Light weapons adaptation?

[sebastian]

Hello all. I stumbled upon this board tonight while doing research for my persona in the SCA. After reading some threads and noticing that this board was particularly directed toward the SCA, I decided this is the perfect place to gather information. Now that I have that out of the way, let me get on with my question.

I have normally been a german persona in the SCA, and after being out of the loop for 2 years, considering the weather in my kingdom (Trimaris, Florida), and considering my extreme interest with eastern culture, have decided to rejoin the SCA under a Japanese persona. (Wow that was a mouthfull)

I do not fight heavy weapons in the SCA, in fact, I'm against it as I see finesse more important than brute strength. I am a rapier fighter for 5 years now, and was the youngest to authorize and compete in my kingdom. I am looking to adapt a tradition gi to be legal for SCA light weapons combat. I am also looking for ways to carry my epee and dagger much like a daisho.

I'm curious if anyone has done anything like this and could offer some advice or links to helpful information. My thoughts on the weapons were to purchase guards for my epees which resembled the crossguard of a katana as much as possible, and perhaps find someone who can make a nice scabbard for both my dagger and rapier.


On a similar note, I am also curious if anyone has a way to modify a normal FIE fencing mask to appear more...appropriate to the persona. I was thinking somehow making or painting a mempo on the front of the mask.

Again, it's been a long first post, but I do hope that I can find a wealth of knowledge on this forum. Thanks in advance!

Edit:: Also, since sandals aren't ideal for fighting, what would be a good replacement? Perhaps tabi with a hard or semi soft rubber sole (what people would call "ninja shoes")?

[Date Saburou Yukiie]

I do not fight heavy weapons in the SCA, in fact, I'm against it as I see finesse more important than brute strength.

Ohayo gosaiimasu, Sebastian, and welcome to this forum. I hope you find things here that will help you.
I would like to point out to you that there is an awfull LOT of finesse in some heavy weapons fighting - it is not all brute strength, as you may believe.
My particular clan has learned that quite well from our Sensei, Sir Ogami Akira.
He teaches us timing, and weapon control and a million other things, like tactics.
As to the rest of your post, there are late period persona, after the Dutch and Portuguese got to Japan that "might" have worn a rapier and dagger, but I would likely think they would wear them in the same manner as their European counterparts, as it was a "new" fashion, and would have been emulated.
I have seen no prints of Japanese wearing such weapons, but I suppose it is somewhat possible.
An FIE fencing mask might be made to look somewhat like a kendo men, only with mesh instead of the normal grill, but of course the back and any exposed areas would have to be protective according to your particular system's rules.
The Jika-tabi are reasonably sturdy, but you could consider adding small metal plates and kusari (Japanese chain mail) to your foot coverings if you want added protection - When I come back from an emergency car repair I am on my way to fix, I will see if I can find you a reference.
Good Luck, tomodachi, and again - Welcome.
Date

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

If I desired to do fencing in the SCA as a Japanese persona ... I would do so as a Christian convert under the direction of Jesuits or the Portugese officers of an in-port ship. I would carry my European swords in the same fashion as my European instructors. They would be a mark of distinction (and, later, a target as anti-Christian persecutions sweep the country).


They now have some curved rapier/sabre blades that are becoming popular in the SCA fencing community. You could see about acquiring one of those to use as a 'fencing katana.' I'm not sure where to acquire one but if you're interested, I'll asking some fencing buddies.

[sebastian]

thanks for the input so far I'm not looking to fully integrate the fencing into the persona though. I am trying to find a handle and crossguard for my raiper and dagger that look similar to that of a katana and wakizashi so when carried as a daisho, look similar to a daisho. if not I'll just not carry them I'm not too worried about foot protection as much as stability. I have the idea in my head for the gi worked out well, with 4 layers of silk (there is a certain kind used for fencing jackets that is extremely light and breathable) for the chest and 2 layers for the arms, combined with an undershirt from www.triplette.com for the required underarm protection.

[baronalejandro]

Resurrection of an old post, but it's the only thing that I could somewhat-knowledgeably comment on.

There's a few people running around doing SCA rapier using modified rapier equipment. There's a young fellow in northern Virginia named Kenji who does a fairly good job of using a katana-shaped blade in what seems a japanese style on the fencing lists. He uses primarily slicing (rather than percussive) cuts and thrusts, which he is able to do so far without violating any of our rules. I'm also led to understand that there's a couple of people running around doing similar things in other kingdoms. It can be done, and done well, if you are careful and pay attention.

Two places that sell katana-shaped rapier that might be legal are Alchem and Popinj. Alchem's turnaround time for delivery is good but their blades are distinctly inferior. Popinj produces magnificent swords, but I have had friends who have had to threaten legal action to get what they paid for from him. I didn't have any trouble getting my fencing Turkish saber from him, but I was...very firm.

I don't know from modifying a fencing mask to look like a japanese helm, but it'd *look* cool if it's done well. Japanese aesthetics beyond ikebana are fairly unknown to me so I'd rely on gentlemen like Baron Effingham, Mykaru, and Date Saburou Yukiie to guide you in that department

I encourage you to try - one of the cool things about the SCA is the diversity of styles one can bring to the table. I've always wanted to pit a Capo Ferro vs. Musashi fight. I'd lay even odds if both practitioners knew what they were doing. ;D

[Kitadatetenno]

Hmm.

First off, I agree completely with Date-dono on the strength va. finesse item. Watch your own King and Prnce fight. Neither are particularly large men.

I should like to point out that, in my area, but Sirs Guillaume and Logos thought the same, having come from fencing backgrounds, and changed their minds upon actually doing SCA armoured combat. Sir Guillaume is maybe a buck twenty soaking wet, and Logos not much more.

Second, there is no good way to modify a mask to be more Japanese. However, there have been several persons up this way who have modified Master Giles's somen pattern into somethig suitable for masks suitable for fencing. They close up the open bits with perforated metal, and add an integral hood. No matter what you do to a mask, it looks like a mask.
(The ones they make seem to look disticntly 'german' to me, for some reason.)

Third, tsuba are dead easy. Make a piece of metal the right shape, and put a hole in it. Oh, and katana doen't really have 'crossguards'.

Fourth, check out your local standards as regards footwear before going in any particular direction.

Lastly, regarding capo ferro vs. Musashi. First, Musashi the author os OOP (so there). A magazine named 'The Bujin' in the early 80's detailed an encounter between a modern kendoka and modern fencer who were friends. They exchanged headpieces (for obvious reasons), and went at it. Their opinion was that both would likely die, as the fencer would get in a strike, but not enough before the katana would hit. No information on their skill levels, though.

That's also the magazine that did speed tests in cutting with different weapons. The fastest was the yardstick, follwed by rattan broadsword. Live steel was the slowest. THe most interesting result of that test was that the range of speed in the cuts decreased as the experience of the cutter increased. New guys were all over the map, while veterans could precisely replicate their cuts.