Clemson University Sport Kenjitsu Spring 2008

A short clip of the 2008 Spring semester Sport Kenjitsu Class at Clemson University. Thomas Urso, SC state representative for the All Japan Goshindo Federation, is the instructor.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clemson-SC/Kum-Do-Goshindo/7404614764
http://www.samuraisports.com/

Please do not attempt these exercises without proper instruction.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kenjitsu
• Chanbara
• Goshindo
• Samurai
• Clemson
• Urso

[slavicwarrior]

great video wish this stuff was near where i live

[tomurso]

To find a school nearest you, please...

1. Go to samuraisports com

2. Go to "Programs"

3. Go to "Directory"

If you find one, I would recommend visiting the class & asking the instructor many questions before enrolling.

Good luck

[crazycolerogers]

i agree with the other people. in my kung fu class we only use wood. foam swords cannot replicate the real feeling of a sword nearly as well as wood can

[tomurso]

One major benefit of padded weapons is to simulate the "cutting through" motion that can not be replicated with wood nor regular shinai. Prior to the use of padded weaponry, hatsuwari (bamboo sword in leather sleeve) were used in exactly the same way. Padded weapons are the same tool only made of modern materials.

Even a wood sword has its cons, weight & balance are different from a real sword. Also, one can not perform full force sparring without serious injury.

[tomurso]

Regardless of what type of practice weapon is used, it will not simulate actual combat. Both the physical & psychological dynamics are vastly different. Since no tool is perfect, simply choose the one that you prefer & train. Worrying about which one is more superior only takes time away from practice.

Good luck

[kbs1138]

sloppy. no control.  no technical discipline. just wild swinging. I am talking about the teacher here (or is there no teacher here?). This is a joke. To not be a joke, beginners would need to be working on the foundations of technique and control. This fad of using soft weaponry only has validity for medium to advanced students as a supplementary training method, NOT as the core of the training. Then really advanced is to move to something like what the dog brothers do. just playtime.

[tomurso]

This is just a 3 month course offered to university students as a fun activity. Since they are all novices, their skill level is in accord. The object of the course was not traditional bujutsu, they are university students, not budo-in.

Advanced keiko with bogu & hatsuwari, battodo & tameshigiri is also offered but that is for the traditional students. Thank you for your input but I will continue to follow the curriculum established by my kaicho.

[tomurso]

Everyone has their own ideas on what is the best way to train so please continue your training as you see fit. However, from a JSA perspective, one doesn't learn to prepare for contact; one learns to get in, cut & get out.

Since this clip is of a beginner's class, the skill level is obviously elementary so many of them are both getting cut in the exchanges. Although not perfect, everyone still had an enjoyable time & learned a little about combative strategy.

[TheMick2007]

First off I never said I never got injured, few dislocated fingers and major bruises and injures. And I never said go for a knock out. The padded weaponry, the guys just keep swinging until someone says stop. And again I never said brute strength. Your words not mine. Nothing about knocking out, or not getting injured. I'm not downing the people that are using the padded weaponry, all I'm saying is that using it doesn't prepare people properly for either wooden or soft steel contact.

[tomurso]

I also train with wood (bokuto) & bamboo (shinai/hatsuwari). This type of sparring requires a great amount of knowledge & maturity so as prevent serious injury. The soft weaponry is used first so as to prepare the practitioner for the more advanced sparring.

Think of learning to juggle, do you start off 1st with chain saws or do you use bean bags?