learning to use a sword

I am not sure if this is the proper [place to post such a question, however i would like to find a book or online instructional sword on the basics of using a sword (katana type) properly, if this is not the proper place to ask such a question, any direction towards the proper group would be greatly appreciated. am not sure if this is the proper [place to post such a question, however i would like to find a book or online instructional sword on the basics of using a sword (katana type) properly, if this is not the proper place to ask such a question, any direction towards the proper group would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.

: using a sword (katana type) properly, if this is not the proper place to ask : such a question, any direction towards the proper group would be greatly : appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.

There's no on-line instruction, I don't think. Your best on-line resource for questions is iaido-l. A reasonable bibliography and some good starting links for other resources, as well as signup instructions for iaido-l can be found at the Japanese Sword Arts FAQ, http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/sports/kendo/ swordfaq.htm

Your best bet is to find an actual teacher. If you are in the US, try www.kendo-usa.org. If you are in Canada, see kendo-canada.com. These sites have lists of federations and clubs where you can find instructors of kendo and iaido.

Neil Gendzwill

Rick

You should try to find a qualified instructor. Training in sword is a lot of fun, but can be very dangerous to. One online resource is http://shinkendo.com, and if you happen to live in Arizona try http://azshinkendo.com . Shinkendo is a good choice if they have a dojo in your aria because it emphasizes learning to safely use a Japanese Sword, and it covers 5 different types of sword practice 1.Suburi : sword swinging practice to develop good form and control 2. Battoho: drawing practice in which you learn to safely draw and resheath in all directions 3. tanrengata: (kata) solo exercises prearranged forms to teach you move with and use the sword 4. Tachiuchi: (sparring) this teaches timing use of distance, strength, speed, timing ect.(we do not use a real sword for this part, this is a safety oriented art) 5. Tameshigiri: (test cutting) used to test blade angle and technic. Also Soke Toshishiro Obata has just released a new book on Shinkendo that you would probably find helpful you can get it through there web page. Also check http://swordforum.com they have a Japenese Sword arts forum where I am sure you can find more help.

Jeff Harris

Personally I wouldn't use a real sword without having Live instruction. If you want to learn by your self I recommend getting a bokken (wooden training sword) and if you can find a kobudo class or a karate/martial arts teacher to teach you how to use one and you get profitent then I would check into getting a real blade.

Hope this helps, Josh Connolly

Hi,

you´re right! Don´t try to use bladed weapons without a proper training - you won´t learn anything, but the chances to hurt yourself are not that bad.

Since there are *big* differences between a weapon based fighting system and systems w/o weapons I recommend you joining a class of japanese sword art or (better) FMA. Be aware that most of the martial arts systems may have some weapon based drills, but most of them are completly useless and beyond all reality. This is because weapon based fighting has to follow different rules than empty-hand based ones. If you want to learn how to *use' a bladed weapon make sure the system you choose has no ritual limits in it (like Aikido or Kendo).

regards