How Would a Katana Swordmaster Fight with a Buckler?
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A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.
Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully instruct you on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons so you can watch what every other student has learned. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.
Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō at least two blocks longer than the standard length.
The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.
Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.
The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.
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Was not expecting the guys from the wagaki band in the intro.
You should try a mace
I like to see Seki sensei laugh. He is not just there to teach, but he is enjoying every moment of it too.
He did laugh. It was one of those Japanese laughs, more of a grin.
In this way he gets to flex his brain and think of new techniques outside the box, and experience threats that would otherwise never be considered or thought of. And he still enjoys every second of it
@@megaman992 Also don't underestimate a true masters joy for learning. An apprentice might think he knows enough, a master is alsways looking out for improvements. It's this mindset that makes anyone a master in their skills and arts.
Yeah, I recently watched Jesse Enkamp's video on how training and sparring in the dojo should be seen as a form of educational play just as much as a form of training, just like how animals learn to hunt and fight from playing.
I get that same impression from watching Seki sensei. It all looks like educational play.
I don't think people get into that job if they don't enjoy it.
Our head instructor always seemed so happy dueling with us, the few times we actually got to meet him. Even when he lost the duel he was laughing. Especially when we did weird things. Like when I went double shield.
I might have won that one because it amused him so much he couldn't fight properly
Interestingly, both sensei instinctively hit upon some standard European fighting stances. You can find illustrations of fighters taking up the stance with the shield out in front, or with the shield over the head. Seki-sensei's strategy of getting his opponent used to him fighting only with the sword, then suddenly surprising the opponent with the buckler was very clever. I'm curious to know what Iai techniques Seki-sensei might use with the buckler. Would they be any different from usual?
This is obvious because they are skilled swordsmen. Knowing the bases well, they know exactly where to put the buckler to defend. And then you have the parallel stances the original buckler techniques are build on. Watchig them show you exactly why it is so important to practice the basics.
It also shows how common certain fighting techniques are that experienced fighters intuitively figure them out even in the first time. I train MMA and watch a channel from coach Ramsay Dewey. He said boxing should be compared to sword and buckle fighting than any other kind of weapon fighting. In both cases you use your lead hand to parry attacks and create openings for your own attacks with the dominant hand.
It all has to do with biomechanics. The human body only moves and functions in very specific ways, and no matter WHAT style you use, it's all based around the realities of the strengths and limitations of those biomechanics. So once you have one fighting style mastered. It really isn't all that hard to adapt to the tools of other similar styles.
Personally, I'm just a big fan of the attitude that "dedication to tradition" and "openness to new ideas" do not have to be conflicting ideals.
It is extremely refreshing to see it put that way.
Traditions were new ideas at one point, they were the ones that were proven effective and stuck
Kanako Yasaka's secret yt account
@@jangtheconqueror Some traditions were proven effective. Other traditions merely proved persistent. It's memetic selection. The idea doesn't have to be good or beneficial to survive. It only has to be good at surviving. Some very bad ideas are very good at surviving. It's best to reexamine traditions critically, and be willing to keep what works and abandon what doesn't.
@@immakarma2516 You've lost me with that one
I love & respect that Seki Sensei is not only willing to experiment with foreign weapons but enjoys doing so! This video series also helps show how despite cultural & weapon differences the basics are fairly universal in weapon arts.
Exactly. What _makes_ it, is that Seki Sensi is clearly a man who likes to _learn,_ whether that's from ancient manuscripts, or by taking something unfamiliar and trying it out.
... I would now love to see what Seki Sensi would make of a European _ballista,_ like Tod of Tod's Workshop has made. Just to see him walk around it, voice his opinions on it, and watch it operated and see what he thinks about the whole affair.
@ShadowDragon8685 yeah I'd love to see him use something completely different like a halberd or a battleaxe
@@stefschouwenaars9562 that would be interesting. I don't know for certain, but I'd bet money Seki Sensei at pay least has picked up and played with a naginata a time or two. So he probably knows at least the basics of what he's doing with a polearm, but it would be interesting to see him try a completely foreign one, with the hammer-spike.
@stefschouwenaars9562 check the channel again; you got your wish! Seki Sensei's commentary was "I want a real one!"
@@stefschouwenaars9562 Well youre in luck he tried a halberd
Curious. He uses the buckler to cover his flank expecting an attack from the katana on that side, which is very Japanese and not how Europeans used the buckler defensively, but then he switches to the offensive in the same style Europeans did. Defensively, the buckler covered the hands from above, and offensively, the buckler is used the same way he did.
Due to it's small size and light weight, the effective use of the buckler is of course limited to more active, offensive styles, wich made perfect sense with the appearence of side swords and rapiers, wich where also way more agile and nimble compared to longswords and such. The buckler is also a very intuitive shield, supporting movements you would naturally do to engage strokes, like trying to grab a stick, clup or anything blunt, by forcing the blade off balance when punching it.
I believe there was at least one sword and buckler treatise (Marozzo, maybe?) that used the buckler more like Seki sensei does than the I.33-esque forms you guys are describing. My understanding is that while in most schools the "default" buckler position is far forward in order to provide a "cone of defense," that has the downside of obstructing vision of the opponent and limiting sword motion. The school I'm thinking of generally keeps the buckler lower, more retracted, and to the side, though not to the extreme seen in the video.
@@irrelevantfish1978 I guess there are always different styles for everything. The default defensive resting position I know is buckler over hands, while if you want to be more aggressive, you keep it forward, as you describe, in order to protect yourself while pressing your attack.
I think it’s also covering from a potential second opponent’s strike.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! I'm not all the way through the video yet, but I would expect an occidental swordsman to present the buckler out front and launch attacks with his sword from behind the cover of his shield. Very cool to see!
Japan is like “I could have a shield but hear me out what if I just used another sword
_The Renaissance has entered the chat_
The parrying dagger episode would be a lot of comparisons to a sai
The Japanese used shields. You see samurai use heavily laquered bracers that worked like a shield or buckler. There were also wicker frameworks that could repel arrows.
@@hagamapama Didn't someone also demonstrate that the... I forget the name, but it's sort of a small parachute-like flag looped around their arms that flutter out close to them on horseback. Anyway, I think someone tested it and found that it can indeed snag and catch arrows shot at their back. Not really useful in battle the way they would fight, but I think it was worn when traveling, so extra protection against ambushes, maybe?
@@hagamapama
There were small handheld shield made of leather and chainmail attached at the bottom as protrayed in some scrolls. There were also the moving walls, tate shield.
I always loves these, when Seki Sensei has a new weapon or tool to figure out
Yeah, he’s like a kid with a new toy.
@@turbopowergt we should make a vote to see how he would use a scimitar
@@WVkittenrescue I vote yes!
@@turbopowergt alright boys were getting a little traction lets keep it up
Fighting with wakizashi & buckler reminds me of tinbe & rochin from Okinawan kobudo. It would be interesting now to see Seki Sensei with the rapier or longsword paired with the buckler, fighting against katana.
I think it’s impressive that there are shield kata that have been passed down despite their short historical lifespan
I think they meant more like a short time of popular usage, they still occasionally see use even in the late Muromachi period and into the Edo period.
@@atom8248 yes but not really, the shields that they tend to use were big wall shields they planted as temporary archer positions more than using them as normal shields
@@carlosbeltran804 I'm not talking about the stationary shields
@@carlosbeltran804 Incorrect. They had personal shields as far back as the 4th century and as late as the 16th century.
@@TheGreatDanish sure, but they didnt use them as the clasic western formations
Great fun! Love the Kenjutsu/HEMA cross fertilization!
I liked the style of holding the buckler up slightly over the head. Could imagine a battlefield scenario using the jingasa as a shield to block out the sunlight ahead of you and to prepare for an oncoming weapon.
That is an actual European buckler technique
Thanks so much Sensei and Shogo for showcasing these awesome techniques! Not long ago I made a video reviewing the writings of Portuguese missionary Luís Fróis (1532 - 8 July 1597) in his work "Tratado em que se contêm muito sucinta e abreviadamente algumas contradições e diferenças de costumes entre a gente de Europa e esta província de Japão", and it was fun to see he specifically noted the use of small shields in Japan during the end of the Muromachi when he was visiting. Thanks so much for sharing more about the history of tedate in Japan!
You know, I'd love to see Sensei's reactions to more obscure weapons and swords.
A macuahuitl would be VERY interesting to work with
That would be an incredible video if it could be done, but the problem I foresee with the macuahuitl is there's no way to make one that is both authentic and safe for sparring. Obsidian has a tendency to sharpen on impact by shaving off slivers of itself, and that's very important to the macuahuitl's feel and effectivity. As a result, I don't know how a training macuahuitl could even be constructed. Obviously it wouldn't actually use obsidian, but what could be a replacement that would both feel the same in the hand and to defend against as a real macuahuitl, but be safe enough for sparring? Defending against a macuahuitl is not like defending against any other sword as your blade can either grip tightly if you impact in the spaces between the obsidian shards or slip easily when impacting the obsidian itself.
@@milsharkie Purpleheart Armoury makes a macuahuitl trainer. It is made from nylon, I believe.
I'd like to see him use an Indian madu.
@@crazypetec-130fe7 That would be spectacular. I love shields like that. Zulu shields are similar, as well as the shield of the Dinka people. Also the Chinese gou rang, which has hooks for trapping and manipulating blades.
Problem is you can't import one into Japan; most weapons aren't legal.
We need to see Seki Sensei use a Greatsword now, Claymore, maybe even a Zweihander!
Illegal in japan, but hope one day master travels outside
@@Mikshvert I mean, they could just make/buy a plastic or foam version like they did with the longsword.
A full size greatsword would certainly be interesting but a stereotypical claymore is only a few inches longer than the plastic longsword he used in a previous video. Not really different enough to warrant a new video.
@@sr71silver What about weight and shape?
@@fenorlex1126 Marginal difference at best. The Braveheart style claymore is at the larger end of longswords but it is still very much a longsword. The weight difference is measured in ounces or grams. As for shape, the blade profile is a bit different but that would only matter in cutting and thrusting tests. Which you can't do with a plastic sword. Oh, and the quillons are a bit longer on a claymore. But that's not worth a whole new video.
This is incredible. My first thought is that the _Scottish_ dueling tradition entails a claymore sword, and a buckler. If I recall correctly, one of the best techniques Scotsmen equipped for this would use when getting into a duel with a swordsman who was not trained with or against shields, was that they could basically control their opponent's eyes _with_ the shield; by controlling where they looked and limiting where they could strike, they could open up advantages to make moves that had nothing to do with the shield _except that_ the shield was _not_ going anywhere near their sword.
Another trick, of course, was saying something affable like "I can't fight an improperly armed man! Here, take my buckler, you need it more." The other guy, usually, would take it, because they'd have a vauge understanding that it's better to have a shield than not to have a shield (in general true, since they would have been using one-handed swords alone), but because they've not trained with it, they over-focus on using it.
The point, thus, is that it seems Seki Sensi has _intuited_ that first technique, but he's also done something I'd never even _thought_ of; holding the shield in reserve, even keeping it hidden! That's... _Brilliant,_ honestly.
I shouldn't have been surprised when you say claymore and buckler in this, because it tells me you know what a claymore **actually** is. I mean I get how cool a giant two-hander can be, but. Scottish basket-hilts are so rarely acknowledged and talked about despite the name getting misappropriated.
Sensei really is a master! You could take freeze frames of what he’s doing here and put most of it side-by-side with drawings straight out of i-33 and many other European fighting manuals
That's what having the universal basics down pat gets you. Lovely to see, isn't it?
@@DinnerForkTongue
Reminds of a comment section complaining about the comments of fencing experts and wanting to hear from HEMA experts... only for HEMA experts to parrot the exact same talking points.
I always appreciate just how good Seki Sensei is at spacing. It's like it's become a fully natural skill for him
How Seki Sensei immediately adapts the buckler and innovates with it is a master class.
While Seki Senseis techniques in free sparring are very far away from what I learned of Sword and Buckler, I found it very interesting that he used the Buckler in a way very close to how I learned to use a parrying dagger fighting with rapier and dagger, imho once again proving that some in some ways martial arts are universal, thanks for the interesting video
Given he was adapting dual katana katas with the buckler, that probably explains it since the dual katana styles use the blades similarly to how parrying daggers would be in HEMA.
Something the gentleman in blue was lacking and Seki Sensei realized quickly is the buckler works best when it is used at the same time/tempo as the sword. In Ms I.33 we learn to use the buckler to cover our sword hand when engaging the opponents blade. You see Seki Sensei do this several times and it was extremely effective.
I would like to see a cooperation between this channel and some legit hema channels like Matt Easton's.
It's clearly visible that for a skilled martial artist like the Seki Sensei some things just seem natural, he can take new weapon and understand its purpose using the moves similar to those found in martial arts on the other side of the globe.
I think it would be fascinating to hear Seki Sensei and a HEMA expert discussing similarities and differences in martial arts.
Anyway thanks for this video. It was fun to watch 😀
I would also love to se a hema expert and seki sensei.I think a european trip would be a great way of doing a series of videos, most of the hema channels ive seen are in the UK. And that way he can see the real stuff without all the hassles of Japanese customs
An obvious choice would be Metatron as he speaks Japanese and have trained some Japanese swordsmanship too.
I would love to see Seki Sensei go through Matt Easton's collection with him and experience that wide array of weapons, first trying it and then discussing the historical context
Now I'm waiting for Matt Easton or Skallagrim to react to this. They will surely share insight on buckler techniques and I'll learn a lot. The video was cool. Seki Sensei can easily adapt while enjoying every moment of that. He fought swiftly and was pretty good at it - although in my opinion Europeans who actually trained a lot with shields would keep the shield in front much more. There is a technique where you bring your shield forward to keep your hand covered while attacking with the sword - so you basically block and attack at the same time. I would love to see Seki Sensei with a bigger shield. Either a large round viking style shield or one that Normans used?
I love how immediately, after 'finishing' his opponent, Seki Sensei looks in the camera :D
He is like, 'Done!'
He's so naturally charismatic 😄
The ease of him learning the techniques with a buckler shows why swashbucklers were a thing.
Little historical fact: swashbucklers were originally called that because ordinary travelers would often lash a buckler to their hip for quick use along with their sidearm. As they would travel the buckler would “swash” around making a distinctive sound. Due to their small size, ease of carry, cheap construction, and uncomplicated use, bucklers were very common for self defense in the Middle Ages.
I am curious to see how Seki Sensei would use something like a Norman kite shield, though I expect it to be somewhat similar to what we’ve seen here.
Norman Kite Shields were used by horsemen mostly.
However there are the Eastern Roman Shields (that resembled the Norman shields) that were used by the infantry. There were used strapped along with a long Kontarion (spear).
But the Japanese didnt have good/enough cavalry & their infantry was semi-professional at best. We have to go to the 14th-16 century when Ashigaru start to become common.
Probably the one arms that wouldn't be illegal in japan
@@iligyf Mm, perhaps in the Sengoku Jidai the samurai didn't have good cavalry (at least by Western standards), but it should be remembered that samurai of earlier periods were effectively horse archers, with at least one pivotal war (the Genpei War) being decided in part because of the better horses the Kanto region could raise over the Kinai region.
@@iligyf samurai were by default Calvary units, be it archers or wielding a larger blade. Yabusame is what they're called, ashigaru were infantry employed by samurai, but most were farmers just like in europe.
I'd like to see him use a viking shield. They were often made with weak evergreen wood which would cause an opponent's weapons to become lodged in the wood, which the viking could then twist and disarm the opponent. I wonder if Seki Sensei would pick up on that.
The fact he began to intuit how to incorporate the buckler into his movements & was so close to how it was used in the west is a joy to see. It’s a testament to his mastery!
I’d love to see what he devised after a few months of toying it.
what a privilege that we can hear seki sensei’s insight from anywhere in the world! thank you for these videos, they’re a great look into this rich tradition :)
Really awesome that Sensei & Shogo are offering the training seminar! What a great opportunity and an amazing way using the internet will bring people together!
Buckler is my favourite shield. Great to see it here too! I have no time to watch the video immediately, but when i come back I'll post my thoughts if it would feel needed.
Thanks for being awesome!
Seeing tools with which I am familiar used from a different perspective and tradition is always fascinating and enlightening. Thank you, sensei.
Also Ive seen couple of depictions of small square te date shields used during the Sengoku period on horseback but most of them involve pistols as opposed to swords
I love that you are both enjoying the exercise. 😊
I think an interesting take on this would be an iron or reinforced Gasa of some kind. Instead of the classic "I toss my hat into the air as a distraction" you could just use it as a shield.
As a minor nitpick, the hat is called "kasa" (not "gasa").
Wouldnt it be heavy on your neck when you wear it?
@@fortidogi8620 Are helmets usually heavy on the neck?
I love shields of all types. I'm going to go get popcorn and watch this one! 🍿
I have enjoyed all of these. Seki Sensei seems to take genuine joy in martial arts and trying new things.
I always thought the reason samurai did not use a shield was how the armor evolved and the larger shoulder plates, the sode, would kind of have a similar function, glancing blows off to the side.
Perhaps the amount and quality of steel at the time factored in? Perhaps military leaders prefered to concentrate their good steel in weapons
It's more likely because on the battlefield their primary weapons were the bow and long pole weapons, where shields can get in the way of effective use. (I've seen art of Japanese archers using something like pavises, large portable shields that sit on the ground that the archer crouches behind between shots, similar to medieval European crossbowmen.) But the _sode_ probably increased in size to compensate for the lack of shields.
@@lucasfv1357 You would think so, but you can make a good shield with lacquered wood which was a well known construction technique, so availability of steel wouldn't have been an issue. What @digitaljanus said is more likely.
@@danjager6200 Makes sense
@@lucasfv1357 That is barely a factor pre-ww2. Japan used to export blades by the thousands to other places in Asia, like Ayutthaya (Thailand).
Iron shields also exist, I only know of examples from the Edo period though. They're rectangular and about the size of a larger buckler.
These sessions with Seki Sensei are so fun. Watching a master of his craft learn and adapt quickly to find what works for what he knows shows how skilled he is. And he looks like he's having so much fun. I can't help but smile watching him perform.
Wonderful to see. The buckler is great for duels. It works great with thrusts using a rapier for example. Usually the buckler used with a fully extended arm since it blocks more that way.
The fact you have the Wagakki Band doing the intro I know this channel is going to explode, plus having your Sensei experimenting with different swords and equipment and sharing his knowledge is going to appeal to a lot of viewers! Well done!
What would your opinion be why the Japanese decision to discard shield in formation combat or dual? I know in siege warfare, the Japanese used barriers as shields and strange "balloon" when riding a horse to intercept arrows, but seems to discard a hand shields.
Archery on horse, i guess.
I always enjoy these videos. I adore the fact that Seki Sensei is always willing to learn and experiment. Their smiles and laughter are infectious too.
Cool watch as usual, found it interesting how the younger fellow got trapped in focusing on the blades tip while the sensei always kept track of the hands and went for blocking at the base to mitigate force, I recognise that from different martial arts trainings but never thought to implement it into weapon counters, got something new to practice now, thanks.
I love these videos. Seki-sensei always brings a level of mastery that's a joy to watch.
I like my bucklers too. And ir is a joy to see the two of you having so much fun with this.
Love you guys. Its good to hear his perspective. Cant wait for skall to react
I'm so glad that they pointed out that by having the sensei hiding the profile of either the buckler or the wakasashi, it limits what his opponent can see and do with less information.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
A Skallagrim and Seki Sensei video sharing weapons and fighting styles would be insanely interesting to watch.
I love this. Recently been learning sword and buckler techniques from Ms. I.33 manuscript. Like a lot of the other comments are saying, buckler is mainly used for as a defensive thing creating a cone of defense to defend against attacks. It's definitely it's own still to use both the buckler and sword in tandem as that feels like its own skill to fight in that way, but Seki Sensei definitely knew how to handle it in his own way. I appreciate the sort of blending of cultures and ideas here. Thank you!
Shogo your instructor used techniques similar to those through out Medieval Europe. Stay close to your instructor he is a true Master Of Arms.
Excellent demonstration!! I truly enjoyed this!
I've come to love this series. Please continue forever.
Asayama Ichiden ryu is a very old school and I love Seki sensei and you for bringing this for teaching.🙏😃
Seki Sensei has such an infectious smile! I love watching him have fun ^.^
Also, watching Seki Sensei using the Buckler is inspiring and terrifying lol
I love this series. Sensei has such good combat instincts. Its amazing to see how quickly he instinctually uses historically techniques without even know about them. Combat is universal
Very cool! I love these "Seki Sensei trying out Westery weaponry" videos!
Very cool! I really love this series. Seki sensei had some interesting and novel ideas for the buckler.
As a HEMA instructor we taught our students to keep the buckler extended in front of them to block off more lines of attack. Upperbody was defended with the shield but for legs the sword or slipping the leg are better options.
These videos are the perfect length to satisfy curiosity but leave you wanting to watch another
the Skills the Art of Seki Sensei impresses me every time
This was quite interesting. As always, it's a pleasure to see his depth of experience shine through when handed something he's unfamiliar with, and still be able to use it quite well, finding pros and cons with it. Thank you Seki Sensi for sharing your experience, and for being eager to show how you learn.
I love these kind of videos where you give Seki Sensei a western weapon or shield in this case and see what he would do with it. I think this is very helpful in reconstructing how they were used!
No offense to Seki Sensei, but the highlight of this video is seeing Yuko Suzuhana, Kiyoshi Ibukuro, Daisuke Kaminaga from Wagakki Band in the introduction!
They are only there for a few seconds in the background, but the beautiful voice of Suzuhana instantly caught my attention and I had to rewind the video just to make sure I was not mistaken.
But as always, Seki Sensei's insights are informative and entertaining. Thanks to both of you for these videos.
I am by no means a weapon expert whatsoever, but watching an old gentleman gets excited over a "new toy" feels refreshing to me (and i truly dont mean it as an insult, mind u, but rather as a compliment instead). It's a good self-reminder to always be humble, keep discovering & learning - despite age or expertise - on whatever field your interest is in.
I really liked to see how Seki Sensei incorporated the buckler and his analysis of how some techniques in his system may originally have been done with shield or bucklers. Many of things he did I can recognice from medieval sword and buckler, including the buckler being used as a large knuckle duster up close. Also letting go of your buckler when it is advantageous to take hold of the opponents sword arm mirrors European medieval techniques.
One thing that might be fun for you to try out that I personally like is to grab the opponents blade or spear without letting go off the buckler.
As long as the buckler ain´t too big this can be very effective. It has the usually limitations and dangers that comes from grabbing the opponents blade and must be done decisively. But it is something that can truly suprise even an expirienced opponent.
If you have nothing in one of your hands any expirienced opponent will be aware that you can use your free hand to grab or grapple. But if you have a buckler in one and a sword in the other it is easily forgotten.
In I.33, the oldest preserved fencing manual in Europe (ca1310-1325) it can be preformed from the technique Fiddilboge against an opponent that come at you with a cut down from his right. After you have blocked the attack, depending on the situation, you can grip the weapon with your left hand, holding the buckler while your sword is providing contact and security from his weapon. As soon as you have grabbed the weapon you bring the sword around over your head and strike him fast.
Thank you for the great series.
Thank you, this is both entertaining and informative. Love this show.
This is a really cool channel. I'll be watching more. Thank you.
People often express astonishment to me about how quickly and effortlessly I adapt to new programming languages and frameworks. Watching Seki Sensei effortlessly integrate new and unfamiliar weapons into his technique gives me a perspective on how these people must feel watching me work with computers. Even having seen him do it multiple times, witnessing it yet again never fails to astonish me.
Seki Sensei is so fun to watch in action! I love the sparring especially
There's another technique that can be used with the buckler that isn't entirely intuitive. Keep the hands together. Use the buckler in the left hand as armor for the right hand.
It's also common in European styles to aggressively press the buckler against the opponent's weapon, never allowing them to reset into a proper stance to launch a strike. Many bucklers would have ridges or even hooks to make it easier to catch and control blades in this manner.
It is always fascinating to see Seki Sensei figure out analyze and utilize what you bring him! May i suggest one of the various forms of the Saber next?
Man... his ability to move both arms independently while keeping his body moving in three dimensions is pretty top level.
This is fascinating. As some other commenters have noted, European style training emphasizes using the buckler to protect the sword hand while parrying, and to protect the body while attacking with the sword. Typically you parry with both weapons, then attack with the sword while maintaining contact with the opponents swords using the buckler. This is not what the Sensei is doing. He is, instead, blocking aggressively with the buckler and attacking with the sword. This requires an impressive level of speed and coordination, because it is relatively easy to "miss" with the buckler, and then you're dead.
At 7:10 the Sensei actually blocks with the buckler, and attacks with the sword *simultaneously*. I have literally never seen that outside of a fantasy novel. Amazing.
Nice display by Seki Sensei and very intriguing techniques based on his katas which show his great skill. It's interesting that he opts to use the buckle to strike the opponent. In the German Tower Fechtbuch I.33 style you are often targeting the fingers of the opponent as the closest vulnerable target or the throat with the rim of the shield to do more damage - break fingers etc.. And the buckle is more used to control the opponents hands or hinder his sight.
Again a big thanks to Sensei for providing a unique point of view of what you can do with a buckler.
omfg, what a beast the sensei is, so good at its art well done and thank you
Excellent video!
Its interesting to see sensei excited in trying something new AND he's effective with it!
We also saw how big a problem the buckler can be for people who rarely have to deal with it - it is purely defensive so there is no baiting it into an attack, which means your first attack is almost guaranteed to fail. You either need to trick that buckler with a feint or make two (or more) attacks, one to draw the buckler out and another to strike an opening. Which is easier said than done because both of these leave you kinda open to counterattacks unless you do them really, really well. (A curved blade also *sometimes* allows you to stab into an extended buckler arm under the buckler's rim, but it depends on how curved it is and how big a buckler you are dealing with)
What little we have on fighting with large shields (mostly Bolognese tradition) even shows us that a fight with large shields could become a long (for sword fights, so... 4-5 blows) exchange that is centered around you wanting to force your opponent to move that shield as much as possible until you find and opening - most likely because he moved the shield a bit too far in his haste.
I know Sensei has done a video on a longsword, but to REALLY test his martial prowess, I would like to see his take on a Zweihander/Montante greatsword! Its a very unique weapon to fight with, more like a polearm than a sword. I love this series, keep up the good work!
I absolutely love bucklers! Best civilian (and even battlefield when not dealing with arrows) defensive option. Also the round bossed bucklera are amazing against cut focused weapons.
Point of a hema practicioner. Normally i star with my bucler hand in front, completly extended. Almost like a wall, buckler slightly tilded to the outside. It works like a barrier better because you force the oponent to comit to a more clear attack. Then move the buckler enough to parry. Just enough while you strike with your own weapon, normally over or under your buckler.
Also we have some active parries that involves pushibg the hand of the opponent while you use your weapon to protect you, inmovilizing the oppent.
At last a great cheers, i always enojoy seeing people trying new things!!
Really cool. Makes me even want to see Seki-sensei perform iai with western sabre
Good video. Would have liked to see 1 fighter with Sword and shield vs 1 fighter with 2 swords.
Gods that intro looks so amazing
This was fun! I imagine a buckler is in many ways, like a jutte. Nice new video opening, BTW!
I'd really love to see a collaboration, maybe a back and forth conversation, between Seki Sensei and some of the HEMA masters on TH-cam like Scholagladiatoria.
It would be interesting to see them compare notes, and have him react to some explanations to questions he asked.
Skallagrim for example said one of the reasons for the side guard in the Longsword video was because they're easier to carry, and because people use the blade instead of the side to parry more. It'd be fascinating to hear Seki sensei react to that information.
2:50 is I think how the Scots used the buckler in their highland charge, eventually it was countered by training the soldiers not to fight the man in front of him but to stab to the left(?) and trust the soldier on your right to protect you. Impressive how immediately he replicated this.
Absolutely fascinating to see all these different fighting styles with different weapons one is not used to and it still comes out to recognizable and similar results.
I have noticed something with Judo and armored wrestling. Hip tosses, leg sweeps, joint manipulation, all very similar as we are all just human and have the same anatomy.
Also edge punches with the Buckler, also joint manipulation for wrestling.
I like to see that most of his motions are not waste movement, he can move so smooth that is amazing and dreadful. Years ago I was immersed in training so I could do my style with smooth and fluid, that alone made me better, now to think in facing someone who mastered it 🥶🥶
Seki Sensei needs to go on a trip through europe! You could do a whole series on just meeting hema experts, or even going to museums, i think it could be a content goldmine for you.
The sparring segment was highly illustrative.
the way Seki Sensei understood that his weapon has less reach and aggressively uses the buckler to close the distance VS
the approach of blocking Seki Sensei's strikes with the buckler and trying to deliver a counterattack when Seki Sensei is still out of reach...
Yeah I could see his curiosity. Usually teachers would be embarrassed and feel humiliated if they were outdone by their students (of course not everyone). But still I felt refreshing how he was literally enjoying even when once or twice the other one (supposedly his student) managed to hit him somehow. I would also appreciate that student though, he didn't feel smug or something. Again they both took it like it was a part of learning which was very good to watch and something essential to understand.
i love the sparing videos and hope to see more!
It’s interesting to see how different masters of a craft in different eras and different parts of the world will often come with similar answers to similar problems…
Incredible wisdom and facinatingt echniques. Truely traditional kata mixed with origional dynamics. Wow.
Another great video, seeing him come with solutions for the use of a falcata would be interesting
This is just making Seki Sensei more and more deadly with each episode.
love this series! sensei is very insightful & curious, and has such a great attitude towards learning :)
It's interesting how the student prefers to fight with the shield in front and the blade behind, but the master approaches it the other way round.
Holding the buckler at his side is interesting. From what I understand, most traditional buckler techniques involve holding it out as far forward as you can, and either taking advantage of the thrusting ability and length of a rapier, which wouldn't be hindered as much, or take advantage of the double edges of something like a sidesword, making sweeping swinging motions, attacking with both forehand and backhand, *around* the buckler.
However, when using one single-handed weapon, you often keep your free hand either across your chest, or at your hip the way Seki Sensei was holding the buckler, in order to keep your hand out of the way of your own weapon, but close enough that you can suddenly reach forward to grapple or even just punch someone in the face, so it is a valid stance, just not normally used for two-weapon fighting.
OH MY GOD. I had literally just thought "you know what would be interesting? Some free sparring" and you deliver just that. MIND READER
Leave it to me…
just goes to show if you know the basics of kobudo you can pick up anything and use it as a weapon or defensive tool in an effective way
Probably also a beer mug... (In the game Hellish Quart, they made a mod, where a drunkard fights with a saber and a wooden beer mug)
I never knew that samurai used shields historically. This was a great video, clearly many of the techniques still make sense with a shield despite having evolved beyond its use. Seki sensei wasn't slowed down by it one bit. Thanks, Shogo!