[kater]

I was wondering if anyone knew any decent websites for these, or sword forms in general please.

[Dominus]

Try this one. (http://www.realultimatepower.net/)































Alright, that was a joke, but if I ever find one, I'll post it. :D

[Dominus]

Here's one! (www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/5432/warder.html) I don't know if this is what you're looking for.....but......

[Ouroboros]

That link to what seems to be sword techniques extrapolated from RJ's WoT is ... erm .... interesting, to put it charitably. However, it has as little to do with authentic japanese swordsmanship as a chocolate kettle. :D

Forms in the context of japanese swordsmanship actually would be the practice of kata, involving two partners, one with a long and short sword versus his opponent, who could be armed with anything from the same combination to a spear or halberd.

This is how schools producing combat swordsmen would have trained: practicing pre-set encounters designed to allow the student to understand principles and strategies underlying combat against a variety of battlefield weapons, and then when these were understood to break free of the mould and apply their skills spontaneously. (obviously complete schools were concerned with far more than just the effective use of the sword, but that's another story...)

Solo forms do appear in a few genuine koryu schools, but as supplementary exercises: practicing cutting against rolled up mats (tameshigiri or test-cutting), or indeed just using a heavy bokken to develop wrist strength. Solo cutting might be performed alone by a beginner to learn basic angles, but after the introductory phase training without a live opponent in front of you is a bit like trying to learn to swim on sand.

Iaido, modern martial arts of sword-drawing, is primarily practiced solo... but in my opinion this has little in common with the swordsmanship practiced by the samurai (either their fencing, kenjutsu, or their fast-drawing for combat, iaijutsu).

I've seen a variety of other supposed japanese-originated martial arts containing solo sword forums, but these tend to be made-up bollocks taught by teachers in the west who don't know their ass from their elbow.

If you are looking for on-line koryu (old school) websites which depict kata in a step-by-step manner, then you might have difficulty since few willingly put their stuff up for anyone to see and (badly) mimic.

A good website which might point you in the direction of a few websites which do have pictures of kata mid-flow would be http://www.swordforum.com

You can find members of various koryu ryu-ha posting there, and trace them back to their home websites.

[Holbrook]

Kater:

I second the link Ouroboros put up. If by forms you mean kata and Iaido then the Japanese Swordsmanship forum under Dale Seago is the place to look on sword forum.

If by "form" you mean types of blades then there is the Nihon to forum dealing from the Jokoto to Shinsakuto period, Guido Schiller is your man there.

General questions about Japanese swords will be answered well enough on the General forum. If you need other help PM me... I used to be Mod/Admin there for a long time.. still have many friends there I can but ask... my own knowledge is limited, being a western sword freak myself....

[Jacquin]

What style of swordsmanship were you looking for specifically? I know there are Iai and Bujinkan practitioners on Swordforum, not sure about kenjutsu or battojutsu. Tameshigiri is quite commonly practiced though.

They would certainly know where to direct you, as Holbrook said Dale Seago is a very knowledgeable guy and friendly to boot.

The link is here (http://swordforum.com)

J

[kater]

Thanks guys, Kenjutsu was what I ws after (should have said in the original post :rolleyes: ) appreciate the help :D

[juzzza]

swordforum.com is bloody brilliant!!!

I have just spent half the morning reading about the martial arts created for Lord of The Rings and Kukris. Great inspiration for story ideas that place.

[HenryGuyton]

I was wondering if anyone knew any decent websites for these, or sword forms in general please.

Sword forms? Do you mean sword designs? but there are lots of kinds of swords..like katanas, and others.

samurai swords (http://www.weapons-universe.com/Swords/Samurai_Swords.shtml)

[LyleNesbitt]

I was wondering if anyone knew any decent websites for these, or sword forms in general please.

Try spyderco, hibbenknives,benchmadeforum..I think this will do.
there's a lot more ..but i forgot..
Try to search it in google..



samurai sword (http://www.weapons-universe.com/Swords/Samurai_Swords.shtml)