The Washington DC cherry trees were originally a gift to the United States from Japan, and the Cherry Blossom Festival has a strong Japan theme. As The Queen Of The World and I wandered past the pavilions, there was this display of swordsmanship.
I wonder if they could even do this sport in the UK, with their silly knife laws.
That was a lousy demonstration. Not nearly enough power in those strokes, and in the formerly great Britain, he would have been arrested on the spot!
ReplyDeleteOld NFO, there were several swordsmen there, and all did much better than the one here. She was the first to demonstrate, and I didn't want to take another video.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most experienced ones went last, but can't be sure.
Answer the first: No!
ReplyDeleteAh, the tatame mat challenge. Loved watching some Medieval Weapons Expert, with beard, potbelly, jeans and a floppy ren shirt, absolutely devastate a bunch of 'The Katana is the Ultimate Sword Ever Developed because Highlander' people by hacking and slashing said mats to as many or more pieces using standard European weapons of the 9th to 15th Centuries. Using 'Norman' and 'Viking' swords to fore-cut/back-cut/underhand-cut mats and then whack the snot out of 1/2 plywood was a joy to watch. And then watch the 14th Century Arming Sword be used to hack a mat, chop a shield, and snap a scimitar and a katana just for fun.
Though, yes, there is much skill and art in using a sword to properly slice said mat, and said mats are more available than criminals in these fallen times....
Totally doable in (formerly) Great Britain. Look up Matt Easton from the Schola Gladiatoria youtube channel for HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) and sword stuff, good channel.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, as BC said, no problem at all organising such an event in the UK.
ReplyDeleteConcerning Mr. Easton, one of his videos discusses a visit to my local shooting range.