon-do for 8 years) and if Im not mistaking Kenjutsu is the way the japanese warriors fought with katana, naginata, yari and wakisashi (sp) or am I totally wrong?

Kenjutsu was the discipline of the sword, daito and shoto. The naginata and yari had their own schools.

SCA combat is a bastardization of weapon forms and it would be exceptionally difficult to wrap any one martial art around it and say this is the route you should go. I have seen black belts in kenjutsu get their back sides handed to them in SCA combat, because they wanted to stay true to their art. I submit that even the bushi changed as was needed to succeed in battle, straying from their art when the situation warranted.

[BigMek]

wow, Ive only been doing kenjutsu for about 1-2 month before I quit (really bad teacher) but was told that it was: katana, wakisashi, bo (sp?) and naginata, so maybe Ive missed something or he has.

but anyways, was fun as along as it lasted