Video

I’m considering getting my first sword and this one is looking like a very strong contender. The standard grade is currently back ordered, but munition grade is in stock and a good bit cheaper. As someone who has never ordered any swords from KultofAthena or anywhere else, would there be a noticeable dropoff in quality by getting the munitions grade? I don’t want a wall hanger but I also wouldn’t be very bothered by a minor leather or stitching flaw. My main concern is a good blade.

Lets Ask Seki Sensei would be far more interesting if Shogo didn't constantly spread flowery, revisionist bullshit every time he tries to talk about samurai (honor and justice? lol. They were violent and brutally oppressive), and its amusing he only ever points to the Edo period as if samurai only exist in that 250-ish year period. Its clear he's either fallen for the commercialization gimmick of samurai in modern culture, or just doesn't care and is just cashing in. And Seki himself? Well, he's an example of someone who is supposedly skilled but is a massive prick. Though his qualifications and how he came to lead his school are suspect but I don't have the time or care to get that deep into the politics of Japanese martial arts, but to keep it as short as I can, the organization that awarded him with his "qualifications" (ZNKR/AJKF) has deep corruption issues and has a big issue with being a "who you know" thing. And he has made it clear that he isn't above underhanded and corrupt means to further himself, his agenda, his influence, or his profits. He's openly racist towards non-Japanese and despises foreigners who try to learn Koryu, claiming that non-Japanese people won't be able to do it and that they shouldn't even try because its not "for them", and believes a non-Japanese should never be allowed to teach it. For more on that, google "Toda ha Buko ryu name change" and enjoy the rabbit hole of Seki's cunty-ness and corruption just to preserve his racist and purist views. Long story short, denied non-Japanese person leadership of a school against former head's wishes, forged documents and colluded with others to put someone unqualified in place simply so the head would be Japanese. Straight usurper bullshit, stole the dojo name right out from under them too with copyright trolling. Don't get me started on his online Bullshido classes or his claims trying to make himself the absolutist on what is and isn't Kenjutsu. Just some things for you to consider before you spread this prick's name around more.

Historical Combat Shirts - historicalfightingarts.com/shop/merch

Historical Combat Tshirts - historicalfightingarts.com/shop/merch

Great review. Thanks for posting.

You guys have a lot to improve at strategy and footwork. both of u stop often for no reason in the middle of the exchange of blows, and get thrusted or cut easily as a consequence. When different positions are taken, the attacks are quite inadequate and at the wrong target, thus getting countered every time. The rapier guy often has the wrong distance, thus making his hands very vulnerable. He also relies only on thrusts, which makes him limited into his attacks.

hope we get a blade mma (BMA) in my lifetime

very nice Posta di Donna at 1:08

Awesome demo guys! Cross training is the spice of life. Was trying to look up the big sword on Akado’s site and I wasn’t sure if I could find it. Do you know what size nagas it has?

Incredible video. It is refreshing to see katana getting used in a traditional way and making an objective thought experiment. Looking forward to see more of nodachi as well.

Nice job!

Be sure to watch Part 2 below! We bring a rapier instructor and 3 rapiers against the katana czcams.com/video/vVCukj0ZyUY/video.html

I'd love to see this fight done over, but with an appropriate side-arm for each fighter. Maybe Wakizashi for Katana, and a dagger or stiletto for the Rapier. The length, and thrust on a rapier is so difficult to evade, but without a side-arm to block with, all attacks leave the wielder open to counters which, against the slashing of a Katana would almost always be fatal. At least, that's how I imagine it would play out.

So... where is your No-Dachi from? Looks good for a practice weapon.

Very nice review! Thank you for showing this beautiful sword. I have my eyes on the German Longsword, but it's still back ordered in the store and i'm from Germany and with taxes and shipping i'll pay around $600. Still in the price range of other swords with that quality available from smiths in East Europe.

I suppose in a competition I would see this useful, with rules. The real thing playing by rules will be a disadvantage.

czcams.com/video/xqGl5mt8pA4/video.html

They’re swords. I’m not out here saying there isn’t substantial differences, but I am saying the differences can be negligible in many situations that matter. If you’re talking about the evolution of the way they fought and the “styles” they used, I would say that’s the difference that matters a lot more. A master of their weapon is a master with that weapon. The differences in that case don’t matter that much.

thank you for this breakdown!

My so far first and only fencing partner used to do a lot of destreza, while I do sidesword mostly. One thing I learn fighting against a rapier is that those things seem to have their tips with a spring coil attached to the center line. No matter how much you move the blade away from you, it will return at the center line and the harder you do this, the faster it will come back at you. At a certain point gets annoying 🤣

Great review Kai, and awesome swordsmanship as always! I have been playing with the BA Knight Templar and telling everyone who will listen about what a steal it is in terms of quality for the price it is offered at. Glad to see the 15th Century Italian Longsword is tracking the same way so far. Hope to test it out some day. Cheers!

Had a friend who picked up a munitions grade version a while ago for cheap. The thing is absolutely amazing for the price ($200 ish when he bought it) cuts beautifully, and is fairly durable as well. Any balaur arms Swords will be good and cheap from my experience

Deleted my previous comment because outside of the first exchange you used far better footwork and distance technique and tactics. My bad for commenting before watching the full clip. My previous comment still applies to the first exchange.

I’ve owned one of Bareena’s burgonets for a little over a year now, I got it second-hand and it’s needed a couple small repairs (rivet replacement, strap repair etc), but overall it has been a phenomenal helmet that’s taken part in several different armored combat events, and it gets compliments every single event I go to! Cannot recommend highly enough, it’s my favorite piece of kit I own.

Shouldn't called three styles of Japanese swordsmanship, but three methods. There are many styles of japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu) or a more correctly name term kobudo. They can date to the mid middle ages, to the late medieval japanese and modern periods. Iaijutsu and eventually Iaido developed during the Edo period when the samurai became demilitarize, and more of an urban fighting force. Kendo on the other hand as a modern practice started to appear during the late Edo period and early Meiji. It eventually became a sport to continue the spirit tradition of the samurai, which class had been disbanded by the Meiji government. It's erroneous to think that the japanese samurai did not practice or engage in combat practice with unsharpen steel blades. The practice of shinken is still conducted today by some branches of Toyama-ryu, and because of HEMA popularity the practice is gaining more momentum.

Im confused, why make this video without 2 respected professionals of the craft ? Neither of you study the katana or the rapier right ? Isn't this a misrepresentation of the vs sparring? 🤔

U should teach Shadiversity in your school. I mean seriously that guy needs to take lessons.

Most accurate shit Ive seen so far

Fighting against the rapier seems to negate most of the katana's edge, forcing you to use just the tip of the blade, making the katana into a thick short rapier. Not a happy place to be!

The nodachi is the japanese version of a longsword.

Dude that’s awesome I’ve been wanting to get chainmail and helmets the only other place I know is steel mastery and to expensive especially for me in the USA like you

Great channel. How about a similarly-length rapier vs. odachi? Or perhaps a match with a rapier vs. Glock 19?

A lot a bad, very bad hits from the fighter with the rapier. The problem with a weapon that does not have a lot of energy in the cut is that the target, the force behind the cut, the part of the blade that does the cutting and as always the edge alignment need to be very, vey good for the rapier to cut well. On two occasions where the presenter judges the result as a double in fact the Rapier didn't do anything since it was actually a hit with the flat of the blade against the forehead. Most other cuts where very, very weak. Event if the forehead was cut, so what, the forehead is a very strong bone and for a good reason. Do not make the mistake of simply saying well the head it the premium target and a best target for a "light" hitting weapon. "Tag playing" can be done with a Longsword if the target is the head but not with a Riaper, the hit needs to be good, the egged needs to be well aligned or else it's all weatsed. You cannot treat the head there everything is encased in a bone cage as you would the neck, the head is not an easy target for light hitting weapon at all.

A note from Germany.: In current german, few people would call a thing with such a long blade Messer, which means simply knife. The times have changed. Sometimes you still can see descendants of Großes Messer in Germany. A long hunting knife called nowadays Hirschfänger is sometimes used as ceremonial weapon by old hunters, but this became rare.

HEMA irrigation system

The key to defeat the rapier is treat it like a spear. The second you touch it and block it down, either grab it , and close in. Fencing with a longer weapon will only slow things down. Attack the weapon first ....hard..and the Katana can actually block the thin blade long enough to run in past the sharp point. If you can get the user against a wall it will be easier to win.

​to all you unworthy commentors and critics and would-be historians... I happen to have been born just before the Edo period, around the same time my ex wife started her centuries-long period(or what i refer to as lifelong cockblocking). I was trained by Koalas from the age of 2 until my late 90s in ALL of the ancient martial arts and have trained with every weapon on the planet except for punctured condom(yes, even that 1 that your thinking of right now). The Katana is the fastest and deadliest sword of all time, rivaled equally by only 1 other; the Swiss Army Knife. You guys need to learn your history and brush up on your life skills before making foolish comments on CZcams... What Newbs.... 😢 ^thats me. Crying for your failures and misguided "logics". "Woe is he who speaks from the side of thine neck." -a quote from Chuck Norris after he knelt in defeat from my Boxing-Macaroni-Jutsu fighting style.

Yeah just do what you want to do be the one you want to be you doing the awesome work up man. respect 💯

It's like boxing someone reachy- hard to get closer.

This looks cool.

If we are just doing “the battle for who makes the longest sword”? The Nodachi wins. And then next week someone shows up with a Zweihander. Then pole arms. So forth and so on. For me personally? The Nodachi doesn’t offer much protection in the way of your hands. And I like two sharp edges on my sword. But I would not want to be slashed by the Nodachi! 👍

I don't know that repair looked a little short, mines short and it's 40 inches of blade, My katana is long at 30 inches,those two look equal

It’s more likely than you would think for a rapier to go against a katana. In 1582 the Spanish fought the Japanese in the Philippines.

This is very interesting. If a French musketeer or pirate were to find themselves in Edo period Japan, as much as I absolutely admire and love the katana, I honestly have to say, an un armored samurai policeman or city official mayor in charge of keeping the peace I think would actually be at a disadvantage. Now I’m sure this is not actual live combat speed. They had to slow it down for demonstration and safety purposes. I have to say that a French or English soldier or privateer might actually get the upper hand on a samurai. Now if this was during the Sengoku jidai, where warriors, both ashigaru and samurai who are combat tested and have fought in battles defending against swords and spears, then I think the conquistador might be in trouble.

I prefer a rapier against any not heavily armoured opponent with a blade of any kind : superior reach , superior stabbing ability and , contrary to what some claim , a very , very decent cutting ability.

That Rapier seems shorter than 40 inches. Size is key in order to make it realistic. The Katana would have way less advantage if the Rapier was its true size. The Rapier is actually the longest sword worn from a belt in history. Anything longer had to be worn on the back.

With the way the katana is designed, theres techniques and body movements to help draw the blade out even faster, which can end the fight almost instantly before your opponet drew the blade. But also that the samurai would avoid as much as possible to get in binding with the katana. Seki Sensei has done show plenty of it and proved how fast a person fan draw an katana and slash. And he even showed his practical an reserve grip is aswell.

bare hands vs m4

I hate rapers

Your American flag is backwards.