What's New on ModernSwordsman.com
Fight your Opponent, not »
Having fought the last two nights in a row really hammered home a lesson I have taught to students for a very long time; [...]
Technique
Cutting Through »
When training proper striking technique it is important to Cut Through your target, or attempt to. This [...]
Out-fight, Out-think, Out-last »
There are many ways to defeat an opponent, however below is a simple 3 step mantra that can be invaluable [...]
Blade Velocity »
Never grip your sword handle tightly unless you are striking or blocking with the weapon. Most [...]
Reviews
Videos
A Fighter Practice »
Fighter Practice June 22nd 2008 A rough edited version of the Practice footage from [...]
2006 Full Contact »
2006 Lancaster Armouries Full Contact Medieval Sword Tournament Final Each year a full [...]
Training
Tunnel Vision and the Swordsman »
Training to avoid "Tunnel Vision" After fighters have been fighting for some time the subject of "Tunnel Vision" usually becomes a topic. Tunnel Vision is when a fighter loses perspective and awareness of the world surrounding them and instead is focusing solely on one [Read More]
More Training Headlines
Philosophy
“Intent”
One of the most crucial pieces lacking in most martial artists' mental training is the concept of "Intent". Intent being the specific purpose or goal in action. Martial Artists go through the motions in learning sword techniques thinking that by repeating simply the motions and saying the mantras over and over again that they will understand [...]
Sword Play vs. Sword Fighting
It is important for those aspiring to be swordsmen to know the difference between what is Sword Play and Sword Fighting. Many martial artists who dabble in the sword arts do not truly know the difference either. Katas, weapon forms and techniques in many martial arts often equate to little more than "dancing" with the sword in hand. These [...]
The Sword and the Swordsman
The Sword and the Swordsman The Sword is more than just a Sword to the Swordsman. The Sword is not just a weapon; it is a Focus for the Swordsman. Dedication to the Art of the Sword can help forge the Mind, the Spirit and the Body into one edge. There are many tools that are used to hone one’s focus, many arts, disciplines and studies, but [...]
“It is easy to kill someone with a slash of a sword. It is hard to be impossible for others to cut down.” – Yagyu Munenori
"It is easy to kill someone with a slash of a sword. It is hard to be impossible for others to cut down." - Yagyu Munenori Yagyu Munenori understood the importance of defense and making yourself defensible even if you have no weapon. As well as being sword masters, Munenori and his father were renowned for their "no-sword" techniques, whereby [...]