Discovery Channel's XMA: Katana v.s. Jian

a little history on the Japanese Katana and The Chinese Jian

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• swords

[hsuboi]

There is a shortcoming to 武術' I'd describe as "dance-like" moves. Too energy intensive and often impractical. Sooner than later, many matches will come to blows and blocks. It's highly doubtful that Imperial troops actually trained in full 武術 for combat. It boils down to sorting the excessive elements out of 武術 while keeping the practical moves.

Never forget; however, that it is the artist, not the art that should judged. ***

[dthelonelyone]

@hsuboi i agree

[1x93cm]

they coulda atleast got a japanese guy instead of a weaboo

[dthelonelyone]

@1x93cm lol

[1x93cm]

i think the straight long blade would have more and advantage of poking and stabbing

[dthelonelyone]

@1x93cm kinda hard to say

[leoghigu]

@canadianfirzen But in reality swords were not frequently used for parry other blades.

See the above fight.

Swords were expensive for an average wielder and quality even more so. Constant nicks and sharpening takes it's toll on the blade, so you wouldn't go out of your way to weaken them if you can help it. Price aside, breaking your blade in battle? Really bad. Shields and dodging was the way to go.

Not that they didn't do it. A nick on your sword is preferable to disarming. Or dislegging.

[TheBloodyBlackJackal]

@leoghigu Actually the knights speciallized in sword binding, and the Japanese have some extensive work in it as well...

[cfG21]

@hsuboi you misunderstand the reasons of those movements. chinese swordmen and spear men like to slice tendons and ligaments by the wrist and knees. Second the military use the two handed jian which is better suited for heavy blows that can match a katana. just like the raipier vs the large swords of old.Lastly that's modern wu shu athlete. they act more on performance than for app. my instructor studied both fencing and chinese jian. he says they are almost the same.

[ultimatedirtclod]

@OMFGHUGEWOLF "surgical tool" yeah that sounds about right...except its probably a scalpel for giants LOL And yeah i agree. the stuff they say can be misleading. Let's just keep in mind that this is a "show". So it's meant to entertain and "wow" us :D

[OMFGHUGEWOLF]

@ultimatedirtclod When you consider the edge placed on some of histories finest constructed Katana's compare them to surgical tools is a better comparison.

The show is "right" about some things but also very misleading in other ways. :/

[Jintastic81]

stupid documentary

[ContradictoryNature]

The Jian didn't have its edges sharpened? Is that what the guy said? Huh. That seems odd.

[Ziserain]

@ultimatedirtclod Kilij, nuff said.

[Ziserain]

@Rowanffe Cuz no Japanese or Chinese people live and teach in America. x)

[Rowanffe]

japanese katana and chinese jiang taught by americans. Not interested.

[MrLotharofhillpeople]

Placing myself into such a duel, I guess I would not use strength positions or katas, but rather, like the soft style Kojosho, use more fluid and flick moves and keep my Katana out there to interrupt that "dance" and for quick jabs when openings presented themselves. Every time the katana swordsman does a power move, he is wide open.