QUOTE=boatman;1309180]Greatest in the context of his society perhaps but different styles mean that the bestest is difficult to agree. Can a slash from a Japanese sword beat a lunge from a rapier etc?.[/QUOTE] (well that quote didn’t work)
Hi again Boatman.
First of all toshay, as I have to agree with you about context as it’s all relative.
Edge or point, speed verses power, possibly one of reasons why the Japanese beat the Mongols in fencing is the one handed Mongol sabre just got beat to one side and opened up the guard after the beat from the more powerful two handed Japanese parry. There must be a million variables “but now you mention it that’s the reason I got a Backsword and not a Broadsword to have the advantage of working off the point or the edge”, most people who buy a sword only like the sound of the word “Broadsword”. My pal in Edinburgh went in to a antique shop to buy an old Basket hilted backsword and when he said to the owner he wanted the backsword in the window the owner lost the rag and insisted it was a Broadsword even though it only had one cutting edge.
Just to throw the cat among the pigeons a bit more Musashi not only used wooden bokken he also wielded a wooden bokken in each hand against armored samurai a style which would probably just as easily fit into any renaissance school.
The man had 63 duels most against multiple opponents and that’s not counting the war’s he was in, regardless of the weapon, historical background or theatre of war Miyamoto Musashi will always be No1.
I’ve have no reason whatsoever to be bias other than I really think credit where credit due the man was an exceptionally talented swordsman and in a league of his own.