| The Myth of the Invincible Sword Nearly all | | | | cumbersome. The tang of the sword, the |
| cultures throughout history have been subject | | | | blade's extension into the handle, receives |
| to the myth of the all-powerful sword. | | | | most of the impact when parrying and can be |
| China's history is filled with legendary | | | | prone to breaking. Many styles of the sword |
| swords and swordsmen some of whom even rose | | | | offered little hand protection and so the |
| to the levels of gods. The Japanese have the | | | | hand of a swordsman was a primary target. To |
| legendary Samurai with their world famous | | | | counter this, some swords were built with |
| katana, often referred to as the Samurai | | | | elaborate basket-like guards to protect the |
| sword. Cossack, Moor, and other Muslim | | | | hand. There are accounts of the basket-hilt |
| cultures are often remembered as mounted, | | | | broadsword of Scottish highlander fame having |
| saber-wielding warriors. In Western Europe | | | | to be pried off of the Highlander's hand |
| the medieval knights were in no way an | | | | after battle due to its collapsing under the |
| exception to the sword culture. The sword's | | | | pressure of enemy blows. The sword is |
| symbolic connection to the heraldic nobility | | | | complicated to learn, time consuming to make, |
| remains to this day, although in ceremonial | | | | and generally an expensive arm. In medieval |
| form only. For most cultures around the | | | | Europe, a single-handed broadsword could cost |
| world, the sword still holds a position of | | | | as much as 25,000 dollars by today's |
| reverence. I have dueled and sparred with | | | | standards. The Japanese katana was, in its |
| and against swords for many years and yet I | | | | own fashion, an equally high-priced weapon. |
| am still amazed when the first words out of | | | | One can see the obvious reasons why, during |
| almost every new student are, 'I want to | | | | Eastern and Western sword histories, the |
| learn how to fight with a sword.' I explain | | | | weapon was really more of a class and power |
| that unless your armored and riding a horse | | | | symbol than a mainstream weapon for war. |
| whenever the sword is pitted against nearly | | | | There is a Japanese house code that states |
| any other ancient weapon of equal length or | | | | "Do not yearn for katanas and tantos created |
| longer inevitability it comes up wanting. | | | | by famous masters. A katana or tanto worth |
| However, the invincible sword myth is so | | | | 10,000 pieces can be defeated by 100 yari |
| deeply ingrained in human culture that such | | | | (spears) each costing a 100 pieces. It is |
| warnings are rarely heeded, and predictably, | | | | better to purchase 100 spears and arm 100 |
| the sword becomes most students' first focus. | | | | spearmen, in this way you can defended |
| The sword's true combat nature can only be | | | | yourself in time of war." (Toshikage |
| revealed through the handling of the real | | | | Jushichikajo, 1480) Today the sword and |
| thing, authentic replicas, and precise | | | | Samurai have nearly become the same word. |
| training weapons that are meticulously | | | | Yet during the height of the age of the |
| designed for proper accuracy and use. With | | | | Samurai, the bow, naginata, and spear were |
| the aide of such training tools the myth of | | | | the main focus for war. The bow is found in |
| the sword can be unlocked, not just from a | | | | the earliest history of Samurai warfare and |
| historical approach but from a hands-on | | | | the Yari-Samurai, elite spearmen, mounted or |
| approach as well. Sadly, often schools do | | | | on foot, were among the highest valued |
| not follow an accuracy policy with training | | | | warriors in a warlord's army. The katana was |
| weapons or when sparring with weapons. This | | | | more often used as a backup weapon and for |
| is one reason why there are so many | | | | personal ritualized dueling. In most |
| misconceptions about genuine sword combat. | | | | cultures during the age of battlefield |
| The Japanese sport of kendo is commonly | | | | dueling, duels were fought on horseback with |
| believed to be a martial art based on dueling | | | | bows or lances. If the warrior lost either |
| with katanas. Nothing could be further from | | | | of those weapons, he then used his sword as a |
| the truth. The two are as different as | | | | last ditch effort to save or take his life. |
| kickball and baseball. The kendo sparring | | | | Around the same time the drafted peasant |
| sword called a shinai is a straight sparring | | | | soldier of the late nineteenth century came |
| sword meant to be a safe representation of | | | | into full force, the sword, due to its |
| the katana. This very light weapon averages | | | | impractical functions on the battlefield, was |
| anywhere from 35" to 47" in length and is | | | | eventually reduced to an ornamental symbol of |
| made of several straight strips of bamboo | | | | authority. During the Second World War the |
| bound together with leather. With the | | | | ancient Samurai sword that was made using the |
| exception of the lengths, the balance and | | | | secrets of a holy swordsmith still remained |
| design of this sparring tool from its tip to | | | | among the upper class, but the sword for the |
| handle holds absolutely nothing in common | | | | average officer was a 1933 mass-produced |
| with the Samurai's curved katana. The shinai | | | | weapon. This 1933 version was designed so |
| blade is straight and its handle is long, | | | | that the older traditional katana blade could |
| round, and wrapped in a soft leather sheath. | | | | fit into the handle and replace the standard |
| The katana blade is curved and its handle is | | | | contemporary blade. Because of the |
| long and somewhat egg shaped but a little | | | | entertainment industry from ancient times to |
| more flat along the sides, and it is braided. | | | | the present, the myth of the swordsman's |
| The hits and points scored in sport kendo | | | | abilities has always been far beyond any true |
| have more in common with European cudgel play | | | | feat of real swordsmanship. The western |
| or fencing than with a katana duel. Points | | | | broadsword has followed the same path as the |
| are most often scored with snapping hits as | | | | eastern swords, only it has been even further |
| opposed to the drawing cuts that come | | | | reduced into a simplistic, shining hip-hanger |
| naturally with a curved blade. Though snap | | | | used only for parade. The Chinese straight |
| cuts are also a part of the katana's arsenal | | | | sword has not escaped this symbolism either. |
| they are not a staple of attack as in kendo. | | | | It has been reduced to a lightweight flimsy |
| A closer representation would be sparring | | | | show piece far more suitable for fast |
| with curved wooden bokkens, which are | | | | acrobatic Wu-Su routines then actual combat. |
| considerably more accurate reproductions of | | | | What the general public has been led to |
| the katana and were the traditional training | | | | believe almost entirely through the media is |
| weapon of the classical Bushi. The bokken | | | | that the sword was the most powerful dueling |
| offers a close though not completely accurate | | | | weapon of all times. There are many reasons |
| representation of a bladed katana duel and | | | | why the sword could not actually hold this |
| was often used for dueling as a replacement | | | | title. First as mentioned is reach; second, |
| for real swords. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably | | | | arch versus thrust; third and most important, |
| one of the greatest swordsmen in Japanese | | | | exposure. To better explain the realities of |
| history, by his own account won several duels | | | | sword combat and the troubles a swordsman |
| against katanas with a bokken. As with | | | | would have, consider facing a spearman with a |
| shinais, the same problem arises from modern | | | | sword. To start the swordsman's troubles, |
| and the ancient western forms of cudgel play. | | | | the spearman need only keep the swordsman the |
| The rattan or other wooden forms of | | | | distance of a spear thrust away. In doing |
| broadswords are bulkier, unbalanced, poorly | | | | so, the swordsman is put in danger of spear |
| weighted, and often have no obvious flat side | | | | attacks while his target, the spearman, |
| to parry with. Because of these design flaws | | | | remains out of reach. Being out of reach of |
| cudgel play can only be considered a sport | | | | the attacks of his opponent, the spearman has |
| not a form of combat. One should not compare | | | | many advantages added to his hopes of |
| these sport-related styles of combat to the | | | | self-preservation. A spear, or even a lance |
| real thing. A comparison cannot accurately | | | | of ten feet or less, can both cut and thrust |
| be made if for no other reason than the | | | | like a sword and so deliver a variety of |
| sparring weapons are so dramatically removed | | | | attacks without fear of immediate |
| in weight, shape, and design from the weapons | | | | counterattack. For the swordsman to survive, |
| they are supposed to replicate. When a | | | | he needs to close the distance on his |
| student reaches a high enough sword skill to | | | | opponent while trying to ward off thrusts and |
| spar against other types of weapons, the | | | | cuts from the attacking spear. The spearman |
| design flaws of the sword as a singly | | | | need only keep attacking while retreating or |
| competitive weapon become painfully obvious. | | | | circling a few steps if necessary. This is |
| It is not long after this realization that | | | | comparable to a man with an empty |
| the sword student fades out of the picture | | | | eighteenth-century musket fighting a ten-pace |
| along with dreams of becoming an invincible | | | | duel against a man with a colt revolver. |
| swordsman. The few persistent sword students | | | | Unless an act of God occurs, the musketeer is |
| who remain quickly find the value of an added | | | | in for hard times. The next problem is the |
| weapon to their free hand. Shields, maces, | | | | issue of arch versus thrust. Everyone has |
| flails, daggers, or other swords become the | | | | seen a movie where the hapless spearman comes |
| new order of training. With a little more | | | | charging in with a stiff-armed thrust at the |
| sparring, the student begins to see the | | | | hero, who is always a swordsman, who jumps to |
| ultimate truth behind the myth of the sword. | | | | the side and chops the oncoming spear in two. |
| Even with the aid of another weapon, it is a | | | | This is a perfect example of the |
| very difficult task for a swordsman to defeat | | | | mythological power of the arching sword |
| longer-reaching weapons. When a swordsman is | | | | stroke in its full absurdity. If the |
| matched up against a weapon that is longer | | | | swordsman were to attempt a wasted motion |
| and therefore holds greater reach | | | | like trying to cut the assaulting spear in |
| capabilities that swordsman's chance of | | | | two, it would be an ill-fated move for two |
| survival drops dramatically. Without the aid | | | | reasons: it seriously exposes the swordsman |
| of a companion weapon, even a highly skilled | | | | to a counterattack, and it is an almost |
| swordsman finds it difficult to defeat lesser | | | | impossible cut to make. It is one thing to |
| skilled opponents with longer- reaching | | | | cut in two a shaft stuck firmly in the |
| weapons. The sword master Miyamoto Musashi, | | | | ground, it is another thing entirely to try |
| victor of sixty life-and-death encounters, | | | | and cut in two a free-floating shaft that |
| was in a famous duel of record against the | | | | deflects on impact. Try hanging a |
| long-swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro called | | | | spear-like shaft in the air by attaching a |
| his sword 'clothes pole' because of its | | | | rope to the butt of the shaft and attaching |
| unique design: a long, straight, blade quite | | | | another rope at a halfway point. Then try to |
| the contrary to its contemporary, the curved | | | | chop that shaft in two with a single or |
| katana. When Musashi dueled Kojiro, he was | | | | several strokes. When you are through |
| not wielding a curved katana of his own or | | | | shaking your head, all those great movies |
| even using his famous two-sword style. | | | | will be ruined forever. The easily imagined |
| Instead he wisely used a large, carved boat | | | | results of this simple test are exactly like |
| oar to defeat his opponent. This boat oar | | | | the real results of such a cut. The reader |
| gave Musashi two very important advantages: | | | | can see just how unlikely performing that cut |
| first he did not have to concern himself with | | | | actually is. Some Arthurian legends claimed |
| the angles of his cuts, and second, he did | | | | the sword, Excalibur, could cut a boulder in |
| not have to worry about parrying with his | | | | two as though the rock was made of butter. |
| sword and having it destroyed by a big boat | | | | Strangely, no sword culture can deny having |
| oar. It is no mystery why Musashi won this | | | | myths of an equal nature to that of |
| duel. When two duelers meet and are equal or | | | | Excalibur's. There is also a Japanese legend |
| even close to equal in skills, the odds go to | | | | of a katana so sharp that when it was left |
| the dueler with the technological advantage. | | | | stuck in a stream, floating leaves were not |
| I know the entertainment industry would have | | | | sliced in-two by it but actually purposely |
| us believe otherwise, but when it comes to | | | | avoided the sword's edge. Legends of this |
| sparring or dueling with weapons, you can't | | | | nature have always led the populous into |
| change the math behind the design of the | | | | believing that in the realm of edged weapons, |
| weapon, techniques, and the movement the | | | | the sword holds full royalties on slicing and |
| weapon's nature requires. George Silver, an | | | | chopping abilities. This is simply not true |
| accomplished dueler and prizefighter who | | | | regarding personal combat. All of the |
| wrote two treatises on combat in 1599, Brief | | | | elite warrior-based cultures knew and used |
| Instructions and Paradoxes of Defense pointed | | | | the advantages of thrusting and slicing with |
| out in his works, and I paraphrase, "He who | | | | a spear as well as other long-reaching |
| moves in the least amount of space and time, | | | | weapons. The difficulties of getting past |
| moves ahead of his opponent and so stays out | | | | that deadly reaching spear would be no small |
| of harm while being able to inflect harm." To | | | | task for a swordsman. In addition to this |
| make Silver's point consider the story of | | | | reach advantage, even a moderately skilled |
| David and Goliath. Goliath is unrivaled on | | | | spear fighter can deliver several thrusts or |
| the battlefield and no Israelite can stand | | | | cuts to an oncoming swordsman before that |
| against him in single combat. He holds | | | | sword can reach its target. History has |
| several advantages over his opponents: he is | | | | shown us that one of those many spear cuts |
| stronger and so can attack and defend with | | | | would be to either to the swordsman's lead |
| more power than his opponent; he is taller | | | | knee, hand, arm, or foot. A good hit to any |
| which gives him the ability to both outreach | | | | of these areas would end the swordsman's |
| and outstride his opponents; and he is | | | | attack promptly. A common misjudgment is that |
| undefeated, which gives him a psychological | | | | a large portion of a weapon's edge needs to |
| advantage over his opponents. Goliath would | | | | strike the surface to do any real damage. An |
| likely have been armored and have the | | | | edge need only penetrate the depth of three |
| contemporary weapons of the times, bronze or | | | | fingers in the right areas of the human |
| leather armor, a bronze or wicker shield, | | | | anatomy to be a fatal hit or lead to one. |
| spear, and according to legend a great sword. | | | | Though the stroke to the knee is not a fatal |
| On the other side of the dueling scale is | | | | blow, worldwide archaeological finds from |
| the boy, David. David is a mere | | | | battle sites involving ancient weapons have |
| sheep-herding child, not even a warrior in | | | | consistently shown that such a wound led to a |
| the traditional sense. David's only weapon | | | | final lethal blow. In these archaeological |
| is a sling. It would appear that the scales | | | | digs, large percentages of the fallen were |
| tip heavily in favor of Goliath, but a more | | | | first struck at the bend of the knee, or |
| detailed look reveals the opposite. The | | | | other exposed appendages, and then delivered |
| sling is a formidable weapon in this realm of | | | | a fatal blow while they lay prostrate from |
| single combat, especially single combat on an | | | | the first injury. By studying the results of |
| open battlefield that offers room to | | | | many years of full-contact dueling with |
| maneuver. Bearing in mind the nature of the | | | | training and blunted weapons, I have rarely |
| ground in the Middle East, David also had | | | | found this cut to a charging opponent's knee, |
| plenty of rocks to choose from while | | | | ankle or foot to fail. An equally successful |
| maneuvering. Out of necessity as a | | | | tactic is thrusting into the opponent's |
| sheepherder, he would have been a | | | | oncoming feet. When infantry used swords |
| well-practiced slinger and skilled at keeping | | | | and shields against lance-carrying cavalry, |
| predators away from the herd with endless | | | | the results nearly always ended in disaster |
| days to spend flinging rocks with his sling | | | | for the foot soldier. When foot soldiers |
| to pass the time away. With those skills he | | | | replaced swords with spears and lances, the |
| could have continually launched a rock at | | | | disaster fell on the heavy cavalry. It was |
| Goliath for every other step Goliath did or | | | | so effective that infantry pike units became |
| did not take, all the while staying out of | | | | the standard for hundreds of years. Pike |
| reach of Goliath's weapons; thus fulfilling | | | | units were not removed from the battlefield |
| Silvers' recipe for victory. Due to its | | | | until the advent of efficient firearms |
| translation through time, the story has led | | | | sporting bayonets, which was not the demise |
| us to believe that David's sling was both | | | | of the pole weapon but rather a merger of |
| laughable and ultimately a shock to Goliath. | | | | pike and gun. When the sword is pitted |
| Neither would be true, the sling has been | | | | against a spear, the swordsman also has to |
| around for a long time and was a commonplace | | | | overcome the issue of too much exposure. |
| weapon in early biblical warfare. It is | | | | Combat manuscripts of old break the sword |
| reasonable to believe that Goliath was | | | | down into sections depending on the type of |
| defeated because of the nature of the | | | | sword. The first third of the blade from its |
| weapon's reach, the terrain conditions, and | | | | tip down was for cutting, the next third was |
| the psychological effects of the whole scheme | | | | for soft parries, and the final third above |
| of things, i.e., the undefeated war giant | | | | the hand guard was for heavy parries and |
| versus a sheep-herding boy with everybody | | | | coming to grips with your opponent. The old |
| watching. How much time would Goliath spend | | | | masters from the East and West also wrote |
| hiding behind his shield from a boy while the | | | | that the preferred method of defense with a |
| Philistine and Israeli armies watched? Let us | | | | sword was simply to avoid your opponent's |
| assume that Goliath, like every other solider | | | | attacks physically and through footwork. |
| during biblical warfare, has seen a sling in | | | | This method was preferred over jeopardizing |
| action before, as opposed to the common | | | | your sword's cutting edge and its structural |
| belief that he thought it laughable and fell | | | | integrity by using it to fend off blows from |
| victim to his overconfidence. Goliath could | | | | other weapons. With exceptions, the sword |
| hide behind his shield and try to close | | | | length averages from 20 to 42 inches. On the |
| within sword range, but in order to hit David | | | | contrary, the smallest battlefield spear is |
| he has to be able to see him. When Goliath | | | | around six feet in length with a shaft |
| exposes his face to look, David only needs to | | | | designed for warding off blows from other |
| time his next rock for impact into that | | | | weapons. The swordsman must also overcome |
| exposed moment. It is nearly impossible to | | | | the limited range of his defense, referring |
| successfully time a parry against a missile | | | | not only to the sword's reach but also the |
| weapon launched at close range. The smaller | | | | axis with which one can parry and so defend |
| the projectile, David's rock, the more | | | | the body. Take into account the mechanics |
| difficult it is to see, calculate its speed, | | | | of the human body and the length, manner, and |
| and accurately react to defending the target | | | | design of the weapon being used. The nature |
| area of its destination. Also added to | | | | of the sword creates a problem when defending |
| David's advantages is he can launch his rocks | | | | above or below the waist. The problem is to |
| continually. With the sling David can follow | | | | defend one's body above or below one must, by |
| a familiar formula: he can attack repeatedly | | | | the nature of the sword, expose the opposite |
| while remaining out of reach of his | | | | of what is defended. This is true with all |
| opponent's assaults. At best Goliath would | | | | weapons but to a higher degree with sword and |
| have had the opportunity for one spear throw | | | | similar weapons. The pole arm offers |
| at David, but again at the cost of over | | | | considerably more options. By tipping the |
| exposing himself to David's faster sling | | | | weapon vertically, horizontally, or |
| attacks. After that spear throw its back to | | | | diagonally out from the body, one can readily |
| sword range. Whatever tactic Goliath used | | | | defend and strike from any axis of the body. |
| we all know the result of it. Musashi | | | | The pole arm fighter does not even have to |
| used a similar technique to David's against | | | | resort to this guard until the swordsman gets |
| the chain and sickle fighter Shishido Baiken. | | | | in close enough to be a threat. The |
| Again, rather than use his sword and face | | | | swordsman, on trying to close, has to defend |
| the extra challenges that comes with it, | | | | too much exposed area and so is subject to |
| Musashi opts to make a close range throw of | | | | attack at several areas on his body. To a |
| his tanto, a Japanese dagger which hits and | | | | large degree this is why the shield was |
| kills his unsuspecting opponent. In the | | | | developed. In most cultures, the shield was |
| West, one seldom hears of duels pitting a | | | | developed for war and not dueling. The |
| sword against another type of weapon. In | | | | shield was designed to be part of a wall of |
| Europe it was considered an unfair advantage | | | | shields used as a defensive battle tactic as |
| to mix weapons during duels. The European | | | | demonstrated by the front lines of a Greek |
| duel was as often a matter of righting wrongs | | | | phalanx, the Roman turtle formation, and the |
| and maintaining honor as it was about issues | | | | Viking shield wall. In a duel or single |
| of martial skills. In the East reasons for | | | | combat, the shield is used in a considerably |
| dueling ranged from matters of honor to | | | | different manner than in a melee or mass |
| testing martial skills. One dueled with | | | | melee. Regardless of how it is used, the |
| whatever weapon one specialized in, and it | | | | shield can only effectively protect one side |
| was believed if you were a warrior you should | | | | of the body during a charge and so forces the |
| be able to defend yourself with your weapon | | | | wielder to defend his opposite side with the |
| regardless of what your opponent was using, | | | | sword. Because of the leverage that can be |
| the only true rule was to win. This is a | | | | placed behind a thrusting or sweeping pole |
| much harder test of skills than to be | | | | attack, the sword and its wielding arm cannot |
| protected by the equality of weapons. | | | | compete with the impact of an oncoming pole |
| Knowing this, one must question why dueling | | | | weapon As mentioned earlier, this is |
| with the katana did not reach its peak until | | | | especially true when a sweeping spear cut or |
| after the age of elite Samurai warriors. | | | | a thrust is delivered to the swordsman's |
| After the dismantling of the Samurai class, | | | | stressed knee, ankle, or foot. Such an |
| an action that turned the once proud warrior | | | | attack forces the swordsman to bring the tip |
| class into living archives of an age gone for | | | | of his sword down; the arm position would be |
| good. During this later era, most Japanese | | | | the equivalent of completely emptying a |
| field weapons became obsolete and where | | | | drinking mug gripped in your hand. Doing |
| impractical to carry in public. With a major | | | | this simple motion the reader can see how the |
| decline in the use of most battlefield | | | | position is both awkward and weak; |
| weapons, the time for the sword to shine was | | | | furthermore, the position also exposes the |
| at hand. The katana became the Samurai's | | | | upper torso. The lower guard that could be |
| last symbolic hold on an ancient warrior | | | | used exposes even more of the swordsman's |
| system soon to be completely outdated by | | | | body. A high or low, well-timed thrust or |
| cheaper and more efficient guns. The | | | | cut to this weak side will put an end to the |
| replacement of the elite warrior class by the | | | | charging swordsman. Though I have used the |
| gun was not a phenomenon known only to the | | | | spear here as the swordsman's nemesis, one |
| Japanese. The gun in its own time | | | | can see that any weapon of greater length or |
| systematically brought about the dismantling | | | | weight would prove technologically superior. |
| of the elite warrior classes worldwide. The | | | | It becomes obvious why the swordsman's |
| Chinese Boxers, the Scots Highlanders, the | | | | survival is so unlikely. The sword has come |
| Zulu, the Aborigines, and the American | | | | to stand on a solid throne where its powers |
| Indians were among the last holdouts of the | | | | are more mythical than the sword-wielding |
| warrior elite, and they all fell victim to | | | | heroes themselves. We have come to believe |
| the gun. For most of these warrior cultures | | | | the sword and its powers as the staple of all |
| the sword became a symbolic relic of an age | | | | the classical warrior societies. Swords have |
| far more romantic then it actually was. | | | | been given names and positions of power; some |
| Since the end of the elite warrior classes | | | | were even believed to be magical. The right |
| the facts regarding the sword and its value | | | | person with the right sword could smite |
| as a weapon have been exaggerated far and | | | | injustice, slay the wicked, and restore |
| away beyond its real functions as an | | | | kingdoms, assuming that is no one else shows |
| instrument of war. The sword has several | | | | up with a spear, halberd, pole-flail, rake, |
| weaknesses as a combat weapon. Due to its | | | | pitchfork, or sling. The entertainment |
| limited reach or in the case of the great | | | | industry may keep the sword on a throne of |
| sword, excessive length; one has less time | | | | power and awe, but for those who have fought |
| for reaction to an opponent's attack. The | | | | with and against the sword in all its |
| sword's edge is fragile and easily damaged so | | | | manifestations, it's a translucent and |
| parries need to be made with the flat of the | | | | mythological throne. By Larry L Andrews |
| blade, making defense both complicated and | | | | Find much more at spearduel. |