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@@masterandshadow3944 The tachi is an earlier predecessor to the uchigatana which is often longer, more curved and designed with mounted combat in mind. This longer katana he pointed out was an "ōdachi," but there are also nōdachi... the names can be confusing but as I understand the main difference is how they were used. A "nōdachi" is an extra large sword a person might use but ONLY on the battlefield, because it is too big and cumbersome for them to wear as a sidearm in everyday life. An "ōdachi" on the other hand is a larger sword intended for a larger person that is going to be wearing it as his sidearm in everyday life. Shogo is using the term "katana" to refer to Japanese swords in general, while Sellswords Arts is using the term to refer to the "uchigatana," which is how the term "katana" is mostly used in the West.
Please make a reaction video with Seki-sensei about Hema techniques and similarities and differences compared to asamai shinryu. I'm keen that would be great with a lot of views.
Hey, didn't expect to get a reaction video made about me 😂 I appreciate you interjecting your knowledge on Japanese swordsmanship. There's a couple of points I think that might have gotten misinterpreted due to the length of the shorts. I try and get as much information as I can in in 60 seconds, but unfortunately I can only really scratch the surface. If you'd like to discuss any of the ideas in the videos you reviewed, I'd be happy to elaborate😊
Turkish Kilij and Heavy Kilij which Leonidas was wielding in 300 spartan is also Turkish sword but also in Jujutsu kaisen, Megumin used to wield it it is OP sword
I explained to one if my Marine friends that swords were sidearms, similar to a pistol in modern warfare. If it's out and in use, things are not going well.
European knights didn't use bows or guns much. Lance, sword, & dagger were the iconic knightly weapons, plus pollaxe, mace, & various other bludgeons. Some knights did use pistols, if you want to go that late.
It approximates the katana about as well as a feder approximates a longsword (having all four of them myself). I wouldn't want to use one of iai, but paired kata with one feel reasonably similar to using an iaito or bokuto. Really, having done both iai and HEMA, there is a LOT of overlap and the longsword and katana have a lot of same mechanics between them. I agree that one who has studied one could pick the other one up really fast, and as someone who learned them both at the same time, I found many principles cross-pollinating. I'd say the biggest difference is the footwork, but even that isn't too dissimilar, just meant for different clothing styles.
That isnt entirely true. While yes they are unsharpened, to call them flexible is kind of a misnomer. F4 blade flex is not bendy. It just means that when you have a rubber tip on the end stabbing into a hema jacket, the blade will probably bend before your ribs break. Its definitely got more flex than a real blade, but we arent talking about F2 SCA blades.
I especially love it when Shogo-sensei starts talking about the varying applications of the katana in combat, samurai combat and weapons, and samurai armor. I watch Sellsword Arts, what can I say? This is a nice occasional treat.
There's a western sword school in Tokyo by the name of Castle Tintagel. It would be really cool if there was opportunity for a crossover video with Shogo/Seki and the Tintagel people.
@@tiberiusvindex804 10 year HEMA guy here, yes their rules are more buhurt / SCA and are not HEMA. However, pretty awesome to have something European focused in Japan!
Replying late - but for people who don't know, Tintagel is in common folklore as "The Birthplace of King Arthur" (and therefore related to the Knights of the Round Table)
Actually, it sounds like they're both in agreement except for subtle terminology and lack of experience with the others weapon. It could be interesting to do a live video together.
@@edschelchang6123 dude called someone transphobic for being gender nonconforming and then made fun of them for talking about conversion therapy on their page
I think it is nice that Shogo is so objective and not biased against the longsword or protective of the katana. Sellsword videos are pretty based on logic and any empty arguments against them would’ve been a bit lame. I personally am somewhat trained in the katana and I love it, but I wouldn’t put it against the long sword unless I am ready to trash my sword in one fight. Again, great video and thanks!
Sellsword's videos are based more on movie choreography though, which is heavily stylized to say the least. UA-cam channels like History Hit and Tod's Workshop are FAR better.
@@jsullivan2112 my channel is a 50/50 mix of real historical martial arts and choreography inspired by those martial arts. We actually do a lot of content about how those weapons actually work 😁
@@markostupar740 you can make the same Claim about any Japanese swordsmanship is well. Yes people pasted it down, but things change throughout the years. And there is no one correct way to use any of the techniques from German longsword. The reason we have many different interpretations, is because different people use the differently. We had examples of multiple different Masters using the same overall technique under different names with slight variations. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and there's endless nuanced when it comes to sword fighting. We have amazing scholars working hard on the original source material for many of these movies, combined with a continuous living knowledge of fencing. No one is actually using swords to kill each other anymore, we don't know exactly how these things would have been used back in the day. But both traditional Japanese martial arts, and historical European martial arts are widely considered it to be accurate representations and reconstructions of these practices.
@@SellswordArts Firstly, I really appreciate how both you and Shogo interact here. As other people have said, it's a real pleasure to see people behave in a human and respectful way, rather than a lot of the internet-bringing-the-worst-out-of-people crap that so often happens. If I may, I'd put a small caveat to the comment around making the same claim about Japanese swordsmanship. Things do change, yes. However, the difference is a *focus on preservation* and a *depth of biomechanical understanding* due to actual in-person teaching, handing down generations to generation. As someone who's experienced this lineage of direct teaching, it's truly quite different to be taught through feeling as opposed to through intellectual analysis of visual material (be that pictures or writing). The biomechanical depth is just... off the scale different. It is something that revival and recreation, in my view, just cannot achieve. To be clear, that doesn't mean that all koryu (and I'm specifically excluding things like kendo, iaido, and other gendai, here) are advanced at this, nor does this mean that HEMA is inferior. All I'm saying is that indeed the claim that Japanese swordsmanship is a dead martial art is not as true for koryu (choosing my words, here) as it is for HEMA. They're both anachronistic and 'dead' in the sense of 'not quite useful anymore', but one is naturally alive (although maybe on life support) while the other is more like Frankenstein's creature (I mean this in an entirely non-judgemental way! Just trying to paint the picture and stay in the metaphor.).
One of the best educators on UA-cam about Japan and Japanese culture. I haven't even watched the video yet. Still on the ad. Edit: Whoa. I watch Sellsword Arts. I never would've thought I'd see Shogo react to his videos.
Sword seller doesn't even know what a mangosh (European accessory blade ment to be underhanded) is. And underhand is a deflect block no hooking stupidity as he demonstrated.
I'm pretty sure the "katana", he is wielding is a type of federschwert. Its basically a type of super-durable iaito, or an unsharpened live blade. Some HEMA companies make these for japanese weapons because there a lot of us like me that do like cross pollination to maximize our swordsmanship. The companies that manufacture these just aren't as familiar with a katana's construction, and you end up missing pieces like the sageo, saya, ito, ect. They're just western style practice blades with a general ken shape.
I think he called it kendo because he couldn't think of the names of any other hema adjacent katana training. But you definitely do not use a Long sword like a kendo stick.
I love that your video isnt confrontational just to create controversy (and likes). Unlike so many social media reviews of others videos. Well done in another great video and I hope the weather is improving for your reynards.❤
The long sword was designed to use EVERY part as an offensive weapon. For instance, during a "lock-up" of blades, depending on where you are in relation to your opponent, you might hit them in the face with the large pointed hilt or the large weighted pommel. I've seen many old long swords made with sharpened spike-like hilts for stabbing and spiked pommels to cause greater damage in face strikes. Europeans got VERY good at hurting each other and made a LOT of very interesting innovations in that field.
Because of constant unending wars, they all were forced to evolve to keep up with each other. That's probably one of the reason of their domination in the world
@@yarikyaryiNo guns and for multiplication is the reason for this. During the Middle Ages Europe was certainly incapable of “dominating” the rest of the world.
I think the confusion results because some commenters without experience in European or Japanese swordsmanship see reverse grip being used as the default method of using a knife or sword by badass characters in movies or anime, and assume the same applies to reality. But from I've seen of the Kobudo and iai techniques you've shared, reverse grip with the katana is mostly for some iai or defensive techniques when you're ambushed or fighting at extremely close-quarters. Once you have any amount of distance from the opponent, it looks like katana martial arts also switch to the standard grip as much as possible. You can't really use two hands with reverse grip and you want two hands for the maximum amount of control and force I would assume. Similarly, there would be a few situations with European short bladed weapons (daggers & knives) where you might use a reverse grip--if you're ambushed or in close quarters, just like the katana, but maybe also if you're an armoured fighter who's gotten an armoured opponent on the ground and you're on top of them trying to finish them off with the rondel dagger: reverse or "icepick" grip might be best in that situation. Thanks for the great reaction, Shogo!
I think a collaborative effort between this channel & sellsword would be brilliant! Sort a compare & contrast notes thing/cultural exchange would be absolutely brilliant!
An elaboration on "if you can use a longsword, you can use a katana, and vice versa": You can employ the most fundamental and common longsword techniques with a katana, because they're both two handed long blade weapons that can cut and thrust. You cannot do ALL of the longsword techniques with a katana, as many make extensive use of the sharpened back edge and the crossguard, and my understanding is you cannot do ALL of the katana techniques with a longsword, as certain techniques won't work the same with the presence of the cross guard. However, you could absolutely pick up a longsword, or a katana, or a shinai, and use it the same way you'd use the weapon you primarily train. It won't be the same, but you won't be completely lost.
Id say its more like shooting a recurve bow and a long bow. You do the same thing, they perform slightly differently, and have a slight edge in specific scenarios, but if you know how to use one, you can still pull the string back on the other. Front vs rear wheel drivr handles *really* differently in any kind of adverse weather, its a bit too extreme for the subtle differences at play.
@Xenogor Wraithblade to be fair, you can use those techniques as well, its just going to be at disadvantage and you might have to tighten up your form to be stable. Rapier tends to be very extended because it relies on the opponent's blade also being very light, as almost all the mass in a rapier is in the complex hilt. a twohanded cutting sword would likely blow right through you if you tried the same onehanded rapier guards, especially with a different type of sword, but thrusts (even fully extended onehanded thrusts) are still a thing with longswords, and youve got an idea of measure and foodwork. It wont all translate perfectly but youre far better off than someone with no experience
This is absolutely wonderful because you can see that different techniques adapted to their own history but at heart they all have to be used by humans so the affinities are really a lot. It would be truly wonderful to have you and the sword guy to have some collaborations where you both analyse a specific situation and how both arts chose to deal with it depending on their historical facts! I would love it to pieces!!!!
I love UA-cam you get all this knowledge from experts. Then every now and again you get someone who have lived their art all their lives and are truly knowledgeable like Grandmaster Seki. Thank you Shogo. Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate
Honestly, I think if there's really any disagreement here it's in terms. I get what Sellsword Arts is saying in terms of the weapons being the same biomechanically, and Shogo saying that the technique is different. If the two the them were to agree on the intent of their terms, I don't think there would be much to say.
Was thinking this exact same thing all throughout the video. As I understand it they completely agree on everything XD. I'm glad! Because I like both channels!
@@RoninTF2011 I think would sell sword was trying to say is that you can pick up a kendo shinai and do the same moves as you would with a long sword or Katana and you can pick up a long sword and use the same techniques as a katana and shinai and you pick up a katana and use the same techniques as a long sword and shinai because at the end of the day all three are essentially long sticks and the human body can move them all in the same way and be effective regardless of what culture and techniques they were designed for
@@youngmoney4693 But you can't move the Longsword or the Katana....as you can the shinai, these think weigh barely more the a chocolate bar, wehile the above clock in a 2-3 pounds
Thank you for the video. Interesting to see the kind of swords compared a little. I look forward to talking to you and Seki Sensei in his next lesson. I hope, it's not a problem that I missed the previous lessons.
As a club that teaches Kenjutsu and HEMA, we love both of your channels. I really want to put together a "Katana vs Longsword" video very soon and would love for either of you to react to it! We did a Nodachi vs Longsword sparring video already but I would love to do something in depth. Thanks for the honest react Shogo and Sellsword!
This was really cool! Its so fun when two channels I like "run into each other" Thanks for the insight (open minded and respectful as always) I'm definitely going to look at your new sword channel
I’ve always wanted to see your view on western swordsmanship, specifically involving Longswords and sabers, and this is a dream crossover for the sword community. Keep up the great work
Thank you for your comments on Sellsword's videos. I just recently discovered that channel and wondered how accurate his comments were regarding fighting with katana compared to longsword. Thank you and keep up the great videos.❤
if you're interested about learning more about european swordsmanship and historical martial arts i recommend Björn Rüther's channel ! He's a german guy focusing on the german tradition of swordsmanship, which is also the one with the most records of as far as I know for pre-16th century martial arts, and he shows a wide range of weapons and techniques
I think compared to the german tradition ... the italian is actually better documented because our manuscripts are less kryptic and more straightforward with less interpretation needed. The german ones tend to be a bit more encrypted and the tradition itself a bit more of a oral tradition with manuals going along side of the hands on teachings with a master. The Germans seem to have been a bit more secrecy of their trade I guess.
What I love about watching this is to see two great content creators with different styles respecting the other person. It is my favorite part of things like debate and, sadly, something I don't see a lot of today. That said, I would love to see you two sparring, learning from each other's styles, and trying each other's blades to come back with insights.
I would say when you study closely the techniques utilized between the longsword and katana that there are numerous similarities in how you generate power in the cut and the ways you may block and parry incoming blows. Of course there are many instances of specific techniques that are unique to each weapon. The similarities are down to how our bodies are built and the differences are down to context.
It's really interesting learning more about things like this! I had the pleasure of meeting you while I was in Japan and doing the samurai experience in Kyoto, it was an absolute blast! Much love from Arizona 💜💜
It is fun too hear about the differences & similarities between Eastern & Western weapons & martial arts. I'm glad both have community's keeping this knowledge alive.
When I was in the SCA (where I think a lot of this reverse-grip stuff came from) we used a basket hilt on a shortsword reverse grip sometimes. The sword part was used to block low shots (I wore a gauntlet with wrist reinforcement), but the extra-stout basket hilt did most of the blocking and was more like a buckler. We learned to "punch" the incoming attack to deflect it.
I would love to see Shogo try out HEMA or take a look at some videos. I feel like too many people have done the "Who would win? European or Japanese swordsmanship" too much and haven't taken a more comparative look. I'd love to see Shogos take on the many different ways a longsword can be used, the variety of techniques involved, and some of the more bizarre techniques HEMA has
I appreciate the humility you demonstrated here in this video, it speaks volumes about your knowledge and expertise, especially when you presented counter arguments. I trained in Karate years ago and I had friends in the martial arts community who practiced other Japanese martial arts such as jiujitsu and kenjutsu and we sparred together regularly. These days I study HEMA, and I can say with confidence that there are more similarities between Japanese and European sword styles than there are differences. There are definitely some differences, but not as many as some people seem to think. Thank for the video, it was a pleasure to watch
[11:47] It's called Mordhau, meaning murder-stroke, and there's a way to handle it that it won't cut your hands and fingers. It works well against armored opponents as it uses the blunt pommel and has more weight on that end.
Yup, there's like a line in the middle of the blade. You put your fingertips on one side, then your palm on the other. It looks like you're going to cut your hands, and your hands DO touch the sharp bit of the blade, but it's pretty safe.
@@Burn_Angel If the weapon is combat-ready levels of sharpness, you'll almost definitely shred your fingers if you strike anything relatively solid if you aren't wearing at least leather gloves.
It's worth noting that most of the sources for the murder stroke involve judicial duels in full armor. We know that people often used specialized swords for such duels, & these could be unsharpened except near the tip. Using a mostly blunt sword while wearing gauntlets with leather on the inside would make murderstrokes quite safe for the hands & fingers.
@@rajamicitrenti1374 Yeah. I probably should have mentioned. The leather gloves they used at the time were thicker than the ones we have today and they didn't do it without their leather gloves.
Having done both Iaido and Longsword, I can say that the fighting methods are quite similar. There are definitely similar considerations between both fighting methods when fighting against armour but the difference between the two is the form that armour comes in. An example is that we have helmets that are open, caged, or fully closed within European warfare. Comparatively, there is usually the face open on a samurai's helmet and the construction itself is made of separate pieces. This is, of course, only one piece of the armour puzzle as we also have other differences such as full harnesses of armour, as well as a multi-layer system of Plate, Maille, and Gambeson generally used in the European sphere in various fashions. Japanese armour also has a weakness that European armour does not in the form of the knot at the back which may, or may not, be covered but is the single point that could cause the "suit" to come apart.
I trained fencing with an old former Olympian fencer, and he greatly laments what fencing has turned into. Due to lazy judges and coaches prioritizing "scoring points" over actual swordsmanship, modern fencing just turned into playing tag with a metal stick.
I would love to see a longform conversation between @Let's Ask Shogo and @Sellsword Arts!! I have a ton of respect for both of you, and I bet we all have a lot to learn from one another.
a big misconception people have with swords is their durability, there is a lot of discourse about what breaks first. To put it simply, a katana has as much of a chance to break as any other sword. Every sword is really easy to break, that's why swordsmithing is a profession, a well-made sword of any origin can withstand blows like nothing happened to it, regardless of what steel/region it is from. The longsword and shortsword was notorious for breaking in battle, same with the saber, the gladius, and the Katana. History shows that the argument of sword vs sword only depends on two things: the forging of the sword, and the skill of its wielder.
....and forget about trying to use a Katana against chainmail....the links woven together disipate the kinetic energy from slashing attacks. each link transfers the cutting and slicing force more and more as the individual links start to band together, creating overlapping layers further absorbing and disipating the cutting or slicing force more and more until there is no more kinetic energy from the attack... ...it absolutely fascinating
Hi! I have a hema-background and no Idea about japanese Swordmanship. You Gentleman, are are a delight to listen to. I like your style of making the video. You seem very knowledgable and admit about your strenghts and weaknesses. This is admirable. You made me watch a video I am usually not very interested in (the Old Debate about mighty Katana vs mighty Longsword) and enjoying it. Thank you
To all the Japanese speakers in the audience, I got a questions (and sorry, I don't have the Kanji for it), what does something like "Saishin Tyekikyoyo" mean? It's a phrase or word said sometimes by the character Hayato in the game Shadow Tactics when you select him. It's been rattling in my brain for a long time.
Thank you very much for the interesting content, I really love these longer form videos! It would be really interesting to see you test his hypothesis, by going through some kata with a European long sword, and hearing your thoughts…
Swords in general were considered a luxury armement and were largely relegated to nobility. Most melee combat across cultures was done with long weapons with pointy bits attached to the ends. Reason being that swords are difficult to make and are outclassed by longer, more easily attainable weaponry (even a pitchfork will do, ask Fiore). Swords are meant to be carried in public as a symbol of status. It shows those around that one has attained enough martial acumen to be trusted to carry around an expensive and dangerous tool and not use it unless needed. This is also why ranking military still carry ceremonial weaponry on occasion.
It is more complicated than that, many european medieval soldiers with swords was not members of the nobility. Even during XVc when nobility was very "locked" low soldiers (french franc archer for example) may have a sword (arming sword style). It is the same in Japan, since early katanas was worn by low ranked warriors or servitors. Also spears was longer cheaper and usefull for infantry in formation, there was no sword formation because it was a side weapon. In time of peace, medieval knights was not carrying sword all the time, it became more legated to their office or/and demonstration of their power. Most of time a simple dagger and that's all, the sword status appears in europe in the same time of the Edo period when the port of daisho became a rule and not an habit of warfare.
@@Misere1459 Yeah, I'm annoyed that people keep spreading the narrative of swords as a luxury item without tying it to a specific time & place. They definitely weren't a luxury item in 14th-17th-century Europe. Captains expected every soldier to have a sword (with a few exceptions, such as very poorly equipped troops & some arquebusiers in the late 16th century). European civilians did often wear swords by the 16th century, if not earlier.
I suspect he's refering to the fact that longswords usually have large, weighted pommels, which pull the center of gravity closer towards the handle. From a physics perspective, one could argue that the closer the center of gravity is to the handle, the more nimble the sword will be BUT this comes at a cost of cutting power and vice versa. The more heft to the blade, the more powerfully it'll chop and cut, but also it will make the sword more difficult to control.
This was a wonderful video my friend! As someone who practices Hema, I have a ton of respect for Japanese swordsmanship. I hope that one day people will recognize the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of the Katana and Longsword, and that people will realize that one is not inherently better than the other.
Huh, small world. I was ACTUALLY thinking about this over the last few days and even thought to myself. "huh, I wonder what our friend Shogo would think about Sellsword Arts assessment about the reverse grip" Fast forward a few days and BAM! What a pleasant surprise XD So cool! EDIT: I simply love, the fact that our friend was so polite when talking about these points (and in the comments Sellsword Arts even commented which made me fangirl XD) both of them were so polite and respectful of each others points and views and such. Very cool guys and please, keep up the awesome content! and thank you both for your gifts.
As a fan of both your channels was really happy to see you react to Sellsword videos in a constructive way. Hope to soo a collaboration some time even just to see you both discuss your preferred styles of swordmanship
It’s funny how the sellsword guy recently said that if you aren’t practicing the martial art then you shouldn’t talk about it. I. His case he was saying peoples opinions were invalid because they didn’t practice HEMA as much as he did yet he talks about Japanese swords and stuff…
I've trained in both western and eastern swordsmanship and I catch a tremendous amount of flak when I say, its not the weapon but the user. Their media soaked minds have no ability to comprehend this point. They MUST have an answer as to which is better and why.
European sword experts who have no training in Japanese Kenjutsu often don't know that the way a katana is gripped and the way one swings it is very different than a long sword. As and expert in Kinesiology and having trained with katana, I can say the biomechanics are very different. This is also the case for Kendo. The effectiveness of the cut or thrust with a katan is diminished with improper grip or use of the body for the cut. This is easily tested with tameshigiri. Cleaner cuts through thicker targets are possible with proper technique.
I assume you say this having no training in longsword? The biomechanics are nearly the same. If you note, there is an equivalent European guard for every single Japanese guard. Why? The mechanics are the same. The same is true for the longsword, which demands even higher levels of cut precision as the center of mass is not self-aligning. Additionally, katana have a much larger length of percussion, giving them even more ease in the cut. Heavy sabers are more comparable to katana in cutting capability. Sure, the handle itself is quite different, but the grips tend to be nearly identical. Having sparred members at my HEMA club who transitioned from kenjutsu, they attest it carries over nearly 1:1. Japanese swordsmanship is not as special as all the useless kata attempt to make it seem. The kata that are practical also show up as Italian or German drills. Then there's the silly stuff for crazy scenarios where you've realistically died before you perform the 5-step disarm.
The kata, kamae, etc. is not relevan. Guard positions and such are mechanical, external to the body. Biomechanics is internal to the body. The difference I refer to is in expressing tenchijin within the body and the ability to extend it to the weapon.
@@foofyguy Well, believe what you want to believe. If you think that feeling like a warrior makes you one, then go ahead. Perhaps that spirit is best utilized in actual combat, though?
@@spicketspaghet7773 You'll have to forgive me as I am neurodiverse. I don't know what you mean by believe, or utilize spirit in combat. I'm trained to use firearms for combat. Training for actual combat with a sword is less productive. You're probably taking a dig at me so I'll clarify what is meant by tenchijin and then disengage from this thread. I formally studied Engineering, Kinesiology MS, and now Neurobiology PHd eventually, to understand how the body does what I was taught to do. I understand things through the hard sciences. What Asian arts refer to as tenchijin is actually the development of balancing the appropriate tensions of the body through opposing spirals. Combining muscle contraction with the latent contractile properties of the connective tissues that knit the entire kinetic chain together with the opposing rotation of both sides of the the body, one can transfer a great deal more kinetic energy through the limbs while remaining much more stable and using less energy. Utilization of the body this way has applications beyond melee weapons, which is why I study. I've trained athletes the basic body work to improve their performance. Without this, bujutsu is a hollow version of what was taught for the battle field. Other than 'tenchijin' I don't know how to describe it with less than a paragraph of text., and anyone can search for 'tenchijin'
I worked as a butcher in a slaughterhouse and I will say that regardless of the quality of the steel in a cutting instrument, hitting steel or even something hard with the cutting edge will dull it. You should always parry with the flat side of the sword.
It's a matter of which gonna dull first and a matter which is the one that is easier to sharpen but then again as much as possible yeah don't do that unless necessary like do it so you can live to see another day.
@@Cormano980 Swords (and especially european swords) do not instantly break from an edge to edge parry. Also, several manuscripts teach to seek edge contact, especially in the bind, as you get "bite" (the swords will stick) giving you extra control in binding and winding. While parrying with the flat is extremely useful in some situations, european swords are literally made to parry with the edge, as the cross guard is in line with the edges and swords like the zweihänder have parrying hooks in line with the edges. Even more obvious if you look at training swords, federschwert have something called a schilt, it's just a wide portion or two protrusions in line with the cross that helps you not get hit in the hand, these do not help at all if you mean to only parry with the flat. Even a lot of 19th century sabers have a d-guard with no side protection.
Hi I'm a HEMA/longsword practitioner and would like to point out some things 1. the katana simulator he uses in the video is a steel blunt simulator made in a similar style as federschwert/paratschwert(a longsword simulator used by longsword practitioners) with similar dimensions as a true one(length, weigh and balance), I have only handled longsword simulators but those are very close the real sharp longswords, those katana simulators are used in some kenjutsu dojos in USA 2 dagger are used in reverse grip in European weapon arts like the rondel dagger, the dagger he uses is left hand dagger meant to be used with a one handed sword in civilian life or a duel 3 there are a few stances with reverse grip with longsword like posta de bicornio or posta de croce bastarda or the spear counter with a spadone ( a sword that is as long as the user like a long odachi) 4 your longest uchigatana is kinda short for longsword standards, longswords are a bit longer than a meter in average my own federschert is 1.33 meters long( the blade is a meter long) and it is the tournament length 5 longswords can cut with similar techniques as katanas and also have specific techniques for fighting against armor, there is also longswords meant for armored fighting
If I want to learn about katana I’ll watch a Japanese person talking about katana not a white guy.. if I want to learn about European sword, I’ll watch a European talking about it. If I want to learn how to use a bolo, I’ll watch a Filipino… simple as that..
I would LOVE to see a collaboration between the two of you. I really think it would be incredibly productive and positive in is effect in online sword communities.
I wish these so called "sword/fencing" experts would actually compare a real katana to the longsword instead of a modern knock off. Real katana are well balance. After 30 years of collecting, I've never handled a katana that had a forward center of gravity. Cheap Chinese reproductions, no matter how well made, are NOT the same as a traditionally made katana. There are still ryuha styles in Japan that emphasize cuts that are designed to use against armored opponents. There are ways to use a sword against an armored opponent.
@@XVI_Legion I'm not talking about using a katana against full, European plate. I'm talking about using one against Japanese armor. Totally different thing since there are vulnerable points with Japanese armor.
So, I'm actually a fan of both your content and sellsword martial arts content. Seeing this makes me think you guys doing a collaboration would actually help foster a better understanding of both European and Japanese sword based martial arts. Just an idea 👀
You and sellswordarts should do a collaboration and talk about the differences between the style of weapons you know as well as teaching each other some thing about the respective style.
would love to see you try a longsword, just to see what the differences feel like in usage, as it would be interesting to hear the opinions of a katana expert since most of the time its longsword users trying katana
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Hey, isn't a long katana called a tachi?
I sincerely hope Sellswords reacts to this.
@@masterandshadow3944 The tachi is an earlier predecessor to the uchigatana which is often longer, more curved and designed with mounted combat in mind. This longer katana he pointed out was an "ōdachi," but there are also nōdachi... the names can be confusing but as I understand the main difference is how they were used. A "nōdachi" is an extra large sword a person might use but ONLY on the battlefield, because it is too big and cumbersome for them to wear as a sidearm in everyday life. An "ōdachi" on the other hand is a larger sword intended for a larger person that is going to be wearing it as his sidearm in everyday life. Shogo is using the term "katana" to refer to Japanese swords in general, while Sellswords Arts is using the term to refer to the "uchigatana," which is how the term "katana" is mostly used in the West.
Please make a reaction video with Seki-sensei about Hema techniques and similarities and differences compared to asamai shinryu. I'm keen that would be great with a lot of views.
hi shogo sellsword has repectfully replied to your video below,love all your channels true beautiful budo!
Hey, didn't expect to get a reaction video made about me 😂
I appreciate you interjecting your knowledge on Japanese swordsmanship.
There's a couple of points I think that might have gotten misinterpreted due to the length of the shorts. I try and get as much information as I can in in 60 seconds, but unfortunately I can only really scratch the surface.
If you'd like to discuss any of the ideas in the videos you reviewed, I'd be happy to elaborate😊
That’s the crossover that the planet needs
Make it work!
We need a collab about the reserve grip please /\qwq
Please
You should challenge him to a sparring match. Katana vs longsword
Shogo talking about longswords is probably the closest thing we have to a hema x kobudo crossover. I absolutely love it
Turkish Kilij and Heavy Kilij which Leonidas was wielding in 300 spartan is also Turkish sword but also in Jujutsu kaisen, Megumin used to wield it it is OP sword
Yeah well except for the big HEMA channels going at it :D
Or that time i fenced Raf (Metatron) in Palermo. Its on his channel.
Jessie Enkamp actually have a video when he confronts HEMA practitioners in sparring)
I've been waiting to see Shogo react to a mordhau for years
@@AGermanFencer I'd like to see Skallgrim
Internet knights: longswords
Internet samurai: katana
Actual knights and samurai: bows and guns
Knight: Parry this, you filthy casual!
*takes out the sacred Glock of Antioch*
I explained to one if my Marine friends that swords were sidearms, similar to a pistol in modern warfare. If it's out and in use, things are not going well.
Don't forget the Yari or spear. A longsword is a side weapon, the spear used to be the main weapon.
Bandits and Peasants: Crossbow 🗿
European knights didn't use bows or guns much. Lance, sword, & dagger were the iconic knightly weapons, plus pollaxe, mace, & various other bludgeons. Some knights did use pistols, if you want to go that late.
The katana he uses is a sword made of a dull, flexible type of steel used in most swords used in Hema (for sparring).
Exactly. It's more of a sports tool than a replica.
Not as easy to make a kurved swords flexible enough to make thrusts not hurt as f*ck 😛
It approximates the katana about as well as a feder approximates a longsword (having all four of them myself). I wouldn't want to use one of iai, but paired kata with one feel reasonably similar to using an iaito or bokuto. Really, having done both iai and HEMA, there is a LOT of overlap and the longsword and katana have a lot of same mechanics between them. I agree that one who has studied one could pick the other one up really fast, and as someone who learned them both at the same time, I found many principles cross-pollinating. I'd say the biggest difference is the footwork, but even that isn't too dissimilar, just meant for different clothing styles.
That isnt entirely true. While yes they are unsharpened, to call them flexible is kind of a misnomer. F4 blade flex is not bendy. It just means that when you have a rubber tip on the end stabbing into a hema jacket, the blade will probably bend before your ribs break.
Its definitely got more flex than a real blade, but we arent talking about F2 SCA blades.
Looks similar to a sigi katana if you want to google and look at the details
I especially love it when Shogo-sensei starts talking about the varying applications of the katana in combat, samurai combat and weapons, and samurai armor. I watch Sellsword Arts, what can I say? This is a nice occasional treat.
There's a western sword school in Tokyo by the name of Castle Tintagel. It would be really cool if there was opportunity for a crossover video with Shogo/Seki and the Tintagel people.
Having looks at them they look more like Buhurt/SCA style fighting, not HEMA.
@@tiberiusvindex804 10 year HEMA guy here, yes their rules are more buhurt / SCA and are not HEMA. However, pretty awesome to have something European focused in Japan!
Replying late - but for people who don't know, Tintagel is in common folklore as "The Birthplace of King Arthur" (and therefore related to the Knights of the Round Table)
Actually, it sounds like they're both in agreement except for subtle terminology and lack of experience with the others weapon. It could be interesting to do a live video together.
No they are not in agreement. Shogo debunked his claim about katanas.
I hope not. I like this channel and the sellsword arts channel is a toxic bully
@@SleepDaMouse-xd8dn What make you say that? Did he do something?
@@edschelchang6123 dude called someone transphobic for being gender nonconforming and then made fun of them for talking about conversion therapy on their page
@@SleepDaMouse-xd8dn Do you have a link? I wanna check it out myself
The katana he is holding in his video is a Sigi katana trainer, meant for full contact sparring in protective gear.
@@TesticularDancer Interesting, didn't know Victor makes katanas too these days. It looks practically identical to the Sigi one.
@@penttikoivuniemi2146 yeah you can see the purple heart logo on the bottom
I'm so glad you reacted to this the way you did. Arigato
I would like to inform you Arigato is spelled Arigatou because in japnese the O and U when paired together like Ou make an Oh kind of sound
@@thebowinarrow8398 both are correct
@@thebowinarrow8398 who asked
@@mathewpercy3292 I did, I asked, I asked myself what is stopping us from being a more refined society, shortcuts.
I think it is nice that Shogo is so objective and not biased against the longsword or protective of the katana. Sellsword videos are pretty based on logic and any empty arguments against them would’ve been a bit lame. I personally am somewhat trained in the katana and I love it, but I wouldn’t put it against the long sword unless I am ready to trash my sword in one fight. Again, great video and thanks!
Sellsword's videos are based more on movie choreography though, which is heavily stylized to say the least. UA-cam channels like History Hit and Tod's Workshop are FAR better.
@@jsullivan2112 my channel is a 50/50 mix of real historical martial arts and choreography inspired by those martial arts.
We actually do a lot of content about how those weapons actually work 😁
@@jsullivan2112 Did you miss videos where he went to HEMA tournaments and even got first place from time to time?
@@markostupar740 you can make the same Claim about any Japanese swordsmanship is well. Yes people pasted it down, but things change throughout the years.
And there is no one correct way to use any of the techniques from German longsword. The reason we have many different interpretations, is because different people use the differently. We had examples of multiple different Masters using the same overall technique under different names with slight variations. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and there's endless nuanced when it comes to sword fighting.
We have amazing scholars working hard on the original source material for many of these movies, combined with a continuous living knowledge of fencing.
No one is actually using swords to kill each other anymore, we don't know exactly how these things would have been used back in the day. But both traditional Japanese martial arts, and historical European martial arts are widely considered it to be accurate representations and reconstructions of these practices.
@@SellswordArts Firstly, I really appreciate how both you and Shogo interact here. As other people have said, it's a real pleasure to see people behave in a human and respectful way, rather than a lot of the internet-bringing-the-worst-out-of-people crap that so often happens.
If I may, I'd put a small caveat to the comment around making the same claim about Japanese swordsmanship. Things do change, yes. However, the difference is a *focus on preservation* and a *depth of biomechanical understanding* due to actual in-person teaching, handing down generations to generation. As someone who's experienced this lineage of direct teaching, it's truly quite different to be taught through feeling as opposed to through intellectual analysis of visual material (be that pictures or writing). The biomechanical depth is just... off the scale different. It is something that revival and recreation, in my view, just cannot achieve.
To be clear, that doesn't mean that all koryu (and I'm specifically excluding things like kendo, iaido, and other gendai, here) are advanced at this, nor does this mean that HEMA is inferior. All I'm saying is that indeed the claim that Japanese swordsmanship is a dead martial art is not as true for koryu (choosing my words, here) as it is for HEMA. They're both anachronistic and 'dead' in the sense of 'not quite useful anymore', but one is naturally alive (although maybe on life support) while the other is more like Frankenstein's creature (I mean this in an entirely non-judgemental way! Just trying to paint the picture and stay in the metaphor.).
One of the best educators on UA-cam about Japan and Japanese culture. I haven't even watched the video yet. Still on the ad.
Edit: Whoa. I watch Sellsword Arts. I never would've thought I'd see Shogo react to his videos.
Sword seller doesn't even know what a mangosh (European accessory blade ment to be underhanded) is. And underhand is a deflect block no hooking stupidity as he demonstrated.
The title of this video is a bit of a giveaway…🤡
Sellsword supported conversion therapy.
I'm pretty sure the "katana", he is wielding is a type of federschwert. Its basically a type of super-durable iaito, or an unsharpened live blade. Some HEMA companies make these for japanese weapons because there a lot of us like me that do like cross pollination to maximize our swordsmanship. The companies that manufacture these just aren't as familiar with a katana's construction, and you end up missing pieces like the sageo, saya, ito, ect. They're just western style practice blades with a general ken shape.
I think he called it kendo because he couldn't think of the names of any other hema adjacent katana training. But you definitely do not use a Long sword like a kendo stick.
It's called a Shinai...
I love that your video isnt confrontational just to create controversy (and likes). Unlike so many social media reviews of others videos.
Well done in another great video and I hope the weather is improving for your reynards.❤
The long sword was designed to use EVERY part as an offensive weapon. For instance, during a "lock-up" of blades, depending on where you are in relation to your opponent, you might hit them in the face with the large pointed hilt or the large weighted pommel. I've seen many old long swords made with sharpened spike-like hilts for stabbing and spiked pommels to cause greater damage in face strikes. Europeans got VERY good at hurting each other and made a LOT of very interesting innovations in that field.
Because of constant unending wars, they all were forced to evolve to keep up with each other. That's probably one of the reason of their domination in the world
@@yarikyaryi bingo
Yeah you're right .
@@yarikyaryiNo guns and for multiplication is the reason for this. During the Middle Ages Europe was certainly incapable of “dominating” the rest of the world.
Shogo smiles like the Happy Mask Salesman from Zelda and I love it
Very polite, Informative, and professional video. Thanks Shogo 🙂
I think the confusion results because some commenters without experience in European or Japanese swordsmanship see reverse grip being used as the default method of using a knife or sword by badass characters in movies or anime, and assume the same applies to reality. But from I've seen of the Kobudo and iai techniques you've shared, reverse grip with the katana is mostly for some iai or defensive techniques when you're ambushed or fighting at extremely close-quarters. Once you have any amount of distance from the opponent, it looks like katana martial arts also switch to the standard grip as much as possible. You can't really use two hands with reverse grip and you want two hands for the maximum amount of control and force I would assume.
Similarly, there would be a few situations with European short bladed weapons (daggers & knives) where you might use a reverse grip--if you're ambushed or in close quarters, just like the katana, but maybe also if you're an armoured fighter who's gotten an armoured opponent on the ground and you're on top of them trying to finish them off with the rondel dagger: reverse or "icepick" grip might be best in that situation.
Thanks for the great reaction, Shogo!
I think a collaborative effort between this channel & sellsword would be brilliant! Sort a compare & contrast notes thing/cultural exchange would be absolutely brilliant!
An elaboration on "if you can use a longsword, you can use a katana, and vice versa":
You can employ the most fundamental and common longsword techniques with a katana, because they're both two handed long blade weapons that can cut and thrust.
You cannot do ALL of the longsword techniques with a katana, as many make extensive use of the sharpened back edge and the crossguard, and my understanding is you cannot do ALL of the katana techniques with a longsword, as certain techniques won't work the same with the presence of the cross guard.
However, you could absolutely pick up a longsword, or a katana, or a shinai, and use it the same way you'd use the weapon you primarily train. It won't be the same, but you won't be completely lost.
So basically it's like having to drive an Auto after being trained to drive Manual
Probably more like front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive.
Id say its more like shooting a recurve bow and a long bow. You do the same thing, they perform slightly differently, and have a slight edge in specific scenarios, but if you know how to use one, you can still pull the string back on the other. Front vs rear wheel drivr handles *really* differently in any kind of adverse weather, its a bit too extreme for the subtle differences at play.
Meanwhile almost all of my experience is with rapiers, so I'd be boned either way. X'D
@Xenogor Wraithblade to be fair, you can use those techniques as well, its just going to be at disadvantage and you might have to tighten up your form to be stable. Rapier tends to be very extended because it relies on the opponent's blade also being very light, as almost all the mass in a rapier is in the complex hilt. a twohanded cutting sword would likely blow right through you if you tried the same onehanded rapier guards, especially with a different type of sword, but thrusts (even fully extended onehanded thrusts) are still a thing with longswords, and youve got an idea of measure and foodwork.
It wont all translate perfectly but youre far better off than someone with no experience
This is absolutely wonderful because you can see that different techniques adapted to their own history but at heart they all have to be used by humans so the affinities are really a lot. It would be truly wonderful to have you and the sword guy to have some collaborations where you both analyse a specific situation and how both arts chose to deal with it depending on their historical facts! I would love it to pieces!!!!
I love UA-cam you get all this knowledge from experts. Then every now and again you get someone who have lived their art all their lives and are truly knowledgeable like Grandmaster Seki. Thank you Shogo. Take care. Stay safe 🙏
John and Kate
The best element of all of your videos is authenticity. Combine that with your excellent English skills and sensibilities. Thats why Shogu is the best
This is a video I've waited for ever since learning of these two channels!
Honestly, I think if there's really any disagreement here it's in terms. I get what Sellsword Arts is saying in terms of the weapons being the same biomechanically, and Shogo saying that the technique is different. If the two the them were to agree on the intent of their terms, I don't think there would be much to say.
Was thinking this exact same thing all throughout the video. As I understand it they completely agree on everything XD. I'm glad! Because I like both channels!
More as misunderstanding on sellswords side in mixing up Kendo and Kenjitsu. Longsword and Kenjitsu bodywork look realy realy similar
@@RoninTF2011 I think would sell sword was trying to say is that you can pick up a kendo shinai and do the same moves as you would with a long sword or Katana and you can pick up a long sword and use the same techniques as a katana and shinai and you pick up a katana and use the same techniques as a long sword and shinai because at the end of the day all three are essentially long sticks and the human body can move them all in the same way and be effective regardless of what culture and techniques they were designed for
@@youngmoney4693 But you can't move the Longsword or the Katana....as you can the shinai, these think weigh barely more the a chocolate bar, wehile the above clock in a 2-3 pounds
Thank you for the video.
Interesting to see the kind of swords compared a little.
I look forward to talking to you and Seki Sensei in his next lesson.
I hope, it's not a problem that I missed the previous lessons.
As a club that teaches Kenjutsu and HEMA, we love both of your channels. I really want to put together a "Katana vs Longsword" video very soon and would love for either of you to react to it! We did a Nodachi vs Longsword sparring video already but I would love to do something in depth. Thanks for the honest react Shogo and Sellsword!
This was really cool! Its so fun when two channels I like "run into each other"
Thanks for the insight (open minded and respectful as always) I'm definitely going to look at your new sword channel
I’ve always wanted to see your view on western swordsmanship, specifically involving Longswords and sabers, and this is a dream crossover for the sword community. Keep up the great work
Thank you for your comments on Sellsword's videos. I just recently discovered that channel and wondered how accurate his comments were regarding fighting with katana compared to longsword. Thank you and keep up the great videos.❤
if you're interested about learning more about european swordsmanship and historical martial arts i recommend Björn Rüther's channel ! He's a german guy focusing on the german tradition of swordsmanship, which is also the one with the most records of as far as I know for pre-16th century martial arts, and he shows a wide range of weapons and techniques
I think compared to the german tradition ... the italian is actually better documented because our manuscripts are less kryptic and more straightforward with less interpretation needed. The german ones tend to be a bit more encrypted and the tradition itself a bit more of a oral tradition with manuals going along side of the hands on teachings with a master. The Germans seem to have been a bit more secrecy of their trade I guess.
What I love about watching this is to see two great content creators with different styles respecting the other person. It is my favorite part of things like debate and, sadly, something I don't see a lot of today.
That said, I would love to see you two sparring, learning from each other's styles, and trying each other's blades to come back with insights.
I would say when you study closely the techniques utilized between the longsword and katana that there are numerous similarities in how you generate power in the cut and the ways you may block and parry incoming blows. Of course there are many instances of specific techniques that are unique to each weapon. The similarities are down to how our bodies are built and the differences are down to context.
There's only so many ways for a human being to swing a sword, after all.
It's really interesting learning more about things like this! I had the pleasure of meeting you while I was in Japan and doing the samurai experience in Kyoto, it was an absolute blast!
Much love from Arizona 💜💜
This was very well done shugo great job and thank you as always.
…Shugo?😂
@@LetsaskShogo sorry I was typing fast 😅
Awesome video. I hope you made more that kind of materials
Thank you Shogo san for your amazing videos,I love all of them 💛❤
It is fun too hear about the differences & similarities between Eastern & Western weapons & martial arts.
I'm glad both have community's keeping this knowledge alive.
When I was in the SCA (where I think a lot of this reverse-grip stuff came from) we used a basket hilt on a shortsword reverse grip sometimes.
The sword part was used to block low shots (I wore a gauntlet with wrist reinforcement), but the extra-stout basket hilt did most of the blocking and was more like a buckler.
We learned to "punch" the incoming attack to deflect it.
Very informative from both ends! Thanks Shogo!
This katana he has is made like a feathershwert style used ti sparr in historical european martial arts, its not a real katana
Another amazing video, thanks Shogo!
I would love to see Shogo try out HEMA or take a look at some videos.
I feel like too many people have done the "Who would win? European or Japanese swordsmanship" too much and haven't taken a more comparative look.
I'd love to see Shogos take on the many different ways a longsword can be used, the variety of techniques involved, and some of the more bizarre techniques HEMA has
I appreciate the humility you demonstrated here in this video, it speaks volumes about your knowledge and expertise, especially when you presented counter arguments. I trained in Karate years ago and I had friends in the martial arts community who practiced other Japanese martial arts such as jiujitsu and kenjutsu and we sparred together regularly. These days I study HEMA, and I can say with confidence that there are more similarities between Japanese and European sword styles than there are differences. There are definitely some differences, but not as many as some people seem to think.
Thank for the video, it was a pleasure to watch
And later today, from a UA-camr from Australia, his friends were doing the same thing, reviewing reverse grip with medieval long swords.
Shogo x SellswordArts gotta be my fav colab. Awesome video!
[11:47] It's called Mordhau, meaning murder-stroke, and there's a way to handle it that it won't cut your hands and fingers. It works well against armored opponents as it uses the blunt pommel and has more weight on that end.
Yup, there's like a line in the middle of the blade. You put your fingertips on one side, then your palm on the other.
It looks like you're going to cut your hands, and your hands DO touch the sharp bit of the blade, but it's pretty safe.
@@Burn_Angel If the weapon is combat-ready levels of sharpness, you'll almost definitely shred your fingers if you strike anything relatively solid if you aren't wearing at least leather gloves.
It's worth noting that most of the sources for the murder stroke involve judicial duels in full armor. We know that people often used specialized swords for such duels, & these could be unsharpened except near the tip. Using a mostly blunt sword while wearing gauntlets with leather on the inside would make murderstrokes quite safe for the hands & fingers.
@@rajamicitrenti1374 Yeah. I probably should have mentioned. The leather gloves they used at the time were thicker than the ones we have today and they didn't do it without their leather gloves.
Really want more videos like this with that kind of serious channels reactions. Thank you!
Having done both Iaido and Longsword, I can say that the fighting methods are quite similar. There are definitely similar considerations between both fighting methods when fighting against armour but the difference between the two is the form that armour comes in. An example is that we have helmets that are open, caged, or fully closed within European warfare. Comparatively, there is usually the face open on a samurai's helmet and the construction itself is made of separate pieces. This is, of course, only one piece of the armour puzzle as we also have other differences such as full harnesses of armour, as well as a multi-layer system of Plate, Maille, and Gambeson generally used in the European sphere in various fashions. Japanese armour also has a weakness that European armour does not in the form of the knot at the back which may, or may not, be covered but is the single point that could cause the "suit" to come apart.
Great Reaction! I was Waiting for this one.
I didn’t know kendo was so far removed from traditional katana techniques. I suppose it’s a lot like how sport fencing is removed from HEMA
I trained fencing with an old former Olympian fencer, and he greatly laments what fencing has turned into.
Due to lazy judges and coaches prioritizing "scoring points" over actual swordsmanship, modern fencing just turned into playing tag with a metal stick.
You're so awesome Shogo. Keep it up🦊
I would love to see a longform conversation between @Let's Ask Shogo and @Sellsword Arts!! I have a ton of respect for both of you, and I bet we all have a lot to learn from one another.
a big misconception people have with swords is their durability, there is a lot of discourse about what breaks first. To put it simply, a katana has as much of a chance to break as any other sword. Every sword is really easy to break, that's why swordsmithing is a profession, a well-made sword of any origin can withstand blows like nothing happened to it, regardless of what steel/region it is from. The longsword and shortsword was notorious for breaking in battle, same with the saber, the gladius, and the Katana. History shows that the argument of sword vs sword only depends on two things: the forging of the sword, and the skill of its wielder.
A collab between these 2 great channels should happen. I love both!
....and forget about trying to use a Katana against chainmail....the links woven together disipate the kinetic energy from slashing attacks.
each link transfers the cutting and slicing force more and more as the individual links start to band together, creating overlapping layers further absorbing and disipating the cutting or slicing force more and more until there is no more kinetic energy from the attack...
...it absolutely fascinating
This is a dream come true. So much colab potential.
Let’s goooo, Shogo addressing Japanese stuff that was presented by westerners again🔥
Do look out for a Sellsword art reaction, he does tend to react to these things! Loved this vid, you’re such a joy to listen to!
The katana the Sellswords Arts guy has is a steel training katana made for sparring.
Hi! I have a hema-background and no Idea about japanese Swordmanship. You Gentleman, are are a delight to listen to. I like your style of making the video. You seem very knowledgable and admit about your strenghts and weaknesses. This is admirable.
You made me watch a video I am usually not very interested in (the Old Debate about mighty Katana vs mighty Longsword) and enjoying it.
Thank you
I would love to see Shogo do an in depth video about learning about Longswords and other European swords.
I was looking forward to this. Awesome.
To all the Japanese speakers in the audience, I got a questions (and sorry, I don't have the Kanji for it), what does something like "Saishin Tyekikyoyo" mean? It's a phrase or word said sometimes by the character Hayato in the game Shadow Tactics when you select him. It's been rattling in my brain for a long time.
Thank you very much for the interesting content, I really love these longer form videos!
It would be really interesting to see you test his hypothesis, by going through some kata with a European long sword, and hearing your thoughts…
Swords in general were considered a luxury armement and were largely relegated to nobility. Most melee combat across cultures was done with long weapons with pointy bits attached to the ends. Reason being that swords are difficult to make and are outclassed by longer, more easily attainable weaponry (even a pitchfork will do, ask Fiore).
Swords are meant to be carried in public as a symbol of status. It shows those around that one has attained enough martial acumen to be trusted to carry around an expensive and dangerous tool and not use it unless needed. This is also why ranking military still carry ceremonial weaponry on occasion.
It is more complicated than that, many european medieval soldiers with swords was not members of the nobility. Even during XVc when nobility was very "locked" low soldiers (french franc archer for example) may have a sword (arming sword style). It is the same in Japan, since early katanas was worn by low ranked warriors or servitors.
Also spears was longer cheaper and usefull for infantry in formation, there was no sword formation because it was a side weapon.
In time of peace, medieval knights was not carrying sword all the time, it became more legated to their office or/and demonstration of their power. Most of time a simple dagger and that's all, the sword status appears in europe in the same time of the Edo period when the port of daisho became a rule and not an habit of warfare.
@@Misere1459 Yeah, I'm annoyed that people keep spreading the narrative of swords as a luxury item without tying it to a specific time & place. They definitely weren't a luxury item in 14th-17th-century Europe. Captains expected every soldier to have a sword (with a few exceptions, such as very poorly equipped troops & some arquebusiers in the late 16th century). European civilians did often wear swords by the 16th century, if not earlier.
@@benjaminabbott4705 werent the "swords" used by peasants in the 16th century actually just really long "knives"?
Wow, I'm really didn't expected this but I'm really want to see your reaction for Sellswords Arts video 😮 ➡️ 😊 ! Well done and keep it up, Shogo 🎉 !
I suspect he's refering to the fact that longswords usually have large, weighted pommels, which pull the center of gravity closer towards the handle.
From a physics perspective, one could argue that the closer the center of gravity is to the handle, the more nimble the sword will be BUT this comes at a cost of cutting power and vice versa. The more heft to the blade, the more powerfully it'll chop and cut, but also it will make the sword more difficult to control.
This was a wonderful video my friend! As someone who practices Hema, I have a ton of respect for Japanese swordsmanship. I hope that one day people will recognize the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of the Katana and Longsword, and that people will realize that one is not inherently better than the other.
Huh, small world. I was ACTUALLY thinking about this over the last few days and even thought to myself. "huh, I wonder what our friend Shogo would think about Sellsword Arts assessment about the reverse grip" Fast forward a few days and BAM! What a pleasant surprise XD
So cool!
EDIT: I simply love, the fact that our friend was so polite when talking about these points (and in the comments Sellsword Arts even commented which made me fangirl XD) both of them were so polite and respectful of each others points and views and such. Very cool guys and please, keep up the awesome content! and thank you both for your gifts.
As a fan of both your channels was really happy to see you react to Sellsword videos in a constructive way.
Hope to soo a collaboration some time even just to see you both discuss your preferred styles of swordmanship
It’s funny how the sellsword guy recently said that if you aren’t practicing the martial art then you shouldn’t talk about it. I. His case he was saying peoples opinions were invalid because they didn’t practice HEMA as much as he did yet he talks about Japanese swords and stuff…
I thought he said fencing not hema but i have a terrible memory 😅
Great, well balanced discussion!
I've trained in both western and eastern swordsmanship and I catch a tremendous amount of flak when I say, its not the weapon but the user. Their media soaked minds have no ability to comprehend this point. They MUST have an answer as to which is better and why.
" I catch a tremendous amount of flak when I say, its not the weapon but the user."
You should take noone serious, who gives flak to this....
@@RoninTF2011 I truly don't!! It's just kinda mind blowing to see just how many do it. Like seriously people it's so easy to learn
@@davidmacon1138 You instantly know: these people do not train with katana nor with a longsword 😀
I watch both channels. This is awesome
European sword experts who have no training in Japanese Kenjutsu often don't know that the way a katana is gripped and the way one swings it is very different than a long sword. As and expert in Kinesiology and having trained with katana, I can say the biomechanics are very different. This is also the case for Kendo.
The effectiveness of the cut or thrust with a katan is diminished with improper grip or use of the body for the cut. This is easily tested with tameshigiri. Cleaner cuts through thicker targets are possible with proper technique.
I assume you say this having no training in longsword?
The biomechanics are nearly the same. If you note, there is an equivalent European guard for every single Japanese guard. Why? The mechanics are the same.
The same is true for the longsword, which demands even higher levels of cut precision as the center of mass is not self-aligning. Additionally, katana have a much larger length of percussion, giving them even more ease in the cut. Heavy sabers are more comparable to katana in cutting capability.
Sure, the handle itself is quite different, but the grips tend to be nearly identical. Having sparred members at my HEMA club who transitioned from kenjutsu, they attest it carries over nearly 1:1.
Japanese swordsmanship is not as special as all the useless kata attempt to make it seem. The kata that are practical also show up as Italian or German drills. Then there's the silly stuff for crazy scenarios where you've realistically died before you perform the 5-step disarm.
That's a comedy channel those two midgets are doing, it shouldn't be taken seriously, if you want the real deal you should check Bjorn Ruther
The kata, kamae, etc. is not relevan. Guard positions and such are mechanical, external to the body. Biomechanics is internal to the body. The difference I refer to is in expressing tenchijin within the body and the ability to extend it to the weapon.
@@foofyguy Well, believe what you want to believe. If you think that feeling like a warrior makes you one, then go ahead. Perhaps that spirit is best utilized in actual combat, though?
@@spicketspaghet7773 You'll have to forgive me as I am neurodiverse. I don't know what you mean by believe, or utilize spirit in combat. I'm trained to use firearms for combat. Training for actual combat with a sword is less productive.
You're probably taking a dig at me so I'll clarify what is meant by tenchijin and then disengage from this thread.
I formally studied Engineering, Kinesiology MS, and now Neurobiology PHd eventually, to understand how the body does what I was taught to do. I understand things through the hard sciences.
What Asian arts refer to as tenchijin is actually the development of balancing the appropriate tensions of the body through opposing spirals. Combining muscle contraction with the latent contractile properties of the connective tissues that knit the entire kinetic chain together with the opposing rotation of both sides of the the body, one can transfer a great deal more kinetic energy through the limbs while remaining much more stable and using less energy.
Utilization of the body this way has applications beyond melee weapons, which is why I study. I've trained athletes the basic body work to improve their performance. Without this, bujutsu is a hollow version of what was taught for the battle field.
Other than 'tenchijin' I don't know how to describe it with less than a paragraph of text., and anyone can search for 'tenchijin'
This is a crossover I've been hoping for!
I worked as a butcher in a slaughterhouse and I will say that regardless of the quality of the steel in a cutting instrument, hitting steel or even something hard with the cutting edge will dull it. You should always parry with the flat side of the sword.
It's a matter of which gonna dull first and a matter which is the one that is easier to sharpen but then again as much as possible yeah don't do that unless necessary like do it so you can live to see another day.
"Flat of my strong", a once famous lonsword practitioner used to say
not true at all, in european fencing you mostly parry edge to edge except for deflectional parries
@@atom8248 not true at all, they definitely made fun of you wherever you learn sword fight
@@Cormano980 Swords (and especially european swords) do not instantly break from an edge to edge parry. Also, several manuscripts teach to seek edge contact, especially in the bind, as you get "bite" (the swords will stick) giving you extra control in binding and winding.
While parrying with the flat is extremely useful in some situations, european swords are literally made to parry with the edge, as the cross guard is in line with the edges and swords like the zweihänder have parrying hooks in line with the edges.
Even more obvious if you look at training swords, federschwert have something called a schilt, it's just a wide portion or two protrusions in line with the cross that helps you not get hit in the hand, these do not help at all if you mean to only parry with the flat. Even a lot of 19th century sabers have a d-guard with no side protection.
Lovely video! Thanks! Appreciated it,a
Hi I'm a HEMA/longsword practitioner and would like to point out some things
1. the katana simulator he uses in the video is a steel blunt simulator made in a similar style as federschwert/paratschwert(a longsword simulator used by longsword practitioners) with similar dimensions as a true one(length, weigh and balance), I have only handled longsword simulators but those are very close the real sharp longswords, those katana simulators are used in some kenjutsu dojos in USA
2 dagger are used in reverse grip in European weapon arts like the rondel dagger, the dagger he uses is left hand dagger meant to be used with a one handed sword in civilian life or a duel
3 there are a few stances with reverse grip with longsword like posta de bicornio or posta de croce bastarda or the spear counter with a spadone ( a sword that is as long as the user like a long odachi)
4 your longest uchigatana is kinda short for longsword standards, longswords are a bit longer than a meter in average my own federschert is 1.33 meters long( the blade is a meter long) and it is the tournament length
5 longswords can cut with similar techniques as katanas and also have specific techniques for fighting against armor, there is also longswords meant for armored fighting
and I just saw your reverse gripped Katana tutorial with your sensei this morning
Hes a pretty boy performer who performs for clicks... with a name like sellsword who wouldve thought...
Thanks for sharing your knowledge blade brother 🙏 👍 🙌 👌 😊
If I want to learn about katana I’ll watch a Japanese person talking about katana not a white guy.. if I want to learn about European sword, I’ll watch a European talking about it. If I want to learn how to use a bolo, I’ll watch a Filipino… simple as that..
I would LOVE to see a collaboration between the two of you. I really think it would be incredibly productive and positive in is effect in online sword communities.
I wish these so called "sword/fencing" experts would actually compare a real katana to the longsword instead of a modern knock off. Real katana are well balance. After 30 years of collecting, I've never handled a katana that had a forward center of gravity. Cheap Chinese reproductions, no matter how well made, are NOT the same as a traditionally made katana.
There are still ryuha styles in Japan that emphasize cuts that are designed to use against armored opponents. There are ways to use a sword against an armored opponent.
LUL....YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CUT SOMEONE WEARING A FULL PLATE HARNESS USING A KATANA.
@@XVI_Legion I'm not talking about using a katana against full, European plate. I'm talking about using one against Japanese armor. Totally different thing since there are vulnerable points with Japanese armor.
@@XVI_Legion You clearly did not read his comment correctly.
@@XVI_Legion Longsword, katana, yada uada. Both will have their edges screwed up by hitting armor.
@@midtwnscott Which vulnerable points? I'd like to inform you on how they protected those ares with even more armor.
I appreciate your excellent channel
So, I'm actually a fan of both your content and sellsword martial arts content. Seeing this makes me think you guys doing a collaboration would actually help foster a better understanding of both European and Japanese sword based martial arts. Just an idea 👀
Thanks for the interesting video!
Had to come and subscribe, I'm here from your channel on Sensei
12:33 he is most likely talking about medieval armor which has less gaps
I've been waiting for this....I'd love to see you guys do a Collab video
Thank you for your videos.
I world love a collab. You seem so polite
You and sellswordarts should do a collaboration and talk about the differences between the style of weapons you know as well as teaching each other some thing about the respective style.
would love to see you try a longsword, just to see what the differences feel like in usage, as it would be interesting to hear the opinions of a katana expert since most of the time its longsword users trying katana
Excellent video!
Love your positivity
Not defending the reverse grip, but the karambit comes in mind.