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Post by Yawata Saburou Tadamori on May 1, 2012 23:41:27 GMT -5
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Post by tengumoon on May 15, 2012 22:03:19 GMT -5
I am in Lochac, and have 3 x Darkwood Armory katana (3 lengths) for rapier and C&T
- they are perfect in terms of weight and alance and are rather close to many of the sharp katana I have in my collection. I would and do recommend them
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Post by Sō Haruko on May 15, 2012 22:11:03 GMT -5
I haven't been to our rapier practices yet, but I have a question for those of you who already play. Rapier seems to me to be very thrust-oriented, and the iaido I've learned is very slash-oriented. How does rapier combat tend to work when you're using a katana-style blade?
Also, does anyone know if any of the armories will do a cut-down katana? I'm so short my bokken is the size of a typical wakazashi.
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Post by Yawata Saburou Tadamori on May 16, 2012 1:28:51 GMT -5
My advice is to not use a thrust-centered style. look to german longswoird or ther similar styles and use a lot of draw cuts to get kills
As for the scaled-down katana. James the Just with Amazonia Enterprises is my favorite for that sort of thing.
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Post by tengumoon on May 16, 2012 1:44:46 GMT -5
Thats a complex answer
The rapier is thrust centric as it is a thrust centric weapon style... percussive cuts can be done with them, however they vary in success, and tip cuts can be brutally destructive
Of course there are other less thrust centric weapons available o use in Rapier combat
I have used katana and longswords against rapier, and the reality is that you try to perform large percussive cuts you will get stabbed. You need to use the qualities of the larger / heavier weapon to counter the qualities of the rapier!
The katana/longsword is heavier, but slower
The rapier can disegage quicker
You can thrust with katana /longsword effectively
You can effectivly shut down lines of attack with a havier blade that cannot be knocked out of the way... conversely, beat parries can be devestating against the rapier
You also need to consider length
If I use a 30" blade katana vs rapier, it is hard work
If I use the 35" katana against rapier, it is quick and nasty
If I use the 25" wakizashi, it is a game of avoid the point and close range
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Post by Sō Haruko on May 16, 2012 10:38:42 GMT -5
Thanks! We actually have a book on German longsword style, as well as Flashing Steel and Iai: the Art of Drawing the Sword. Unfortunately, all three are packed. As soon as we're re-settled, I'll dig them out and read through them, and pay close attention to the German one.
And thanks for the recommendation -- I will check with James the Just once we're done moving. (:
I figure for me it will *always* be a game of avoid-the-point. I'm 5'2". (; My bokken -- intended as a katana -- has a 25" blade (it's a total of 35" end-to-end). A wakizashi would be even smaller ...
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Post by Yawata Saburou Tadamori on May 16, 2012 21:47:11 GMT -5
Haruko-dono. I would love to meet with you sometime and actually discuss tactics and so forth. I actually use a 30" chinese jian blade and find there are some great strategies that work well, most fencers in the SCA don't know what to do against short blades other than keep me away from them.
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Post by Sō Haruko on May 17, 2012 11:23:32 GMT -5
I would love to do that. Sadly, I'm nowhere near where you are (I'm in Caid), but should I ever be in your vicinity, I'll let you know!
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Post by tengumoon on May 17, 2012 20:45:43 GMT -5
I have actually found a great love of using the short sword / wakizashi...
closing distance, inside the rapier point and in or the kill (usually leading with the point and then moving into a throat slash from side / behind opponent)
Very few opponents (unless they have a jujutsu or longsword background) are able to deal with this
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 21:19:47 GMT -5
I have actually found a great love of using the short sword / wakizashi... Why so long? Here in Aethelmearc, His Excellency Ogami Arashimoto no Shiro recently won praise for defending a bridge and later engaging an enemy unit wielding only a tanto! (Marines: a breed apart.  ) |
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Post by Momotaro Masato on May 19, 2012 14:23:29 GMT -5
I have actually found a great love of using the short sword / wakizashi... closing distance, inside the rapier point and in or the kill (usually leading with the point and then moving into a throat slash from side / behind opponent) Very few opponents (unless they have a jujutsu or longsword background) are able to deal with this The Chudan no Kamae stance will really set up that initial beat if you're fighting someone who is thrust-centric. I will say this - use the "cutting edge" of your blade when on the beat if you're wielding a James the Just katana. It seems far more effective than the flat. It's technically "bad" technique, but seems more effective due to the flexible nature of most of these C&T swords. From that point, tengumoon is absolutely right - step deep and beyond the point where their tip is no longer a threat. Most C&T bouts are over fairly quick when compared to traditional fencing. Get in there and get 'er done!  And Yawata-Dono, why wait for a face-to-face encounter to discuss tactics in our modern day? We have a digital forum right here! I would definitely like to see everyone's viewpoints on tactics and techniques for C&T. What better topic could fit into the "Buki" thread? We japanese duelists are a pretty rare breed and need to work together to defeat the gaijin. |
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Post by Sō Haruko on May 19, 2012 22:32:14 GMT -5
For the short period of time I studied iaido, waki no kamae was my preferred stance, but I have no idea how effective it is in this environment.
Am I understanding correctly in that you're suggesting to use the edge of the blade to beat the opponent's blade aside?
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Post by Yawata Saburou Tadamori on May 19, 2012 23:54:38 GMT -5
And Yawata-Dono, why wait for a face-to-face encounter to discuss tactics in our modern day? We have a digital forum right here! I would definitely like to see everyone's viewpoints on tactics and techniques for C&T. What better topic could fit into the "Buki" thread? We japanese duelists are a pretty rare breed and need to work together to defeat the gaijin. I prefer face-to-face conversations when discussing tactics. I have a very difficult time speaking online. |
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