Tameshigiri video shorts - downloads

The guy misses three times in twelve-mat tatami cut...I thought this martial arts stuff was about skill!? ;-)

Seriously, very impressive...that big roll must be like taking a whack at a horse, eh?

I didn't know they were water soaked for 2 days though...gotta be easier than a dry cut. RoadRunner and I both tried whacking away at some sort of oriental "decorative" grass SHMBO has growing in my front yard...damn tough stuff when it's not tied up, dry and free standing.

Danny...have you tried these exercises with your Khuks? How did they do?
 
Nasty,
Tameshigiri is a strange thing and a practice misunderstood by many.
It s like the japanese archery. The target exists to help you understand what you are doing right and doing wrong.
The point is to do it right, not to hit the target.
In kyudo (japanese archery) we look at the target to see how we must change ourselves.
this is a near opposite to the western idea of modifying self/weapon in order to hit the target.

It is the same way with tameshigiri. A lot of people think that the purpose is to cut them cleanly. The purpose is to cut properly and the cut's cleanliness indicates if you are doing it right or not. A "true" student does not look at the target after he has cut anyway. (believe it or not) We are supposed to "feel" if the cut was true or not and then put another target up.

The reeds have to be soaked for a number of hours to make them "flesh-like." If they are dry they are like thin, stringy straw.

I have never done tameshigiri with anything but katana.
There wouldn't be anything wrong doing it at home, but in somebody else's dojo, I try to do what is expected of me.
(you know how it is - Japanese teachers think you are not serious if you do that kind of thing)

The guy in the video is Daniel Watson. I have known him for about 8 years, believe it or not!
(I am from dallas and I used to work at scarborough faire renn festival where this video was shot)
Daniel is a swordmaker/dealer.
These videos were made to demonstrate the cutting ability of his handmade swords.

I have had this very same discussion with him.
It is very typical of western efficiency focus versus eastern form focus.

If it works, then use it! (very american/european and ninja-like thinking)

If it isnt traditional, then no matter how well it works, it isnt right. (traditional japanese thinking)

Personally, I think traditional is pretty and can make you more effective and efficient if you have the right mentality.
I pursue my art in the traditional way but my art traditionally values effectiveness over tradition!
Here lies the major difference between the "samurai" and the "ninja"
 
When I think of cutting, I think of cutting something. I never thought of the act of cutting.

The target exists to help you understand what you are doing right and doing wrong.
The point is to do it right, not to hit the target.
Click to expand...
My mindset has always been to hit the target.
 
Ah Semper, I think I have been in the dojo too long.
I am glad you learned a new perspective. That is a big step in understanding some of the apparent "wackiness" sometimes associated with the martial arts.
The point isnt always to do something like cut the target in two, but to improve yourself psychologically, emotionally and maybe spiritually by forcing yourself to do something that requires all of your concentration and focus and requires patience and transcendental thought.

It looks like the man is cutting a wet bale of reeds. In fact, he is trying to become a better man.
 
I spent a good amout of time over the weekend obsessively cutting through taped-together bands of hard sisal rope.

I used both my test knife and a few khukuris. The technique is similar but different enough, others couldn't match what I did even using the same khukuri. It truly is an understanding between the 3 elements involved - person, knife, object being cut.

Half of it, though, is careful thinking about the cutting act - start to finish.
 
The way I practice it, the other half is wiping the grin off my face after doing it! :-)
 
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