Sharp stuff, guys. You're covering cuts before they're thrown. This is what I'd expect from a legitimate martial artist with a sword, and it's too often that people refuse to learn to apply what they do.
The sparring weapons we are using are made by RSW. They are basically steel weapons wrapped in impact foam to minimize injury. However, yes they do hurt, but I feel that helps encourage participants to be more strategic. They are closer to the feel of a shinken than a bokuto or shinai, but nothing can truly replicate the geometry, weight, etc. of a shinken and still be safe for sparring (at least not without requiring tons of protection).
Thanks Sal. We still have a long way to go, but we're making progress. You can tell some of the younger students are still being overly defensive (applying little or no seme, and not taking advantage of opportunities to counter attack). Overall they have gotten a lot better since the first sparring video I posted. I'm hoping to record a new video once I head back to Seattle this summer.
Woohoo! Great to see the IYR spirit alive and well. After moving to Yakima, getting lessons was difficult...not that I live in India...well, you know. My absolute best wishes to Sensei McCartney and all the students at IYR. ---Rob Lowry
Thanks for the comment. I used to live in a small town in south eastern washington to I can empathize with your difficulties finding another place to train. McCartney Sensei is well, he is living in Dallas now, and I'm now in the D.C. area where I have been training in Mugai Ryu and running a small IYR study group.
Hello, gteetings from the Singapore RSW Sparring Group. Nice to see your video here.
I just had a thought. Do you think that maybe if you keep your legs closer together, you'll actually be able to move around and deliver attacks better?
Hi jack. Glad to meet some more from the RSW group in Singapore. To answer your question, our style of swordsmanship puts greater emphasis on stability over greater attack range. The longer and slightly wider stance causes the center of gravity to be lower which actually helps in being able to make use of off-line movements, this comes into play when fighting multiple opponents at once which is what our style is designed for.
Our approach to swordsmanship is to be able to make short rapid shuffle steps in combat in order to stay grounded as opposed to single longer steps. It takes a while to master this, and in fact most of the students in this video are less than 4th-kyu rank and only one is a nidan...so it isn't the best reflection of how this is used. However, I can usually defeat two opponents simultaneously using that stance and posture. So it seems to work as intended ;)
Nice video. Its a little tough to see what is going on, but in my opinion it actually makes it look really interesting...that plus the crazy electronic music reminds me a lot of the movie Pi.
Finally! Someone who really knows how to use a sword lol. And nice use of the kamaes too, btw.
mothmonsterman18 2 years ago
Autechre!
Samuraihitachi 2 years ago
one of the best vids of this type! its great to see techniques instead of 2 guys just wailing on each other :D
junrenman 3 years ago
Sharp stuff, guys. You're covering cuts before they're thrown. This is what I'd expect from a legitimate martial artist with a sword, and it's too often that people refuse to learn to apply what they do.
JinsukeHP 3 years ago
Hi, nice sparring. Can I ask are you using bokken or a type of shinai, or something else? Out of curiosity. Thanks
hikiwaza 3 years ago
The sparring weapons we are using are made by RSW. They are basically steel weapons wrapped in impact foam to minimize injury. However, yes they do hurt, but I feel that helps encourage participants to be more strategic. They are closer to the feel of a shinken than a bokuto or shinai, but nothing can truly replicate the geometry, weight, etc. of a shinken and still be safe for sparring (at least not without requiring tons of protection).
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
That was very enjoyable, one of the best sparring practices I've seen on youtube, actually.
JesusFuckingChrist84 3 years ago
agreed, great vid!
kenpachi316 3 years ago
Thanks Sal. We still have a long way to go, but we're making progress. You can tell some of the younger students are still being overly defensive (applying little or no seme, and not taking advantage of opportunities to counter attack). Overall they have gotten a lot better since the first sparring video I posted. I'm hoping to record a new video once I head back to Seattle this summer.
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
I think a common mindset when performing katas is, "If I counterattack him, I'll leave myself open!".
Haha, I always used to think that way myself, but when you find yourself not counter attacking, you leave yourself open anyways.
JesusFuckingChrist84 3 years ago
Woohoo! Great to see the IYR spirit alive and well. After moving to Yakima, getting lessons was difficult...not that I live in India...well, you know. My absolute best wishes to Sensei McCartney and all the students at IYR. ---Rob Lowry
crlowryjr 3 years ago
Rob,
Thanks for the comment. I used to live in a small town in south eastern washington to I can empathize with your difficulties finding another place to train. McCartney Sensei is well, he is living in Dallas now, and I'm now in the D.C. area where I have been training in Mugai Ryu and running a small IYR study group.
Steve
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
Hello, gteetings from the Singapore RSW Sparring Group. Nice to see your video here.
I just had a thought. Do you think that maybe if you keep your legs closer together, you'll actually be able to move around and deliver attacks better?
;-)
Jack
jackchn 3 years ago
Hi jack. Glad to meet some more from the RSW group in Singapore. To answer your question, our style of swordsmanship puts greater emphasis on stability over greater attack range. The longer and slightly wider stance causes the center of gravity to be lower which actually helps in being able to make use of off-line movements, this comes into play when fighting multiple opponents at once which is what our style is designed for.
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
Our approach to swordsmanship is to be able to make short rapid shuffle steps in combat in order to stay grounded as opposed to single longer steps. It takes a while to master this, and in fact most of the students in this video are less than 4th-kyu rank and only one is a nidan...so it isn't the best reflection of how this is used. However, I can usually defeat two opponents simultaneously using that stance and posture. So it seems to work as intended ;)
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
I see. Thank you very much for your explanation. ;)
jackchn 3 years ago
no problem. I hope we'll get a chance to meet up with you guys sometime in the future.
IshiYamaRyuSeattle 3 years ago
Nice video. Its a little tough to see what is going on, but in my opinion it actually makes it look really interesting...that plus the crazy electronic music reminds me a lot of the movie Pi.
ronin1565 3 years ago
I agree about the video...its almost creepy, but in a good way lol.
Asymnation 3 years ago