Keotsu teaches Kaos Kenjutsu

[KeotsuEclipse]

*Waits inside my typical training dojo, with bokken and a few training dummies.*

Okay, so here's what we'll be learning...

One-handed Techniques:

• Basic Horizontal
• Basic Vertical
• Basic Stab

Two-handed Techniques:

• Basic Horizontal
• Basic Vertical
• Basic Lunge

Movement:

• Side-stepping
• "Arc"-stepping
• Some other movements

Defense

• Parries
• Blocks
• Countering

Advanced:

• Taijutsu Integration

Graduation Spar

But before we begin, I have a few questions.

Have you had any prior experience with Kenjutsu, and what is Kenjutsu?

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Only experience I have is fighting with a sword, nor proper training. Kenjutsu to me is the use of a sword in battle. This can range from cutting someone to stabbing the sword into the ground as a way to spin around, etc. Am I right? o.o

 

[The_Empire]

Good luck bro, Keo is a true kenjutsu teacher just like how you are a true taijutsu teacher.

I just wanted to say that.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

Only experience I have is fighting with a sword, nor proper training. Kenjutsu to me is the use of a sword in battle. This can range from cutting someone to stabbing the sword into the ground as a way to spin around, etc. Am I right? o.o

Eh...more or less.

Kenjutsu itself refers to the art of using the sword, though many swordsman see Kenjutsu much more than "just the proper way to cut someone." Yes, a sword is a weapon, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated with proper respect - art of war or not, the use of the sword is still an art.

Now, we still have a bit to figure out before we go on to your training.

Even though we'll be using bokken for this training, do you think you've had enough practice to know what kind of sword you prefer? Like, a longsword, a katana, a nadochi, etc?

If not, don't worry, we'll figure it out later.

But, regardless, before we begin, can you tell me what the differences between a one-handed strike and a two-handed strike might be, besides the obvious?

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Eh...more or less.

Kenjutsu itself refers to the art of using the sword, though many swordsman see Kenjutsu much more than "just the proper way to cut someone." Yes, a sword is a weapon, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated with proper respect - art of war or not, the use of the sword is still an art.

Now, we still have a bit to figure out before we go on to your training.

Even though we'll be using bokken for this training, do you think you've had enough practice to know what kind of sword you prefer? Like, a longsword, a katana, a nadochi, etc?

If not, don't worry, we'll figure it out later.

But, regardless, before we begin, can you tell me what the differences between a one-handed strike and a two-handed strike might be, besides the obvious?

A katana. .-.

Well, I'm thinking that besides the extra limb on the sword, there'll be a difference in strength and reach of said swords. Like a one-handed strike would give you more reach but as the cost of power and vice versa for two-handed strikes.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

A katana. .-.

Well, I'm thinking that besides the extra limb on the sword, there'll be a difference in strength and reach of said swords. Like a one-handed strike would give you more reach but as the cost of power and vice versa for two-handed strikes.

Very good.

With one hand on the blade, you don't have as much power, but you can give faster attacks, and you also have more freedom with your blade. You're able to make movements you wouldn't be able to when both arms have to go the same direction, and you can chain from one attack into the other, faster, most of the time.

Two-handed attacks are much more powerful, have much higher directional control, and a much faster striking speed, due to the additional force behind the blade, but you don't have as much moving freedom.

With this in mind, we'll begin the actual training portion.*Throws you a bokken.*

A horizontal attack strikes on the x-axis, or left to right, side to side, etc, however you want to think about it.

So, I'd like you to begin by first demonstrating a one-handed horizontal strike.

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Very good.

With one hand on the blade, you don't have as much power, but you can give faster attacks, and you also have more freedom with your blade. You're able to make movements you wouldn't be able to when both arms have to go the same direction, and you can chain from one attack into the other, faster, most of the time.

Two-handed attacks are much more powerful, have much higher directional control, and a much faster striking speed, due to the additional force behind the blade, but you don't have as much moving freedom.

With this in mind, we'll begin the actual training portion.*Throws you a bokken.*

A horizontal attack strikes on the x-axis, or left to right, side to side, etc, however you want to think about it.

So, I'd like you to begin by first demonstrating a one-handed horizontal strike.

*catches bokken*

Horizontal strike, eh? Alrighty then.

*Places bokken in my right hand. I then move my right arm across my body to be in front of my left hand. I then raise it by my left shoulder and swing forward, as if trying to hit the left knee of the nonexistant enemy in front of me*

(Basically i swung from my left shoulder to in front of my right knee*)

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*catches bokken*

Horizontal strike, eh? Alrighty then.

*Places bokken in my right hand. I then move my right arm across my body to be in front of my left hand. I then raise it by my left shoulder and swing forward, as if trying to hit the left knee of the nonexistant enemy in front of me*

(Basically i swung from my left shoulder to in front of my right knee*)

And that, is a diagonal strike. o_o A horizontal is more flat, like a straight line.

Once more please. And yes, do please notate direction in your description - it's very important, and should be done for most strikes. ^_^

 

[Lord of Kaos]

And that, is a diagonal strike. o_o A horizontal is more flat, like a straight line.

Once more please. And yes, do please notate direction in your description - it's very important, and should be done for most strikes. ^_^

Epic fail, I saw horizontal and performed diagonal. xd

*Once more I hold the bokken in my right hand. This time, however, I place my right hand by my left bicep. I then swing in a direct horizontal line to the right of my body, making a straight line across the air in front of me, ending with my right arm extended, pointing to the right of me.*

Better that time? xd

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

Epic fail, I saw horizontal and performed diagonal. xd

*Once more I hold the bokken in my right hand. This time, however, I place my right hand by my left bicep. I then swing in a direct horizontal line to the right of my body, making a straight line across the air in front of me, ending with my right arm extended, pointing to the right of me.*

Better that time? xd

xd We all mess up from time to time.

^_^ And excellent.

Now, if you would demonstrate one more, with a vertical slash.

 

[Lord of Kaos]

xd We all mess up from time to time.

^_^ And excellent.

Now, if you would demonstrate one more, with a vertical slash.

*I raise my right arm into the air, as if I'm trying to stab the sky with the bokken. I then swing downwards very quickly, in a straight line. As I swing down, the bokken ricochets off the earth and smacks me in the face*

T.T

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*I raise my right arm into the air, as if I'm trying to stab the sky with the bokken. I then swing downwards very quickly, in a straight line. As I swing down, the bokken ricochets off the earth and smacks me in the face*

T.T

Yeah...you'll want to try to keep from doing that in a real fight. @_@

Now, before we move on to stabs, can you tell me which strikes the two you just preformed can block, and why?

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Yeah...you'll want to try to keep from doing that in a real fight. @_@

Now, before we move on to stabs, can you tell me which strikes the two you just preformed can block, and why?

Horizontal can block vertical and vertical can block horizontal due to the differences of how they're swung. Swinging vertically and hitting a straight horizontal line would cause it to stop. And the same with horizontal hitting a vertical line.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

Horizontal can block vertical and vertical can block horizontal due to the differences of how they're swung. Swinging vertically and hitting a straight horizontal line would cause it to stop. And the same with horizontal hitting a vertical line.

Very good. They both can stop diagonal attacks as well, depending on their steepness. But, that's something we'll cover later.

Now, can you first describe to me what a stab is, and why it might be useful?

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Very good. They both can stop diagonal attacks as well, depending on their steepness. But, that's something we'll cover later.

Now, can you first describe to me what a stab is, and why it might be useful?

Coolness. o^o

A stab would be like a jab, a poke of sorts. I'd use it to do more damage than a cut since it pierces several layers of muscles while a cut most times does surface damage.

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

Coolness. o^o

A stab would be like a jab, a poke of sorts. I'd use it to do more damage than a cut since it pierces several layers of muscles while a cut most times does surface damage.

Great. ^_^ Stabs can very easily do fatal damage if they connect. They also have a very high speed, if done right. o_o

Now, please preform one. ^_^

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Great. ^_^ Stabs can very easily do fatal damage if they connect. They also have a very high speed, if done right. o_o

Now, please preform one. ^_^

*holds my bokken in my right hand, by my side and I bend my elbow, forming an L shape with it. I then thrust forward, quickly and with great force behind it, lunging my bokken forward to an invisible target*

How was that? O^O

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

*holds my bokken in my right hand, by my side and I bend my elbow, forming an L shape with it. I then thrust forward, quickly and with great force behind it, lunging my bokken forward to an invisible target*

How was that? O^O

Excellent. ^_^

And since we already covered the differences between one and two-handed strikes, we can move on.

So, if you would, please preform a two-handed horizontal strike. ^_^

 

[Lord of Kaos]

Excellent. ^_^

And since we already covered the differences between one and two-handed strikes, we can move on.

So, if you would, please preform a two-handed horizontal strike. ^_^

^_^

*I place my left hand under the right one on the hilt (assuming this thing has one lol). I then move my arm up by my right shoulder and swing to my left across the air in front of me, making a direct line looking like this: -----*

Ha, like baseball almost. xd

 

[KeotsuEclipse]

^_^

*I place my left hand under the right one on the hilt (assuming this thing has one lol). I then move my arm up by my right shoulder and swing to my left across the air in front of me, making a direct line looking like this: -----*

Ha, like baseball almost. xd

Excellent. xd And nice - that's the example I actually use for people who don't understand it the first time around. o_o And yes, it has a hilt.

^_^ So, now, if you would, a vertical one, please.