The Katana

[O'nus]

Hello, I practice aikido and swordsmanship. Because of this, I have found the katana to become my favorite weapon. Alongside the bo, it is one of the most universal weapons. The art of the katana requires great discipline but, when attained, great skills can be demonstrated. Consider the following: Katana vs 9mm Pistol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNiX_l-HEGM + The katana can split bullets of certain caliber. However, I have yet to ever see someone willing to demonstrate the ability to do this live. Katana vs Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouU19zvF9xk + One of the greatest and rarest skills that gave reason to revere the swordsman in the great ancient wars. Extreme Katana demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lueuQu62nRQ + A very talented demonstration Do you have a favored weapon? Any others that practice kendo, shurikendo, etc? I plan on posting pictures soon of my katana.. Edit; I forgot to mention how much I hate anime and cartoons have made the katana cliche. I really like this sword, but I hate how its always used in such cheesy ways. ~

[arby]

Katana vs. machine gun =P

[O'nus]

Katana vs. machine gun =P Yeah, like I said.. some caliber. ~

[Kushna Mufeed]

Those are some seriously awesome videos. I'm not experienced in any weapon, but I have been considering training in some sort of swordplay or swordsmanship.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Katana vs 9mm Pistol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNiX_l-HEGM + The katana can split bullets of certain caliber. However, I have yet to ever see someone willing to demonstrate the ability to do this live. I saw them do that on Mythbusters. It was awesome. Check this shit out, too. Katana vs. 50-cal machine gun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sHTJAKN-5k They may have destroyed the sword, but it still cut through about 6 bullets. That's incredible. Katana vs Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouU19zvF9xk + One of the greatest and rarest skills that gave reason to revere the swordsman in the great ancient wars. Not saying it can't be done, but you can tell, by the angle of the bowstring, that she wasn't pulling it back as hard as someone that was actually attacking might have. I definitely couldn't do that, though, so I'm taking nothing away from the swordsman. Do you have a favored weapon? Any others that practice kendo, shurikendo, etc? Katana has always been my favorite weapon, but I love so many other weapons for different reasons. The bo-staff is my second favorite, followed by the nunchaku. I've never had any formal training on either of them, but I've got a few good moves with each. I'd really like to get some kendo training. I have had shurikendo training, though, when I was younger. I'm good with stars and throwing knives. I also like the tonfa, but I've never used one. Edit; I forgot to mention how much I hate anime and cartoons have made the katana cliche. I really like this sword, but I hate how its always used in such cheesy ways. Really? I can't say that anime has made the katana cliche. It was, and has always been, the most popular Japanese weapon in history, as far as I know, so it only makes sense that it would show up, so much, in anime. Also, aside from a few "you-gotta-let-it-slide-because-it's-just-a-cartoon" moments, all of the anime I've seen have used the katana in very cool ways. I'm not sure what you mean by that last part. But, yeah, I love the katana. I've got two right now (one of them is broken. ) and I'm going to order a bamboo sword (when together, it looks like a single stick of bamboo, until you separate the ends, and it hides a katana-fashioned blade, beneath), sometime soon. [Edit: Damn, just saw that Arby posted the .50 machine gun vid. Hey, like I said, even that it cut through ONE of those bullets is amazing..but six in a row?? That's downright awesome.]

[O'nus]

Really? I can't say that anime has made the katana cliche. It was, and has always been, the most popular Japanese weapon in history, as far as I know, so it only makes sense that it would show up, so much, in anime. Also, aside from a few "you-gotta-let-it-slide-because-it's-just-a-cartoon" moments, all of the anime I've seen have used the katana in very cool ways. I'm not sure what you mean by that last part. But, yeah, I love the katana. I've got two right now (one of them is broken. ) and I'm going to order a bamboo sword (when together, it looks like a single stick of bamboo, until you separate the ends, and it hides a katana-fashioned blade, beneath), sometime soon. Yeah, I often see people making lame poses or using katana's as the "cool" weapon in everything they possibly can. For example; licking the blade, the eyes across the blade, etc. You don't see anyone doing cool poses with any other sword... Hrm.. I guess, when I consider it, this is really because the katana is probably the best sword and it is just inevitable to happen that I was to see it so often represented.. Which is too bad because I happen to think the other swords are "cooler" looking; I just think the katana is the most practical. I think that encapsulates my point; those that like katana's just for its looks and those that like katana's for it's versatility. ~

[Oneironaut Zero]

I think that encapsulates my point; those that like katana's just for its looks and those that like katana's for it's versatility. ~ Ah, I gotcha. Yeah, there are definitely two sides to the community. But, yeah, I think most of those moves (I see what you're talking about, now that you've named a few), have less to do with the katana, itself, but more to do with the fact that it's the most widely used, and animators/directors love doing "cool" shots with weaponry. It was bound to happen. I don't think it diminishes the weapon, though.

[O'nus]

Ah, I gotcha. Yeah, there are definitely two sides to the community. But, yeah, I think most of those moves (I see what you're talking about, now that you've named a few), have less to do with the katana, itself, but more to do with the fact that it's the most widely used, and animators/directors love doing "cool" shots with weaponry. It was bound to happen. I don't think it diminishes the weapon, though. Not at all - that's why I love it. And you may very well likely see a pic of me soon with it... ~

[Spook]

Ah yes. But I assume you were talking weapons that don't involve black powder. I have done a lot of Martial Arts and my favorite non firearm weapon was probably the katana as well. It just bestows a mindset of badassery on you, but kind of combined with this weird tranquility. But when it comes down to it, I train "One Mind, any Weapon".

[O'nus]

I would say that, as far as guns go, my choices differ depending on the situation. Let's put it this way, if I were to go into a war and could choose my weapons: - Katana - close range - M16 - long range - Spas12 Shotgun - close range/demolition - Colt .45 pistol / knife - (used in combination) contingent weapons, or when you are alone against many. - Fragmentation and Smoke grenades. This arsenal can have you prepared for any situation. The problem would be being able to fit all of it on and still be able to move fast enough. ~

[jacobo]

yeah i still like my 9mm sig p225. and i think the sword bearer would be shit out of luck if i wasn't aiming at his sword. :mistergreen: but if i could imagine using a archaic weapon i'm thinking the axe would be my favorite. the physics just make sense to me.

[O'nus]

I have to admit, I really like the axe as well. It would be my favorite weapon as long as I have some support because the axe can be so bulky sometimes. ~

[Spartiate]

But I assume you were talking weapons that don't involve black powder. Modern firearms use smokeless powder ... Anyways, blade weapons went out of favour for a reason, you'd be hard pressed to find someone outside of the military that can take on me and my 12 gauge .

[♥Mark]

Ever notice how a katana is just a pointy peice of metal on a stick?

[Oneironaut Zero]

Anyways, blade weapons went out of favour for a reason, you'd be hard pressed to find someone outside of the military that can take on me and my 12 gauge . You'd also be hard-pressed to find any 12 year old kid who couldn't pick up a gun and take out a room full of people. Call us romantics if you will, but there are some of us that actually appreciate the amount of training it usually takes to handle a bladed weapon effectively, against attackers. It's much like the difference between respecting a military that can completely obliterate all attackers through hand-to-hand and small-arms fighting, and one that can obliterate an entire city with the push of a button. It's just not the same.

[Spartiate]

You'd also be hard-pressed to find any 12 year old kid who couldn't pick up a gun and take out a room full of people. Call us romantics if you will, but there are some of us that actually appreciate the amount of training it usually takes to handle a bladed weapon effectively, against attackers. It's much like the difference between respecting a military that can completely obliterate all attackers through hand-to-hand and small-arms fighting, and one that can obliterate an entire city with the push of a button. It's just not the same. Yeah, I understand the appeal behind that, maybe I've just gotten a little too attached to my gun ... Plus anything that makes a *bang* that loud just screams "respect".

[♥Mark]

It's just not the same. Yeah, war used to be so much fun. JUST ANOTHER REASON WE NEED THAT PATCH.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Yeah, I understand the appeal behind that, maybe I've just gotten a little too attached to my gun ... Plus anything that makes a *bang* that loud just screams "respect". Yeah, it's cool. I love a good firearm as much as the next guy, but when people start spouting off the whole "blades suck because guns are better" deal, I usually feel the need to tell them the score.

[♥Mark]

...when people start spouting off the whole "blades suck because guns are better" deal, I usually feel the need to tell them the score. And you do that by affirming that guns are, in fact, more effective? You'd also be hard-pressed to find any 12 year old kid who couldn't pick up a gun and take out a room full of people.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Well, some of us do understand the fact that saying something is "better" is subjective, Mark. If you need a lesson on the meaning of the word, I've got time.

[♥Mark]

Can't argue with results.

[O'nus]

Can't argue with results. Guns can actually be a hinderance, especially in close quarters combat, because the individual relies on a 'hit-or-miss' type of fighting style. Tai-jutsu vs guns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQdHuwcrIbs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vyK2Rb15Qk ~

[♥Mark]

So... Take a step back?

[O'nus]

So... Take a step back? Of course, gun advocates always say this or "I would just shoot him". However, even in paintball people panic when these techniques are used. ~

[Oneironaut Zero]

Of course you can. When using something like the word "better", it all depends on what the word is meant to encompass. Guns may be more effective (at times), but it also creates the problem that anybody can pick one up. In a gun-toting society, not only are you creating the variable that your chance of killing someone is higher, but you are also a victim of the variable that you are more likely to be killed, because anybody, yards away, can kill you almost just as easily, with a firearm, especially something like a shotgun. If someone challenged you to a fight, put up their dukes, and waited for you to follow suit, but then you pulled out a 9mm and shot them in the face, would that give you bragging rights? No. Any untrained, gun-toting, 98lb weakling can become a god if he is among the unarmed. It doesn't mean having a gun is, objectively, better, because some of us believe that a part of being "better" is having the attribute of a skill, or an ability that makes you better. Not just having a tool that proves that you're nothing more than some punk with a cheat code.