Steel Sparring Katanas by Akado Armory - The Future of Japanese Swordsmanship
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- čas přidán 23. 09. 2022
- I've been a practitioner of Kenjutsu (Japanese Swordsmanship) for over 20 years now. I started in my first year of highs school, well before I ever got into HEMA. I became an instructor about 12 years ago and have a deep connection with Japanese sword arts. Like most, I started with bokken and shinai, wooden swords used for training. Never in a million years did I think steel sparring katanas that were affordable, safe, and attractive would exist. Knowing that Iaito (dull swords used for forms) were ill-suited for sparring, I just figured it was a safety thing. This all changed with Akado Armory. Lets check out if their new products hold up!
I've been very excited to do this video and it was an absolute honor to be a part of such a revolutionary project for the JSA world. Many more videos of us sparring with these swords will be posted soon.
GET YOUR KATANA SOON! PRE SALE GOING FROM 10/1/22 - 10/15/22
www.akadoarmory.com/
TIMELINE
0:04 - Intro
0:48 - Akado Armory Katana vs Feder
1:49 - Types of Japanese Swordsmanship
2:16 - Classic JSA Training Tools
2:23 - Why do these katanas matter?
3:07 - Our history with Akado Armory
3:44 - Katana Features
5:15 - Handling
6:22 - Draw-Sparring (Battojutsu)
8:07 - Premium Vs Standard
8:43 - Nodachi
9:21 - Is it safe to spar with?
12:16 - Slow Mo Of Striking
13:02 - Sparring Katana Vs Katana
14:06 - Edge Durability of Katana
14:51 - Longsword Vs Katana Impact
15:34 - Sparring Katana Vs Messer
15:55 - Sparring Wakizashi vs Messer
16:17 - Sparring Nodachi Vs Longsword
16:35 - Final Thoughts
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Awesome! Its allways good to combine the positive things of different worlds.
Thank you for the Video.
I really enjoy watching you fight
ooh I am very happy for the Japanese Martial Arts world, HEMA always had this thing that sparring would test the Art to a good extend; what works, what doesn't. How does it work when you actually go fast, close to full force. I think every combat system needs that, and the more tools practitioners of japanese (and other asian) swordsmenship have to test it, to prove or disprove it, the better
Edit: and btw you deserve more views and subs, that was professional :)
That means alot, thank you. I believe in testing the arts I practice and sadly, this was not encouraged all that much when I was coming up in kenjutsu. The words "control" were always used to dissuade fully committed sparring since we were not using full protection. Modern hema equipment and these swords truly challenge what works and what doesn't, what is theory and what is a technique that works under pressure.
So how do these compare to Sigi Katanas? Other than Sigis not coming with saya, of course. More in-depth comparisons would be welcomed.
Obtaining a sigi katana is my next goal. From those that have had both in the pool of beta testers, they said the sigi still feels closer to a feder than s katana (but still thought it was useful for kenjutsu) I believe the sigi has more flex than these.
@@ludusferocia8696 I've been using a Sigi katana for a while, it doesn't get burrs and nicks quite as quickly as I'm seeing happening in videos about the prototype Akado steel trainers. But even the Sigi blades (all their blades, including their longsword feders and Kriegsmesser etc) get burrs a lot more easily than e.g. a Regenyei standard feder which has a thicker stiffer blade and is generally more crowbar-like.
How durable is the tsuba on the Akado...? Sigi katana has a super thick steel tsuba which of course doesn't look as nice but is meant to withstand hits from longswords. The steel of the Sigi tsuba is quite soft so every hit will leave a deep dent or gauge.
@@heirihunziker really good to know. I read looking at getting a kriegsmesser from them. The AA katanas tsuba did very well. We thought it would get chewed up but it took several full forced strikes from the VB techniques feder (broader than a standard feder) and it only had surface marks. It looks to be at the same dimensions as a real tsuba.
Sigi blades don't really feel "katana-like", they felt like arming swords in katana presentation. Unfortunately the stiffness of katana is also what gives it their characteristics. I own a Sigi katana/XL hybrid (normal length, XL handle) and while I do enjoy using it, it definitely leaves something to be desired. My tsuba is quite soft indeed, but it so far has taken a beating without loosening, which is something Akado Armory swords (without ruggedization) might have as the pins are what help hold the sword together and those do get worn out in sparring.
Ooooo! I wants!
You don't be disappointed.
15:55 This is the very first video where I'm seeing the Akado wakizashi in action, thanks a lot for sharing this. How does the wakizashi perform in the thrust? Couldn't see any thrusts in this particular exchange and I'm wondering if the blade has any flex on a straight thrust. Considering there's already not too much flex at katana length, the wakizashi is probably very stiff, and certainly quite a bit much stiffer than the 65cm VB messer?
The wakizashi does flex but very little. It does not ford nearly as much as the VB messer. You will def want a jacket on while fighting one. We didn't get any horrible thrusts from it. But yes, a little bit of flex
It would be lovely if you could also share some links to Shinjo Ryu and Matayoshi Ryu to learn more about them - I tried quick googling but it didn't seem to be clear what exact ryu your website was referring to.
I honestly wish I knew more about my own Ryu liniages. Matyoshi Ryu comes from the Matayoshi system which mainly focuses on kobudo. But they did have a small kenjutsu program. I believe Shinjo Ryu is a Ryu started in the US in the early 2000s so it has a limited and small influence.
Hello very nice video. Can you tell us what was the steel used for this specific exemplary they sent you? On their website today it says they now use a 9260 spring steel. I would like to know the steel used for the model in this video just to make a comparison. Thanks in advance.
I believe these were also 9260 spring steel with a different heat treat.
finally can see some sparring with no gloves or jackets. let s see some fingers snapping in the next video 🤩
You got it, buddy
This, all of this that's happening here is exactly what japanese swordsmanship needs
We are hoping to explore this path more
The product page says that the Okatana is 3.2 kgs. That seems wrong. No way they are selling a blade with the weight of a zweihander and claiming it to be safe to spar in. My guess is that it is the weight of the blade plus the scabbard. Can you confirm how much yours weigh?
I'll check on that but it's definitely not that heavy. I still have one here and it's pretty light. It most likely is with the Saya or else it would def be unsafe
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.