MrFeles

From what little I learned, the "split" in styles generally came from Japan not having access to very high quality iron. So you'd be cutting and stabbing a lot more than straight up slashing and chopping. Also parrying and deflecting instead of blocking. As you needed to make sure your sword didn't break.

Working around those limitations lead to a lot of very very fancy swordwork. While generally using thinner swords that'd try to find an opening in the enemy armour and slice instead of chopping.

Yeah. What little I know has been through my time with Bujinkan, it was mainly just practicing things but there was usually a history tid-bit attached. Even just stuff like the tsuba being loose on Japanese swords(making that distinct rattling noise) in an attempt to minimize the chance of it just shattering if hit. Always deflecting with the back of the sword, if you absolutely had to. Otherwise attempt to have the attack slide away on the side, ideally propped up against your arm. We were always taught that you had to be very careful with your sword, it didn't take much of a fuckup for it to risk breaking.

Naw I mean. If the people able to teach said smiting techniques had that attitude, then no one would learn them. Ever.

How do you feel about children?

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