You think Frau can handle this man? Katana with katana?
 

:O:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=950DL...re=grec_browse


Or is that just some fancy move for display without much use in real close combat against a katana master?

What do you think Frau?:D

Pretty mean guy to me :dead:..I'd hand over my wallet if he came to me with a katana in hand no question asked.

Yeah, I've seen that clip before... I think I may even have the DVD of the show it was taken from.

Dude is clearly far more experienced, skilled, and comfortable handling a katana than I am, c'mon, I've done ONE fairly simple kata. And I don't work with a real blade, but a wooden practice sword.

That said, I have no idea if he's actually just really good at the kata or has actually trained in some style of traditional Japanese combat swordsmanship (and no, kendo as taught to win modern-day kendo tournaments doesn't count from what I've seen and heard). It's one thing to handle a weapon well in a choreographed performance and quite another to use it in a spontaneous confrontation with a similarly armed opponent.

Being able to perform well in a kata doesn't always translate into being able to hold one's own in a real fight. Case in point: I train with a guy who was a bartender for many years, during which time he made the acquaintance of a local martial arts instructor in another style. He got to know this guy well enough to have spent time watching him demonstrate his kata and techniques and in doing so the guy was consistently flawless and incredibly powerful. Truly a thing of beauty to behold. And yet this guy would come into the bar on a fairly regular basis and get into a fight with some random no-name and get his arse kicked every single time. :doh:

I was left out again. :-?

Oh and I would prolly hand over my wallet to an armed attacker as well if that was all s/he wanted. Not worth anyone getting hurt over. Especially me. :D

Do you train with swords? I didn't know.

I would like to but 1) I couldn't afford it and 2) the chances of finding someone hereabouts who actually teaches the katana exclusively and for real - not for scoring points in competition - are pretty much nil.

I have a sword! :stare:

Ill come to the next subsim meet dressed as a ninja
you guys would all cower behind frau at the sight of me. :haha:

There, there. Of course you do. And I'm sure you polish it daily. :O:

While this is beautiful in it's choreography and clearly demonstrates his skill at handling a (possibly) sharpened blade, it is no indicator of actual fighting prowess. Many of his spins, flips and various swings are more aesthetic than practical, and would be of no value in combat. While the martial arts do place emphasis on aesthetics, it is only a mean, not an end. The man in the video has clearly spent a long period of time perfecting his kata, but it would appear that he has inverted the equation; something that many of my fellow martial artists have a tendancy to do.

its obviously an anti aircraft cannon. just look at its size:O:

Any ninja they can see is a ninja not worth hiding from. :O:

Well said. :yeah:

Gotta keep it in good shape, wouldn't you agree? :hmmm:

Well, yes, but there's a difference between that and just wearing it down to a nub. :O:

... lets see, we got as members of Subsim:

...former Paras...
...retired Marines...
...ex Recon Infantry...
...Combat Engineers...
...a wide selection of sailors and airman...

... I say you last five seconds...

:O: