Flat/Convex Ruck In Action

Ban

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Here is Hogwash and I with some water bottle cutting fun. I need to work on my technique some. I was able to go through 6 on the 2nd try with the last bottle still standing. Hogwash went through 5 on his last try. And of course some hair shaving just for laughs :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEB58TdZ3hw

Here is some 2X4 chopping action followed by some more hair shaving. It chopped much better compared to the first Ruck that I tried several weeks back. Oddly there was also less felt vibration vs the first time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTCLJUjrlC0
 
My flash isn't working on this computer so I can't see the video, but that Ruck (which just had it's value wrecked...) sure does chop and shave.
 
Take THAT, you pesky zombies!!!! :eek::D

Beautiful work!! :thumbup:


A girl needs a knife...
 
2 things that might be worth trying, bend your legs so you can maintain a level swing, rather then swinging downward, which can make you concentrate on not hitting the table.

and try using both hands, but not in a "baseball bat" manner. if you rested the blade of a ruck on a table, put your right and left hand on the handle (which is hanging off the side of the table) and tried to put weight on it in a "push up" position - you have to pull upward really hard with your left hand while pushing downward with your right in order to balance. by doing that, you can apply constant force throughout your swing.

visual example:
...___O___......................................
,_|______|__,_____________________
........................|||||||||||||||||||||
the comma's = the pommel and the talon hole gaurd, the ||||||| - the table, and the O is a persons head :D the .... is nothing, just to keep the position of the upper arms and head in place...

when you "baseball bat" something, your relying entirely on weight of the bat or the sword to push through your object. when you hold a baseball bat, your hands are right next to each other, in effect creating a single pivot point with no real way of applying pressure against it once the object your hitting starts resisting. so you end up with the tip trying to bounce backwards once it hits the 3rd bottle, and your arm has no way of counter acting that backward force.

if you space your hands apart in the "I'm trying to push cut through a peice of concrete" position, you can push cut as hard as you can throughout the entire swing, regardless of how much resistance your object gives.

it's harder to get speed out of it like you can with a baseball bat, but you might get a few more bottles out of it :D when I tried to switch grips to the more powerful 2 handed sword grip with my ak47, it wasn't sharp enough to cut through the flat side of a jug of water (a hard task since it will tend to bend inward before being cut), I ended up throwing it across the yard since I was applying heavy pressure throughout the swing... it was funny. a total failure, but halarious to watch :D



edit: I just looked more closely at the video and realized that theres not much more you can do with the grip given how short it is... I think being more level with the bottles and trying to get the swing longer, more speed build up and a longer follow through might have helped.

I want one of those soooo bad...
 
2 things that might be worth trying, bend your legs so you can maintain a level swing, rather then swinging downward, which can make you concentrate on not hitting the table.

and try using both hands, but not in a "baseball bat" manner. if you rested the blade of a ruck on a table, put your right and left hand on the handle (which is hanging off the side of the table) and tried to put weight on it in a "push up" position - you have to pull upward really hard with your left hand while pushing downward with your right in order to balance. by doing that, you can apply constant force throughout your swing.

visual example:
...___O___......................................
,_|______|__,_____________________
........................|||||||||||||||||||||
the comma's = the pommel and the talon hole gaurd, the ||||||| - the table, and the O is a persons head :D the .... is nothing, just to keep the position of the upper arms and head in place...

when you "baseball bat" something, your relying entirely on weight of the bat or the sword to push through your object. when you hold a baseball bat, your hands are right next to each other, in effect creating a single pivot point with no real way of applying pressure against it once the object your hitting starts resisting. so you end up with the tip trying to bounce backwards once it hits the 3rd bottle, and your arm has no way of counter acting that backward force.

if you space your hands apart in the "I'm trying to push cut through a peice of concrete" position, you can push cut as hard as you can throughout the entire swing, regardless of how much resistance your object gives.

it's harder to get speed out of it like you can with a baseball bat, but you might get a few more bottles out of it :D when I tried to switch grips to the more powerful 2 handed sword grip with my ak47, it wasn't sharp enough to cut through the flat side of a jug of water (a hard task since it will tend to bend inward before being cut), I ended up throwing it across the yard since I was applying heavy pressure throughout the swing... it was funny. a total failure, but halarious to watch :D



edit: I just looked more closely at the video and realized that theres not much more you can do with the grip given how short it is... I think being more level with the bottles and trying to get the swing longer, more speed build up and a longer follow through might have helped.

I want one of those soooo bad...

Thanks for the tips LVC! I will give it a try next time around. That was my first time trying to get accurate cuts with a sword/long knife.

I think my biggest problem is trying to maintain a accurate straight cut. Power and speed is not really a issue because I was actually holding back quite a bit in order hit what I was aiming for.....

Ban
 
Very Cool!

re technique: how about back-handed, then the wrist will be in front of the edge, pulling and drawing the edge through and across the bottles. and have your body more to the middle of the row.
 
Very Cool!

re technique: how about back-handed, then the wrist will be in front of the edge, pulling and drawing the edge through and across the bottles. and have your body more to the middle of the row.


I will give the backhand a try next time. I tried squating to get down to the correct level vs trying to compensate the correct level with the cut stroke today. It worked out better. I only tried it twice and got through 6 cleanly the first try then 7 on the 2nd try. That ruck is wicked man! I did 2 seperate cuts on the same water bottle with it still standing. I won't be playing with it any more because I have it all packaged up ready to go back to its hopefully proud owner ;)
 
Very Cool!

re technique: how about back-handed, then the wrist will be in front of the edge, pulling and drawing the edge through and across the bottles. and have your body more to the middle of the row.

I've found that the single handed back hand has the same problems as a forward one handed slash. by having only one pivot point you rely on the strength of your hand and wrist to control the tip of the blade, which:( is a huge amount of force to try to leverage. the farther away from your hand the point of leverage gets, the harder it is to maintain pressure.

but, I've found that its a lot easier to get speed and accuracy out of a back handed cut, because it's easier to maintain a level curve having your arm extended comfortably, but not twisted.

it's easier to begin with, but the more bottles you stack up the harder it will become near the end of the cut.




honestly, I'm not sure that ruck actually had its value lowered by these mods. as long as its sold on the forums, and the modifier is mentioned (with an accompany disclaimer regarding lack of warranty), it will probably sell for normal market value.
 
well, i suspect the owner knew exactly what he/she was requesting, and the dollar value is irrelevant.

Im sure Hogwash was joking about that, if he was worried about value he wouldnt have half his Busses lined up to be moded by Ban.


but, I've found that its a lot easier to get speed and accuracy out of a back handed cut, because it's easier to maintain a level curve having your arm extended comfortably, but not twisted.

LVC doesnt live to far away from us, maybe he could join us and show us proper technique. :p
 
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