Wow. Great technique. Obviously this man has dedicated his life to the sword arts. BTW a tatami mat is the equivalent to a human upper arm, or cutting vertically down through the shoulder to dismember and arm at the shoulder. Seven tatami, tied together, represents the hardest cut in tameshigiri, the upper torso through both shoulders. As a side note, the Dojigiri Tachi made by Yasutsuna circa 800 A.D. is cut through SIX bodies at the shoulders. It's recorded on its tang.
The cutting difficulty of bamboo depends on numerous factors such variety, age, moisture content, wall diameter, pole diameter, pole length, when it was harvested, type of cutting stand, etc. Cutting difficulty for both mats & bamboo can depend on a number of factors, but in general, bamboo is the more difficult target in terms of stress on the blade.
That's the Katana that is made during the Discovery program about how Katana's are made, 47 minutes long episode. One of my favorite episodes, i watch it repeatedly.
Indeed, keeping the ancient arts alive is of the utmost importance. We cannot forgot what forged our ancient civilizations. Especially things like this, Bushido, that warrior code that all of us would do better to uphold. Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty these are the things that the samurai warrior embodied.
It's so refreshing to see someone with real technique and skill executing tameshigiri in this day and age where such things loose their purity because of thise idiots out there who do it using sheer power and soooooooo little skill or technique since it's the"in" thing these days. Thank you Ueki Sensei
I would like to say that there is a great difference between the two swords mostly being edge profile and weight, and since weight is a deciding factor in force so is speed and angle, now considering the two design difference the last two factors speed and angle are based on the skill of the person wielding said sword.
@DISYICE Two things to consider for you: Corpses stiffen from Rigor Mortis, causing them require more impact than constant pressure to cut through; this favours the Katana's form considerably. In addition, the corpses were cut through while they were lying down, meaning that the weight of the body's top half would not be causing additional difficulty.
Although I agree with you that this gentleman has tremendous skill, he is performing chiburi & noto (ceremonial blood cleaning and resheathing) in the 19-21 sec mark, not flicking the mat. This type of chiburi/noto is very common in Toyama/Nakamura ryu. Thank you
I agree with you about the bamboo. But about the katana, I don't think anything is wrong about custom-made blade. Japanese sword design are usually different depends on the period it were made/ the type of the sword / and the style or school of the user.
I think this guy meant that Bamboo closely resembles Human bone. And in addition, the bamboo wrapped in mats closely resembles human limbs. Mats = Flesh, Bamboo = Bone. Live inmates works too...
thats how they used to test their swords in the samurai era they would chop limbs off prisoners until they thought it was too messy and changed to these bamboo mats which closely replicate a limb
Yes partly correct but this bamboo diameter is thick. so it really means cutting through two human bodies. bamboo wrapped in tatami mats are small diameter bamboo which resembles human bone. But in my opinion, I guess cutting through this bamboo means can cut clean one human body into two!
*holds up Jian hesitantly* Holy crap.... hooooooly crap.... it was nice knowing you guys XD Rest in peace, Ueki Sensei! I hope my Jianshu will one day match you Katanajutsu!
the sword is drawn mainly using the left hand to pull the saya off the sword as opposed to pulling the sword out of the saya. the most efficient way to do this is to hold the saya as close to the mouth as possible allowing the left hand to move back further. you are right in thinking this can be very dangerous but with enough training it becomes second nature and makes for a far more powerful and controlled draw
Remember, dude, it's not just the sword. Ueki sensei has decades of training behind him. Even the best sword can be bent or broken with a sloppy cut. It's a lot harder than it looks. I trained for 5 years before i was allowed to swing a live blade, let alone cut with one. Now if you where reffering to the kats art appeal, then hop over to wikipedia and type in tachi. THAT is one of the nicest kats ive ever laid eyes upon.
A full tatame omote mat is equivalent to the cutting resistence of a neck. Bamboo, depending on its wall thickness, is to equate bone. This fact may be gruesome, but so is a sword's original purpose. Thank you
I have heard that is the case but I have not yet experienced cutting yellow bamboo. A thick walled green variety grows wild in South Carolina so that is what I use. Thank you
my personal favorite bit occurs at around the 19-21 sec mark... where he uses the blade to flick the matting, so it's sitting on top of the bundle and brings the blade down... now that's control
A Japanese sword of an antique is not just historic remains. It is the family treasure which the generation samurai succeeded to. It is their identification. And it is their pride itself. You may judge it whether it is good for your exercise.
Cold Steel or CAS Hanwie... You can get a very functional one from one of them. Starting with the $150 (or so) Hanwie Tactical Katana. Look in to the Cold Steel Worrier Katana at around $400. And even you can go up to the Hanwie L6 blades at around $1,000. I have a katana from the CAS Hanwie Raptor line at about $300 and it has no lose fittings and will just glide through those matts. It also holds an edge inpresively long. Made out of 5160 spring temperd steel.
I know people exaggerate nihonto's however id think people understand all that goes into the making of one blade!real quick ill say to start finding the best iron ore sand then making a tatara and then adding iron and charcoal to turn it into tamehagane steel in which men watch it like a baby for 72 hours,best pieces go to the Smith and he separates soft medium and hard steel then onto further pounding out slag and makes core and skin steel and then the folding of 12 to 15 Times then drawing it out to its shape then yaki ire and tempering,then onto the togoshi to have it polished and all the beauty as well as the edge brought out which can take months just on the polish and this is just the blade not including the mountings and lacquer work so that is literally many monthes for one blade!I also know there are other swords around the world that are great too like the infamous "ulfbert" and I've heard a lot of people saying how extremely hard it was to make and so much technology and time and effort it took to make and what not,and I think it was cool and a good sword,however what people just don't understand is that pretty much all it is is a crucible steel blade with" +ulfbert" words inlaid into the blade and quenched in oil which pretty much ensures it won't crack instead of using water but getting a lesser product, and that's why Japanese Smith's took so much care so they can quench in water at a lot higher temperatures and bring out more martensite and yield a better product, but yes taking more of a chance of failure of it cracking somewhere at the point of quench,but again that's why everything is tedious work and why they took soo much time and care to prevent that,and one more thing is that crucible steel is just a crucible which is a clay container with iron,some kind of carbon and possibly sand and glass to remove impurities then sealed and put into a furnace with two billows manned constantly to melt everything in the crucible to produce a petty pure ingot,and I have to say or I would be lying if I didn't, but it makes petty Damn evan consistency of steel with little slag" impurities" however there is just no where near the time and effort put into a sword like the Japanese sword!just food for thought and my opinion and hope I did not offend anyone!and if I did I apologize.
Crucible steel is very difficult to work due to the interlocking structures the steel forms upon cooling. That is not to say that the +ulfberh+t was easy to make, and I believe you would be correct in saying that less work was required. As for your mention of quenching, I'm not entirely sure what to say. I don't have much knowledge in the area of medieval materials, but I know that certain steel alloys need to be quenched in oil, while others should be water quenched. (Some can be quenched in both, others can be air quenched, but I have very limited knowledge in that field as well.) Anyway, I'm merely trying to say that it is very possible that the difference in quenching traditions in eastern and western forging could be explained by different materials requiring different quenchants. :D
The cutting resistance of bamboo depends on many factors such as... - species - green or dry - pole length - pole & wall diameter It should be obvious that even a blunt sword with a thin edge can cut; however, the motion will be much more labored & more stress distributed to both sword & swordsman. Thank you
Yeah, it can. Tameshigiri during feudal Japan was done on human bodies, and katana were supposed to slice a person in half through the stomach. Sometimes the tester would slice through 4-6 persons tie together with just one stroke. Some blades feature inscriptions describing just that.
Blade geometry is dependent on the characteristics of the base metal & tempering process. Yes, a thin blade could bend, snap, etc. but that can happen even with a thicker one. Most hard target cutters have full niku (thick blade) since it obviously offers greater structural integrity but it will not guarantee performance. For example, MAS blades are quite thin yet cut bamboo extremely well. Thank you
Sheathing the sword, or nōtō, is an art in itself. Even after years I still take it very slow when using a sharp sword. It's very easy to get sloppy and cut yourself. At no point in the technique does the sharp edge of the sword touch skin though. You run the spine of the sword along the little nook between your thumb and forefinger and when you feel the tip, or kissaki, drop between your fingers you slide the sword in, this time running the spine along the first knukle of your forefinger.
Absolutely. Traditionally differences would reflect the preferences of the smith (and the wishes of the customer). Nowadays, one can simply shop around and compare products from a wide range of companies. A visit to Sword Forum International, or a similar on-line forum, would be a good starting point to learn more about variations in sword design.
Most katana found on the market today are made in China, due to the restrictions in Japan on the amount of steel allowed for the production of katanas. Most swordsmiths only make a handful of katanas a year anyway, so genuine Japanese katanas are not only hard to find, but really expensive.
lots of katana cuts bamboo, there's nothing special about it. But this one takes no effort at all to make that clean cut whatsoever... That's impressive..
Special about it, is when swordsmans hasuji (angle of sword in cut) isnt correct, you can bend or break your sword. Thats why is tameshigiri good practice. You can see, mr. Ueki technique is clean an correct. Not so often to see in ko-ryu. I saw disciples of others ryu, how they destroyed their practicaly new swords in bamboo tameshigiri.
@recoveringangels Not blunt, but they tended towards being LESS sharp and instead being more mass-heavy. Remember, sharp means more likely to shatter or chip.
Yes I agree, up until the late 30's early 40's swords were still tested on mounds of cadava's mostly dead prisoners, but this was frowned upon after the war and a substitute was found. A green banboo shaft wrapped in a sodden tatami mat was considered the equivilent by many who tested on bodies prior! to be the roughly the same as a human thigh, with the mat providing the dull slowing of flesh, against the crisp strike needed in the center to cleave the bamboo! I hope this clarifies the subject.
Ha, thx for the heads up. I looked at cold steel website and thought their warrior series swords a little steep for mid quality metal. I would definitely pick one up if the price is right. 300-450 sounds right
@fuzzwobble As I know, a full mat of tatami wrapped around a bamboo core simulates the approximate width and resistance of a human arm or neck, so yes, it's not "two human bodies" but this test (since cutting up the bodies of dead prisoners was banned) is as close to legit and traditional as you can get to cutting humans. Another factor to take note is clothing. If the opponent was wearing a big winter coat, it may significantly affect a sword's performance.
@theodicer The angle has to be near perfect. The reason is katana's lightness, it doesn't have the same mass behind it as an European sword, but relies on its speed and precise angles. For a rookie cutting a target would be easier with a heavier blade, since its mass would carry it through even if the angle was lacking. The cut wouldn't be as clean as shown here, however.
Ueki Seiji-sensei is about 5'7", a little taller than average for a Japanese man of his age. However I believe you might be right, I hear he favours (or favoured, I believe he is retired now) a slightly longer blade of around 2.45 shaku, which would be about right for a man of 5'10 ish. At higher levels of training however, personal preference plays a major part.
Nice form. Is it my imagination or is the sori of his blade quite extreme? or is that just an optical illusion created by the width of the blade? Love his work anyway :)
People who extensively practice tameshigiri (test cutting) will cut both bamboo and tatame (depending on availability). Bamboo requires more strength, while tatame demands more finesse. Bugei/Hanwei production swords are made in China; however, the higher end blades are very strong. Hanwei actually offers "historic" blade geometries of several time periods. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Thank you
although i do agree that bamboo is quite a tough test for a katana, if done wrong it can seriously damage the edge. But it is also no where near cutting human flesh as there are alot more resistances that human flesh has which can stop a blade it, doesn't necessarily have to be solid like bamboo to stop a blade in it's tracks.
That is a wonderfully big blade. I wonder who the smith was who made it. In Japan, you can't even have a steel blade that isn't made by a licensed smith (though some do, of course, it is difficult). So, for those saying this blade is fake, that is just not true. Many times, fancier blades will have engravings of religious or nature motifs.
He didn't say the bamboo stick is equivalent to two human bodies, he actually said that the slash performed on the bamboo was powerful enough to cut through two human bodies. This video is aimed at praising the sword not the bamboo stick.
Although I agree about the bamboo not being equivalent to human bodies, I watched an episode of 'Deadliest Warror" where a guy cut through several pigs with one swipe using a similar blade to this. I was very surprised and impressed.
Bamboo is more easily cut than people seem to realize. I once cut a C. 3-inch bamboo stalk with a blunted longsword. Blunted, as in I could rub my hand hand along the edge firmly and with impunity. 3" or 4" of bamboo considered a decent approximation of a human arm/leg? Probably. Two tender, underfed babies? Maybe. But two fully-grown adult bodies? That's a hell of an exaggeration, Mr. Host. :P
arigatou gambaru ne! btw you seem to know alot of this things, my passion in japanese sword just started with my simple love of eating with chopsticks...
@Protherium Doesn't the power of a Katana blade come from the angle of the strike and its speed, where as the power of the European longsword etc came from pure brute strength? (Due to the shape of the blade, where as the Katana acted more like a razors edge and was not as durable as the longsword).
it's not about the cut, it's how it was cut and what did the cut. in forensics, it would be the absence of tool marks which will make these cuts remarkable. then again, if one has to ask then one does not get it and would not be able to appreciate it.
"I'm told this cut is the equivalent of cutting through two human bodies". Please explain how the blunt longsword's identical cut was different from the katana.
@LolmansEntertainment Not exactly, Sensei loosly translates as "example for life" and Shi han is master. The difference is Shi Han is and official title you get when you reach a certain grade (the ryu where i train 3th or 4th dan) and is acompanied with moruko.
OK, I need to ask a question here: Since katana blades are so damn sharp, why would a Sensei hold his hand on the scabbard so close to the tip while the blade is unsheathing? I am just saying, one small cut from that blade and you will end up a human fountain of vital fluids. Apart from that small thing, his technique was good, controlled and focused...but I cannot help but think: Did European knights care as much for their longswords and armour as samurai and their katanas?
More of a predecessor than some might know...when Tokugawa issued the edict banning swords over a certain length, several tachi where cut down to the legal limit. Cant remeber what that type of sword was called. In some cases the tachi is just a katana in a different koshirae. Yeah u are right, though. Different geometry than a kat. Still, tell me u went and saw the tachi on wikipedia. Is that not a thing of beauty or what?
I have cut a lot of bambo....In my experience green bamboo is far easier to cut than dried bamboo and cutting at an angle is far easier than cutting straight across.
@bigk22 If a the blade is poorly made with less than perfect metals, there is a possibility of it shattering on something like Bamboo. Maybe not on the first cut, but there's still a chance yes.
@billnyethe1742 well actually, the japanese used to test thier katana's and thier technique on slaves and dead bodies...it was actually very common for people to know how strong the katana was..
From what I know, the scimitar and shield didn't come together. Pardon me if I am wrong, but weren't the second hand helpin the blade to swing (in scimitar fighting style)?
Doutrina dos cinco anéis, prática com duas espadas, de Miamoto Misashi. Todavia o fato de segurar com duas mãos é doutrina de kenjutsu, que se contrapunha ao Musashi. Só os fortes entenderão. Ponto.
In Toyama Ryu, proper noto requires the thumb & forefinger to come in contact with the side of the blade. As for the big breath, it appears to me that Ueki sensei was simply loosening himself up prior to attempting to cut the rather wide diameter bamboo, not demonstrating a breathing technique. Almost every ryuha has their own way of doing things so your system may have some differences. I wish you well in your training.
If you try to look for the sword which is similar to this sword, it will be very difficult. There are very few swordsmiths of a genuine Japanese sword now. Acquaintances need it especially. You have to pay the price for tens of thousands of dollars and time of several years. Of course you may look for the replica which resembled this by a mail order.
when the samurai sheathes the katana the blade edge is against his thumb, any master samurai will have already become used to feeling the blade as it sheathes without cutting himself but every samurai has cut themselves in the thumb at least a hundred times to perfect just sheathing their sword, if you see a man with a short straight deep scar on their thumb then they are most likely samurai, this alone cannot prove that theyre masters and only a true master can tell
thanks to reply my coment and really thanks for the information althoug I can't to buy someone now even asked me how many cost thanks to you i have idea now!
Wow. Great technique. Obviously this man has dedicated his life to the sword arts.
BTW a tatami mat is the equivalent to a human upper arm, or cutting vertically down through the shoulder to dismember and arm at the shoulder. Seven tatami, tied together, represents the hardest cut in tameshigiri, the upper torso through both shoulders.
As a side note, the Dojigiri Tachi made by Yasutsuna circa 800 A.D. is cut through SIX bodies at the shoulders. It's recorded on its tang.
I wish I could see the tatami mat cuts without the smash cut editing, he is truly a master of his art.
0:15 thanks for cutting the scenes as well. you truly are a master.
The cutting difficulty of bamboo depends on numerous factors such variety, age, moisture content, wall diameter, pole diameter, pole length, when it was harvested, type of cutting stand, etc.
Cutting difficulty for both mats & bamboo can depend on a number of factors, but in general, bamboo is the more difficult target in terms of stress on the blade.
don't you always have chills when he put the sword back to its sheath? like, he is cutting his own hand as long as the blade length
0:33 The way that swordsman just looked up made me wonder if he taught:
"I can cut both you and that bamboo in two"
He was analyzing his bone locations to get a clean cut
That's the Katana that is made during the Discovery program about how Katana's are made, 47 minutes long episode. One of my favorite episodes, i watch it repeatedly.
Indeed, keeping the ancient arts alive is of the utmost importance. We cannot forgot what forged our ancient civilizations. Especially things like this, Bushido, that warrior code that all of us would do better to uphold. Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty these are the things that the samurai warrior embodied.
It's so refreshing to see someone with real technique and skill executing tameshigiri in this day and age where such things loose their purity because of thise idiots out there who do it using sheer power and soooooooo little skill or technique since it's the"in" thing these days. Thank you Ueki Sensei
I received instruction from this man on a number of occasions. Have witnessed live demonstrations many times.
holy crap! His moves are so fluid, just beautiful to watch. thank you
amazing cut, nice clean edges on the bamboo, what a perfect cut wow!
I would like to say that there is a great difference between the two swords mostly being edge profile and weight, and since weight is a deciding factor in force so is speed and angle, now considering the two design difference the last two factors speed and angle are based on the skill of the person wielding said sword.
Also looks like an exact 45 degree angle miter slice...its so good~
Loved the accuracy, control and precision.
@DISYICE Two things to consider for you:
Corpses stiffen from Rigor Mortis, causing them require more impact than constant pressure to cut through; this favours the Katana's form considerably.
In addition, the corpses were cut through while they were lying down, meaning that the weight of the body's top half would not be causing additional difficulty.
Although I agree with you that this gentleman has tremendous skill, he is performing chiburi & noto (ceremonial blood cleaning and resheathing) in the 19-21 sec mark, not flicking the mat. This type of chiburi/noto is very common in Toyama/Nakamura ryu.
Thank you
It is a Gassan Sadatoshi's sword, recognizable from the dragon on the blade. It is a masterpiece sword.
+Luca Rebuffi Yeah your're right!
+Luca Rebuffi you have no idea if it's his work just from the dragon.
Chuck Norris
Its probable though it has that silver look from the polish
Would someone really use such an expensive masterpiece sword for cutting bamboo though?
Luca Rebuffi Is it made of tamahagane?
I agree with you about the bamboo. But about the katana, I don't think anything is wrong about custom-made blade. Japanese sword design are usually different depends on the period it were made/ the type of the sword / and the style or school of the user.
I think this guy meant that Bamboo closely resembles Human bone. And in addition, the bamboo wrapped in mats closely resembles human limbs. Mats = Flesh, Bamboo = Bone.
Live inmates works too...
That's disgusting
thats how they used to test their swords in the samurai era they would chop limbs off prisoners until they thought it was too messy and changed to these bamboo mats which closely replicate a limb
Yes partly correct but this bamboo diameter is thick. so it really means cutting through two human bodies.
bamboo wrapped in tatami mats are small diameter bamboo which resembles human bone.
But in my opinion, I guess cutting through this bamboo means can cut clean one human body into two!
Originally they used bodies of murderers to test the sword before giving it to the owner. Then the Edo period happened.
I used one of his swords once in Do-Dan cutting competition. He always used a big heavy sword, even for kata.
Indeed, I miss seeing him swing around that massive sword like it was a kodachi and him sporting his "hat" and sunglasses hahaha
*holds up Jian hesitantly* Holy crap.... hooooooly crap.... it was nice knowing you guys XD
Rest in peace, Ueki Sensei! I hope my Jianshu will one day match you Katanajutsu!
the sword is drawn mainly using the left hand to pull the saya off the sword as opposed to pulling the sword out of the saya. the most efficient way to do this is to hold the saya as close to the mouth as possible allowing the left hand to move back further. you are right in thinking this can be very dangerous but with enough training it becomes second nature and makes for a far more powerful and controlled draw
Remember, dude, it's not just the sword. Ueki sensei has decades of training behind him. Even the best sword can be bent or broken with a sloppy cut. It's a lot harder than it looks. I trained for 5 years before i was allowed to swing a live blade, let alone cut with one. Now if you where reffering to the kats art appeal, then hop over to wikipedia and type in tachi. THAT is one of the nicest kats ive ever laid eyes upon.
A full tatame omote mat is equivalent to the cutting resistence of a neck. Bamboo, depending on its wall thickness, is to equate bone. This fact may be gruesome, but so is a sword's original purpose.
Thank you
I just shat my pants O_O
That cut was so damn perfect >_< Now I want to be able to do that :P
Beautiful cut, with a beautiful blade.
one of the most beautiful blades I have ever seen
@RaiAntou that's right... bamboo is actually used to represent bone in tameshigiri...
The technique is great 👍🏼 👌🏽 👏🏽.
Like butter...
His technique is something my mind cannot completely comprehend. Tho I am trying..
Amazing.
I have heard that is the case but I have not yet experienced cutting yellow bamboo. A thick walled green variety grows wild in South Carolina so that is what I use.
Thank you
my personal favorite bit occurs at around the 19-21 sec mark... where he uses the blade to flick the matting, so it's sitting on top of the bundle and brings the blade down... now that's control
A Japanese sword of an antique is not just historic remains.
It is the family treasure which the generation samurai succeeded to. It is their identification. And it is their pride itself.
You may judge it whether it is good for your exercise.
gah what is with the epileptic camera work, cant we just enjoy watching a master work
@RaiAntou he said "this cut is equivalent to cutting two human bodies." he was actually talking about the samurai slash not the bamboo stick.
Cold Steel or CAS Hanwie... You can get a very functional one from one of them. Starting with the $150 (or so) Hanwie Tactical Katana. Look in to the Cold Steel Worrier Katana at around $400. And even you can go up to the Hanwie L6 blades at around $1,000. I have a katana from the CAS Hanwie Raptor line at about $300 and it has no lose fittings and will just glide through those matts. It also holds an edge inpresively long. Made out of 5160 spring temperd steel.
I know people exaggerate nihonto's however id think people understand all that goes into the making of one blade!real quick ill say to start finding the best iron ore sand then making a tatara and then adding iron and charcoal to turn it into tamehagane steel in which men watch it like a baby for 72 hours,best pieces go to the Smith and he separates soft medium and hard steel then onto further pounding out slag and makes core and skin steel and then the folding of 12 to 15 Times then drawing it out to its shape then yaki ire and tempering,then onto the togoshi to have it polished and all the beauty as well as the edge brought out which can take months just on the polish and this is just the blade not including the mountings and lacquer work so that is literally many monthes for one blade!I also know there are other swords around the world that are great too like the infamous "ulfbert" and I've heard a lot of people saying how extremely hard it was to make and so much technology and time and effort it took to make and what not,and I think it was cool and a good sword,however what people just don't understand is that pretty much all it is is a crucible steel blade with" +ulfbert" words inlaid into the blade and quenched in oil which pretty much ensures it won't crack instead of using water but getting a lesser product, and that's why Japanese Smith's took so much care so they can quench in water at a lot higher temperatures and bring out more martensite and yield a better product, but yes taking more of a chance of failure of it cracking somewhere at the point of quench,but again that's why everything is tedious work and why they took soo much time and care to prevent that,and one more thing is that crucible steel is just a crucible which is a clay container with iron,some kind of carbon and possibly sand and glass to remove impurities then sealed and put into a furnace with two billows manned constantly to melt everything in the crucible to produce a petty pure ingot,and I have to say or I would be lying if I didn't, but it makes petty Damn evan consistency of steel with little slag" impurities" however there is just no where near the time and effort put into a sword like the Japanese sword!just food for thought and my opinion and hope I did not offend anyone!and if I did I apologize.
Crucible steel is very difficult to work due to the interlocking structures the steel forms upon cooling. That is not to say that the +ulfberh+t was easy to make, and I believe you would be correct in saying that less work was required. As for your mention of quenching, I'm not entirely sure what to say. I don't have much knowledge in the area of medieval materials, but I know that certain steel alloys need to be quenched in oil, while others should be water quenched. (Some can be quenched in both, others can be air quenched, but I have very limited knowledge in that field as well.) Anyway, I'm merely trying to say that it is very possible that the difference in quenching traditions in eastern and western forging could be explained by different materials requiring different quenchants. :D
Your wall of text has baloney in it
The cutting resistance of bamboo depends on many factors such as...
- species
- green or dry
- pole length
- pole & wall diameter
It should be obvious that even a blunt sword with a thin edge can cut; however, the motion will be much more labored & more stress distributed to both sword & swordsman.
Thank you
Yeah, it can. Tameshigiri during feudal Japan was done on human bodies, and katana were supposed to slice a person in half through the stomach. Sometimes the tester would slice through 4-6 persons tie together with just one stroke. Some blades feature inscriptions describing just that.
Blade geometry is dependent on the characteristics of the base metal & tempering process. Yes, a thin blade could bend, snap, etc. but that can happen even with a thicker one.
Most hard target cutters have full niku (thick blade) since it obviously offers greater structural integrity but it will not guarantee performance. For example, MAS blades are quite thin yet cut bamboo extremely well.
Thank you
Hey wait! This was broadcasted in HK!! No wonder I thought I saw this somewhere. You can see the TVB icon at the left upper corner. =)
I don't know for sure, but it does look like an Odachi. It looks longer and a bit broader than the Katana, but it could just be the camera angle.
Sheathing the sword, or nōtō, is an art in itself. Even after years I still take it very slow when using a sharp sword. It's very easy to get sloppy and cut yourself. At no point in the technique does the sharp edge of the sword touch skin though. You run the spine of the sword along the little nook between your thumb and forefinger and when you feel the tip, or kissaki, drop between your fingers you slide the sword in, this time running the spine along the first knukle of your forefinger.
Absolutely. Traditionally differences would reflect the preferences of the smith (and the wishes of the customer). Nowadays, one can simply shop around and compare products from a wide range of companies.
A visit to Sword Forum International, or a similar on-line forum, would be a good starting point to learn more about variations in sword design.
Most katana found on the market today are made in China, due to the restrictions in Japan on the amount of steel allowed for the production of katanas. Most swordsmiths only make a handful of katanas a year anyway, so genuine Japanese katanas are not only hard to find, but really expensive.
lots of katana cuts bamboo, there's nothing special about it. But this one takes no effort at all to make that clean cut whatsoever... That's impressive..
Special about it, is when swordsmans hasuji (angle of sword in cut) isnt correct, you can bend or break your sword. Thats why is tameshigiri good practice. You can see, mr. Ueki technique is clean an correct. Not so often to see in ko-ryu. I saw disciples of others ryu, how they destroyed their practicaly new swords in bamboo tameshigiri.
That sword seems ticker than usual katanas.
It’s not a classic katana for combat. Just a chopped specially made for cutting bamboo
DRYUEN Oh. Thanks for the info!
@recoveringangels Not blunt, but they tended towards being LESS sharp and instead being more mass-heavy. Remember, sharp means more likely to shatter or chip.
Yes I agree, up until the late 30's early 40's swords were still tested on mounds of cadava's mostly dead prisoners, but this was frowned upon after the war and a substitute was found. A green banboo shaft wrapped in a sodden tatami mat was considered the equivilent by many who tested on bodies prior! to be the roughly the same as a human thigh, with the mat providing the dull slowing of flesh, against the crisp strike needed in the center to cleave the bamboo! I hope this clarifies the subject.
Ha, thx for the heads up. I looked at cold steel website and thought their warrior series swords a little steep for mid quality metal. I would definitely pick one up if the price is right. 300-450 sounds right
I purchased a cutter from Cold Steel many years ago. They’re alright for beginner level.
@fuzzwobble As I know, a full mat of tatami wrapped around a bamboo core simulates the approximate width and resistance of a human arm or neck, so yes, it's not "two human bodies" but this test (since cutting up the bodies of dead prisoners was banned) is as close to legit and traditional as you can get to cutting humans. Another factor to take note is clothing. If the opponent was wearing a big winter coat, it may significantly affect a sword's performance.
@theodicer
The angle has to be near perfect. The reason is katana's lightness, it doesn't have the same mass behind it as an European sword, but relies on its speed and precise angles. For a rookie cutting a target would be easier with a heavier blade, since its mass would carry it through even if the angle was lacking. The cut wouldn't be as clean as shown here, however.
:O Such a clean cut !
i love the carving on his katana and his katana is a little big?
0:07 That level of detailing leads me to believe that the blade is modern.
That shit is beautiful the way he puts the sword back into the scabbard
So.......I guess this guy would be really good at cutting back the firebreak overgrowth each year before summer? 👍
Ueki Seiji-sensei is about 5'7", a little taller than average for a Japanese man of his age. However I believe you might be right, I hear he favours (or favoured, I believe he is retired now) a slightly longer blade of around 2.45 shaku, which would be about right for a man of 5'10 ish. At higher levels of training however, personal preference plays a major part.
The more experienced swordsmen I know prefer a longer blade.
Nice form. Is it my imagination or is the sori of his blade quite extreme? or is that just an optical illusion created by the width of the blade? Love his work anyway :)
Nice to meet you:
One piece, Devil May cry, bleach, Samurai Jack, , Metal Gear Rising: revengeance, Demon slayer fans.
People who extensively practice tameshigiri (test cutting) will cut both bamboo and tatame (depending on availability). Bamboo requires more strength, while tatame demands more finesse. Bugei/Hanwei production swords are made in China; however, the higher end blades are very strong. Hanwei actually offers "historic" blade geometries of several time periods. As with anything, you get what you pay for.
Thank you
that is one NICE sword , love the dragon etched into it
although i do agree that bamboo is quite a tough test for a katana, if done wrong it can seriously damage the edge. But it is also no where near cutting human flesh as there are alot more resistances that human flesh has which can stop a blade it, doesn't necessarily have to be solid like bamboo to stop a blade in it's tracks.
@billnyethe1742 in fact, it's a piece of wood, covered with bamboo, and it's the same as a human arm
That is a wonderfully big blade. I wonder who the smith was who made it. In Japan, you can't even have a steel blade that isn't made by a licensed smith (though some do, of course, it is difficult). So, for those saying this blade is fake, that is just not true. Many times, fancier blades will have engravings of religious or nature motifs.
can you guess what they used instead of tatami mats in China during the 40s ?
Rest In Piece Master Ueki
He didn't say the bamboo stick is equivalent to two human bodies, he actually said that the slash performed on the bamboo was powerful enough to cut through two human bodies. This video is aimed at praising the sword not the bamboo stick.
Although I agree about the bamboo not being equivalent to human bodies, I watched an episode of 'Deadliest Warror" where a guy cut through several pigs with one swipe using a similar blade to this. I was very surprised and impressed.
Agreed and agreed. For what it's worth, I'd rather have seen a plain, unedited feed of the test cutting as well.
So did I, first time is pretty damn hard. Gets easier as you get more experienced just like everything else.
Incredible skill. Respect.
@fuzzwobble when they said 'two human bodies' it means 2 heads
Hey Tom, isn't yellow bamboo the roughest of the species in regards to cutting?
Bamboo is more easily cut than people seem to realize. I once cut a C. 3-inch bamboo stalk with a blunted longsword. Blunted, as in I could rub my hand hand along the edge firmly and with impunity.
3" or 4" of bamboo considered a decent approximation of a human arm/leg? Probably. Two tender, underfed babies? Maybe. But two fully-grown adult bodies? That's a hell of an exaggeration, Mr. Host. :P
arigatou gambaru ne! btw you seem to know alot of this things, my passion in japanese sword just started with my simple love of eating with chopsticks...
@Protherium Doesn't the power of a Katana blade come from the angle of the strike and its speed, where as the power of the European longsword etc came from pure brute strength? (Due to the shape of the blade, where as the Katana acted more like a razors edge and was not as durable as the longsword).
it's not about the cut, it's how it was cut and what did the cut. in forensics, it would be the absence of tool marks which will make these cuts remarkable. then again, if one has to ask then one does not get it and would not be able to appreciate it.
"I'm told this cut is the equivalent of cutting through two human bodies". Please explain how the blunt longsword's identical cut was different from the katana.
@LolmansEntertainment Not exactly, Sensei loosly translates as "example for life" and Shi han is master. The difference is Shi Han is and official title you get when you reach a certain grade (the ryu where i train 3th or 4th dan) and is acompanied with moruko.
OK, I need to ask a question here: Since katana blades are so damn sharp, why would a Sensei hold his hand on the scabbard so close to the tip while the blade is unsheathing?
I am just saying, one small cut from that blade and you will end up a human fountain of vital fluids.
Apart from that small thing, his technique was good, controlled and focused...but I cannot help but think: Did European knights care as much for their longswords and armour as samurai and their katanas?
More of a predecessor than some might know...when Tokugawa issued the edict banning swords over a certain length, several tachi where cut down to the legal limit. Cant remeber what that type of sword was called. In some cases the tachi is just a katana in a different koshirae. Yeah u are right, though. Different geometry than a kat. Still, tell me u went and saw the tachi on wikipedia. Is that not a thing of beauty or what?
beautiful sword! and sharp spirit!
I have cut a lot of bambo....In my experience green bamboo is far easier to cut than dried bamboo and cutting at an angle is far easier than cutting straight across.
You better try with your body if you have complain.
What's the technical point in cutting dry bamboo?
You can literally construct buildings out of bamboo, the shit is incredibly solid...
thanks bro, that would probably help me a lot.
@bigk22 If a the blade is poorly made with less than perfect metals, there is a possibility of it shattering on something like Bamboo. Maybe not on the first cut, but there's still a chance yes.
@billnyethe1742 well actually, the japanese used to test thier katana's and thier technique on slaves and dead bodies...it was actually very common for people to know how strong the katana was..
From what I know, the scimitar and shield didn't come together. Pardon me if I am wrong, but weren't the second hand helpin the blade to swing (in scimitar fighting style)?
0:14 the exact sound when I cut onion in the kitchen!
Doutrina dos cinco anéis, prática com duas espadas, de Miamoto Misashi. Todavia o fato de segurar com duas mãos é doutrina de kenjutsu, que se contrapunha ao Musashi. Só os fortes entenderão. Ponto.
In Toyama Ryu, proper noto requires the thumb & forefinger to come in contact with the side of the blade.
As for the big breath, it appears to me that Ueki sensei was simply loosening himself up prior to attempting to cut the rather wide diameter bamboo, not demonstrating a breathing technique.
Almost every ryuha has their own way of doing things so your system may have some differences. I wish you well in your training.
I bow to the SBG Custom Katana. Thanks for recommending that great site.
Watching him with that sword is like watching an artist paint.
If you try to look for the sword which is similar to this sword, it will be very difficult.
There are very few swordsmiths of a genuine Japanese sword now.
Acquaintances need it especially.
You have to pay the price for tens of thousands of dollars and time of several years.
Of course you may look for the replica which resembled this by a mail order.
@Cyberspine Thank you for explaining, i truly feel enlightened!
when the samurai sheathes the katana the blade edge is against his thumb, any master samurai will have already become used to feeling the blade as it sheathes without cutting himself but every samurai has cut themselves in the thumb at least a hundred times to perfect just sheathing their sword, if you see a man with a short straight deep scar on their thumb then they are most likely samurai, this alone cannot prove that theyre masters and only a true master can tell
i dont know why i feel so good whenever i see a katana
This was uploaded 13 years ago!! Think about that 🤔!
thanks to reply my coment and really thanks for the information althoug I can't to buy someone now even asked me how many cost thanks to you i have idea now!