Why is fencing the only sword "art" for people in wheelchairs? where is the REAL arts like KENJUTSU??

Question

fencing is so stupid all you do is poke and slap your opponent with something that looks more like a steel stick than a sword.

Answer 1

I remember this guy in the old panther catalog. I don't know if he does any sword though.

http://upbeat.net/ROLLING/ROLLING.HTM

http://www.budovideos.com/shop/customer/...

Answer 2

Fencing WAS a real sword art.  Unfortunately what we have left now is sport and historical re-enactors.  If you really think that a fencing foil is a rapier (which is what many people think) it's not.  A typical 17th century rapier was four feet long, was an inch wide at the base and weighed 2 pounds.  They gradually became smaller, lighter, and deadlier, evolving into what weapon historians refer to as the "small sword" which more closely resembles, but is still larger and heavier than a foil.  

Small swords were eventually banned as hotheaded young European aristocrats began wiping each other out.  

Now if you still don't believe they're dangerous, buy a foil blade, snip the tip, and tell a cop you found it.  Or you can type in "fencing fatalies" like I just did.  Yes, fatalities.  Tragically, accidents happen.  Now how many people die in kendo tournaments?

Personally, I'm always amazed how very little REAL martial artists know about western fighting systems and their histories.

Edit: thanks merciera, I just get bit testy when people call something stupid without taking the minimal time to do just the tiniest bit of research on the topic.  There is this new fangled invention called internet...

But yes, fencing is a sport.  

On another note, on "Ripley's Believe It of Not" I did see a man in a wheelchair who received his black belt in Ninjitsu.  He was shown using a sword.  I believe accomodations were made in his case as well.

Answer 3

I think Phil misunderstood your question.

Fencing is easily adaptable for those in wheelchairs because it is a linear fight. Because of those restrictions due to it being a sport, unlike non-sporterized sword "arts" which can be considered circular, it is much harder for a student in a wheelchair to mimic the footwork of the latter.

It is not stupid if you approach it for what it is, a sport. You say it looks like a "steel stick" which the traditional french type smallswords were not much larger than that in the first place. It was meant for thrusting and a wider blade is not needed.

There are many study and practice groups out there that work on historical european sword arts. Whether it be the arming sword, the longsword, the rapier or the small sword, there are many different arts out there that one can pick up. However, they are not "wheelchair friendly".

I'm certainly not saying it is not possible. I have a student in my school that has been with me for over 2 years and is in a chair. While he can't mimic the footwork, he is VERY capable with the bladework and we try to accomodate him as much as possible.