The Japanese Samurai
There are tales of single swordsmen fighting and beating large numbers of enemys at a single time, however these are for the most part just tales.
The famous swordsmen Musashi, Ittosai, and Yagyu had all at one time faced several opponents and not only survived but managed to win those encounters.
Combine theses feats with the dueling record of Musashi and you have what it is that makes these swordsmen remembered as the best in Japan's rich history.
Most who followed the way of the sword did not realistically expect to live to an old age, and most didn't.
But the men mentioned earlier all died of natural causes despite the number of duels and battles that they had fought in.
All these men started their own schools and essentially their own martial arts.
They continued to wander the countryside looking for opponents with whom they can improve their skills.
In martial arts, no other weapon held the same status as the Japanese sword.
It was central to training.
But it had to be considering that this weapon was being carried by all warriors as was their right too.
When you look at the older schools their kata has the sword as the central element.
As the students would start to learn the staff or spear they learned to use it first against a sword.
Regardless of whether you are learning jujutsu, aikido, or judo there is a very strong influence of swordsmanship.
Even the notorious ninjutsu was influenced by the ever present Japanese sword.
Ironically, you will find that people training in martial arts that have been influenced by the Japanese sword are unable to hold that weapon correctly.
There are few weapons that carry the same mystique as the Japanese sword.
It is forged under rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as a deadly weapon.
For literally hundreds of years, the sword also served as a symbol of rank.
According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the name of Amakuni that created the first true Japanese sword sometime around 700A.
D.
Although there were small changes in the overall design of the blade during the next thousand years the actual shape of the weapon has changed very little since it was invented.
The famous swordsmen Musashi, Ittosai, and Yagyu had all at one time faced several opponents and not only survived but managed to win those encounters.
Combine theses feats with the dueling record of Musashi and you have what it is that makes these swordsmen remembered as the best in Japan's rich history.
Most who followed the way of the sword did not realistically expect to live to an old age, and most didn't.
But the men mentioned earlier all died of natural causes despite the number of duels and battles that they had fought in.
All these men started their own schools and essentially their own martial arts.
They continued to wander the countryside looking for opponents with whom they can improve their skills.
In martial arts, no other weapon held the same status as the Japanese sword.
It was central to training.
But it had to be considering that this weapon was being carried by all warriors as was their right too.
When you look at the older schools their kata has the sword as the central element.
As the students would start to learn the staff or spear they learned to use it first against a sword.
Regardless of whether you are learning jujutsu, aikido, or judo there is a very strong influence of swordsmanship.
Even the notorious ninjutsu was influenced by the ever present Japanese sword.
Ironically, you will find that people training in martial arts that have been influenced by the Japanese sword are unable to hold that weapon correctly.
There are few weapons that carry the same mystique as the Japanese sword.
It is forged under rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as a deadly weapon.
For literally hundreds of years, the sword also served as a symbol of rank.
According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the name of Amakuni that created the first true Japanese sword sometime around 700A.
D.
Although there were small changes in the overall design of the blade during the next thousand years the actual shape of the weapon has changed very little since it was invented.
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