From bad to worst...

From the BBC comes: "Hollywood inspires fitness craze"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/4187871.stm

I know not whether to laugh or to cry...

Yes ineed, there are a load of so-called "experts" setting up these types of classes. Makes you wonder where we suddenly found all these secret Samurai masters

Rob

The ancient warriors of old...

That's stupid.

Holds head in hands whilst crying manly in the office.

Hilarious article, but what the hell, how many inspired by kill bill will last long enough to be in any way dangerous? Flash in the pan really

Mr Fox explains: "The ancient warriors of old would give their katana (sword) a name, because it represents the soul of the warrior.

I knew I was doing something right when I named mine "Lucy", so that's why I'm getting more in touch with my feminine side

Actually I do own some rubber foam blades and axes (the latter even do have names ;-) ). But I don't use them for training, they are for LARP combat. They just don't have the right weight and balance for weapon exercise.
Anyway, if that is, what it takes for people to do something for their fitness, it's OK by me. Helps to cut down the costs for the public health system.

Ian, I am not sure which scares me more: that you own a katana or that you called it Lucy...

Micheal, yeah I agree that health is a good idea but stopping eating snacks and doing some sport (yes, even the gym) would be better. Hell, even LARPing would get you fitter with more fun.

How unbelievably NAFF! Whatever next?

Isn't Ian Fox the guy who runs that company advertising 3-day courses for fitness instructors who want to become qualified self-defense instructors? Think I've seen those ads in Traditional Karate, Combat Mag or something similar.

Next, those celebs will be doing their videos for it..."Slash your way to fitness" anyone? Or "PowerCut with (insert Celeb name here)"

That's the fun part about Hollywood. It seems they alone have the ability to promote anything they want just because *insert actor/actress* says so.

This being said, I have a replica of the sword used in Kill Bill bracketed on my wall. Yes it's metal, no I wouldn't use it on fear of it breaking and for that reason I have not named my blade.

One of these days I want a katana forged especially for me, then I will name my blade, not before.

Hum... I believe that whoever forges the blade gets to name it. *shrugs*

There was another thread on here a while back, started by Bronson I think. He found a site salled www.swordfit.com It was good for a laugh, do search on the threads here, you should find it, althouh the website seems to be down today

I do remember when I was in Tokyo, that they did some form of kenjutsu in the dojo next to ours. Some of them used bokken, some had foam (covered?) ken. The foam kens used to go at it quite a bit. I don't know exactly what they were traiing in though.

rgds

Bryan

My three Shinken

#1. she's called Angela
#2. she's called Claire
#3. a transexual from Transalvania called Rockett but we don't like to talk about it !

Yann Golanski wrote: From the BBC comes: "Hollywood inspires fitness craze" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/n...re/4187871.stm I know not whether to laugh or to cry...

Isn't there already some sort of game/practice called Chanbara?

I found that article balancing on the brink to seriously disturbing.

Hollywood has recently inspired me to take on a new fitness craze..... thanks to Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn i've started playing a lot more dodgeball..... the training sucks though....

"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!"

And in the true samurai tradition, everyone is required to give their sword a secret name.

What the FXXX!!!


hmmm....
a secret name


Nogitsune Wacker

Don J. Modesto wrote: Isn't there already some sort of game/practice called Chanbara?

Sure is -- there's a group in my town and for a little while they met in the dojo where my son and I take karate. Perhaps my sons didn't take it long enough to learn anything really substantial; but the padded foam swords are good fun and my LARPing friends like them even though they don't look even remotely realistic -- long red or black cylindrical "blade" about 3' long and with a 3-3.5" diameter, and a reasonable handle to hold while you wield it.

Here's the main site: http://www.samuraisports.com/

It's got some old info on it; I know because it doesn't have the new contact info for the guy who teaches here in town.

Here's the local guy's site: http://www.chanbara-mass.com/pages/1/index.htm

Wendy Rowe wrote: Here's the main site: http://www.samuraisports.com/

Apparently there is some confusion about what being a master of Goshindo is...

http://www.bestinmartialarts.com/Goshindo.html

Wendy Rowe wrote: but the padded foam swords are good fun and my LARPing friends like them even though they don't look even remotely realistic -- long red or black cylindrical "blade" about 3' long and with a 3-3.5" diameter, and a reasonable handle to hold while you wield it.

The ones we have in Germany have a more realistic form. A friend of mine used the building principle used for LARP weapons to build some Training weapons for his tea kwon do group.
The axes I'm posing at http://www.urbadner.de/larp.html are Dixie and Daisy.

Right...Don't worry guys, it'll wear off soon enough. I love that pic on the report in the sunset v. highlander!!! And if it doesn't wear off, I'm off to the gym so sign up for a class with all those women...If you can't beat 'em, join em.

Laugh would be the best response! Check these guys out on e-budo.com, or again check the Frauds thread by John Riggs.

Most unlearned people will believe anything!