"Sword" Fighting?

K

kaotikross

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I found this, and while I don't deny it would take skill, is it really "sword" fighting? I liken this to more of a chain whip:

[video=youtube;eMAsCuDFSUI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMAsCuDFSUI[/video]
 
I guess it could be defined as a sword with a really long, very thin, extremely flexible blade. :D
 
Every few years the urumi pops up, but aside from a few outrageous claims it's a novelty. Flexible weapons just lack blocking and stopping power. Catch a chain whip at the dangerous part of its arc, and you can crush cinder blocks. At any other point on that trajectory, it wraps around painfully but is mostly harmless. Smatchet for the win!
 
I would rather smatchet, actually, if we're speaking of practical-use applications. I attempted a search for the urumi, as in to kinda feel out prices, but couldn't find any modern makers or any stock for sale anyplace. The "belt sword" guy is still in business, but that's a far cry from a 6-7' long flexible weapon. I mainly wanted to locate one just to inform myself as to price ranges, and if cheap enough something to (carefully) mess around with/add to the collection. The only ones I could find are already in collections on My Armory, so I guess nobody makes them, or if so, it's such a niche item as to only be available in India.
 
My thoughts on the urumi have been thus: 1)it seems like it would be very hard to actually put a determined opponent down with, especially if heavily clothed. 2) it would make for some truly breathtaking training injuries, and 3) it would almost be worth making and selling them just for the resulting genre of yo*tube "urumi fail" videos. :D
I'd rather pinuti, me.
 
J W Bensinger said:
My thoughts on the urumi have been thus: 1)it seems like it would be very hard to actually put a determined opponent down with, especially if heavily clothed. 2) it would make for some truly breathtaking training injuries, and 3) it would almost be worth making and selling them just for the resulting genre of yo*tube "urumi fail" videos. :D
I'd rather pinuti, me.
Click to expand...

Great comments , still laughing . Obviously not a real practical weapon and no utilitarian application . All flexible type weapons , like chains, whips , belts , ropes etc with or without weights or blades or spikes etc - require a high level of skill and are often more dangerous to the wielder than the opponent . Just simple nunchukas were very challenging to learn for me - beat the crap out of myself actually !
 
I had a manriki gusari when i was in college-long story, won it at Pennsic 25 years ago...I was learning the technique where you snap it like a towel and executed the technique perfectly...on my shin.
Still have the manriki...I use it to hold the double doors to the forge shut...
 
From a blog site by Nathan Willey -- specifically ---

http://listverse.com/2014/07/12/10-badass-ancient-weapons-from-around-the-world/


Urumi were flexible sword whips. The blade itself was made of extremely bendable metal that, when not in use, could be wrapped around the waist like a belt. Blade lengths differed, but urumi could reach lengths of 3–5 meters (12–16 ft).Urumi were whipped in circles, creating a defensive zone difficult for an opponent to penetrate. With both sides of the blade sharpened, they were extremely dangerous even for the wielder and required years of training. Even simple things like stopping the weapon and changing directions were considered special skills difficult to master. Due to the unique fighting style, urumi could not be used in battle formations and were better suited for man-to-man combat and assassinations. Yet despite the stringent requirements for wielding one properly, they were an unstoppable force once mastered. Parrying proved almost useless against an urumi, because even if an opponent tried to stop it with a shield, the urumi would just bend around it to strike.

In my searching, I found several sites that said that urumis were being made out of band saw blades now. I guess buying long strips of flexible steel is easier than making it. :D (Empasis mine)
 
It also occurs to me there are two options with training with this-either the floor is very hard on the urumi (concrete) or the urumi is veeeery hard on the flooring (everything else)
 
It reminds me of the Robin Williams joke about Mick Jagger, "Look out everybody, his lips are moving!" You would need a lot of room-ee for the urumi, and a polite opponent who wouldn't bum rush you while it was spinning around for another pass. I think the best way to hurt somebody with one is to give it to some guy so he can start training with it. Every flexible weapon I ever tried hit me at least once. Now if they had a bunch of chainsaw chains in with a handle, THAT would be entertainment.
 
Considering I almost put my own eye out learning to crack a bullwhip, ..yeah. Probably better I can't find one :D
 
zzyzzogeton said:
From a blog site by Nathan Willey -- specifically ---

http://listverse.com/2014/07/12/10-badass-ancient-weapons-from-around-the-world/


Urumi were flexible sword whips. The blade itself was made of extremely bendable metal that, when not in use, could be wrapped around the waist like a belt. Blade lengths differed, but urumi could reach lengths of 3–5 meters (12–16 ft).Urumi were whipped in circles, creating a defensive zone difficult for an opponent to penetrate. With both sides of the blade sharpened, they were extremely dangerous even for the wielder and required years of training. Even simple things like stopping the weapon and changing directions were considered special skills difficult to master. Due to the unique fighting style, urumi could not be used in battle formations and were better suited for man-to-man combat and assassinations. Yet despite the stringent requirements for wielding one properly, they were an unstoppable force once mastered. Parrying proved almost useless against an urumi, because even if an opponent tried to stop it with a shield, the urumi would just bend around it to strike.

In my searching, I found several sites that said that urumis were being made out of band saw blades now. I guess buying long strips of flexible steel is easier than making it. :D (Empasis mine)
Click to expand...

Very interesting link ! I'm trying to imagine a 12 to 16' flexible metal thingagig in actual military use . Bring in the archers!

More likely used in single contest duels and such ?

They must have had some pretty good spring steel or something to be able to make these strong and flexible enough .
 
The amazing thing to me is that they're in bare feet. Alas, the noble urumi, how it has been replaced by modern technological advances, like so many weapons of old! :D

[video=youtube;RvSflxAbVg8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvSflxAbVg8[/video]
 
Mecha said:
The amazing thing to me is that they're in bare feet. Alas, the noble urumi, how it has been replaced by modern technological advances, like so many weapons of old! :D
Click to expand...

ಠ_ಠ

That doesn't look dangerous at all...
 
abbydaddy said:
ಠ_ಠ

That doesn't look dangerous at all...
Click to expand...

Judging by the guy's condition , he's most in danger of immanent collapse ! If he had to go the whole 3 minute round , I believe the bushes would win .

Read some of your blog -pretty cool , keep up the good work .
 
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