katana

chow · Post by **chow** » Wed May 22, 2002 1:54 pm

What is the deal with folks calling the use of a great(two-handed)sword as "katana". Is there something missing in the use of a European two-handed sword that needs somesort of oriental martial art to prop it up or is it just some new slang that clumps two totally different styles together. Just a question like an itch that needs to be scratched with a rake

Tom Knighton · Post by **Tom Knighton** » Wed May 22, 2002 8:33 pm

I think to many folks have watched Highlander a few too many times! It's really annoying for folks to sit there with their European persona and their Japanese weapons, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me personally. Now if it's a Japanese persona, that's different.

Bran

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Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the ability to overcome it.

Winterfell · Post by **Winterfell** » Wed May 22, 2002 8:50 pm

For some folks who decide to do long or great sword fighting styles, the only information they can usually get is that of kendo. So they adapt those techniques to SCA combat. However now that more fight manuals are being translated, studied and even published, the trend is heading towards a more european style, than a slightly altered Japanese one.

And as much as I love Highlander movies and the tv show, the unfortunate impact it has on medieval fans is pretty big, considering the fact that it is a fantasy setting.
I do not know how many times I have seen kilts and katanas at Renn faires and SCA events.

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"As long as there are fanatics there will always be heretics