Yagyu Shinkage Ryu at Shiratorisho October 17th, 2010

[Hananotaka]

As AlexJK448 suggests, it's a bit too complicated to really explain here, without a grounding in Shinkage-ryu methodology. The short version is, we wiggle our swords because when people fought with swords, they wiggled them.

[AlexJK448]

It's amazing anybody got anything done with all the sword wiggling that went on back in the day.

[cryodragoon]

Why are they wiggling their swords at eg 1:55 to 2:04??

[AlexJK448]

@cryodragoon Please don't take this the wrong way but you will be hard pressed to find someone who is willing to explain that to you here. It's not so much a secret as much as it is for those who study Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. Or....I could be way off and someone will jump in here, explain it, and then you can all watch me put my foot in my mouth.

[Hananotaka]

This is a really well done video, Mekugi. The camera work and editing is great. Somehow it makes my crappy Hasseiho look somewhat okay. It was good to finally be introduced, and put a face to the name! - Josh

[belisariusorb]

@Hananotaka If it's you from 3 to 6 minutes, I think your kata was very good, though I'm no expert in this style.

Can I ask you about the bokkens you use? They don't seem to be standard wood ones or the foam rubber ones we use for sparring.

And thanks to mekugi, his videos get better and better. Soon he'll be the main video archive for budo studies.

[Hananotaka]

@belisariusorb -- Those aren't bokken, they are fukuro-shinai: a length of bamboo split four times at one end and covered with a lacquered leather sleeve. They were invented by the founder of Shinkage-ryu in the mid-1500s.

[belisariusorb]

@Hananotaka They seem longer and more solid than the kendo shinai - don't they hurt when you get an impact on the wrist?

[Hananotaka]

@belisariusorb -- They are actually a bit shorter than a kendo shinai, and while they are solid, there's a little more energy dissipation than a kendo shinai. Getting hit with one will smart, but hurt less than getting hit on bare skin with a kendo shinai.

[belisariusorb]

@Hananotaka Thanks for your info