So a lot of fans of European martial arts get mad when you point out they're doing the exact same thing as Japanese martial arts. But...they are.
For instance, the "longsword", which is the thing most of us think of as a bastard or hand-and-a-half sword (slightly smaller than the great- or two-handed sword), works just like a katana. Half-swording, for instance, was probably involved in Okita Sôjirô's "three-piece stab" (sandanzuki); it's just too hard to stab someone quickly in both shoulders and the throat without the other hand getting involved. It's also used in some high blocks in Yagyû Shinkage swordsmanship.
Or how about this picture:
Finally, apparently a sword-fighting manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi (I don't know if it's his Flower of Battle, or something else), talks about using the longsword with one hand. Know what specific advantage he talks about?
Sudden. Additional. Reach.
That's right, Saitô Hajime's signature left-handed thrust, the surprise step-through and stab while taking your front hand off the hilt, giving you an extra 1 to 2.5 feet of reach.
1 comment:
Awesome! Left-handed thrust ftw! (seriously. It comes in handy when you're the only girl in a class full of really tall dudes)
It's true. European martial arts people have a chip on their shoulder. They should be grateful people even know they exist, and not get butthurt when people point out similarities with things that are universally acknowledged to be awesome. Besides, there are only so many ways body parts and weapons can used effectively in combat. Naturally there's a lot of crossover.
Of course, it goes the other way as well. People saying that English has no word for tsuba, for example. I've even heard people there's no equivalent for saya, which is just barking mad. That is what we call orientalism, folks. Or else just very limited vocabulary.
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