Finally a real life example to explain why Conner Macleod had a Katana.

I dunno, I can buy a steak knife capable of killing someone for a couple of euro.>> ^ChaosEngine:

The sword he's using is a "Musashi Damacus Katana", which is a whopping $180 on their website.
Now call me skeptical, but I do not believe you can buy a quality sword for $180 (given that a decent blunt iaito starts at around $600 and a proper shinken starts at several thousand).
So really, this is just some muppet with a crappy sword who thinks he's a "ninja".

Your video, Bottles beware! He has a Katana, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

This achievement has earned you your "Pop Star" Level 103 Badge!

In reply to this comment by deathcow:
<the jerk - steve martin voice>
He hates these water bottles !

Damnit! As soon as I saw the title, I was gonna make the same reference and offer a free promote to anyone who knew it. Nice.

>> ^DrewNumberTwo:

You mean that the kid chopping up water bottles in his driveway isn't a professional assassin because his sword isn't expensive enough? Thanks for clearing that up.

You're welcome. It is my sacred duty to point these things out on the internet, and I am 100% serious about it all the time.

You mean that the kid chopping up water bottles in his driveway isn't a professional assassin because his sword isn't expensive enough? Thanks for clearing that up.
>> ^ChaosEngine:

The sword he's using is a "Musashi Damacus Katana", which is a whopping $180 on their website.
Now call me skeptical, but I do not believe you can buy a quality sword for $180 (given that a decent blunt iaito starts at around $600 and a proper shinken starts at several thousand).
So really, this is just some muppet with a crappy sword who thinks he's a "ninja".

>> ^Jinx:

Cold Steel just found their newest salesperson.


..he's ready for his quest!

The sword he's using is a "Musashi Damacus Katana", which is a whopping $180 on their website.

Now call me skeptical, but I do not believe you can buy a quality sword for $180 (given that a decent blunt iaito starts at around $600 and a proper shinken starts at several thousand).

So really, this is just some muppet with a crappy sword who thinks he's a "ninja".

>> ^Mauru:

>> ^mentality:
This looks ridiculous. When he "dodges" all he's doing is shifting his shoulders back while his head stays as stationary as a dead log. I guess it works if you're fighting someone dumb enough to consistently aim one foot to either side of the real target...

now imagine you were aiming for the head- giving his arms all the time to move... there is a reason why in pretty much in all sword and knife fighting schools (japanese and elsewhere) you are taught to aim for the body.
Also, a katana is usually used in semi-vertical slices since it wasn't specifically suited for stabbing (it'd get stuck).
Ofc this is a movie yadda yadda, but in a "real" fight the aim was to cut the shoulder/arms so you wouldnt hurt yourself charging in and could be ready for the next victim/attacker (that overhead stance is for fighting stuff on horses btw- forgot the name).


I never said that you should aim for the head specifically, but when you're making vertical slices, the head and the center of mass are inline.

The reason why swordmanship and marksmanship principles teach you to aim for the body is because it's the largest and easiest area to hit, and the center of mass is the hardest for the target to move in an attempt to dodge.

It makes no sense to aim for the shoulder, as it requires you to "charge in" just as much as if you were going for the center, but is much easier to miss. If you really wanted to disable someone, the wrists and forearms are a much better and less risky target, while the head, body, or throat are much higher reward targets. This is why hitting those areas will score you points in kendo, while the shoulder will not.

Basically, this fight makes no sense and looks retarded.

>> ^mentality:

This looks ridiculous. When he "dodges" all he's doing is shifting his shoulders back while his head stays as stationary as a dead log. I guess it works if you're fighting someone dumb enough to consistently aim one foot to either side of the real target...


now imagine you were aiming for the head- giving his arms all the time to move... there is a reason why in pretty much in all sword and knife fighting schools (japanese and elsewhere) you are taught to aim for the body.

Also, a katana is usually used in semi-vertical slices since it wasn't specifically suited for stabbing (it'd get stuck).

Ofc this is a movie yadda yadda, but in a "real" fight the aim was to cut the shoulder/arms so you wouldnt hurt yourself charging in and could be ready for the next victim/attacker (that overhead stance is for fighting stuff on horses btw- forgot the name).

Just noticed your postes wern't private, thought I'd post my reply.

LOL I concede I am an ape!

This is long but addresses many of your questions I think. Also your assumption on my thinking was correct...can't remember what it was but I agree.

now on to the LONG post.

A) Willpower while it has limitations, it is not Limited to a finite value. Just ask any smoker who has quit. Or, a recovering alcoholic.

B) Repeat criminals do not appear to have willpower issues, they make conscious decisions to defy the law, and ether justify it to themselves or simply have contempt for the law. Some may feel the law is wrong or simply does not apply to them.

C) If all it took for a human being to lose their humanity, self respect, morality and honor was to be at the losing end of life why have we not seen a violent uprising of the homeless and downtrodden. The addicts who HAVE lost everything and wander the streets trying to survive would therefore be the most justified to go on a rampage would they not?

D) As for American laws relating to firearms, I am a Canadian and therefore will not argue those laws, as I have little knowledge in that area.
As for Canada, the process of licensing requires a full background check, questioning of witnesses towards your character and ultimately is up to the discression of the license issuer, as I mentioned before.

Are there flaws? Yes. But that is a result of the system. Ideally the system would prevent or remove firearms from any individual before violence occurs. However in order for that system to function flawlessly one must live in a system similar to Communist Russia during Stalins reign. Where every action or spoken word is monitored and reported to the government, by agents, or even by family.

Canadian restrictions to licensing are as stringent as the LAW curently allows them to be without infringing ( too much) on an individual's rights.

E) A piece of plastic does not guarantee the holder to be law abiding. However, the process involved to acquire said item does involve scrutiny. And the desire to legally go through that process as opposed to acquiring firearms illegally and with much less effort does say something towards the individuals intentions.

F) Firearms training and safety cources do indeed instill responsibility, confidence in the use, and the safe possession of firearms. Personally I believe everyone eligible should be trained in the safe responsible use of firearms. Whether they choose to own or not. ( we have sex Ed in school, why not gun Ed )

G) As for F*** heads, they will always be F**** heads. One purpose of licensing is to prevent them from acquiring firearms legaly. Thankfully most of humanity does not fit into this category. ( however they do seem to be breeding at an alarming rate)

H) As for the Katana, not only was it a weapon, it was a symbol of honor for samurai and was passed down through generations with a reverence bordering on a relic. Spend time and look up the 7 virtues of the Bushido code.

Regarding Nukes, while their application is abhorrent to any rational human, think about how many were actually used for their intended purpose. TWO!, out of how many thousands. And both were released by human hands. Possession does not equate to application.

I) Yes firearms were designed for military use, but for us to cover everything we use in our lives that started out or were improved by the military (essentially to make it easier to kill the enemy) would require more effort and space than is practical in an Internet disscussion.

J) The legitimate use of firearms.
The big Taboo, Killing:
The military uses firearms, and other tools to kill the enemy. This enemy is defined by the state who are elected officials. I won't go into depth as to why, as that is best served by a political debate. Suffice it to say that guns could be perceived to actually combat evil.

Hunting: another form of killing, however for most, the game is hunted as a food source. The only distinction I make between wild game, and beef in the store is who does the killing ( and I could use a uphenism for the word kill, but let's call a a spade a spade )(also keep in mind hunters are the leaders in protecting the ecology, ducks unlimmited was and is a group of hunters)

Defense: when another human desires you harm what recourse do you have? You can try to run, try to hide, hope you don't get caught. Call the athorities (provided it is not them who desire you harm) and hope they arrive in time, or fight back. Should you fight back, hopefully you are more powerfull than your attacker, or that they do not have a weapon of some kind.

Simply the presence of a firearm in a potential victims hands, can dissuade an nefarious individual from attempting an attack. Should that fail, and you need to shoot, I would much rather the criminal be injured or killed than myself or a loved one.

Sporting use: primarily enjoyment, competitions, black powder heritage days and cowboy action shoots promote an awareness of history and promote thought on how life was in days gone by.

Bonding: the passing of knowledge between two individuals engaged in an activity both find enjoyable. In the case of parent/child, or mentor/student, the teaching of the responsibilities of firearm use and the skills involved is important. If more people knew how to safely handle/store firearms, accidental deaths would be greatly reduced.


In closing, while I applaud the idealistic and utopic view that any form of killing is wrong and can/should be prevented, this is simply not the way life works.

Trying to persuade others to view the world as you do is the essence of debating, however, forcing your ideals upon another human being is the essence of tyranny. Irregardless of how honorable the intentions

So if you read all that I thank you! I'm prepared to say we agree to dissagree and leave it at that but I'm open to more dialog if you wish.

I wish you lived in my area so I could take you to the range to see first hand what it's all about.

Big Ape signing off

But there's not a huge difference.
Criminals know right from wrong, they just have issues controlling their impulses.

Will power is a limited thing. Once you use it up, impulses take over.
The only difference is. You have a greater reserve of will power to draw from.

If your wife and son died, your house and all your money were taken, and now you've got an officer in your face threatening you..

When you're reduced to the same impulsive state as a criminal.
You think your training and licensing are going to stop you from snapping? O_o?

Not everyone respects guns or their inherent danger as much as you.

So in a state like Arizona, where all it takes to legally own a gun is:
1.being of age 2. not being considered a "prohibited possessor"

Do you sincerely feel those requirements are enough to instill "a greater respect for the 'capabilities' of, and the 'consequences' resulting from irresponsible use of guns." in everyone?

No, of course not.

So obtaining and cherishing (wtf?) a gun legally doesn't mean shit. The owner can still be a fuckhead.

Lastly, WTF?! Guns aren't inherently violent? They're just tools?!

In the same way a katana or a nuclear bomb aren't inherently violent? Right?
They're just tools.

Tools meant for MURDERING people!

Guns, swords and bombs weren't invented for sport.
They were invented to make killing easier.

So tell me Buck. Besides practicing murdering things from a distance,actually murdering things from a distance and signaling the start of a foot race..

Can you list the oh-so-many uses of a gun/guns?

The same clip as http://videosift.com/video/In-which-many-things-are-cut-in-slow-motion-by-a-katana but just a tad shorter.

This embed is better quality though.

>> ^zor:

I love what he's doing and how he's doing it. However, modern steel production with vacuum degassing will top this anytime. Interestingly, the Japanese are particularly good at that as well...at least until recently when power generation became a major issue.


With the Japanese being a people of tradition, I don't doubt the value here is in the traditional forging of the sword. I was waiting until I saw the price, thinking "I'd love to have a traditional Japanese-forged katana!", but alas....

Thanks for the promote.

In reply to this comment by Boise_Lib:
I've cut Tatami mats and this is not--in any way--as easy as it looks.
*promote