I want to learn the katana

[bluebadger]

yah...I want to learn how to use a katana too.... but I have this problem with sticking to things, I mean i did martial arts (Ishin ryu i think) for like 2 months but then I just stopped going.. It's like im only interested in something for a little while and then it becomes work to do it.. I started dreading tuesdays (the day i went) and i couldnt stand practicing the forms. So.. like I want to learn how to use a katana....but i dont really think ill stick with it.. could like someone who's preaty profficiant with one tell me what it involves? Do i have to go and do some style of karate for 3 years before i start learning how to use a sword or can i just take a katana class? And also...does is have any aplication in life? I mean i know they wont let me walk around DC with a sword under my jacket...so if someone attacked me what would be the point of knowing how to use one if I didnt have it?

[ProjectJanus]

For Haidong Gumdo, I payed willingly knowing that if I were on the streets, I could not just magicaly pull out a sword and save myself.

 

Its an art.

 

Thats all there is to it. Its fun to do, good exercise, looks sweet, but, alas, it cannot save your life on the street.

[bluebadger]

hm...i never really thought of it like as an art... I guess its the same idea with painting, if your good you can paint some awsome stuff... but its not like you can pull out a magic paintbrush and draw a door out of a fight...unless you have some kind of magic paintbrush...*ahem* well anyway i was wondering, Ive seen reverse blade katanas and it says there like that for safetey...but im wondering if they are in fact any safer... i mean they could be for you but what if someone didnt know it was reverse blade that came over to your house or something and grabbed it... Plus if you draw back too far on an overhead slash you could give yourself a hair cut...

[ProjectJanus]

Ah, the good ole' Sakabatou. Sakabatou's can be safer in a way, because if you were to hit someone it would hurt, but would not cut them. But, if you were to stab, then it has the same abilities as a normal Katana. My art never uses a Sakabatou, heck, we dont even use a katana.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Yes, the good ol' fake sakabatou that doesn't exist in reality...

[bluebadger]

http://www.weaponmasters.com/?ID=WEAPONS&ITEM=WM-6007&SORT=PRICE_UP&FDX=1&FMAX=10 ?

 

yah thats the one im going to get...notice how it says "full contact use"

[Shorin Ryuu]

Ah. Forgive me. I meant "the one that doesn't exist in reality except for modern custom design stores". I was referring more to it's historical validity as opposed to it's present gimmick status (due to a rather high quality manga I might add...). There were no reverse bladed katana in Japanese history.

 

I was also going to make a comment about how putting a blade on the reverse side would be the worst possible configuration for a katana due to the way they are constructed because it completely reverses (so to speak) the design properties that made the katana effective, but since that one is just a solid stick of metal anyway...

 

I'm having horrific visions of someone getting hurt with this...it says "This is made for display only and is an excellent piece for anyones collection" for a reason.

[bluebadger]

ohhh...ok, my bad. Well I guess you have a point, I dont really look at what the company says about the sword because there just going to say good things about it. I usually look at the costomer reviews...but then again alot of people dont know what there talking about... If you look around more on that site you will find, however, a few reverse blades that say they are meant for combat. And i see what you mean with the it not being designed right... I kinda just wanted it so i would look like a certain somebody that i dont know *coughkenshincough* .... ok i should probably just get a normal non-revearse blade one right?

[Shorin Ryuu]

Oh, that's okay. Please don't let me stop you from buying it for pure novelty purposes. I mean, who wouldn't want to pretend they were talented in Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu every now and then and still not hurt anyone?

 

Anyway, it's up to you. I just recommend that you be careful regardless of what you decide to get. Regardless of whether you get a regular katana or a reverse-bladed one, since it is still made by a kind of cheap manufacturing process, either one can be dangerous if you get carried away. I wouldn't go about chopping random things with a regular, cheap mass produced katana, let alone a reverse-bladed one. But like I said, if you want to get it for pure novelty purposes (just stay away from giving yourself a scar), go ahead.

[bluebadger]

lol, yah, I think ill go ahead and get the revearse blade.... my freind at school is preasuring me into it. He's getting Vash's gun and he wants me to get Kenshin's sword... he says they'll go good together o.O ....