Name the swords!

insertwittyname · 08-19-2006, 10:00 PM

I am starting Ki Gum Do and now have a sparring and a practice sword. They need names and I am lacking them. One idea courtesy of BF is "The Kamikaze" *spelt it how I'd say it* I like it but I need more ideas! If I have any mean comments of why do I want to name my swords, blah blah blah, I don't care! It's because I want to! Ok I'm done. Name my swords! Please?

the_ink_bleeds_faster · 08-21-2006, 10:25 PM

Do you have one sparring sword and one practice sword?

Delkaetre · 08-22-2006, 05:43 AM

I've got a collection of long knives and short swords, names ranging from Bite (my first) to Cthulu (has an ornate curling pattern on the hilt) to Beauty (my prettiest, with an etched blade)... and so on.
You could always name them after their attributes- hence Beauty, my lovely polished steel/circle-etched blade. She's got the prettiest sunburst-style gurad ever.

Spectral Despondence · 09-21-2006, 09:21 PM

I have an exuberant collection and the following may come as a suprise - I'm a 8 year practicioner of Kenjutsu, Iaido, and Iaijutsu. Primarily Shinto-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, and Jigen Ryu.

I have a 1050 (880 fold) true jap Sakabatou (reverse blade sword)A 1050 temper forge Warrior series katana and wakizashi, a vast assormtent of 440 katans and wakizashis, a 1050 ninja tanto, 2 whte oak bokkens and 4 Shinais (bamboo swords)

davethedarklord · 09-21-2006, 09:54 PM

How powerful the name of a sword sounds.
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit
In a real practicer's ear!

BlackButterfly · 09-21-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectral Despondence

I have an exuberant collection and the following may come as a suprise - I'm a 8 year practicioner of Kenjutsu, Iaido, and Iaijutsu. Primarily Shinto-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, and Jigen Ryu.

I have a 1050 (880 fold) true jap Sakabatou (reverse blade sword)A 1050 temper forge Warrior series katana and wakizashi, a vast assormtent of 440 katans and wakizashis, a 1050 ninja tanto, 2 whte oak bokkens and 4 Shinais (bamboo swords)

...and my socks have just been rocked off...

You have officially surpassed any level of human awesomeness I have ever encountered...

Darkbender423 · 09-22-2006, 04:53 AM

I've been a student of the martial arts since the age of 10 and I'm skilled with many types of swords, daggers, spears, kwon do, staff, shuriken, throwing spikes and assorted other weapons. I have a $1200 katana, a hand made kung fu broad sword,straight sword and ninja to that are all of high quality. I have spent many years and a lot of money building my collection, I have 12 swords, an array of knives and daggers, long weapons and an assortment of sticks. I think the name you choose for your weapon, if you choose to do so, should be a personal choice. I'll try to think of a few names for you though.

Mr_Knuckles · 09-22-2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by insertwittyname

I am starting Ki Gum Do

I've never heard of this style. Do you have a link to a Ki Gum Do page?

Spectral Despondence · 09-22-2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackButterfly

...and my socks have just been rocked off...

You have officially surpassed any level of human awesomeness I have ever encountered...

*bows* I'm hardly worthy of such very kind words, but i thank you =)

My aim with blades is like my aim for friends - quality before quantity. You can put a price on any sword in the world but its true worth is in the heart of the wielder and of course the true dedication of its smith. As a tool of preserving life and not taking it. Its also a very rewarding art form. Your own katas can be such a vibrant form of self expression. As for names i have never really named my swords. I've always seen them as extensions of myself and strangely the thought had never crossed my mind. =P

Don't Look Behind You · 09-23-2006, 07:30 AM

...And I am the absolute opposite of you...namely I have exactly 0 professional skills but I name all my swords.
I have three and I don't really know how to describe them except by leangth and pretty attributes, so I'll leave that. All I can say is that they are damn sharp and that I would soooooooooooooooo love to be able to use them with skill and feel this poetic connection to the sword. Erm, anyway. I have to hide them (got them as a secret present from a boyfriend) from my mother and so I can't imagine how I will manage to learn more than just waving them around a bit, getting freaked out, polishing the blade and putting the sword back carefully.

But yeah, to the names .... I always call objects (not my cat though--she's called Cat) as things that I would like to connect to myself in some way or other...be it characters from books or phenomenons that fascinate me. Try thinking about that.

Darkbender423 · 09-23-2006, 04:20 PM

Although I am classically trained with swords I find that the weilding comes from the heart. Practice cutting strokes and the draw over and over. Focus on making the draw quickly, aiming for a precise "target" with a clean and fluid motion. The first strike in combat is the essence of victory. If you have never practiced I recommend beginning with a blunt weapon. I personally practice with razor sharp ones and have yet to cut myself. There is a technique called the flower in kung fu and it requires some spinning behind the back and this can be quite dangerous at high speed. I tend to focus my draw in two areas, first the neck of course, the second is called a "cartwheel" where you cut between the ribcage and the pelvis, when done properly in combat you can cut your opponent in two halves with ease. The olny resistance in this area is flesh and the spinal collumn.

I have thought of a couple of names, the render, gleeming death, deamons tooth, dark vengance. I would have translated these into proper Japanese names for you but I seem to have misplaced my dicitonary. Good luck with the training.

Spectral Despondence · 09-23-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don't Look Behind You

...And I am the absolute opposite of you...namely I have exactly 0 professional skills but I name all my swords.
I have three and I don't really know how to describe them except by leangth and pretty attributes, so I'll leave that. All I can say is that they are damn sharp and that I would soooooooooooooooo love to be able to use them with skill and feel this poetic connection to the sword. Erm, anyway. I have to hide them (got them as a secret present from a boyfriend) from my mother and so I can't imagine how I will manage to learn more than just waving them around a bit, getting freaked out, polishing the blade and putting the sword back carefully.

But yeah, to the names .... I always call objects (not my cat though--she's called Cat) as things that I would like to connect to myself in some way or other...be it characters from books or phenomenons that fascinate me. Try thinking about that.

Anyone can become a master of an art if they so chose to become one =) As for a solution with your mother you should purchase if possible a shinai (bamboo sword) their usually acquirable at most dojo's and martial arts studios if you cannot locate another place to purchacse them. Price is generally cheap and it is the traditional choice for fairly new students. It is very highly recommended that you do not practice with a live blade until your quite comfortable with a bokken after advancing from a shinai. I can go on of course but i don't want to bore you =P I will at your request though if youd like to learn more.

A couple quick key points.
Theres a string going along one edge of the shinai that indicates the edge of the blade. Always practice or experiment with the thought in mind that keeping the edge straight and laterally perfect as possible to the target is a key facet to being a swordman of any discipline

When experimenting with katas - move slowly at first and with grace to 'lay out' the flow of a technique or sequence of. With repetition and focused practice, further training at full speed will be more beneficial and productive.

Spectral Despondence · 09-23-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don't Look Behind You

...And I am the absolute opposite of you...namely I have exactly 0 professional skills but I name all my swords.
I have three and I don't really know how to describe them except by leangth and pretty attributes, so I'll leave that. All I can say is that they are damn sharp and that I would soooooooooooooooo love to be able to use them with skill and feel this poetic connection to the sword. Erm, anyway. I have to hide them (got them as a secret present from a boyfriend) from my mother and so I can't imagine how I will manage to learn more than just waving them around a bit, getting freaked out, polishing the blade and putting the sword back carefully.

Anyone can become a master of an art if they so chose to become one =) As for a solution with your mother you should purchase if possible a shinai (bamboo sword) their usually acquirable at most dojo's and martial arts studios if you cannot locate another place to purchacse them. Price is generally cheap and it is the traditional choice for fairly new students. It is very highly recommended that you do not practice with a live blade until your quite comfortable with a bokken after advancing from a shinai. I can go on of course but i don't want to bore you =P I will at your request though if youd like to learn more.

A couple quick key points.
Theres a string going along one edge of the shinai that indicates the edge of the blade. Always practice or experiment with the thought in mind that keeping the edge straight and laterally perfect as possible to the target is a key facet to being a swordsman of any discipline

When experimenting with katas - move slowly at first and with grace to 'lay out' the flow of a technique or sequence of. With repetition and focused practice, further training at full speed will be more beneficial and productive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don't Look Behind You

But yeah, to the names .... I always call objects (not my cat though--she's called Cat) as things that I would like to connect to myself in some way or other...be it characters from books or phenomenons that fascinate me. Try thinking about that.

You seem quite an aesthetic and articulate person. =) Which makes naming your cat 'Cat' bring me to question your laziness with your abilities

**bah! sorry for the double post - don't know why it did that =P**

Don't Look Behind You · 09-24-2006, 10:44 AM

hah....laziness is a deamon I will never be able to dispose of.
I called my cat "Cat" becuase she is the ONLY cat in my life/world and therefore not a represantative of an animal species but a unique personlality among the humans. Why should I give her another personality by naming her other than what she is?
And also the Russian word for cat ("kissa") is very cute and she answers to it.

I will try to follow all the advices above for improving my sword-tactics. I have, indeed, myself noticed that I have no business messing around with a sharp blade.

Darkbender423 · 09-26-2006, 08:19 PM

Yeah you definately want to take your time and become comfortable with a blade in your hand before moving to a sharp weapon. Always respect the blade. I always start all the students in my class with wooden broadswords and we really don't advise them to use sharp weapons. Mostly we move them up to aluminum for exhibition purposes. Since we mainly use the broadsword we always take this precaution as a broadsword cut could be very nasty. Most of our forms have a lot of jumping and spinning techniques and sharp weapons can be very dangerous. It has taken me years to gain the control I have over my weapon and you will get there as well, just start slow and work from there. Always know where your cutting edge is, that is the key to focus on at first. Even when using the shinai always act as if it is a sharp weapon and you will develop the proper attention. Speed and accuracy will develop over time as will your confidence with your weapon.

Spectral Despondence · 09-29-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkbender423

Always know where your cutting edge is, that is the key to focus on at first. Even when using the shinai always act as if it is a sharp weapon and you will develop the proper attention. Speed and accuracy will develop over time as will your confidence with your weapon.

well said. treat all swords you practice with (no matter how silly it may seem) as a live blade to develop the proper attitude.

This is indeed crucial -Darkbender has a great point there