Kenjutsu BT with Anbu Junior

[-Cobalt-]

Jiraya sat down, with his legs crossed and a katana resting on his legs. He awaited the arrival of Anbu Junior to teach him how to wield a blade.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

*AJ mysteriously appears from a veil of smoke.*

Alright,so to make things simple and organized, I'll make a check list.

One Handed
Basic Horizontal
Basic Vertical
Basic Stab

Two Handed
Basic Horizontal
Basic Vertical
Basic Lunge

Movement
Side-Stepping
"Arc-Stepping"
Other methods of dodging

Defense
Parries
Counters
Counter-attacking
Advanced
Taijutsu Integration

How's all that sound for ya?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Sounds perfect, let's start *_*

Can we have ice cream first?

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

ehhh no. Swordsmen don't eat ice cream.

Now what kind of katana do you use? Do you Dual wield, or Do you use a long sword?

 

[-Cobalt-]

:T_T: Why no ice cream?

I prefer single handed, single bladed katanas so I can easily manuver with them in battle. I don't like them too long since it makes them tough to handle. For stronger strikes I use both hands.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Good. For sake of simplicity, we'll be using bokkens - wooden katana - for this training session.

Now, we'll start with the very basics: One handed attacks.

Can you tell me why you would use a one handed attack instead of two all the time?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Well the first thing that pops into my mind is that one handed strikes are faster amd easier to execute, but they lack the strength and stability two handed strikes offer. Another advantage is while I hold th sword with one hand, my other hand is free for other things.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Pretty much. Single handed strikes are more immediate, less predictable, and generally have a swiftness to them that two handed strikes don't have.

Now, can you explain how a one-handed horizontal strike works?

(I have a feeling most of this will just be review to you)

 

[-Cobalt-]

Meh, it won't hurt. I've never done this training before but it's logical to me, at least the first few segments of it.

A horizontal, single handed swipe is basically a sword swipe from this side with a single hand. Mainly used in the upper areas of the body since it's easier to execute (beheading, hurting abdominal/chestal area). In order to swipe the lower body one would need to croush or change positions so that's why I think it's best for the upper area.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Precisely. A horizontal strike strikes along the x-axis.

I want you to tell me what strikes a horizontal one can block, and then demonstrate a horizontal strike in detail.

 

[-Cobalt-]

Going by logic, a horizontal strike blocks vertical strikes, going along the Y-axis. By setting up a horizontal defense one can easily block vertical or even diagonal strikes. But I think one handed strikes aren't good enough for defense due to the lack of stabilty, that's why I perfer two handed horizontal defense.

Jiraya takes the bokken Anbu gave him earlier and swings it around several times to find it's balance point and get a feel of it's weight. Once he has swung his sword several times and he's become accustomed Jiraya grabs the sword firmly with his left hand assuming a stance where his left foot and arm are in the front, and the his right side to the back. He turns towards the training dummy to his side, so that he presents a smaller target to hit. After having assumed the correct position, Jiraya swings the wooden sword horizontally from left to right, swiping through the air, as a "woosh" follows the trajectory of the blade. With his strength he manages to slightly dent the wood on the training dummy.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Horizontal strikes can block diagonal strikes depending on the angle. One handed horizontal strikes may not be that great for defense, but it works wonders when used for parring. That, however, will be saved for later.

And great, that's the basic form for a Horizontal slash, and now that's all there is to that.

So, describe to me how to do a vertical slash, and what it can stop, and then, demonstrate one for me in detail.

 

[-Cobalt-]

Vertical slashes: Vertical slashes are a set of moves that go along the Y-axis, basically from up to down, or from down to up. These are best used for direct attacks straight down the middle of the opponent, or to sever a limb or anything similar to that. Now, the vertical slash has more power than the horizontal one since the moves are easier to execute, and the user has more momentum. I believe one can strike hard enough to break a horizontal guard. The advantage over horizontal ones is power and execution. Regarding defensive capabilites, it can stop horizontal and diagonal, depending on the angle.

After doing the horizontal slash, Jiraya assumes a new stance where he moves his sword so it takes a vertical angle, with the tip pointing upwards. He doesn't wait too long before begining his offensive upon the dummy once more. He swings his arm upwards, and as it comes back down with the momentum, wood collides with wood and a loud echoing sound emits as the bokken and dummy collide. Even though the stroke was powerful it was not enough to break the dummy, but rather dent it.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

xd i expect this to go quicker than i thought since you already have a grasp on the basics lol

Now on to Stabs.

Can you describe a stab to me, and how it's useful, then demonstrate one for me in detail.

(Sorry if this seems boring to you. And sorry for the brief replies)

 

[-Cobalt-]

xd i expect this to go quicker than i thought since you already have a grasp on the basics lol

Now on to Stabs.

Can you describe a stab to me, and how it's useful, then demonstrate one for me in detail.

(Sorry if this seems boring to you. And sorry for the brief replies)

Not boring, no worries.

Stabs are basically a set of moves where the user tries to plunge his sword into the opponent instead of trying to slash them. Stabs make damage in a small area instead of a large one opposed to a slash. They are pinpoint attacks and assaults towards the opponent. One can easily overcome a defense with a stab and finish someone off quickly. I think shorter swords are more fit for stabs since they are easier to manuver, whereas longer swords have a better reach.

Jiraya gets into a samurai stance, standing directly before his training dummy. He holds his bokken with one hand where as his legs are parallel to his shoulders for better stability. Jiraya rushes forwards and lunges his arm into the training dummies chest send the bokken straight through it with his left hand whereas he uses his right hand as support by the handle of the wooden sword.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Yeah, that's pretty much it. I like the way you describe you actions.

Now on to two handed techniques.

Tell me, why would you want to use two hands instead of one-handed techniques?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Yeah, that's pretty much it. I like the way you describe you actions.

Now on to two handed techniques.

Tell me, why would you want to use two hands instead of one-handed techniques?

Thank you ^^. How about that ice cream now? wease:

Well while one handed techniques are faster and easier to conduct, two handed techniques are stronger, more stable and simply have more power behind them. What they lack in speed, they make up in strength and stability. The posture is better with two handed moves, but the problem is then both hands are occupied not allowing the user to do hand seals, draw weapons etc. but in a kenjutsu fight that won't be a problem.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

Thank you ^^. How about that ice cream now? wease:

Well while one handed techniques are faster and easier to conduct, two handed techniques are stronger, more stable and simply have more power behind them. What they lack in speed, they make up in strength and stability. The posture is better with two handed moves, but the problem is then both hands are occupied not allowing the user to do hand seals, draw weapons etc. but in a kenjutsu fight that won't be a problem.

Mostly correct. In kenjutsu battles, draw speed Matters a whole lot, since some styles incorporate super fast speed of the draw. one example is Battojutsu U_U

Two-handed techniques also have a faster "striking speed"; that is, a vertical two-handed slash would make contact before a one-handed one, even if the time difference is negligible. Further more, they offer more control in the direction of your slash, though they cannot be chained nearly as quickly.

So, can you demonstrate how a two-handed horizontal slash would be done?

 

[-Cobalt-]

Grasping the handle of his bokken with both hand Jiraya lunges at the training dummy with his sword before him. The moment he reaches meelee range of the dummy Jiraya pivots on his left heel, turning to the left while positioning his bokken horizontally in relation to the dummy. By spinning Jiraya gains speed and momentum, and as the bokken collides with the dummy the wood breaks into splinters due to the sheer power of the manuver.

 

[Ańbu Juniør]

*Another dummy appears*

Damn, you catch on fast -Cobalt- Adding that rotation made your attack gain more power, and in turn become harder to block. The thing about this attack is that you opponent can dodge it by ducking, and get in a quick attack.

Now a vertical please.