Japanese vs. European Swordsmanship... You Got it All Wrong!

Lots of people have strong opinions (and biases) about whether Eastern or Western martial arts are "better" and whether a knight or a samurai would win in a hypothetical duel. Meanwhile, the more you actually compare notes and look at the fundamental basics of Kenjutsu and HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), the more you realize that this is all pretty silly.

Human anatomy and biomechanics put some constraints on the variety of techniques and tactics that make practical sense, and as a result the similarities are greater than the differences.

In this video I'm taking a look at Kenjutsu demonstrations and drawing comparisons to the western medieval counterparts. Let's see if they are really diametrically opposed the way some zealous fans seem to insist. :)


** Time stamps **

00:00 - 01:07 Sword hipsters, "weebs", and keyboard warriors
01:07 - 02:13 East vs. West - difference & similarities
02:13 - 02:54 Kenjutsu: deflectional parries
02:54 - 03:41 Static block (with the edge!)
03:41 - 04:46 Evade & counter
04:46 - 05:51 Another example of static blocking
05:51 - 06:26 Active displacement (cut against flat)
06:26 - 06:52 Japanese equivalent of "half-swording"
06:52 - 07:10 Knight vs. samurai: No surprises!
07:10 - 07:51 A "krumphau"?!
07:51 - 08:59 Don't need a double-edged blade for this
08:59 - 09:58 Deflect & counter
09:58 Differences & final thoughts


** Sources **

Kenjyutsu & Iaido Isoukai:Sekido
   • 剣術・古武道（古武術）の居想会：関戸光賀  

剣術・刃引之形の解説／古武道の居想会：関戸光賀
   • 剣術・刃引之形の解説／古武道の居想会：関戸光賀  

Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Heiho Kenjutsu - 42nd Japanese Kobudo Demonstration (2019)
   • Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Heiho Kenjutsu - 4...  

戦国の強剣【浅山一伝流】宗家の剣術の技に当然打ち込む隙がなかった！
   • 戦国の強剣【浅山一伝流】宗家の剣術の技に当然打ち込む隙がなかった！剣術武術...  

Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu - 41st Kobudo Demonstration 2018
   • Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu - 41st Kobud...  

Mair’s “peasant stick” (club) demonstration by Allemansend Re-enactment
   • peasent stick, from Paulus Hector Mair  


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** Music credits **

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission


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