How Would a Samurai Master Fight with a Longsword? (Shocking Findings)

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I appreciate that Seki Sensei had the self confidence to give a new weapon an honest try. Some people who have mastered one thing are too fragile to ever admit that they haven't mastered everything. The fact that Seki Sensei was curious about how to take advantage of the unique characteristics of the long sword in combat despite not having experience with one indicates that he is a master of combat and not just a master of one or two weapons.

The fact that Seki Sensei found numerous ESTABLISHED techniques just from just trying the sword out shows to me that he is a master of his craft.

I won a national bladed weapons tournament when I was younger and longsword was my preferred weapon. Sensei's intuitive use of the weapon is very clever and does use some longsword fundamentals (like how he utilises the wind) and he comes up with some interesting techniques, but some pointers I have are: - The longsword has a longer grip and this changes how you would wield it compared to a katana, specifically how you exploit leverage. If you learn how to properly work your hand against each other you can achieve a large range of motion and a large amount of force very quickly for minimum effort which is a major positive to the longsword. - For this reason, we don't want to make one-handed strikes or thrusts if we're fighting someone with another two-handed sword, save for very limited circumstances. The longsword's length means the leverage can work backwards if you don't have both hands on the sword, which is a downside of the longsword especially but applies to most if not all two-handed swords. - The parrying technique sensei demonstrates where he parries with one hand is a genuine technique, although you'd use a smaller sword. - His counter-parry with the katana is a genuine point however this is typically overcome by proper bracing and technique when facing someone used to a longsword - Sensei intuitively figures out the ox guard, but follow through is not quite as we'd do it. I notice a tendency to avoid undercuts in this video, I don't know enough about Japanese sword technique to know if that's a general thing but they are extensively used in European swordsmanship. - Sensei's idea to swing the blade around and avoid contact with the opponents blade is also a real technique, but done with a larger sword like a zweihander. - How to use the handguard: However you want. It's to guard your hands, it's to hit people, it's to leverage your opponent's weapon in a bind, it's to disarm, it has all manner of functionalities and it is an integral part of longsword technique.

The fact sensai picked up on the ox guard, and flat parries without having any experience on the longsword shows his experience and willingness to learn more about a weapons unique characteristics. I'd love to see his take on a blade similar to that of a katana. Say a falshan or German Messer.

I love that he had questions and concerns about the handguard, but he didn't proclaim it was "trash". He asked for more information on its use. True master.

I've been a practioner of the Italian sword style taught in the book of Fiore dei Liberi, known as The Flower of Battle. I've been doing this for about 12 years now, and have some small experience with Iaido, maybe a little under 2 years. To answer your question about how to avoid the crossguard hitting your head from a high position, there are several answers. Keep in mind This is my specific school's interpretation, and there are other sword styles and interpretations. The first is instead of holding the pommel of the sword on front of your head, you would hold your arms more extended above your head with the pommel over the top of your head. You can afford to do this as the longsword is generally longer than the katana, and if you judge your distance properly you can compensate for the additional time it takes to make a descending cut. Another way is to hold the sword an a position similar to a baseball batter, then cut past your head very narrowly, thinking almost cutting off your own ear. This takes advantage of what you noticed about the strong central position of the longsword to thrust and strike the opponents sword away. It's also wonderful that you noticed the deflecting of the sword, as that is one of the first movements described when using the longsword in one hand. It's done slightly differently in the book, but is principally the same. As for making large cuts, you are correct that a more cutting oriented sword would beat the blade aside when making large movements. This is why the style I have learned favors the very narrow cuts, or deflecting the blade and cutting safely. Generally large cuts are not made uncovered. They can also be made upwards with the back edge of the sword. Your sideways grip of the sword is also insightful. There is indeed a guard position in my style and several others. It is a very strong guard against cuts and thrusts against the head and body but if used improperly leaves the hands vulnerable. Finally, you are correct in that the pommel can be used to extend the distance of a thrust as well as a cut. It is usually done as a deception, and there is even a guard we would use to throw the sword. Please let me know if you have any more questions, and I'd be happy to answer them from the perspective of my style and interpretation.

Seki Sensei has the mindset where he can immediately start identifying strengths with something, rather than dwell on weaknesses or being unfamiliar with a weapon. You can see how he quickly began to become comfortable with the long sword. This is a guy who can spiritually connect with all swords, not just katanas. A true genius

As an on and off longsword fencer from the UK, this extremely interesting to watch. There are loads of HEMA practitioners and youtubers who study, discuss and use katanas but it is rare to see the longsword being handled and interacted with by Japanese martial artists. Thank you Seki sensei and Shogu for this video. I had the same thought with the crossguard when i first picked up a longsword, but as you demonstrated, a slight turn in the wrist alters which part of the blade makes contact, it also means that the guard can cover different lines and because of it's length, it can cover a considerable number of angles. It can also be used offensively and serves as an aid toward edge alignment for cutting. That's my limited insight anyways 😅 cheers!

I'm coming here from Skallagrim's channel, never having seen this series of videos before. I have 45 years experience with various forms of Western fencing, and have been active in HEMA for 20 years. This is fascinating, he made no major mistakes, and I'm very impressed that Sensei was able to invent several very plausible techniques for the longsword on the spot. It just goes to show that mastery is universal.

You could make this into a viral series having him try out weapons from all over the world. I would watch all of those. It's missing one thing, though. After he tries out the weapons, why don't you show him a video of a Long Sword expert? He would see that and create some fascinating techniques based on seeing the traditional use of the long sword. With no way to answer his questions, It felt like we're missing the second half of the video.

Once he had in his hands, that spark of childish curiosity lightened up in his eyes. It’s a great and valuable thing to keep. I love to see how much fun Seki Sensei has just trying moves and smiling widely if having success. Great Swordsmanship, great video.

Hi, HEMA instructor here. I find the video very interesting and I will try to answer the questions from my point of view, i teach early Liechtenauer, Dobringer and Von Danzig. Regarding the guard, we train a lot the hangen positions, pflug and Och, and you get used to the guard and pivot the hand to flatten the gard, Usually its a problem for beginners, but when you trained with the sword the hangen positions it becomes instinct. There is also a technique where you put your thumb on the flat over the guard and you hold the flat to the front, in all cases you have to learn to rotate the guard to be able to move the sword araund your body, its a trade off, since the guard helps a lot for parrys. The technique where sensei parrys hitting the sword exists in the Von Danzig system, its even one of the most important ones, its called krumphau. Hitting an incoming attack coming from a high guard and then attacking with a thrust its also a master technique, it called Zornhau ort. It is really impressive to watch someone figure master techniques from the long sword in just an afternoon. Sensei is no doubt a fencing master among masters.

Seeing this man's face light up as he experiments with a new sword is really something else. This is a person who's passionate about his specialty and his excitement to take his art in new directions is contagious.

The ultimate sign of a master: Always willing to learn more. Seki Sensei absolutely deserves his title and the respect of anyone interested in his art.

I think we would all love a followup video with a longword expert so that Seki Sensei can hear from an expert on the time, armour, shield, unit type needs of the time that gave rise to the longsword. Not to counter his findings, but as a curious tutorial to see how much Seki Sensei already figured out intuitively and how much he maybe wasn't aware of context and technique-wise! Then it would be interesting to contrast Japanese weapons from the same time period (and their contexts). It's the closest thing we might get to a temporaneous master match-up. Rather than the MMA fight reccs I get, I'd rather explore the theoretical side and see masters learn directly from each other (at least at first :P)

I have to respect this Guy for realizing the Strength's and Weaknesses of a Blade so quickly

I want to see Sensei collaborate with a Longsword HEMA expert - Not as a lesson or as a competition, but to see how well each person assesses the weapon of the other, gives theories, answers questions, and explains to one-another if they were right or if there were any misconceptions. You could end it with a spar, but the peer-to-peer collaboration at the start would be absolutely insane. There is no telling what lessons both sides of the table could bring to the art and sport of fencing and REAL martial arts.

There are two things that I thoroughly enjoyed about this video. First, to see a master's mind at work figuring out a new puzzle is a joy. Second, seeing his childlike glee when he made a discovery was entertaining. I don't know Sensei's age, but you're never to knowledgeable or too old to learn something new. Thank you for this.

This is absolutely amazing!!! As a HEMA practitioner for a bit longer than 20 years, it's the best demonstration of the technical specificity of the longsword!!! Thank you so much for this brilliant video