Japanese Sword Cutting Technique

The Incurable Hobbyist Three: The Sword And The Pen, Mighty Together

The amateur incurable is a monthly series that looks very subjective various hobbies and areas of the city that offer ways to facilitate their practice. The goal is to inspire readers to develop recreation curious that they will grow to love tenderly, by filling their heart with the joy that comes with unique learning something special, something new.

I'm sixteen and an ugly, strange for the rest of the world. For me, I was a warrior, an old soul longs for more adventure than fantasy books, video games or D & D could offer. It is clear that I made myself a bit seriously.Maybe that's all I could do in light of puberty, the state had let me in. laughable Sickly pale, round face and acne speckled braces that held me tight lips and eyebrows frowning on the pictures to a year or two.

I had visions of myself, firmly placed his arm behind my back like me, with a feline grace, sashayed around my opponent's face with no arrogance. It was fencing lessons that I wanted first. A sport that complete gentleman and my obsession with dandyism. If you must know, this particular stage dress of my life was a whirlwind of velvet blazers, pants with stripes and lace cuffs.

A current friend informed me that my mission, when she could not find any classes in fencing, she found Japanese sword fighting lessons at the YMCA.

"Ok".

While Kendo classes no longer seem available at the YMCA West Island where I was taught, you can take lessons in Shidokan Montreal. The next session will take place September 12th to December 11th, Tuesday from 6:00-19:20 and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The classes cost $ 50 to $ 65.

Alternatively, the lessons offered by the McGill Kendo Club. The next session will be held from September 15 to December, Tuesday from 8:00-22:00, Thursdays from 8:00-22:00 and Saturday 9:00-11:00 Classes cost between $ 80 and $ 130.

Kendo is translated as "way of the sword." Yeah, I was pretty well sold on it too.

It is a modern form of Japanese sword fighting which is based on traditional samurai fencing. One is taught by following the kata, a collection of basic techniques and consists of attacks against their attacks. For security reasons, they are usually taught with wooden swords called bokken training. Mine is currently mounted on the wall of my apartment.

Bokken can be acquired through a variety of sources.As simple as it seems, would be through an instructor or sensei, as was my experience.

Interview with Paul Martin, Japanese Swords Specialist

My interest began in much the same way as many people’s did—through participation in martial arts. I would hear about samurai spirit and bushido, etc. This of course led to an interest in Japanese cinema and Kurosawa, and Kobayashi Movies. This was the beginning, but then in 1993, I joined the British Museum and saw Japanese swords up close for the first time. I had always thought that Japanese swords were cool, but I had only ever really seen them strapped to the hip of cinematic samurai. I was immediately captivated by the metallurgical activities in the hardened edge, and the hues and textures of the steel itself. Until that moment, I had never realized that there was such a thing as a Japanese sword specialist, and I think that it was in that same moment I decided that I wanted to be one.

My epiphany coincided with an element of luck. At that time the only Japanese trained sword specialist in the UK was the keeper of the department of Japanese Antiquities: Victor Harris. Victor was a direct student of Kanzan Sato and the first translator of Miyamoto Musashi’s book Go Rin no Sho: A Book of Five Rings . He also understood the sword in its spiritual capacity and was a Japanese fencer (Kendoka). The chances of finding a mentor like this are very rare. From that point on I worked very hard studying Japanese language, kendo and swords until a position in the Japanese department became available. Even then I had to compete for the position, but my enthusiasm for the subject won through. I was consequently given responsibility for the care of the Japanese arms and armor collections.