Big "Amen"
Dear Charlie:
"...) Because the shinai is shaped the way it is, it encourages its users to use it in ways that a shinken could not be used (not without difficulty). It is true that there are small, quick waza with shinken - even that small quick rising and sharply falling cut to shomen can be accomplished with shinken, ditto small kote strikes. But I think perhaps kendoists are encouraged (by themselves, not by their sensei) to "flick" more rather than cut in a realistic fashion. With some of these, the attack would be with the shinogi, not a cut...."
I wish I could paste this across the forehead of our head instructor at the Kumdo school at which I practice. The problem is that in order to support the sport side of the class (which is most of the students) focus is maintained on these light, fast, snappy strikes which are swell for competition but must nearly be unlearned when considering the use of the sword as a weapon. I would bet dollars to donuts that Net members who are reading this right now and attend various TAI KAI or cutting competitions don't use snappy quick movements when executing a cut. Seems like this is much the same issue as when sport-oriented MA compare what they do to that of full-contact fighters, ne? Of course, the arguement is always made that sparring with juk-to (J. Shinai) is always of benefit for inculcating proper distance, timing and technique. Can't argue there. But I think sometimes that "sticks are sticks" and "swords are swords" gets lost a lot of times.
Best Wishes,
Bruce
Bruce W Sims
www.midwesthapkido.com