How do I master this Japanese style of swordmanship? A Samurai Warrior here?
I’m an expert on fencing, and I do want to learn this exotic Japanese arts of swordmanship.
What inspired me is the movie Kill Bill, watching how the Japanese really appreciate their swords … Japanese swordmanship is very different form her western counterpart. There’s something that I can’t explain in words….
In short, where could I learn and master this Samurai swordmanship? Should I go to Japan directly here?
PS: I know about Kendo, another Japanese martial arts using bamboo as weapon. No, I mean a real Samurai sword here….
And BTW, is it legal to bring Samurai sword everywhere in Japan? Because from what I see in Kill Bill, it seems that the Japanese doesn’t mind to take their sword with them in public places (airport, night club, etc….). Is it true then?
Okay, so you are fencing expert. Good. Kendo is to Japanese swordsmanship as fencing is to a duel to the death: formalized, sportsmanlike rules to a sloppy, deadly art, in the effort to capitalize on the skill of the practitioner. That is why fencing scoring is so complex, no?
Sorry, but Kendo is the only extant ‘system’ of learning the Japanese sword art. Ken-do = sword way. Just like Ken-sai = sword saint. The modern connotation is sword-teacher.
And before you tell me that that isn’t what you are talking about, remember that the majority of Miyamoto Musashi’s life story (the most celebrated swordsman in Japanese history) is apocryphal, and he died as recently as 1645. I expect that Aikodo’s creator, Ueshiba Morihei will probably get the same treatment, even though he died in the eighties, I think.
As for the legendary status of the katana and Japanese swordsmanship, well, the Kamakura is the Golden Age, using techniques traded from Chinese masters. All katana after this period are considered inferior.
Legendary romantic history is very popular in Asia. Remember, the Japanese are the people who can show you a document that ‘proves’ exactly how many generations removed their figurehead emperor is from Divinity. Don’t get too caught up in the romance. In Japanese ‘history’ one of the founders sinks an invading Korean ship with a single arrow.
And yes, there is no such thing as a ‘samurai sword,’ and even the term katana is quite elastic. There are many many styles of Japanese swordsmanship and swords, and they all start with Kendo. Without a solid Kendo education, so-called ‘master’ teachers will probably not even talk to you.
And from what you see in Kill Bill, and old blind guy can stand on the blade without any effort on his part or the wielder of the sword.
Sessions Party Odeon Night Club Tokyo Japan
