Blade Show 2005 - Tameshigiri

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Feb 15, 2003
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no words needed.........

Tame6.jpg
Tame3.jpg


Tame4.jpg
Tame5.jpg


Tame10.jpg
Tame1.jpg



by James Williams of Bugei

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
 
In conclusion, that is a pretty sharp sword wielded by someone who just *might* know what he's doing! :cool:
 
OK, please forgive my naivety. What am I looking for in this series of shots that makes this uncommonly precise?

Does he swing it in two directions in one pass?
Is it the cleanliness of the cuts?
Didn't someone else cut about 12 of these in one strike before?

I'm not trying to inflame, but I don't have *any* knowledge of this aspect of the work to understand it. Like watching ALL masters, what he is doing doesn't *look* that hard.... :eek:

Fill me in, please.

Coop
 
...what makes this awesome is that JW has to draw (i'd say) at least about 28" inches of steel from the scabbard before he makes his cuts from several directions with precise speed and angle without knocking the mats over. (which i tend to do when i attempt something like this).
 
I saw him last year. As said before, the draw and cut in one motion is a beauty to behold. On some of the cuts, he'll do multiple cuts on the section that's just been cut off. He'll slice it off, and while the section is in the air falling he'll slice it again. Depending on how it falls, he'll slice it lengthwise as it's in the air, or make two more cuts while it's still falling. I think that part, where he has to make a split decision as to how to cut a falling piece, is especially difficult. The initial cut you can plan in your head, the subsequent cuts on the falling section requires more of an instinctive reaction.

If you look at the center right photo, you'll see that there's two cut off sections there. And looking at their positions, you can see that those two cuts were made in rapid enough succession that the sections have hardly had time to fall away from the body.

Also, he was naming various types of draw. My uneducated eyes can't see the difference but I can understand that the angle you are to the "opponent" will dictate a different draw, etc.

Also fun was seeing him draw and cut two mats that aren't right next to each other. Unlike a single cut that goes through multiple mats clumped together, what he did required changing direction and picking up speed again after you've been slowed down by the first mat. And he does it in one smooth motion.

I never thought it looked impressive in pictures either, but I sure thought it was amazing watching it live.
 
Here's a pic from the other side...
 

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Thanks guys!

The videos really helped me see and Grapevine's description showed me what to look for. Excellent.

Now I can appreciate it fully. Yes--a master!

Thanks again.

Coop
 
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