Simon....you're very wrong!
Simon, thanks for taking the time to be involved in this topic. Agree or not, it's all interesting.
Sorry about the heading, you asked to be told.
If you make the slightest contact with a sharp sword the effects could be devistating. It doesn't need a pulling or pushing motion. Dotan giri is a cut that does not use a pushing or pulling motion and it is rumoured that the record for cutting (more like chopping with dotan giri) is seven bodies in one cut!
The speed at which multiple cuts can be delivered whilst using a decent amount of body movement to cut from multiple angles and directions is frightening and something I believe nobody could defend against or even survive. Have you ever been on the receiving end of a baseball bat? I have (actually a cricket bat). Nothing like a sword! You can move in on someone brandishing a dull weapon and to a certain degree, wear or absorb part of the weapons momentum. It won't cut you if you brush up against it! If you try to absorb or wear any part of a sword blade, the resulting injuries will be horrific.
You are absolutely correct about the last few inches of the long weapon being the most dangerous, however that does not apply to a sword as the entire length of the weapon is razor sharp. Infact, the closer to the tsuka, the sharper a sword usually is as that part doesn't get used very often.
Johan, thanks for a very well written, thought out post. Not because I mostly agree with it, but because this is the sort of conversation I was hoping to provoke.
Ren, as I said earlier, I have been training in MA solidly for the past 20 years.
Actually since I was eight and lived in Malaysia.
I have travelled all over the world and witnessed many, many demonstrations from a great deal of arts, styles and teachers/practitioners.
I think I've witnessed my fair share! Including some horrific accidents whereby the attacker didn't move 'correctly', thus causing serious injury to the muto dori exponent. (now that was real).
I have never seen muto dori demonstrated from a decent attack performed by a competent swordsman. I have however seen it demonstrated probably hundreds of times by people who are in total denial and believe themselves to be more skillfull than they actually are.
the demo I refer to at Aiki expo was performed by apparently one of the USA's best in their field!!!
Ren, would you actually be willing to face a swordsman, with shinken and attempt muto dori?
I would say that whatever demo's of muto dori you've seen are not realistic simply for the reason that the person swinging the sword would have been either a student, teacher, friend whatever of the person demonstrating muto dori and therefor the intent to kill is not present. Infact the intent to 'not harm' would be extremely high and seriously playing on the mind of the attacker.
Anyway, it's all good healthy discussion, keep it coming guys.
Best wishes
Howard Quick
Shinkendo Australia - Shibucho
Senjutsu Ryu Jujitsu
Kokusai Toyama Ryu Renmei