Originally posted by chrismoses
A quick comment, I think the differnce between the examples of the 'grappling' intrinsic to the kendo kata and what is being discussed here is that the kendo kata employs open hand work in order to use a weapon while others here have suggested using a weapon in order to grapple. I agree with Neil G's comments that if you have a weapon, it's absurd to *attempt* to transition to grappling. If you lock up, so be it, but even then your open hand work ideally moves you back into a position where you can again employ your weapon. Just look at older jujutsu/aikijujutsu systems where grappling is used long enough to be able to deploy and use a lethal weapon.
Thanks for bringing some clarity to what Josh (Althaur) was trying to get across.
To provide a bit more, when Josh said,
And just in case I didn't make myself clear, I was advocating ALWAYS closing and doing this sort of thing. My point was that it does have a place.
I'm pretty sure what he meant to say was, ". . .I was NOT advocating ALWAYS closing and doing this sort of thing." At any rate, that's consistent with what I've taught him over the years.
As it happens, grappling and throwing -- including using the sword as a tool for the purpose -- is very much a part of some koryu bugei systems. In those of the Bujinkan, four ryuha I can think of immediately where it's a common feature (for different reasons depending on the ryuha) are Kukishinden ryu Happo Biken, Takagi Yoshin ryu, Shinden Fudo ryu, and Togakure ryu.
It's a major feature of armored battlefield swordsmanship as exemplified by the first one I mentioned above, as frequently the "ideal" clean cuts you'd do in unarmored dueling are not easy to achieve. Since you still need to kill the opponent, what is often needed is to place the edge or point at an opening or weak spot on the yoroi while taking the opponent's balance and push the cut or thrust through; and often this happens "inside" the range of his own sword. (This also is done with polearms such as yari and naginata as well, often outside the range of his sword.) Joint-locking and/or throwing, using the weapon for leverage, is often a part of the cutting action.
Takagi Yoshin ryu contains an entire body of material referred to as daisho sabaki, dealing with jujutsu methods used where both combatants are wearing their swords but the "defender" hasn't yet drawn his as he's being attacked (while the attacker may either have already drawn his or be in the act of drawing). The concept behind this is that in such a situation you have, in addition to your taijutsu or body skills, four swords available to you: both of yours and both of his.
One who claims to have thoroughly learned his master's techniques while disregarding his master's teaching, relying instead on his own talents, is worse than a fool.
-- Yamaoka Tesshu