Namazu Tries Movie Techniques : Akira Kurosawa's Sanjuro Duel Scene
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
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Trying out movie sword techniques from Akira Kurosawa's Sanjuro.
came across this scene and thought it looked cool & seems like a realistic technique - so thought i give it a try!
I had to watch and rewatch multiple times and even slow down to footage only to find there are some tiny details that is not easily visible, sometimes due to where both actors are standing and how fast they execute it!
Do you know they only shot the scene with only a single take??
from the long dialogue down to the kill!
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I’ve been watching this movie since I was young, never quite understanding how he does it no matter how many times I would rewind and rewatch. Thank you for finally putting this one to rest for me. I’m truly grateful.
I'm glad my video is of some use 👍
This was truly one of the greatest samurai duels ever.
Indeed - it's very baffling but yes it's amazing
What this proved to me is that Mifune was one of the best actors the world has ever seen.
Haha a great artist showcasing his craft. He is great
That wasn’t obvious from the beginning?
To get it all in one take, In a different era Mifune would have been a great swordsman.
lol, I remember back when I used to study Iaido this scene being the starter of many long conversations. I think the simplest answer is that he used a customized wakizashi (with a long handle to make it seem it belonged to a katana) and carried it in a scabbard made for a katana. Very smart and sneaky.
Haha movie magic ✨ as long it look good 🤭
What I thought was that it was a prop sword with a retractable part that came out by pressing a button or mechanism on the handle like a switchblade, just like what happens with the swords in Hollywood movies Which are made with retractable parts or flexible materials such as rubber painted with some chrome coating to make it look like shiny steel.
This technique, and the way that you are describing it by the step-by-step breakdown in the film, reminds me exactly of the cowboy pistolero twist draw
haha nice!
I was already a fan of Sanjuro, and now I love the movie even more.
Yes and being a wondering sword fighter, you'd expect Sanjuro to have a few unusual tricks up his sleeves.
Aha! So it's part of his characterisation, make sense too
@@NamazuRyuSaiken There are several instances when Sanjuro drew his sword with the left hand in a surprise attack.... opponents learn to watch the right hand, so it'd make sense to know how to draw with the left to surprise them. Especially when he's surrounded by several men, the first guy you want to take out will be the guy behind you on your left side - he's also the bravest because he thinks he's the safest - shows you how well planned these sword fighting scenes were. See in the second encounter he drew his sword again with his left hand and stabbed the guy behind:
th-cam.com/video/mv5DPjtTlL8/w-d-xo.html
I figured this out on the second look at the technique.
The samurai also wears his sword more to left side of his body so it's easier to pull out.
It make sense too, so much movie magic to pull off such an incredible scene 🤭
If you look frame by frame he actually draws with the cutting edge facing towards him rather than down, which would be pretty risky with a sharp sword.
Hmm 🤔 guess I might wanna try that and see how smooth it could go
It is known that Mifune used a much shorter than standard blade for this technique.
Thanks to your research ad breakdown in your earlier version of this, I can do it relatively well; being 1.83m tall with long gangly arms helps :)
Hahaha I suppose with some height and sword length adjustment it would be much easier
I was wondering how he could have made it look so easy in one take and no practice? Short length would be a great answer. Thank you
@@stegmonjurvinweirdt1834 Just an inch shorter than usual would suffice. It's still a difficult thing to pull off, but they also made him do it with fluidity with that trick
Excellent work. I really enjoyed this.
Thank you 🙏 ☺️
This is so cool! Great breakdown!
Thank you! 🙏
Thank you, great music, awesome to follow along with you learning the steps, and your teachings. Legendary scene.
Glad it was helpful 🙏
This is such an awesome breakdown of the maneuver! I appreciate you adding in your trial and error with sorting it out. How does this video not have more likes and views!?
I know right? 🤭
Haha thanks for watching 🙏 hope you enjoyed the rest - video format kinda evolved a little since I can't do this TH-cam full time😬
Great video. Never really understood that move until now. Just tried with my iaito. Thank you very much, I subscribed to your channel and I am looking forward to future videos.
Thanks for the sub! awesome! im glad the video is helpful!
Excellent breakdown and step by step demonstration!
Thanks! Just an old video haha I need to make some new videos to stay relevant again...
@@NamazuRyuSaiken yes I watched and commented on it with the first upload. 😁
@@Katana-Karl thanks as always my friend 🙏
Brilliant! Underrated video.
🙏🙏🙏 thank you!
Thank you so much for the break down. It was excellent. I missed in the movie that he creates the space for the draw with footwork. Well done.
Thank you 🙏😁
I thought Mifune did train in martial arts though, maybe not as extensively as an actual expert but probably enough to prepare him for his roles in films, judging from the samurai films he's been in, one can see he knew what he was doing.... awesome breakdown though, you helped me understand just how he was able to draw so much faster than his opponent because even till today that scene just blows my mind
It's impressive to see, and it just happens to be the one I decided to analyse
Great discussion! You dissected the impossible!
Say, what's the song used in the video? It goes really well with it.
Thank you! Haha seems like people really like these types of video, maybe I should try the others.
Honestly I don't remember the song, it's been awhile when I made this
I always thought that move was really slick technique. Nicely done.
Thanks 😊
Apologies if someone else commented on this already, but it was stated that T. M. actually practiced this movement for weeks, hours a day, before it was captured on film. Not sure if that's true, but it is mentioned in documentaries on the film and Akira K.
It could be right, I was unaware of the documentary when making the video at the time - but still impressive nonetheless 😬
@@NamazuRyuSaiken AFAIK, Tatsuya Nakadai said in an interview that they practiced separately, for several weeks, and going into the scene he had no idea what Toshiro would do. Mifune came up with this plan to do a reverse draw to get tempo, and it worked out beautifully, since they were well within measure, so Nakadai's more traditional technique was at a disadvantage from the get go.
The hip rotation tip was key for me, I'm short, with the rotation I was able to draw the katana easily. Thanks for your research.
Thanks for watching 🙏
Nice..thank you for sharing! 👍❤️
Thank you for watching 🙏
Mifune doesn't use his right forearm to push the blade through; it is obviously braced between the thumb and index finger.
Perhaps it requires a second look through 🤔
That was neat to watch! I wondered what happened exactly in the film!
Seems like there are other theories for other people too, it's interesting to check them out too
Mifune was alegedly competent swordsman, he played so many of these characters.
It's very evident for sure
Wasn't he also a skilled archer and bareback rider?
You got a like and subscribe for the Serious go at the end. Especially with the movie soundtrack video editing!
Haha thank you! Im particularly proud of that one
Love the ending (whole thing... especially the ending!)
Thanks! 🤭 It's not easy keeping such a pout face for long periods of time
Mifune had excellent reflexes and timing.
indeed he does
Good content. Subbed
Thank you 🙏 and welcome😁
Great stuff :D
Thank you! 😊
Great video!
That was awesome. How quickly you were able to do that move is impressive.
Haha hard to say honestly haven't done it in awhile
I pretended like I was Nakaida's character and drew my imaginary blade like he did in the film, and there is now way I could draw my blade faster than yours if it were a real duel. Well done!@@NamazuRyuSaiken
I truly miss Toshiro Mifune but then I'm old, a Gaijin and one who loves Zatoichi. Thanks, you've just impressed me about Mifune and his trainers (if any) more.
😁🙏🙏🙏 I'm glad
Left hand grip, rotate blade 90°, step forward, lean forward, draw towards your head, right arm pivot, left hand retracts slightly.
Thanks for this trick solved!!!
I knew it's Sayabiki but I never know how he twist underhand by this left arm.
So genius
It's amazing everytime I see it
Very good video thank you so much❤❤ 🙏🏻☺️ Good clarify the technique. Also when you did the slow motion I was find out that the katana that he used in this scene was shorter blade than the normal length maybe for this purpose of this scene shooting. But the scabbard is the normal length so we saw it come out real fast 🙏🏻🌊⛩️
Thank you my friend 🙏 it was an interesting video to study for sure 🤭
Carefully watch. During the draw the blade is horizontal facing edge inward, as the blade clears the siya, the step to uke's rear places the edge against uke's belly, and the right fore arm connects with the back of the sword. As Mifune completes the step the right fore arm presses the sword deeply providing the cutting power.
Nice!
Ive seen this before in Natori Ryu and i think Seki sensei from Lets Ask Shogo. I forget his dojos name.
I didn't even catch that. Dang.
I love this movie
It's Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, but the left handed techniques Seki sensei shows in his video come from a different ryu, I think they say Shinken-ryu
Took me a long time to figure this out. I didn't have a good way to slow the movie down. When I finally did the technique and used a sharp sword at full speed, I ended up cutting through the throat of my saya and my obi. That's when I decided that if I wanted to do cool stuff, then I better actually master the basics first. It was still fun figuring it out.
Or get an unsharpened sword or those lightweight bamboo sword so it won't hurt our bank so much 🤭
So glad i found this video. recently saw this scene again and couldn't figure out how he was doing that draw, even after slowing it and watching it over and over. Thanks for breaking it down! It's a very impressive technique.
Thanks! This was a fun video to make!
He used his left hand for drawing and his right arm lifting and cutting his opponent. Both arms must work smooth and unanimously for this technique to be right and successful 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Indeed greatness
It is interesting that in the old days they had technical knowledge that we are learning from.
Indeed!
仲代の動作は1.刀を抜く2.刀を振り上げる3.刀を振り下ろすの3ステップ
三船の動作は1.刀を抜く2.下から上に斬り上げるの2ステップ
故に三船の方が早く相手を斬ることが出来る
Can you please tell me what your traditional outfit is called? Each piece is beautiful and I would like to make a set of these clothes for myself by hand.
Oh my I'm not an expert - but I guess they are call samue for the top? Hakama for the skirt pleats
Mifune was trained by Sugino Sensei from
TSKSR
That's great!
Yeah I had to watch this like 50 times at 0.25x. It's that quick.
It would be very difficult to generate enough power to be able to cut at that proximity, but a skilled/conditioned swordsman could pull it off against an unarmored opponent.
It's amazing a non-martial artist can come up with this maneuver out of thin-air...
Indeed, it's an impressive move and one I don't see (to the best of my knowledge) in any iai or kenjutsu styles either!
but which style of Iaijutsu did he perform? It looks like Ogawa Ha Kaze no Ryu or is that technique created for this movie ??
It would be cool to find out
I think this technique (from one of my favorite chanbara movie moments) is purely created for movie, but i dont have evidence. I wanted to try this on tameshigiri, because i have doubt about effectiency of this technique in simulation or "real swordsplay", but i have not done it yet (i analyze this scene years ago and had same conclusions like Namazu). I still have feeling that taisabaki and others aspects wouldnt create enough energy to cut with sword, even shallow cut.
Sugoi 😮
Sugoi desu!
Konbanwa Namazu San, I really like your Iaigi. It looks like a comfy top for warm weather. Could you say where you purchased it from please.
Ganbatte Kudasai :)
Thanks I think I got it at a 2nd hand shop, its pretty warm so it's easy to sweat in it 😁
👏🏻
🙏🙇♂️
Vhuh when you slow it down and can see what he is doing it's a really easy motion to copy. Edit. I think your right leg needs to come fully across to the left further than your left leg, not out in front.
Yea it does looks like he crossed to the left Infront of his left feet
Very interesting! But the title of this vid should have been "Mifune Toshiro's" Sanjuro Duel Scene, don't you think?
Yea haha it made sense now you brought it up 😆 I knew of Kurosawa back then not much of Mifune
This begs the question. How did Kurosawa come up with this maneuver? Did he make it up? Is this technique documented anywhere???
As far as I know not many existing styles draw their sword with their left hand, but we know filmmaking we can take liberties to make anything look cool with blocking and camera angles... but yea I guess we don't call then geniuses for nothing 🤭
I heard it was Mifune who came up with it. Kurosawa told Mifune what technique his opponent would use and asked Mifune to think of an approach without telling the actor of the opponent before the scene. I'm not sure if the story is true, but I did hear it on more than one occasion
@@misterkami2 I've heard that, too. I've heard that Kurosawa told Mifune to develop a new sword draw technique to use specifically for this scene. That's why the other actor looks so caught off guard. I've also heard the reason why the blood spray is so ridiculous is due to an error, but Kurosawa wanted to keep the human reaction from the first take so the excessive blood stayed in the film. I'm not sure either of those things are true but it's a good story.
Superbe :)
Thank you! Apologies I haven't made any new videos for awhile - daddy life occupies my time way too much to make any videos for now
@@NamazuRyuSaiken I understand, I will be waiting for your another interesting film
Hi, nice job, only he did not rotate the Kanata 180 degrees. It is more like 140 degrees: In this way, his sword movement, instead of going all the way up, goes up and left the way you can see in the film.
Indeed you are correct, more comments I see more people pointing out new things I didn't catch when making the video
I wonder who choreographed the sword scene?
Need to check the IMDb info, probably one of Kurosawas advisor or mifune himself?
He drew with his left hand....didn't you SEE IT THE FIRST TIME?
Apparently not 😅
The whole thing is that he took it out with his non-dominant hand
Indeed! That's impressive!
Perfect 🔥🔥🔥✌️😜👍🍀🍀🍀🌎🍀🍀🍀
Perfect is good 👍 can always be better 😁
@@NamazuRyuSaiken… your Analyse is professional 😜✌️🍀🔥🔥🔥
右腕で嶺を支えるのではなく、右手の甲を嶺に押し当て、刃を強く相手の脇(本来なら心臓)を切り裂く動作をしているように見えます。
적과의거리 1m안에서 쓰기좋은기술입니다👍👍
It fast and never see it quite like this.
It's pretty interesting for sure
🙂👍🙏
😃😃👍👍👍👍👍
🙏🙏💪💪
🇸🇰
👍👍👍 SUPER 👍👍👍
🙏🙏🙏
Mifune had his right hand against the back of the blade pushing forward and through the torso of his opponent...absolutely necessary. He didn't have his arm under the blade as you show. Having your right arm under the blade accomplishes nothing.
Thanks for adding on to what I've missed, you are absolutely correct the push from the back of the blade help drive through the opponent
@@NamazuRyuSaiken He has the back of the blade between his thumb and forefinger.
Need more gushing blood but the technique looks about right,but you did not seem comfortable with the move.
Yes - I need to practice more - there are still some ackwardness
Left hand draw
Yes - after watching the let's ask seki sensei video it made sense too
Good job ! First time I saw that movie I just could Not understand how he did it, since I could not slow-mo it. Crazy speed and maitrise from Mifune.
Indeed right? It's so good!
遅いですね、それでは逆に斬られてますね
You’re still wrong. He never turns the sword it stays in the same position. He pulls it out and then extends his arm upwards. Turing the blade risks cutting yourself. Look at the saya, it never rotated
Hmm 🤔 perhaps we can see a demo on how he pulls the sword out with his left hand without turning
Thanks for breaking that down mate. In my opinion it is THEE greatest fight scene in cinema.
I totally agree!
With a Ninjato better possible!
Might be much easier to pull off
That move always looked very unnatural. Thank you for explaining it
Is such a sword move practical (say, for chopping off the arm)? Or is it just a move for a visually impressive movie stunt?
The incredible aspect of that scene: With all that blood spraying out of the chest, they managed to get none of it on Nakadai Tatsuya's outfit !
Almost assuredly, they had him put on a clean outfit for the next shot after the scene cut.
That brings up the big question: Why did Kurosawa change the outfit?
Obviously, not for a "clean" kill. Kurosawa was such a stickler for detail. Then why change to a clean outfit? (Nakadai's arms are still bloody in the next shot.)
To hide the blood spraying device? Then why not remove the device from the actor but put the bloody outfit back on?
Even if Kurosawa thought no one would notice the new outfit, why change to it?
I suspect back in the day - continuity is not as easily noticeable for movie goers back then - it was already such a magical moment with the special effect people didn't even register it 🤭 even I didn't until you pointed out
I think the actors had a great laugh when Kurosawa first explained the scene.@@NamazuRyuSaiken
Yes, that seems a strong probability. Kurosawa set it up very meticulously. I don't think two samurais would actually square off at such a close distance - unless forced to. Notice that they are facing perpendicular to the road. So from the camera angle, they are constrained by the width of the road. Mifune, at least, cannot back up. And the nine samurai in the background frame the two fighters. That would make their close proximity seem less unnatural - "forcing" them to be close.
It would be interesting to show people who have not yet seen the fight - show them just up to the camera cut after the blood spurt, then cut to black. And then stop and ask them what they just saw - that Mifune thrusted his sword up and THROUGH Takadai's chest and out his far side ! Such a gruesome cut should cause such gruesome bleeding ! What a scream.
It's important to keep the actual sword move that you explain separate from the sword move that was IMPLIED in the movie.
柄は回してないですよ。
手元ばかり見てないで
後ろに見える鞘に注目してください。
Not even close
🥲
He drawed with left hand only, the character was playful, not a traditional samurai
That's really good, characterization 👏👏
The left hand draw was obvious, it was in another scene in the movie, as well as in a scene in yojimbo.
Amurai usually use two swords. One long and other long. He uses short one at that moment
Good to know 👍
Amazing.👏🏾
💪👍 thanks
I just found out today that this is called yunde-nuki-bow hand draw with a slight change the supporting forearm is replaced by the right hand. I feel toshiro mifune has the better of the two ways hope this helps godbless and be well.see for yourself here th-cam.com/video/YUnu2nmmYDQ/w-d-xo.html
Haha yes I saw this video yesterday too, when Seki sensei did that left hand draw I was thinking...wait - that is very familiar
Excellent find!
Still wrong. It was one move.