AlexanderTheKindaOkay
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Kendo
It's crazy fast. Even when it appears that the hits were simultaneous, the judges can see that Red hit first, even though the difference is .009 seconds.
It can also be extremely tactical, with lots of moves and countermoves in fractions of seconds.
Most of the time though, a hit is made within one or two strikes.
They don't exactly hit lightly, either. And yes, that's bamboo.
Sorry for the small shitty gif.
Just wanted to show that these athletes go hard as shit.
Torrempesta
i had tons of fun as a kendoka.
RolandTheLastGunSlinger
FINISH HIM!!!!!
ninjagaidensigma
niet3sche
Yep. Did Kendo for a while. The footwork is amazing. @OP, check out footwork; far more intricate than the strikes, yet it looks easy.
MakeTabbouleNotWar
Husband does this and teaches it. It's neat as hell and it's so damn fast.
DarthPiette
Me watching 1st one: slower you sl...damn thanks....even slower? Dayum
FuckFuckAndGrabAss
+1 this is making my lunch time beer magic
VulcansBeard
Favorite comment of the night right here
ryry1237
Even gives u the frame the hit landed.
jsnforce
We use shinai to club each other without armor. Hella fun.
HommeDeBois
It doesn't hurt...for long. My dad brought some back from Korea when I was 5. Many childhood disagreements were settled in the back yard.
neonfraction
It's so amazing to see kendo getting love on here! I had to take a break, and seeing your calluses fade is the saddest thing ever. :(
InsomniacSheep
I used to do Kendo and holy butts it was intense. I would have welts from spars and I remember one kid broke another's wrist.
snipermonkeymc
I have the side of my neck torn open when my opponent tried a tsuki strike. I ended up breaking a fiber wrapped shinai over his head.
snipermonkeymc
Oh in our dojo we were not suppose to even attempt the tsuki strike because of the danger. This guy thought her knew better.
neg0t
i had my helmet striked off my head once :O
snipermonkeymc
I have seen that happen several times. Weirdest was seeing it happen to my sensei by his old sensei from Japan.
rx78nt1
Should've tied your Men better.
neg0t
took a fumikomi step while my opponent striked a small men, the strike came straight to the tsuki pad and yanked it off my head
Maraak
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Theinternetwasinventedforveryimportantscience
I saw a live demonstration of this when I was ~6or7 and I still remember.
ComeBurnMe
That throat stab, ouch!
NorthCrown
Video source: https://youtu.be/Q4SHWXQBVL4. It's my fav kendo video with great slow mo and excellent explanation.
Arcturis
They're all so fast, scary
Kitakita
I tried Kendo a bit during my study abroads. The sword isn't all that light, but the mask felt suffocating. I nearly fainted once!
DocBohannon
I'll show this to my fiancée. That'll shut her up with all this "you were too fast" or "that was quick" nonsense.
ThisGuy0
Something something cold water and pig-tailed girl.
ninjagaidensigma
It took me way too long to get the innuendo. Stronger... coffee... need.
ironlemonade
yeah, but do you put her out of commission in those 10 seconds?
BigFuckOffAnvil64
Ugh! You touched me with it...
Boredoom
"Most of the time though, a hit is made within one or two strokes."
AlexGibson81
I signed up just to congratulate you on that!
iLoveItWhenMyFingersSmellLikePussy
Better 2 minutes in heaven than 1 minute in heaven
stikxs
That's it? That's it...
CristhianIR
"Is it in already?"
AmaNut
"But those are definitely longer"
Thefacts
savage
JustABitCrzy
I would be upset if I had a dick that long. Shit'd be insane to live with
bootymen
That's not what she told me the other day
cliffsterthehipster
At a quick glance I thought this was Darth Vader fighting Kylo Ren
BLizZOnE
Baseball needs these Refs
3in4r
I practice kendo in sweden
JimboPM
Swordfighting looks nothing like it does in the movies. You're lucky for either to be alive after more than 5 seconds.
stoopidhead
Kendo is serious shit. I used to fence but nothing as hardcore as this. I did receive some painful hits under the collarbone.
Sgriosadair
Competitive Kendo is. Normal practice and sparring is not this crazy. I think competitive Kendo really makes it look bad.
Shouldbeworking35
Had to get my head stapled after sparring with wooden katanas once. It's no joke.
Tomburr
These are shinai, strips of bamboo tied together, not at all like a bokken (wooden katana). Shinai sting when you get hit, bokken can kill.
Palfrost
Even for European sword fights during the middle ages, it's commonly thought that opponents hit each other's blade for minutes but it was 1/
Palfrost
really fast as well. A usual duel took not longer than 10 seconds. That's all they needed.
Sauroctonus
I'd say lightsaber fight scenes should be choreographed more like this... But we'd miss 'em. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ssssssssssss
A lot of inspiration for the styles shown in the movies comes from Fencing and Kendo, IIRC.
MrToday
Had some guys give a free Kendo lesson on school campus. Thought it would be fun, it wasn't, it made Shawn T's insanity look weak af.
nicetomeetyouimdad
DIG DEEPER
Efreeti
Shawn Who's What?
projecti71b
Look up 'Insanity Workout'
Quetzalcoatl2
Let's goooooo!
TheGreaterSin
Funny you mention that, I'm starting week 4 :D
Theinternetwasinventedforveryimportantscience
??
TheDad101
Insanity is considered (and I thought it was) an intense workout. He's saying the Kendo training was much more intense
aPokal
Maybe Theinternetisforporn meant who is Shawn T.
Theinternetwasinventedforveryimportantscience
I meant: who is shawn t and when did he go insane, and what is the relevance.
TheDad101
True. But, who cares!
vonwen
Practiced kendo a bit. It is indeed very intense, and is quite hard on the shoulders and upper arms. It is not for the weak.
QueefLord
Not for the weak? Probably why you only did it for a bit.
SupernaturalStealthSwat
If it's hard on your shoulders, you're doing it wrong. The swing should be powered by your back and arm (especially lower arm) muscles. 1/2
euxneks
I was under the impression you use your hara for any hit?
SupernaturalStealthSwat
The sensei I've learned from never used that term so I had to look it up, but it sounds like swinging from the hara is the same thing as 1/3
SupernaturalStealthSwat
the idea of using your back muscles that I mentioned earlier. Your swing comes from your center and the grip (your forearm muscles) is 2/3
SupernaturalStealthSwat
If your shoulders hurt, it means you're too tense (and could end up hurting an opponent). Too much shoulder tends to make people hit 2/3
SupernaturalStealthSwat
with a hard, "chopping" (ax-like) motion. 3/3
vonwen
Well, obviously I was not very good at it :p A single men or do is no issue, doing 30 or 40 haya suburi + the 50 men, that's the hard part.
Deathfrombelow
I want to learn kendo, but there aren't many schools around me and all are full. Sucks.
Ssssssssssss
I want to learn Aikido and Tai Chi. Martial arts is always fun.
cajuncatdaddy
Ok cool but they both get hit every time, so In real combat wouldn't both die?
OrionKaelin
THat would be a great discussion if we lived in a time where that still mattered instead of using it purely as a sport where it matters not.
Shistosomiasis
Kendo is interesting because its come to exist in a sphere of its own rules, where its not exactly parallel with fighting w/real swords.
kimchibwoy
This is a sport.
Selerox
HEMA takes a different route. Double-striking gets you nothing. You need to hit and *not be hit* for a point to count.
baronridiculous
But can you hit and not be hit? Can anyone, against a good opponent? http://hemaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2692
Cheomesh
Yes, but this isn't real combat. Western fencing has much the same convention.
Shistosomiasis
Also, Kendo judges evaluate hits by the decisiveness of the strike. (its very subjective). So the one that gets the point is less dead.
Ssssssssssss
Depends on where the blow hits, technically. It's too bad we don't have armor that can enforce disabled limbs/strain of injuries to
Ssssssssssss
provide 'proof'.
Regulas
I generally dislike most rules on first touches, you shouldn't be making an attack that would let you get hit back within 500 ms
kimadactyl
I believe blocking is seen as dishonorable. Dying second is seen as a very honorable victory. Source: my mate told me it must be true.
Regulas
Because that's the timeframe in which you killing them in the head would have no impact on there swing, meaning you still dead.
YodasLeftEar
well kendo as a sport and kendo as wide clean cuts (katas) are very different btw.
AlexanderTheKindaOkay
That's where this differs from its original purpose; to train for real swords. However can it has evolved into its own separate sport, which
Bellerophone
yup, it's all about the do and less about the jutsu
AlexanderTheKindaOkay
I think should be respected in its own right.
GodOfTheBumbleBees
The people who perform it are impressive. Their level of skill and speed. The sport itself is a bit silly imo. Same with western fencing...
Shistosomiasis
I imagine kendo matches as occuring in a video-game-esque arena where real sword rules dont apply, with HP bars and critical hits.
Gawky
yeah, they should start doing more technical special effects in sports
baronridiculous
It's a sport. Also, a suicidal expert can double on you. See Dustin's $1000 challenge, for ex: http://hemaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2692
Regulas
False. Both players here are in all situations suicidal, because the entire method of attack used is inherently suicidal.
Regulas
i.e. Attacking someone directly while they are in a position to be able to attack you is suicide, no matter how much faster or sooner.
baronridiculous
Read the thread I pointed to. It doesn't matter what you're thinking, if I want to kill you and I'm willing to take a hit I can.
Regulas
I don't think you're are understanding. If you are in any position WHAT SO EVER to hit me, then attacking you is suicide.
RaptorJesus89
Exactly this. I've heard multiple martial arts instructors say kendo harbos "a culture of death" because of this. No point getting the /1
Sgriosadair
Kendo is not a martial art. It's a sport. Kenjitsu is a martial art. That is why Kendo has such a heavy focus on competition.
RaptorJesus89
Yes, and people should be aware that while kendo teaches you how ro hit blazingly fast, it's not always good sword movement. Good sword /1
RaptorJesus89
movement keeps you alive afterward. /2
RaptorJesus89
first cut if you're still dead. /2
Ssssssssssss
A lot of sports fighting ignore tactical considerations. Like rewarding ground fighting in MMA, when that gets you stabbed in a real fight.
Regulas
MMA favours ground-fighting because the main vulnerabilities are too deadly and thus rules prevent you from taking advantage of them.
Ssssssssssss
Ground fighting gives me the willies. I'd rather be running than grappling with some contortionist trying to rip my face off.
Regulas
In most arts ref just breaks-up grappling.
baronridiculous
Martial arts and sports don't have the same goals. I've heard multiple wrestling & boxing coaches say karate and kung fu are useless. So?
RaptorJesus89
So, That's a terrible mentality to encourage, even in a sport. And kendo isn't like basketball, it's deeply rooted in martial arts.
baronridiculous
Games played at full speed build skills. This is a 120 year old argument in fencing.
Ssssssssssss
The true wisdom of martial arts and self defense is to understand when to fight and when to run. How you fight is such a small part.
baronridiculous
Ok man.
RaptorJesus89
As long as there's good movement, distance and awareness, yes.
Ssssssssssss
Of course. But there's an incredible misconception among many people who learn martial arts, that they have to train for the '13 ninjas'
serenityfast
"..the judges can see that Red hit first, even though the difference is .009 seconds." No they couldn't. It's luck. Beyond human perception.
buseyisgod
That's what I first thought - kendo's so badass the judges can defy reality?
UselessFool
You're right. When I had to be a referee for kendo, you used your own experience to sense who was decisive. Kendo judging is subjective
Mitchorm
If you watch the playback, the Red player initiated the cut, which is why all three judges scored the point.
serenityfast
That's fine, but OP's assertion that it's superhuman 0.009s reflexes is BS.
serenityfast
Followup: to put this in perspective, this is like seeing two bullets hit 1 frame apart at 120fps, in a first person shooter. All the nopes.
theyak
It's more like being able to enact upon 8.33ms blocks of time which is possible. Top rhythm gamers can score 99-100% timings within a
serenityfast
You don't react when doing that. You anticipate. That's all the judges do, they anticipated based on earlier movement. Not what OP claimed.
theyak
25ms window and can feel if it was early or late within the window
theyak
there's no reaction speed or reflex about it
chem1strygal
They're like real life Jedis!!
OrionPax1024
Its based off of kendo, actually. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4vGjNnZhJFI
OrionPax1024
Its narrated by Mark Hamill, very cool stuff
Phobotech
Or rather, Jedis are Space Samurai...
OrionKaelin
exactly
Sitraka
but samurais can have a wife when Jedis can't :p
ob1wank
...space monk wizard samurai?
Sauroctonus
Probably more like a Chinese Immortal (I assume Japanese folklore has a similar thing), someone who has meditated and trained to (1/2)
Sauroctonus
surpass the mortal lifespan and gained magical abilities. (2/2)
Sauroctonus
Oh, with some Kendo, obviously. :P
erischilde
That throat hit though. Armor or not that had to suck
neg0t
there is a pad on the helmet for tsuki thrusts
SupernaturalStealthSwat
That's why it's usually only taught to more experienced students. It hurts after a while during practice, and sometimes people miss and 1/2
SupernaturalStealthSwat
the shinai scrapes the side of your neck. Sometimes ends up looking like a large hicky :P
killerswan
That's one of the ways kendo / kumdo athletes can die: if the bamboo gets splintered, and a splinter jabs through the face/neck/ protection.
erischilde
I had a rudimentary knowledge of the port a while ago. It was a terrifying idea. When those sticks go, they go!
rx78nt1
If your shinai is in bad enough shape to splinter from a tsuki hit, then you're not taking good care of it.
soibecameabutterfly
It's called a "tsuki" (meaning thrust). It can be dangerous as the flap that covers the neck is very small and has gaps on either side (1/2)
soibecameabutterfly
(2/2) most injuries happen when the bamboo blade slips into one of the gaps and slams point first into the neck/traps. It's not fun. trust.
erischilde
i'd imagine that even with the padding, if there's enough force/spring to shove you to your ass, it's still sucks! LOL man. i wish i was 1/
erischilde
less of a lazy, basement dwelling, drug addled idiot and stuck to doing martial arts seriously. at 30something, i really regret that.../2
soibecameabutterfly
Most people (outside of japan/korea) start kendo in their twenties in college! Never too late to start! And yes, the force is verrry strong
hnk416
Also see: HEMA. Historical European Martial Arts. It's the..well..European version of this stuff. Go check it out!
ErdricktheHero
Arnis, from the Philippines is another I would recommend looking at. From what I know they are still regarded as a blade culture.
baronridiculous
No it's not. The western version of this is epee. Kendo and epee are sports. HEMA is a collection of martial arts. Very different.
hnk416
HEMA is less of a collection and more a martial art made out of collected techniques. But you are right, sport fencing is more like Kendo.
baronridiculous
Do you think HEMA is a unified martial art? Liechtenauer and I-33 and Jules Jacob are all the same set of ideas?
hnk416
Fair enough. I suppose it is more fair to call it a collection of martial arts =P
baronridiculous
I mean, you could be right and I just don't see it. Anyway, it's interesting.
Selerox
Also should be noted that HEMA uses historical techniques, while Kendo has drifted quite a way away from its original roots.
hnk416
It's why I like HEMA more than sport fencing and Kendo. But hey, that's me. Nothing against people who enjoy those things.
Selerox
Same here, kendo and sport fencing are great sports with skilled participants. But it's got very little to do with actual sword combat now.
baronridiculous
Of course, the best preparation for HEMA has turned out to be... fencing! Epee fencers tear HEMA up. So maybe not so far divorced after all?
hnk416
I want to know where you heard this from because fencing with a European longsword is vastly different than an epee.
hnk416
With them it's become more about scoring points than it has demonstrating proper sword technique. Skilled yes but at different things.
Selerox
Kendo's a great sport, but it shares Sport Fencing's problem that it's become divorced from the original fighting arts that spawned them.
SupernaturalStealthSwat
Many kendoka don't consider it a sport as much as a mental practice. That's why you can hit someone but not get a point. The strike has 1/2
SupernaturalStealthSwat
be "correct," showing the connection between mind, body, and sword. 2/2
baronridiculous
Being a sport is not a 'problem'. Fencing and kendo like being sports, HEMA likes being a martial art. There is no one right way.
hnk416
The problem comes from modern sport fencing having basically disregarding any historical basis for swordplay to the point where it's -
baronridiculous
That's not a problem. Foil was invented by real duelilsts to build skills. Game build skills. Not everything is a simulation of a fight.
hnk416
- basically not swordplay anymore. There's nothing wrong with sport fencing, but you can't really call it traditional fencing anymore.
baronridiculous
This is such a funny argument to me. HEMA wants everything to be a simulation of a fight. Fencing is a game. Games build skills.