[Shannon]

What is the go with the sword play in the Wheel of Time series? Rand and Lan both use swords that must be katanas but the descriptions of them using them are nothing at all like kendo. I don't mean to be a nit picker but it's just something that has stuck in my head ever since I first read the series. I've never heard of any sword style that uses forms like those in the books, but then the only styles I really know are fencing, kendo and the ye-old hack and slash.
Anyone have any idea if Jordan just made it all up one day or what?

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

Dunno! I think the sword play is like the old hack & slash and there is nothing from the kendo, even the swods are not katanas. I think...:confused:

Who's playing BG2, err;)?

[ChrisW]

http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/ppostuma/heronbld.gif

The above is an RJ approved replica of the sword.

http://daves-realm.tripod.com/gaidin/sword1.htm is a good page describing the sword forms and how they are used.

I'll try and dig up a quote by RJ about the sword forms.

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

Thank you Red Eagle! They are very similar to katanas really, I am wrong!

[Holbrook]

What the????

I take it that these are the "sword forms" used in the book least I hope they are. *sigh*

Sorry, I have a little knowledge of EMA and more of WMA and some of the moves are impossible not to mention rather strange. Also he makes no mention of any traditional style from any of the EMA. What his formal training is? Or who he has studied under?

I have corresponded with many skilled in Japanese, Chinese, Korean MA and never heard any of them refer to themselves as "Blademasters" all refer to themselves as students.

Sorry that was a bit of a personal rant. If folks are going to put such sites up on the net they should say clearly what nature they are. Some "Highlander want to be" might just hurt themselves and others trying some of those moves

As to the sword shown is a mixture

A blade similar in style to a Katana

see here


http://www.ricecracker.com/swords/nagamaki.jpg

And a hilt similar to a scottish claymore.


http://www.ezshots.com/members/mcdonaldthomas/images/mcdonaldthomas-476.jpg

[ChrisW]

Holbrook, have you read the books? Blademater is a term from the books. That site is just a fans interpretation of what Jordan has described in the books. At the very bottom of the page he explains that.

Also the book is Fantasy so although Jordan has based the sword forms on real life ones they don't need to be possible as we know it.

[Holbrook]

I was no way being insulting to the writer RJ

I have read a couple of the books. But I have also had to deal with WOT inspired "blademasters" telling EMA students of many years that they are doing it all wrong. Because it wasn't like the book!

The thing is he(the chap whose site is is) presents it as a serious MA and only mentions the fact that it is inspired by the books at the bottom. Were in my point of view it should be made clear at the top.

Swords are a weapon and often people lose sight of that and the fantasy becomes more real than the reality


The thought of some young kid swinging a stainless steel replica in some of those forms send shivers down my spine.

Sorry, I take the use of/study of swords very seriously. It should only be practised within the framework of EMA or WMA under a professional instructor.

[ChrisW]

The thing is he(the chap whose site is is) presents it as a serious MA and only mentions the fact that it is inspired by the books at the bottom. Were in my point of view it should be made clear at the top.

Ah but anyone that actually reads that site will have only gotten to it because they wanted to know more about the sword forms from the books. So they are most likely following a link from a WoT related site or in this case thread. If they can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy, well you can't really blame the guy who wrote it.

I have read a couple of the books. But I have also had to deal with WOT inspired "blademasters" telling EMA students of many years that they are doing it all wrong. Because it wasn't like the book!


Heh well morons pop up everywhere:D .

[ChrisW]

Ok I had some nice people find me some quotes from a RJ book signing.Q: First, I thoroughly enjoy the wheel of time series. Is there an actaul form of martial arts that inspired the "sword forms" and are the forms you mention in the books part of this art or are they you own creation.

A: The sword forms described in the book are my own creation, but they are based in part on the Japanese art of the sword, and also on fencing as it developed, when it was well on its way to becoming a martial art as we define them today (when it was developing in the Renaissance).


Q:Sir, I truly enjoy reading the sword
fighting scenes, could you give us some background information on where you got the names for the various Forms used?

A:The names are creations of my own
But they're based on Japanese and Chinese techniques and European techniques pre gun powder.

[Shannon]

I just read that sword forms site, and all I can say is I hope noone is even considering trying to use those forms with anything sharper than a stick. Still, I did see at least one cool form, Cat crosses the Courtyard:p