[St. Rapier]

Is anyone here a practitioner of both Kendo and fencing? If so, which do you like better and for what reasons?

[saintjon]

I think Jacquin does both western and eastern fencing and he seems to prefer the western variant. Far be it from me to put words in his mouth though.

[brian.clay]

Through High School and part of college I was a member of a kendo club, as there were no dojos devoted to it, in college I joined a fencing club for a short time, I also joined the SCA and did heavy list and SCA fencing.

Here is my opinion:

I do not prefer one over the other each style of fighting has its own draw to it. I know it is kind of a copout answer but it is how I feel.

I loved Kendo because of the shear amount of focus went into not just the movements with a sword in your hand but every element leading up to that. The ritual of putting your armor on to the moment you face your opponent. It was as much an excerise of the mind as it was for the body.

Collegete fencing was hard for me simply because I had spent so many years studying kendo.

SCA Heavy List -- The reason I joined the SCA was for the heavy list fighting. The viseral combat with a skilled opponent, though I will admit many fighters in the SCA were/are little more than thugs when compared to martial artists. Though there is nothing like standing in the second rank of a shield wall looking across a field seeing three thousand men and women in armor waiting for a chance to "kill" you. The creaky of the leather in your armor, the sweat rolling down your spine as you wait for the Marshalls to single the lay on. Then that thunderous explosion when the shield walls slame into one another and that surge of energy when the first rank evaporates in front of you. Having fought for almost 5 years in the SCA I can say that those fighting experiences truly help me get into the mind of characters during fight scenes.

SCA Fencing -- I noticed that as heavy list fighters got on in years they started pick up the Fencing. It is similar to collegete fencing; however, you don't have lanes. More of a fencing in the round. In addition you can perform cutting or slashing strikes instead of being limited to just thrusting/piercing. I also enjoyed having an offhand parrying weapon. It was fun but most of the people I practiced with were not very serious about it so I think much of the potential art was lost on me.

[malibu]

Well, this thread sent me off on a tangent....

I started thinking, "Hey, that would be great! Take up fencing...", so with some research I found a couple fencing clubs in the area. Next step, price equipment (years of new hobbies has taught me that the usual start-up cost of a hobby is $500). Fencing gear = $350-500, right on target. Third step, break news to wife about new found joy to be had with new hobby! Wife's response...



"Why don't you take up a hobby for which you already have the equipment?"

[Jacquin]

I think Jacquin does both western and eastern fencing and he seems to prefer the western variant. Far be it from me to put words in his mouth though.

Primarily Western though a little Eastern. I've never done Kendo though, a little Aikido and some Ninpo Kenjutsu. Neither have anything sporting or competative about them so it's not really fair to discuss them alongside Kendo or Western Fencing.

I did modern fencing for about 18 months and quite enjoyed it though I had to reign in my natural tendencies to punch my opponent. If I had to choose between modern western and modern eastern swordwork I'd probably go for Eastern. Though if I was allowed to add a historical bent to the arts I would pick western every time. C16th English Backsword at the moment though I still have a passion for C13th Sword and Buckler and the odd bit of Regency Pugilism...

[saintjon]

My history isn't the greatest when would the regency have been?