- Joined
- Jun 2, 2006
- Messages
- 367
Believe me, I searched the crap out of these terms... so if there is already a thread dedicated to this, I'm sorry!
The first time I laid eyes on a CS Proof video, I knew I had discovered something special. It has become a tradition with my closest friends and family to watch every new DVD they release, for better or worse, to laugh at the utter absurdity of their tests, to decry their false claims, and to shake our heads at a rotund mall ninja in tight shorts. Well, after viewing part (I was sleepy, so I skimmed) of the latest DVD, Graphic Sword Proof, I feel the need to discuss it with the community. My general feelings about Cold Steel are pretty negative. I hadn't bought anything from them in about a year, then yesterday I found out they were closing out some of their sjamboks... hey, they're only ten bucks a piece if you buy three or more!
Well, my loss of resolve aside, I have tried not to give the company any more of my money due to my increasing distaste for Lynn Thompson's business practices. I have tried to put this out of my mind for the sake of objectivity (in viewing the DVD), but that's probably not possible. With that out of the way, let's dig in.
The first thing that must be mentioned is: LT wears pants!!! You heard me right. No more of those comical shorts. He's even wearing a tie. He looks much more respectable and invites fewer jokes (at least for his attire), which can only be considered a good move. I guess somebody at CS noticed how ridiculous he looked and said something. Bravo to whoever finally spoke up.
The second thing that stuck out to me was not positive, and that was the "meaty" nature of their tests. Yes, they're getting worse. Now they're chopping up pig carcasses in addition to all the wasted cuts of beef. The meat-filled sleeves and pant legs are now a standard test, apparently. The other tests are practical by comparison. CS firmly appeals to blood-thirsty mall ninjas and paints an even larger bullseye on all of us who carry and use knives. My objectivity is more than waning at this point.
The third, and final point of interest is the increased use of "experts." So now, in addition to the mustached musketeer, we have a guy who looks liked Chuck Norris' understudy and another guy who looks like he jumped straight out of an 80's hair metal band. I really don't know much about these guys, but their performances don't particularly add credibility to CS, IMHO. More candy for martial arts posers. Personally, I think they should just get Christopher Lambert to pull a CS katana out of his coat and decapitate one of those plywood samurai.
If/when I actually sit through the whole thing, I'll undoubtedly find more to complain about, but I'm just as interested in hearing everyone else's thoughts. Be lighthearted or serious, whatever you feel like. This DVD walks the line between funny and offensive, while attempting to be neither, so I expect a lot of varied opinions. Try to keep from straying in general CS rants, as we have enough of those going already. These DVDs, for me, provide a rare opportunity to laugh at a company (and a man) that usually just irritates me.
BTW, as of this moment, I am coining the terms "plywood samurai" and "cardboard gangster" to mean hypothetical or imaginary foes. Why? Because they make me smile whenever I think about them.
The first time I laid eyes on a CS Proof video, I knew I had discovered something special. It has become a tradition with my closest friends and family to watch every new DVD they release, for better or worse, to laugh at the utter absurdity of their tests, to decry their false claims, and to shake our heads at a rotund mall ninja in tight shorts. Well, after viewing part (I was sleepy, so I skimmed) of the latest DVD, Graphic Sword Proof, I feel the need to discuss it with the community. My general feelings about Cold Steel are pretty negative. I hadn't bought anything from them in about a year, then yesterday I found out they were closing out some of their sjamboks... hey, they're only ten bucks a piece if you buy three or more!
Well, my loss of resolve aside, I have tried not to give the company any more of my money due to my increasing distaste for Lynn Thompson's business practices. I have tried to put this out of my mind for the sake of objectivity (in viewing the DVD), but that's probably not possible. With that out of the way, let's dig in.The first thing that must be mentioned is: LT wears pants!!! You heard me right. No more of those comical shorts. He's even wearing a tie. He looks much more respectable and invites fewer jokes (at least for his attire), which can only be considered a good move. I guess somebody at CS noticed how ridiculous he looked and said something. Bravo to whoever finally spoke up.
The second thing that stuck out to me was not positive, and that was the "meaty" nature of their tests. Yes, they're getting worse. Now they're chopping up pig carcasses in addition to all the wasted cuts of beef. The meat-filled sleeves and pant legs are now a standard test, apparently. The other tests are practical by comparison. CS firmly appeals to blood-thirsty mall ninjas and paints an even larger bullseye on all of us who carry and use knives. My objectivity is more than waning at this point.
The third, and final point of interest is the increased use of "experts." So now, in addition to the mustached musketeer, we have a guy who looks liked Chuck Norris' understudy and another guy who looks like he jumped straight out of an 80's hair metal band. I really don't know much about these guys, but their performances don't particularly add credibility to CS, IMHO. More candy for martial arts posers. Personally, I think they should just get Christopher Lambert to pull a CS katana out of his coat and decapitate one of those plywood samurai.
If/when I actually sit through the whole thing, I'll undoubtedly find more to complain about, but I'm just as interested in hearing everyone else's thoughts. Be lighthearted or serious, whatever you feel like. This DVD walks the line between funny and offensive, while attempting to be neither, so I expect a lot of varied opinions. Try to keep from straying in general CS rants, as we have enough of those going already. These DVDs, for me, provide a rare opportunity to laugh at a company (and a man) that usually just irritates me.
BTW, as of this moment, I am coining the terms "plywood samurai" and "cardboard gangster" to mean hypothetical or imaginary foes. Why? Because they make me smile whenever I think about them.
