I'm sending this to everyone because as I see it, having the facts straight
on the whole sword topic is important for any Ninja Scroll/Black
Lion/Utena/etc fanfic. Realism in swordplay is critical, unless you're
writing spam. To ye spammers, spam away :)

First off, thanks to Linna for clarifying the whole "Ninja-to" thing. I was
about to step in myself and give a dissertation :)

Not necessarily true.  A common misconception about the katana was
that you could cut through something like ten men with a single
strike. True, a master swordsman could most likely cut a man in two,
but when it came down to duels, one strike was not necessarily >enough.

True, it could be, but not all the time, and particularly >not with
armor on.  The possibility is there, but I think it'd take >more when it
comes down to two skilled swordsmen.  Again, a >subjective point.

You are likely not aware of Iajutsu, then? This is a form of swordplay that
involves being able to make a "One-hit kill" In ANY situation. You know the
opening scene in Ninja Scroll where Jubei throws up the roll, and kills two
men just in the drawing of his blade? That's Iajutsu right there. A true
practictioner fought in the following manner:

1)draw blade
2) in the process, kill enemy with the drawing stroke.
3) sheathe blade
4)try to do this in one movement.

It was and to this day is a hard school, but at one time was quite popular.,
so people like Jubei were running all over Japan in the Toyatome reign.

 In the subject of duels, however, it could go anywhere from one slice
to a trading of up to 7 blows. It depends on the two combatants, their
skill level, etc. Between two master swordsman, well, the duel could
have gone on for a few attacks. I think the reason why people believe in
the 'one-hit' kill is due to romanticization via movies and stories. You
have to take these with a grain of salt. I mean, how many foreigners
come to America looking for decendants of Paul Bunyan, or decide to buy
a baby blue ox? *grin*

Yes, and there are also people like the Iajutsu and Iado practicioners out
there..and there's people like Musashi, who it is said won one of his
earliest duels hung over, half asleep, with nothing but an oar fashioned
into a bokken. His opponent, by the way, was supposedly a skilled and
experienced warrior with a magnicently crafted blade.

 Not to say that the one-hit death isn't totally unrealistic. In the
modern sport of Kendou, that's what it's all about. Ki-ken-tai-ichi
(Spirit, sword, body all in one) and *wham*: one strike to your opponent
and that's the point. You can't go off like a lunatic and swing wildly,
'cause even if you hit, it's bad form. It's no longer Kendou. That's
gang warfare ala baseball bat.

Um, Linna, not to rip on you, but  that's more Iado or Iajutsu. Modern
Kendo, even in Japan, is mostly a form of physical discipline and exercise.
Also, "One-hit kills" aren't necessarily discouraged, and are in fact the
most artful victory, but Kendo still generally relies on a series of blows
being traded back and forth.

Thank you Tybalt-sama for being so patient with this arguing swordfreak and
his posts..

t-

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