Am I a HORRIBLE Swordsman? Sparring And Kenjutsu
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- A video where I respond to the people who have attacked me saying I lack technique or my kenjutsu/Kendo/Swordplay is terrible.
This video is a point of reflection, and voice that brings an opinion to stimulate eloquent and interesting discussion in the martial arts community.
I hope to hear your opinions and value them as much if not more than my own.
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Signorie, You do not sit properly on the couch when you try to talk. Your right shoulder dips lower than the left, and this would allow me to yell in your right ear and withdraw without you being allowed to yell into mine. This of course proves that I am superior in sitting on my backside and talking nonsense. Enjoyed the video, grazie.
@Badass warrior Kratos and his army WERE battling ...
As a former competitive boxer, I can only say that he's not only 100% correct about how important sparring is, but that everything he says in this video is so damn on point. I cannot count the amount of times when collaborating with other gyms for training and sparring mix ups, that some people would just get in your face (or worse, behind your back) talking about your technique. Ok. Waiver signed, gloves and head protection on, random blabber mouth flat on the canvas. People should ENHANCE THEMSEMLVES. Not bring down others,just out of respect.
Totally agree, I boxed and competed in the martial arts. Sparring is the most important element of learning and improving technique. Moreso even than learning a particular style of fighting.
I always tell my nephew a wrestler-im a kickboxer- but I always tell him to train with everyone he can. Different body's, different body types, different temperaments. You can never figure out how to beat everyone. But you can at least get an idea of how to defend yourself from those people. I've pieced up tall guys in my class and got totally owned by a heavyweight and bantamweight. Even when I was doing judo I would train with both the beginners class and the class that was just the instructors. Got my ass kicked. But I started to get better at fighting strangers. And it was all because of switching up my partners. And you always have to tell yourself you don't know it all.
I bet Raf could destroy me in sparring with just his Italian hand gestures
This totally should be a secretly passed ancient secret italian martial art that can only be understood by a real master. But every Italian actually knows it, just can't use it because he lacks understanding.
He’d INCREDIBILLIS you, lol
/|
/ |
=°==°
Are u kidding that’s his most effective weapon and his most secret style of fighting
They're actually a kata containing an ancient Italian system of clinch fighting and pressure point techniques. He was practicing this whole time!
this is something i have preached for a very long time great video.
I come from a HEMA background, and I train it for a year now. It is amazing how technics complement sparring and vice-versa. Full support for you Metatron
Thank you for sharing your valued opinion
Techniques provide the form for the novice. But without sparring, the novice will never truly understand the context of the techniques.
It's through sparring that you get to experience that flash of insight as to why you use a particular position or stance in a specific situation.
How to be a good swordsman:
Step 1: get a sword
Step 2: Unscrew the pommel
Step 3:trow it to your opponent and wait for the explosion
@@Strop2198
Step 4: End them rightly
@siphosihle madondo trust me the explosion is part of the right end, I've seen skallagrim do it
I don't thing the saying, "there's always one" has ever been more appropriate
Wong canal
Even in modern day combat/marksmanship we have a saying called shooters preference. Everyone's body is different. If a shooter is doing something a little weird or orthodox but he's landing all his shots.. leave him be.
I know I have much room for improvement, but I am pretty accurate in spite of my shooting form being pretty bad. My grip, my stance, and probably more is quite unorthodox.
@Caramel Johnson yeah I wish I had more time to practice though and some proper training. I think I would improve and be more consistent.
I recall my Drill Sergeant taught me an odd way of resting my rifle on my left hand. There'd always be someone around criticizing the way I hold the rifle from then on, but my shots were highly accurate and fast.
Yeah some hold their pistols upside down but they still get shots like crikey
I agree. When I joined the army, coming up on 40 years ago, (using the FNC1A1), I was taught to lean into it in an aggressive stance. When My son joined in 2006 (using the C7), they were allowed to use any stance they wanted, provided they could hit the target.
Metatron, I have the highest admiration for you. I believe you have your degrees in history and to me, I accept the truth that you know how to fight with swords. Here’s something you should know about me: I took South Korean martial arts for two years. I got above a blue belt (halfway to Black belt) and I was proud of myself. I was a high blue belt (blue belt with black stripe in middle). The martial arts that I took happened to be Hapkido Sun Moo Kwan. I miss it and had the best master. You’re awesome and keep making more videos on history.
Thank you very much for your words
@Caramel Johnson and @Metatron Ji Han-jae founded Hapkido Sun Moo Kwan.
In the previous school I was in, there were almost no sparring sessions.
Now when I'm in proper HEMA school, not some "elite military b*llshit" we have sparrings at every single training and after every sparring I'm getting knowledge of what I'm doing wrong and people who are more advanced gives me useful tips.
Few sparrings made me better swordsman than weeks of controlled training.
I totally agree with you Metatron!
I very much appreciate your honesty and integrity. You are never disrespectable throughout the entire concourse of this video. Haters will hate, babies will cry; but Metatron lives forever.
I appreciate your kind words friend.
@@metatronyt In my opinion most of the historic heroes, the ones who ofught battles and won, they belong to the 3rd type of swordsman, they were just brutaly effective and kind of clumsy.
Of course some belong to the 1st type of swordsman, but I believe most would not be that good, because when we're talking military leaders, Captains, Generals, Warrior Kings and such, they don't have time to learn swordsmanship to perfection, they actually need to learn such a wide range of skills to rule, lead, negotiate, trade, etc., they just had no time to waste hours training swordsmanship every day.
No problem man, you are still my favorite weaboo.
The Armory, aye? get me a zweihänder.
I can't help it, alright?
@@metatronythe only Iaidoka I can see beating a Kendoka in a duel is one who practiced Toyama Ryu due to the fact that they have handled shinken aka sharp steel swords which are heavier than bokken, shinai, and aluminum Iaito plus have actually learned proper edge alignment to actually cut mats! A kenjutsuka who has handeled a real steel sword could possibly beat a Kendoka! But if each practitioner is sparring with shinai the Kendoka is going to win! If that makes sense!
Respect. Haters will hate, but Metatron IMO has one of the best channels on RUclips simply because he says what he thinks and backs it up with facts.
I'm glad you think so :)
Truth.
Hmm, you're better than 99.9% of the online sword people...
Watching this makes me rethink my own practices. I NEED a sparing partner!
Hey! Good to see you here bushi motter, I'm glad you sticked around.
Of course, im always watching ^,^
you're*: Witch is a shortened verion of "you are". No offense intended just trying to solve the common problem of the misuderstanding between: you're your.("Your" beeing a word refering to possesion, for exampe:" Is this your book?"
Haha, I just noticed that. Auto correct on phone prolly. Thank you for the correction.
@Azir Ya boyyy
Which*
A "witch" is the sort of woman with a long nose, flying on brooms.
Version*
You forgot an "s".
Misunderstanding*
You forgot an "n".
Referring*
You forgot an "r".
Possession*
You forgot an "s".
Example*
You forgot an "l".
We all make mistakes :D
I think the question is: are you a good swordsman, or a good swordFIGHTER?
Agreed a HUGE difference
Best way to put it.
The only good swordsman is the one standing at the end.
Craig... A good swordsman is a swordsman who dies with honour. Outmatched, best they can do is live up to there principles and tenant's and fight till the end.
I say that because there are many ways to go around that saying. Like being dishonourable and going for the wanker-supply (Testicles) or the back which honestly is acceptable since it would be your opponents fault that they exposed there back to you.
@@DZ-1987: A dead swordsman is of no use to their lord...
The haters are Norman spies.
Maybe Marukhati Selectives
No they are members of the Spanish Inquisition
Haters hate being hated.
Hard work wins from talent until talent starts working hard
Daniel: Hey, what kind of belt do you have?
Miyagi: Canvas. JC Penney, $3.98. You like?
Daniel: [laughs] No, I meant...
Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants.
Damn that was dark...
I just wish belts still only cost $3.98
was it really that dark?
Self-defence is founded on the wish to do into others as they would do unto you, especially if they mean ill. In reality, one can walk away, or one be carried off. That is the criterion. ☆ nothing like the odd unprovoked assault, to learn why fair play has no place in a real attack. Protect your head.
Excellent commentary. Very inspiring.
Thank you very much indeed!
This can also be applied to modern warfare. Take an Olympic sport shooter, who can hit insane targets at insane distances, and pit him against a US Marine, SAS Operative, IDF soldier, what have you. That guy is dead as hell. The soldier may not be accurate at the same distance, but he'll lay down suppressing fire and the Olympic shooter will break and just duck for cover, because he is not battle-hardened, not trained to stay on target and return fire despite being shot at. Efficacy vs form.
Yeah but... this elite soldiers still has a form, high quality equipment a lot of training, drilling and so on, I am not sure this is good example.
@Adrien Lasbleiz Yeah, but there is no analogy to video. I own few firearms, know some pretty good people from army I know the issue pretty well but I don't see any connection to the topic from video. For example being military or even police sniper is freaking science... it requires not only streght and some talent and athletics training, but also ton of theory, millions iterations of drilling some basic thing and so on... you cannot use this comparison between olympic target shooter and military specialist as argument to support for what Metatron is talking about :D
Debatable.
Combat athletes have also point competition (yes, even MMA and thai boxing), yet the very aspect of competition and sparring gives them edge over generalist (ie. soldier), who is trying to do 20 different things in his training and might go weeks without pressure testing them.
I wouldnt bet on soldier vs. MMA fighter in hand to hand combat. And I wouldnt bet on a soldier vs. olympic shooter.
Such a beautiful video! When i watch your videos what i feel is that not only one can learn about the content of those videos but also about your beautiful systematic, analytical and intelligent way of presenting the information and elaborating it. I am grateful, truly, because of your channel's existence on the youtube.
Thank you very much indeed!
Bruce Lee famously said the same thing especially about the obsession with form when a real fight should be formless and flow after having learned the forms and techniques. The purpose of kata is to train reflexes and muscle memory so you don't have to think about how to effectively do the technique under stress as it's become reflex but once that's down you absolutely have to spar to be able to effectively apply all the techniques.
The downside of sparring before you've mastered a technique is you build muscle memory for improper form which makes extra work for you down the line to not only get the proper form down but avoid falling back on the improper form under stress. I suspect at least some criticism of your form is meant to make you away of this so you can polish it up before it becomes habit and makes things harder for you later.
I know the core purpose of the video is addressing the dojo warriors who think they're Rambo with no fighting experience and you're 100% on point
What many people obssessing with correctness of technique fail to understand is that these techniques, stances and positions were originally developed by a single "master". They were custom made to HIS body and anatomy.
That doesn't mean that the techniques and stances are optimal for any user. We have different arm lengths. Differently developed musculature. Differently shaped femurs and leg bones in general.
From a fighters perspective, the "correct" posture, technique and positioning is determined through the most effective and optimal form for a particular bodytype.
When it feels comfortable, natural AND applies the maximum amount of force and speed to your cuts and thrusts, THAT'S when you've got a PROPER technique. Regardless of what the "master" says.
If a technique just does not work at all with your body mechanics, then the honest truth is more than likely you either: have a physical disability, are in terrible shape, or are misinterpreting how the technique actually is performed.
@@calebcampbell9280 he didn't say "doesn't work at all" what I think he's referring to is when Raph said he was critiqued because his elbows were x centimeters out of position. It's not going to be spot on for every person's build. Yes someone could train the technique to get it perfect, but it's not always necessary if you can more effectively get the job done another way.
@@calebcampbell9280: So for instance, being left-handed means you're "terribly out of shape" or a "physical disability"?
Because there are plenty of martial arts that insist on gripping the weapon in a way suited to right-handed users "because the master says so".
That's just one of many examples of ridiculous overzealousness to tradition in the martial arts world that has little to do with actual fighting.
@@sevenproxies4255 Sorry dude, but from perspective of HEMA, what you say is complete nonsense. Being lefthanded is not deformity and whole anatomy and geometry works the same as for righthanded.
@@Tkoutlosh: I didn't specifically mention HEMA in my example.
Most soldiers in the past were likely just as skilled as you. Not many people got into a lot of real fights, so sparring was how people learned to fight. Fencing teachers were extremely expensive, so HEMA was a rich nobels’ thing
Eh, the middle classes also trained with fencing masters (though, depending on the time period, those fencing masters may have been less reputable). In fact, many of the treatises we have are from masters who were primarily training the middle class and trying to get a position training a noble. Moreover, even the lower classes had opportunities to gain some degree of martial capability, such as through stick-fighting and wrestling traditions.
Caramel Johnson You are right, but those were too expensive for a regular peasant, and if not, the people teaching there learned to fight through sparring. I agree with your point nonetheless.
In medieval time you basically lived in the army as a man. You farmed your land but any time your lord needed soldiers, you had to go fight. No "5 year tour", no "assignment/mission". Technically you were 24/7 a soldier, that happens to have extended downtimes so he can farm. And as in almost every year there was some kind of siege or war even in relative peace time (raids) not to mention "official war", if you stayed alive for 5 years or so, you were a very decent fighter. Also the concept of SWORD-man is modern. Meaning dude that specializez in sword. In those times you trained with every weapon in existence
Well during serfdom feudalism: every man 18-35 or so. During late feudalism (renesaince) the profession of "soldier" appeared and the percent dropped but not that much, as a lot of peple still choose the army. Only in late renesaince did the middle class appear but at that time sword was an obsolete weapon, as rifles started to be the main thing. But at the same time highwayman/banditism was on the rise (unarmoured vs unarmoured or light armour), so the sword changed (it got more and more rapier like) and rise again as the main self defense weapon
There was one big war where pretty much everyone was expected to fight, and it was over a century after the middle ages ended: the 30 years war from 1618-1648. A lot of fighting took place in the center of the HRE, which is now Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, and these countries were more than decimated. There had to that date been no greater war in the history of human kind, and it was ended with the Peace of Westphalia, and the solemn vow of all participants to never, ever wage war over Religion again - the war started with the counter-reformation of the Jesuit Order. Other than that, during medieval times, you could expect to experience a war in your general region once or twice every generation, and if you weren't a knight who would have had to go on multiple campaigns during his life time, your chances of not being affected directly by war as a peasant was about 2 in 3, and your chances of being killed in a war as a non-combatant throughout your life time - if you lived through adulthood at all - were actually not too bad. The bubonic plague killed a lot more people in 100 years than have. ever. fallen. to. military. actions. in 6 million years of hominids on earth
Metatron, let me tell you that hearing you talk in English is such a pleasure. I´m delighted to listen to you talk in your videos not only because you are one of the people that I know that know so many things and are so incredibly cultured and are capable to talk about such interesting things like you do, but also because your accent and English are sooooooo good and pleasant to hear. I could literally go to sleep while listening to you debate about which pasta is best.
P.d: I´m Spanish so I might have butchered the English language xd
As always, great video. Keep up the good content!
Gracias!
@Metatron Almost! You forgot the "¡" in "¡Gracias!". This is not to be pedantic, but since you are a language teacher and all, I thought you might appreciate the correction.
You mean i can’t wear a halberd on my belt? That explains the look i get from people
And to add, I completely agree. You talked about something like this in another video, where you said something along the lines of "Warrior back then were so hardened simply by having the mentality of having a duel to the death, and the physical activity just in their day-to-day lives." paraphrasing obviously, but that's extremely important to understand.
I grew up fighting all my life Tbh and I grew to love it but with no real time or resources to get professional training. One day in 2017, my boxing friend wanted to see how I'll do against him so I threw on some gloves and we "boxed" in an alley behind his apartments. Needless to say, his 2 years of boxing was put to shame when I beat the crap out of him in the spar. We were in the same weight class and he was more fit than me but he was no match for my 18 years of growing up with the hood kids 👌
I completely agree with your mindset on martial arts metatron, keep up the great work
Ok ok, I know you are a good swordsman and the like. Now can I see a video of you fighting? Please?
There are a few, just write Metatron sparring or Metatron HEMA vs KENJUTSU
@@metatronyt Thanks!
I just began kickboxing and I spar once a week with older people (I'm 16 and some of them are like 22) already realized that practicing shadow boxing can't work alone, you HAVE to spar and try those techniques in an actual fight to become effective, I completely agree with you Met
Great video 👍
I didn't watched your sword moves, but if you are actively training (and you haven't been training for at least a year) there is nothing that can't be solved by training and being tough by your sensei. Just take in account the fact that (as you already say in the video) the waza now is not the waza that was trained back in the day (or the jidai, if I am allowed) for battlefield fight.
Anyways, about the jodan no kamae you mentioned before, I will just say that you could consider to position your elbows closer to each other, pointing forward instead to the sides, so the armpit is not exposed; you will also be a smaller target. If this doesn't interfere with what your sensei teaches to you, just think about it.
Greetings from a fellow budoka, by the way.
Thank you for your suggestions!
Metatron. Dont take them seriously. Unless they defeat you in sparring their words mean nothing.
Hi Metatron! I'm a Kenjutsu practicioner since 2 and half years... and we really don't have enough Gekiken... And i'm really hyped when we combat. Practically bogu of kendo and cut in Kesa, men, do, tsuki (even in do), kote.... Everything even with short shinai and two shinais.
Clearly in some schools of Kenjutsu we have sparring, and is beautiful.
I respect you totally. Even i want to become better fighter in sparring... So i'm going to practice Kendo AND Kenjutsu for fulfill my needs. Maybe i can help my Sensei in some point with the actual fight. :D
100% agree with the whole thing and something I talk about constantly. I dont have any formal training in martial arts, but I do have basic knowledge of combat. I have been in a lot of fights out of self defense or the defense of others, I'm not trained but I would consider myself good out of necessity. I'm a good example of a practical fighter, but on a technical level I'm terrible. I would also consider my experience in actual fights more valuable than training with no actual experience. People in real life dont let you hit them, something you point out, once the first thing doesn't go as planned it's the person who adapts quicker who wins.
Dear Metatron, I would say that you're on point when you talk about the need to spar with a partner in order to understand how to apply the techniques in a non-coreographic context. As a Chinese traditional martial artist, who practices with and without weapons, I practice a lot of forms, but sparring is a part of our training too. I believe that correct technique is fundamental, and by correct technique I mean good body mechanics and knowledge about the application of the movements. There is no point in having good movements but not knowing how to apply them. At the same time, doing sparring without honing your technique is useless, and I believe that we , as humans, would have never developed martial arts if we had not thought that good technique could give us an edge in a fight, especially if you think about larger and physically stronger opponents against smaller ones. When I look at European fechtbücher or at living martial traditions, I see fascinating sophisticated fighting system which perhaps cannot be truly mastered in an entire life. I see people devoted to the art itself, who tried to explore their limits even if they knew that the most basic techniques are the best in a fight. I think that they found something more in martial arts rather than the "art of killing".
Just food for thought. Enjoy your training!
Just saw this now. I agree 100% though. As a KSR practioner who has branched out into HEMA, the sparring has made me a better all around swordsman. Though there are some gaps in HEMA that are conversely filled with KSR. Its quite interesting.
There is a nice fitting quot from 3227a, a medieval fencing treatise:
"Practice is better than art, since practice is viable without it, whereas art is not viable without practice."
Just one thing to add. Medieval people concidered fencing back then also an art. German fencing treatise often refere to it as "die Kunst" (the Art).
Background: I was heavy into Martial Arts for 22 years and over 10 different styles. I taught privately for over 8 years in Aikido, practical self-def, and practical swordsmanship. I trained old school, taught old school, and was always considered a "very harsh" sensei.
To Meta,
YOUR AREAS TO WORK ON:
Your positioning is sloppy.
Your body does NOT move as one when striking.
You need to learn to use less of your core when cutting.
Focus on your body alignment and drawing power into your cuts from your toes.
You don't pivot badly, but not well either.
Precision.
Circular strikes.
WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT:
Assessment of openings.
Shifting your hand position smoothly and effectively.
Speed of motion.
Power.
Control.
Linear strikes.
Response.
Concepts.
Innate affinity.
You need work. But I would say you'd be an excellent opponent for me to spar with. 7 out of 10.
Well done.
Pretentious post
@@heishephaestion4178 Entitled post.
@mxt mxt Absolutely correct. 😉
I was speaking of the positioning of one's self in opposition to another, not stances, however. Stances are static. Real life is not. My point in stating that as a negative is that he needs time anf experience to learn how to properly deviate to gain advantage. Right now, he chooses what seems easiest and safest to him. What he's most comfortable with. In his case, that is very limited and that comes from his previous learned Arts and the years spent in those. In time, with more free form combat practice, he will learn how to turn what he knows that is static more fluid. He has the ability. He just needs the time.
@@heishephaestion4178 *Constructive Critique
I have 0 experience in any fighting style or combat experience so it's not my place to say this, but I believe it's true that those who have more actual combat experience will always have an edge over those who don't (sparring in this modern day case). They had to face the fear of their opponent actually hitting / killing them if they screw up back in the day, and that fear would changes things in a real battle. This is why I love the idea of sparring since it's the closest way to emulate that feeling.
Also @Metatron from what I've seen of your videos I'd say you're a good Swordsman. Don't let the haters get under your skin. They'll imagine what they want, but that doesn't make their thoughts and opinions fact. xD
Respectively, yes and no. While sparing is intense; on a good day time slows down and you can think and plan while blocking and attacking. I never worried about being injured(i have been injured). I think it would be an entirely different experience to face real wounding or death. It would make me much more focused on defence, much harder to win if you're just trying not to get hit.
Shad is an unorthodox sword fighter and proved based on his martial experience on a video how great can you be when you do something the opponent never expects to adapt.
Dynamic Pressure is very important in learning any martial art. Metatron is right on.
@ Metatron: When it comes to my own practice of weapons fighting, (although the vast majority of my experience and skill set are in unarmed styles) I'm basically a novice of sword fighting, but I always took naturally to the Bo. (6ft. staff) The first time I ever picked up a staff when I took Taekwondo, I was told by my masters/instructors that I handled it as though I had been using it for at least two years. I've always loved the staff almost as much as the sword, and hearing that was a huge compliment to me. So while I do still work on swordsmanship, the staff is the one I focus on the most. I love this video because effective strikes don't have to be pretty in order to work. Technique and form is important to hone of course, but being able to make your mark so to speak is (to me anyway) is more important. A long while back, a couple of marital arts acquaintances arguing over what kind of punch from what style is the most effective. I told them, "The one that connects." I also spar with a friend of mine when it comes to sword fighting, who is much better at Kenjutsu and also has experience with longswords, great swords, Kali sticks, and of course, katanas. In all honesty, when it comes to weapons, I could only best him using a staff. I also teach him unarmed methods because that is my wheelhouse so to speak. He is a weapons guy, I'm more of an unarmed guy save for staff. Neither of us look super great, but we are both effective in our own respective skill sets and keep enough form in sparring (or even in a street attack) that we do well and don't end up hurting ourselves in the process, while still showing improvement. We have both had to use our unarmed experience to defend ourselves, so we both are aware of how sparring and pressure-testing is a 100% must. I love that you touched on improvisation, because I find one of the reasons that I do ok so far with the staff is because it is a dynamic weapon that my improvisation using it seems to turn out well for me more often than not. I also hate the conceit of those who hold their higher rank over one's head, even though there are only a few people who have done that to me. I approach new lessons as something of a blank slate, but I also discard moves that I feel are too flashy for me because I have had to fight and I still spar regularly. I listen, but I also ask questions. I feel that being able to ask questions is a very important when it comes to learning and growing, and the best masters I have trained under have always encouraged me to not only ask questions but also to share my own methods that I have learned from other methods. Anyway, your analysis here was excellent and you have my respect, admiration, and gratitude.
Can we add, there is no right position in martial art, There is basic position, Those things are something that changes after the copy state. There are 3 states in martial arts. the copy, the adaptation, and the mastering. You start copying the basic techniques, when you can do the basic things, you start adapt it to your own body, we are not all physical alike, so we have to adjust an technique to fit your own body. After that the mastering, that is where you have both the adaption, and the basic is combined, to make the most effective way to do it.
One thing is also for sure, kenjutsu it doesnt matter who is better. We will never know because we can not try it in real life, Even sparing you stil hold back, or else you risk getting really hurt.
Metatron, if I may suggest you a youtube channel "Academy of Historical Fencing
".
Nick, the guy who runs the channel is a great guy with a huge knowledge in sparing. It would be also great if you two would make a video together.
Oh my, don't bother with that. When keyboard warriors can tell people like A. Kohutovic or A. Linnard that they fight badly, than sure they can criticize you or me.... Luckily they've no merit, as anyone who has actually done some sparring has respect for another fighter and probably would not write down this kind of bullshit.
Btw the difference in your comparison at 6:40 is the use of time and distance, tempo and measure. They are the most important and allow you to actually hit. What the hit will do to the target matters on your technique, strenght, balance and so on. For example, a modern sabre fencer will be excellent at touching the opponent, because he covers the distance very effectively and chooses the best time for attack. But his cut has probably no martial value. On the other hand, somebody who does a lot of weapon testing like cutting stuff, is not able to make a hit so effectively, but when he does hit, it's devastating. And lastly, a guy who does not do actuall test cutting, and also does not train working with the opponent in time and space, can look pretty like heaven in his form, but can be totally useless in actual fighting.
Ah sorry, you've said that to the end of the video... my bad :D
I haven't watched your videos in a while, your English has improved quite a bit, friend.
Volevo dire che ho visto il video dove facevi sparring e per me sei un bravo studente di spada, però questa estate ti ho chiesto dove poter mangiare un buon panino.con la milza a Palermo e non mi hai risposto. Quindi ti sfiderò a duello.
Ahahahah
@@metatronyt evabbè se mi metti il cuoricino al commento come faccio a sfidarti a duello però! Uffa... vabè tanto il panino l'ho mangiato lo stesso all'antica focacceria san francesco... buona continuazione nello studio della spada!
*google translate*
Edit: YES! AN EPIC REVENGE BATTLE FOR THE SANDWICH!
Oh gosh I should really learn Italian properly. It's really hard to read just knowing Spanish
... Is the 600 year old Samurai a skeleton warrior? :)
I am 2nd dan kenjutsu and I am also beginning to realise that if we never fought, we only live in the illusion of invincibility. I think right now, it is only fair to say that kenjutsu is learning how to cut using a katana but not how to fight an opponent. Right now, I am also doing Armored Combat for the raw brawling.
Thank you Metatron for more good material, and for the opportunity to speak about something that has nagged me since ~1980.
I am male, 175lbs, 6', somewhat long arms, good overall strength and agility, yet nowhere near a fighter. A good friend of the 1970's, Golden Gloves boxer and a colored belt in Karate, more on that below, said I was a "natural." I never want to find out.
The moves that I would later incorporate into daily life have been limited primarily to deflecting blows from a door that I was near, that was suddenly opened from the other side.
Leaving out names, I was soon to take karate classes from a good USA sensei, in a small town's rented recreation room. Years later, the internet exists, and I discover that he's never lost a tournament, something like that, and that his star student from long ago has never lost a fight. I'm grateful for the foundation that I did get, only being a white belt for a short time, and sparring rather little. I still have my ghi, as I think it's spelled.
~1980, I took aikido for a few months, under a good Japanese sensei who studied under the developer of Aikido, is how I recall it. Again, I'm fortunate for the quality of whatever I did learn.
During one aikido class a problem came up. (I was too shy then to speak up to ask a question, plus it was crowded and busy). We students had paired to practice some move involving grabbing the wrist while standing.
My partner was wearing a black belt in karate, details unknown, and she was a small lightweight woman, a size I'd call extra-large Barbie Doll. It seemed that I was supposed to do all the moving and falling down by myself, and she'd hang on someplace to make it look good. This didn't seem right, so I stood there with my arm extended and wrist available, and she couldn't budge me and gave me sort of a dirty look.
It was obvious that no matter what her karate skills, if I could get a grab someplace, I could fling her around like a rag doll, with one good slam to ground ending the whole thing.
Did this woman have a false sense of security? Metatron's video seems to be asking this type of question.
I should mention that I recently saw a RUclips video, dashcam looking at crosswalk, and a big lunking kind of guy was harassing a small woman, not much different from the woman in aikido, and she gave a spinning kick which knocked his head back a bit, and he went away.
You have a great mindset and I think the exact same thing. I admire you for publishing this video especially since you've already spoke for me and hopefully a lot of others😂
Nice commentary, and the music/sound track worked very well.
Dont listen to them!
They are basicly persians...
YOUR THE BEST #METATRON
Age, experience, and desire will beat youth, skill, and theory every time.
To the haters...The words of the Metatron are wise, and delivered with Honor.
They are very wise and accurate indeed. That and his mindset is a very good one and he speaks what he likes. To add to that he can back up what he's saying which makes it even better.
You make a lot of good points. It reminds me of Kurosawa's film "Rashoman" when the fight between the bandit and the samurai is described from different perspectives. Tajōmaru, the bandit (played by the great Mifune Toshiro) describes it as a classic, beautiful battle with exciting swordplay and clever moves. Kikori, the wood cutter (played by the equally great Shimura Takashi) describes a shambles, the samurai and the bandit are slipping and falling, frantically running away, clumsily hitting at each other and missing. In other words, a real-life battle as opposed to a choreographed stage fight. In such a fight, oddly enough, the bandit and the samurai would be evenly matched. The samurai would have not only been "properly" trained, but would also have experience in real battles. The bandit would have been to the school of hard knocks, so to speak. To survive as a bandit, he needed to know how to fight effectively, not just beautifully. It's ironic that the bandit's ego results in a description of a noble, choreographed battle since he wants to appear as an equal to the samurai in fighting technique. The woodcutter (an effectively disinterested observer) sees a street brawl, which is probably closer to reality.
It's entertaining to watch you try to be as clear as possible when defending your position xD
Rightfully so ofcourse, since people love taking others out of context.
Great video!
Dojo practice is not a MMA fight in the cage, and neither are street fight
I've found a lot of people who think is the same.
And I need to remind myself everytime my ego takes control.
3:16 Dominicans have been using machetes in NY for years. And it recently became legal to carry a sword around in Texas.
When will they carry Buster sword?
I may move to Texas.
momo lolo probably soon. You know what they say. Everything is bigger on Texas xD
Metatron, would you ever do an anime review on Shigurui? I have watched it many times and it is the most accurate portrayal of a Samurai’s life I had ever seen in an anime.
The fact that the characters follow whatever the master commanded no matter how horrifying it is.
1. Range control
2. Footwork
3. Head movement
Are things I emphasize in the boxing gym I work at. Defense should always come first in any Martial art. It allows you to see clearly
some modern armies should bring back a few older weapons because modern armor is very bad basicly useless against certain older weapons
Really, you can't learn fighting if you don't fight. You may master technique and understand the philosophy, but mastering a weapon meant for fighting is by fighting - sparring today. There's a lot more to the arts than just this and a lot is learned during sparring, that you can't learn by mastering techniques. Nerves of steel, the importance of distance and stances in certain situations, applying tactics, and much more. It's like trying to learn cutting by hitting the air with a sparring sword - you don't know if you're doing it right if you don't actually cut something. Or like maths. You may understand it, but using your knowledge and understanding to solve a practical problem is important to learn how to actually solve problems!
But you're right, today it's not necessary to master the sword. If you want to do it to be fit or for a philosophical reason, do it! Have fun and be dedicated to whatever draws you to it!
@Chris C In a real duel you have the stress that if you lose you might die or at least get actually wounded. While many duels were fought with first blood, death or serious wounds were not uncommon.
Sparring really doesn't have this. You do sparring because you want to train without this pressure to prepare for duels (well, not today but you get the idea)
However, people who fought dues professionally or made fighting in general their profession, probably were raised with the idea that this is merely a part of life. Knight get raised for war - if they fight in a duel they consider death or injury just one part of it. Same with 19th or early 20th century duels. The students and gentlemen at that time knew how to fight and were probably not as scared of injury or death as a modern person is. Ofc, this is a generalisation and there are accounts of duels fought with both parties being inexperienced and, while staying true to their decision to duel, nervous and even scared.
So, to go back to the original question. Real duels are more stressfull, way more that duels in a German completion for money or title, while sparring is theoretically the situation where you train for duels. No stress, so that you can keep a cool head when your life depends on it
I would summarize this video to 'technique is a means to an end.'
This applies to SOOO MANY THINGS. Martial arts is one of them.
Not saying proper technique is bad, but if you already are achieving the end goal, you shouldn't throw that out of the window. Improve on it of course but it doesn't make you bad. As the saying goes, "it's not stupid if it works."
Having both the MOST efficient means to achieving the end result is obviously better, but in the time of war, a soldier don't have time to master a skill. They only have time to be proficient enough to survive. That's their most immediate goal. They can work on perfection if they survive. It depends what you are practicing historical martial arts for, and that should determine how you train yourself.
To para phrase Musashi; You can study 100 ways to kill a man, in the end it's all just stabbing and slashing.
1.5 minutes in and this just sounds like coping.
Update: yup, it was all coping.
Metatron, favorite RUclipsr for 6 months and the position hasn't changed
Thanks!
but can you parry perfectly in dark souls ????!??!???
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.
Any martial art without sparring is masturbatory.
@Metatron I am very curious about that Facebook page where you were attacked publicly. I agree with you 100%, so I am very interested who these people are who made these comments on the "proper jodan", especially since depending on the individual ryu, how jodan in held varied greatly. I am wondering what their justification is that jodan can only be done the way they say it is.
It happens all the time. I used to draw. My style was ink drawing and did illustrations. I shared videos where I'm drawing.
And people who are doing (or claiming, or just know better for reasons) fine art with pencil told me what they think I should do. People who can't cross hatch sh*t with ink.
And same thing happened with my wife. She is a you instructor and ballett people tell her that the style how they learned streching is the one good way. And fuck other styles basically.
As Skallagrim does, you should also try to put on yt some sparring videos, videos in which you sparr.
The diffrence between a good swordsman and a bad swordsman is,a good swordsman always paractice a technique a million times instead of a million technique a time,which is totally opposite of a bad swordsman,secondly,a good swordsman don't show-off or use their skills to gain crowd attention or to be praised,instead they only use it to defend themself or to defend others,and last but not least,a good swordsman are always modest,discipline and always hone their skills to reach the mastery level of swordsmanship.
As a simple note:-
Each sword style has their own unique movement and skills,but the deciding factor lies within the swordsman who wield the sword style itself,the more skillful,agile,strong,focus,and discipline you are,the stronger you will be.But remember to remain modest or fate may one day strikes you back because you lost in your arrogance and ego.
I just repeat the lesson that my master teach me during my training in kendo and kenjutsu
You've forgotten to mention one thing you learn when sparring: reading your opponent.
Most people think they can predict their opponents movements, just like some people believe they can predict the market in short term.
Hey, @Metatron, Just to provoke a healthy discussion...
What if the iaijutsu master is actually FASTER than the battle hardened samurai?
Wouldn't he hit the samurai first?
Would the samurai be able to parry, or even dodge/avoid a blazing fast draw?
I mean, that's what Iaijutsu is all about, huh?
If the samurai was able to avoid the first attack, then I'd totally agree with you, he would destroy the iaijutsu master, for sure.
As a martial arts practitioner i can confirm that sparring is the last step to fully assimilate and master a technique. Other training methodes only teach you what you should "try" to do during sparring and real figthing. Stress management is also essential during sparring. Great video Metatron! keep up the great work!
I agree. Nothing you said didn’t make sense to me.
Metatron, mad respect for taking the insults so calming and even crafting a extraordinary response and educational video. Keep up the great work!
15:49 to 18:12 I think that's a good enough explanation of Maai (間合い)
So true great video 🦁
Reminds me of my infantry training, when we were told that everything we learned would probably go out the window as soon as the soviets crossed the IGB! Shooting non-moving figure 11 targets was going to be nothing like real combat, even the moving target ranges weren't very realistic as they ran in straight lines on rails! Fortunately by the time the Army went into real combat I was long gone, as while we looked wonderful on parade and got high scores on the rifle range it wasn't much of a preparation for the two way range (as another youtube presenter calls it)
Metatron never replies my comments or hearts em :( Metatron I believe you have good swordmanship since you know it takes to become a great swordmans historical
Hello ;)
@@metatronyt yay u did. I can't tell you how happy I am in XD
@@metatronyt I wanted to show you my samurai armor. I made one for myself since I didn't have the budget to buy one
Yada Yada Yada from everyone. Fighting is fighting be it with a sword, gun, jet fighter, or fists and beer bottles, and fighting is 90% attitude. Of course I am not saying that the guy with the biggest attitude wins. It's the person that wants it more and is willing to do more to win that wins. Sometimes that "do more" came from training and practice. Sometimes (usually) it comes from the person willing to make the biggest move, be it first punch, first weapon pulled, most extreme level of violence. Sometimes it comes from that guy that just won't go down and eats the pain until they get their chance. Attitude wins fights.
I remember 4-5 years ago when practicing some form of Chinese martial art. Once some dude in class ask my coach what technique we practice currently are useful in a street fight, he replay none.
I remember joining an join event where Karate and Taekwondo had friendly matches. I was from the Taekwondo school. I felt bad for the Karate students where I'm from because after talking to them about their training, all they do is Kata (patterns). And when we started free sparring 9/10 times the Taekwondo practitioner would beat up the Karate practitioner. I really hate it when martial arts get watered down to the point you cannot even land a hit in sparring. Their footwork was slow, distance measurement was bad, intuition totally off. One more point, I was a green belt and beat 2 black belts winning my 1st gold medal at a regional tournament. So I do not believe if your technique looks beautiful means you can beat someone who's form isn't as pretty.
Even a guy who's a master swordman on any sword known nowadays get killed by a kid with a gun. Totally agree with you a swordman nowadays is merely an artist.
im not an expert on the matter but im pretty sure it was the undefeated master Musashi said stubborn unchanging technique and flurriful dancing movements and a focus on anything other than cutting your opponent down is not the true way of the sword. his entire instruction could almost could be summarized in "this can not be explained in words, you should spar".
“Everyone has a plan until they get hit” -Mike Tyson.
Ring experience matters. You need to spare enough to master distance and defense but not so much that you get brain damage . So yes, I agree
Here in Argentina we don't have the problem of non-sparring, in karate and boxing (which is in what I had some experience in) there was a lot of sparring, it is indeed were a fighter shines or lacks of something (I once saw a big ass woman punching like crazy to a fly weight man, that was amazing).
There is though, an alarming amount of aikido practitioners (which I despise with my whole being) here and there fooling any person with artsy moves that can't help you in a real life situation.
I guess, in the end, those who are being fooled deserve it.
Yet, not to forget that Metatron also said that it is legit to do it for the cool movements.... and that the better teacher deserves respect even though he is the worse fighter. He should not be considered stronger.
Sorry, I can't respect an aikido practitioner for what aikido is.
It's like being afraid of a guy who trains tai chi.
Just going to throw this out there- dont knock it if you haven't tried it (and by try it, actually go into it with an open mind)
Aikido black belt in Buenos Aires, I know you're right, dojo is not the real fight. Some sensei enfatize this. Unfortunatelly the ego makes Aikidokas looks like big baloons bouncing around and been deflated at the first real fight. Sorry to hear that you've found so much of those baloons around. Not all of us are like that.
"You Metatron only fight for hitting, we martial *artists* fight for technique."
"Well Muppet, a *martial* artist is just like you, he fights for what he lacks he most..."
Get it?
(Thanks to our great french philosopher Surcouf. What did you say? A corsair? Well sometimes wisdom comes from the most surprising places ☠)
Gotta be quick, perfection and the artsy fartsy shit doesn't matter as long as you don't get hit, maintain focus and awareness of your surroundings and where you're moving your blade. You have to adapt to your opponent and what they're using as a weapon or how they're fighting. Musashi was an innovator in swordsmanship and did the exact opposite of what you're "supposed" to do and was using dual katanas later on in his life and eventually started his own school.
I don't think it really matters and a lot of the people telling you this kinda shit saying that it doesn't work the way you're doing it are wrong and have their heads up their asses.
The only way you're going to learn is from experience, repetition means nothing once you've got your form down in your memory. The only way you will learn is if you implant those techniques into your sparring, etc and find new situations you would use them in or how to efficiently improve them and make them work better with your body and how you flow with your weapon.
Either way you're doin' good and just do what you do and learn new things you haven't yet to improve yourself more.
In most cases a good fighter that has bad technique that is training at an art will become a better practitioner much faster. They already comprehend timing, speed, and power very well. The guy who looks good but can fight out of a paper bag practicing the same art will tend to take longer...if they even get there. Unfortunately I tend to be the latter.
Liking the new hairstyle. I'd rather have you on my side in a sword fight than someone who has great style without sparring experience.
The same kind of thing happens in Capoeira. People will hesitate to play rough with masters out of respect and then everybody thinks the master is better and all that jazz
Beautiful video Metatron, you are completely right.
Metatron, is a better martial artist one that can take a hit but gets hit a lot, or one that cannot take a hit but never gets hit?
I would say the second. There are benefits to both of course, but never getting hit means not dying, and that's good.
no boxer only trains technique. it's a weird comparison. boxing always comes with at least sparring. but you're right, sparring is very important. I'm an MMA fighter. Please don't start with the insults, i know this is probably for a more traditional martial arts kind of crowd, but here I am. I think learning the technique is crucial and you should spend some serious time earning a good form before starting to spar, otherwise you are just waisting time, risking to hurt yourself and probably making your mistakes chronic. that being said, you can not really learn how to fight without sparring. the way I see it, form and technique training teaches you what to do, which is of course essential, because you can't do nothing if you don't know what to do, but sparring teaches you when to do it. it teaches you the flow of a fight, what people actually do, how they move, how they react to you, how they attack you, It's indispensable. and yes, being more effective is more important that looking nice. good technique does make you more effective, but only if is improved by combat and with the experience that comes from it. to me it happens a lot that I realise while sparring that something i thought I was good at i actually do wrong and then I understand why i was doing it wrong but i never would have, or would have taken me much more to realise, if I hadn't done it in sparring.
without sparring you can never get the feel of what combat is really like and you can therefore never actually prepare for it. I do think that after you have good sparring experience you can advance a lot by just technique training, but that is because you train keeping that feeling of an actual fight in your mind.
I just laugh when people say other people aren't good swordsmen, when they themselves haven't even been to a knife fight...
The whole thing reminds me Sandor Clegane's speech to Aria about sword fighting.
Pay no mind Metatron. Unlike most people, you actually came close.
PS: Something tells me you'd be friends with Akuma, from Street Fighter when you talked about fighting the sensei seriously, lol.
One thing that I think every martial artist would benefit from understanding is the OODA loop. Look up "40 second Boyd" :)
Hi Metatron would that hema guy be Matt Easton by any chance 🦁 ps I think your content is great your self Matt Easton scal and lyndy are fantastic.
Matt is op, completely broken Chara. I'll fight him if they nerf him in the next patch.
I have to say, you pissed me off the first time I watched one of your videos, but I've warmed to you since then. I agree with you on your points raised in this video. I'd even stretch to say that although kendo has regular sparring and a high intensity it fails to prepare most people for a "violent" encounter. Its still all consensual, and the techniques are limited as well as incidental strikes are generally not acknowledged. I do think there are martial artists who can still glean a more "martial" form of training from many of these arts buy applying themselves. It will generally not be taught to you though. If weapons arts had leagues run a bit more like MMA you could get closer to experiencing something like real violence. There's no one really asking for this on mass it seems. I'm sure there are major hurdles to overcome anyway in order to make it happen from a safety perspective.