Blunt Cutting

A video demonstrating how to "test cut" with a blunt training sword.

Sorry for the bad sound sync. I can't figure out what the problem is.

Music by Josh Daby

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tatami
• tameshigiri
• test cutting
• sword
• longsword

[icyberia]

just a curious question, assuming you had a sharp sword to train with wouldn't it make for better training to use the sharp one(when actually cutting)?

[Djemps]

If I had a sharp sword that was of decent quality... say $300 or more ... but I was a beginner at cutting; I would still recommend practicing for a month with a blunt carbon steel sword so I didn't damage my investment or myself.

[CoffinPuppet]

How long have you trained or practiced Euro/Western swordplay?

[Djemps]

About two years now. I practice the German Longsword tradition.

[Jeeperrandy]

Heheh. I enjoyed that. But ummm. why lettuce?

Did a lettuce truck overturn on your street?

LOL

Looking forward to more videos.

Thanks fro sharing.

:-)

[Djemps]

Well the sword is blunt, so water bottles and such are out of the question. I've found lettuce works perfect because it is flimsy and can be cut with even the Practical H&H, but it is essentialy rolled up in layers like a Tatami matt so it holds its own shape pretty well.

[FatGuyWithAKatana]

ya got any real deal sharp swords?

[Djemps]

Thanks!

[Djemps]

The rind of the watermellon is too tough for an unsharpened sword. Plus if the juice gets on your hands you can lose your grip. I tried this all once last year and nearly caused an accident. :-0

[Djemps]

Thanks for the kind words. This was the first time showing myself cutting so I was worried how it was going to look. I still think my Mittelhaus (horizontal cuts) are a bit wobbly. There is one shot in particular where you can realy see the tip of my sword whip around afterter the cut. Oh well, something to work on for the future. ;-)

[Ianflaer]

I love your technique man! top score for excellently executed cuts. it is amazing how well a blunt sword can cut. there's a video on youtube somewhere where a guy cuts a full tatami (or maybe a double roll) with a blunt longsword. I think you have come up with a good training method. I mean lettuce may be easy to cut but if your edge alignment is off it will be sloppy, if you have too little speed = sloppy. personally I love this video 5 and fav.

[Spartiatai300]

In that case, yes you would get a better result from the cut. Yet the technique wouldn't change.

[icyberia]

I think you misunderstood my last comment, when cutting targets, wouldn't it make for better training to use a real sword?