As reported in an earlier post, my usual training partner, DW, ordered a wooden war hammer, or giant mallet, from a specialty dealer. I promised to do a product review of the item when it arrived.
Unfortunately, it never arrived. DW has tried contacting the vendor but received no response at all. (Of course, he did ask them if the hold-up on receiving his order had anything to do with the busy warhammer shopping season...)
Never fear, dear readers. I have discovered an alternative source! Now, these Japanese mallets are not -- technically -- warhammers. They are "gardening tools." However, this item is about the shape and size of a Japanese O-Tsuchi, or warhammer. Perhaps DW has not given up on his lifelong quest to re-enact the battle scenes from Conan the Barbarian.
In a related vein, I received my copy of Advanced Stick Fighting, by Masaaki Hatsumi. His previous book on stick fighting covered the Kukishin Ryu techniques for using the three foot stick, or hanbo, and a few techniques for palm sized sticks. This book covers the six-foot and five-foot staves, the Bo and Jo. For the unitiated, this might not seem related, but O-Tsuchi techniques evolve from an understanding of Bo techniques. In any event, the release of a new Hatsumi book is exciting.
And now for something completely different. Those of us who play Warhammer 40K, a sci-fi wargame, will be excited to learn that the pre-release buzz for the new edition Black Templars Space Marines is building. Next month's US edition White Dwarf will be featuring some teaser information on this army. The new rules book and figure releases will be coming in November, according to the best rumors. I play Black Templars (what did you expect) and all of us playing this army are hoping the publishers, Games Workshop, doesn't screw-up our army the way they did the White Scars and Raven Guard Space Marine armies.
8 comments:
JRF - Something we were working on came up on a newsgroup I subscribe to :
"...The original observation came from Ben Cole, speaking of "kuzushi-based" vs. "kukan-based" taijutsu; and I agree with it on the basis of my own observations. Kuzushi refers to taking the opponent's balance. In the former case you'd take the balance by physically manipuulating the opponent in various (often VERY subtle) ways
in order to be able to be able to safely perform an effective
technique without the opponent being able to resist/counter.
. .but if you're working with space correctly, it will create
kuzushi as a by-product.
The "continuing to move through safe-shaped space" thing is a
useful concept and most people seem to be having a very interesting time trying to grasp and internalize it, but it's only a first step. It's almost, well, "passive". The next level up, as I personally view it, is to actively use space as a weapon..."
What's funy is, actively using space as a weapon isn't really a radical concept. It is used in military tactics all the time. Manuever Warfare is all about controlling a specific space at specific times with appropriate power. That's taijutsu.
But as the space becomes smaller and smaller right down to the personal combat level, it becomes increasingly more difficult to rationally use the space. I'll leave that to you to speculate why.
Bajustu to Suijutsu o naraitai desu. Omoshiroi desu. Shikashi, 'koketsu ne irazunba koji o ezu'.
Someone said that DW looks like Freddie Mercury. Please post a picture to dispel this vicious rumor.
I still haven't received the picture of DW from KST. Otherwise, I would be glad to post a picture of the Third Twin.
Anyone here think its ironic that the Utah-based, Mormon, Housewife and Mother (No offense) has better Japanese language skills than any of us? All I can make out is that she said something about horseback riding and combat swimming. (I think, hard to say without the kanji.)
Anyone (other than Holy Mother) care to translate and regain our collective dignity?
I know what she's saying. But I ain't telling! Nah-nah!
Horseback riding to Water combat as a habit of the body
It is interesting.
(if one does not enter the den of the tiger, one cannot reach his small/young)
Who risks anything nothing
(From various online translators)
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