Weapons Links

Thread replaced by Weapons Links v2
If you followed a link to this thread, please link-hop to the new version - Cheers, Anth

I have put together a list of links, both internal (MAP links) and external (outside MAP). The external links have previously been posted by MAP members, or are their own web-sites, and the internal links are here so that newer members can resurrect threads without making their own asking the same questions, thus saving the inevitable "Its been done before!" If anyone has any links they feel should be added, feel free to post below with them and they may one day appear in a revised post

External (off MAP links)
MAPer Spinstorm's Nunchaku Website
Iaido basics and history
Sai basics
MAPer Reiki's Staff kata site
British Kendo Association (BKA)
MAPer Kobudo_Tob's kobudo site (with vids!)
Japanese Armour Manual
Yawara
Journal of Western Martial Art

MAP links
Top weapons threads
How to make a Katana
Two-sword style
Great-swords and the myth of weight
Most Practical street weapon
Stupid Illegal Weapons Rules
Your favourite weapon
Your favourite weapon
Your favourite weapon
Best LEGAL self defense weapon to carry
Should guns be outlawed?
Everything is a weapon
Do you carry weapons?
Nunchaku Treats (videos)

Please post with any more useful links!

 

Some links I have aquired.

Www.swordforum.com
Lots of different people doing differnt things but who all love swords in some form or the other.

PLace to buy swords of the western type

http://www.lutel.cz/index2e.htm
http://www.deltin.it/home.htm
http://allsaintsblades.com/
http://www.woodenweapons.com/index.htm
http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/index.htm
http://www.armor.com/2000/index.html
http://darksword-armory.com/index.html
http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/main.shtml
http://www.museumreplicas.com/webstore/homepage.asp
http://www.christianfletcher.com/

PLaces with info on western sword play
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/jester/No_Shield/greatsword_1.html
An article on the use of the greatsword in the SCA

http://www.aemma.org/library_top.htm
A school in Toronto, Canada it has a large online library of historical fighting manuals, however, only two are for public comsumption the rest require you to be a member of the school or to purchase a library card.

http://www.knightsofthewildrose.com/
I beleive this site has fiore's Flos Duelum (sp)

http://www.schielhau.org/
several manuals that expand upon Liechtenaur's cryptic Merkverse
mainly the use of he Longsword but some grapling in and ou of armor and spear work.

http://www.ejmas.com/jwma/jwmaframe.htm
An online place with several articles on the WMA.

 

www.rapidarnis.com My site which is about FMA (Weapons Based)

www.eskrimador-supplies.com My wifes site that sells training weapons.

 

Keep them coming people

 

Its maybe a bit specific, but someone might use it:

http://www.valiantco.com/

 

Richard Stein's Nihonto Index (The best possible source on the internet for information on the Japanese Sword) Japanese Sword Index

For Drooling over expensive, beautiful Nihonto, check out Ikkyudo.
Besides that, use Sword Forum for Nihonto questions. They're great.

 

Here are a few more:

Japanese Sword Arts Sites (Kendo/Iaido/Kenjitsu):
All United States Kendo Federation - Access to links, school locations, information
Kendo World, online Kendo/sport sword magazine, with good articles on history, PLUS a full Kendo forum
Kenjutsu International Association of Instructors - Find a school or teacher world-wide for Japanese cutting, forms, and sword combat arts.

Korean Sword Arts Sites (Haidong Gumdo, Haedong Kumdo):
Anthony Boyd's Haidong Gumdo Personal Webpage - best, most informative personal webpage on any sword art I have seen. Check out the videos page to see the differences between Haidong Gumdo and Japanese Kendo.
World Haidong Gumdo Federation - English language site for world federation HQ for this style. Based in Korea; site is slow to load.
Canadian Haidong Gumdo Federation - Links to Canadian schools, with information and curriculum notes.
Haidong Gumdo Martial Art Federation of Canada - Not sure which of these two links is newer. This site is better organized, and also lists schools, history, etc.
European Haidong Gumdo Federation - contact master instructors in European countries, to find a school near you. Find seminars and workshops. This site includes a very good forum, as well.

 

One of my favorites:


http://www.kriscutlery.com/

 

Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo

The official Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo USA Shibu web site is located here:

http://suioryu-usa.org/

 

Irish Stickfighting

Depending on the time period in question it was a knobbed cane. Made of naitive hardwoods or other suitable material; Oak (from the forest known as "Shillelagh"), Ash, Holly, Blackthorn (a favorite), etc. Usually made from an uprooted sapling or a branch cut at the joint. Often the **** was hollowed out and "loaded" (filled with lead) to pack a heavier wallup. It was frequently associated with an Irish phenomenon known as Faction Fights which were one part recreation and two parts gang violence.

Each clan or faction would have at least one Master training in the use of the stick. Each could potentially have a unique style or stylistic differences.

There are relatively few people teaching Bata publicly and if any are teaching privately they remain hidden with a ninja-like ability.

Ken Phrenger practices and teaches a reconstruction of a particular Bata style. The stick is held about 1/3 up the shaft from the butt end with the thumb along the shaft. The ready position is cocked and slightly above the head. Ken is located below Clevland, Ohio.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4933/shillelagh.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bata/

John Hurley teaches a style based largely upon the stylistic use of and around the equipment of the game Hurling (aka Hurley). John has also compiled a number of stories from Carlton, a period Irish Stickfighter,
that I reccomend.
http://johnwhurley.com/

Glen Doyle of Ontario, Canada teaches a family style of Irish Stickfighting called Uisce Beatha Bata Rince (Whiskey Stick Dancing). This style holds the stick in a two-handed hold parallel to the ground and heavily integrates boxing-like "punches" with the stick ends, hammer-fist style two-handed hooking with the "punyo" on each end, and snap striking with the stick from the wrist.
http://www.geocities.com/glendoyle/bata/
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/GlenDoyle/

It was not uncommon for the Irish to "integrate" Irish Wrestling styles, Bare Knuckle Boxing, and a kind of Irish kicking called Purring as well as simple Rough-and-Tumble Brawling into their fighting (to say nothing of the many other codefied weapons and weapons of opportunity).
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk Lawson

 

japanese sword information

www.jpsword.com

 

A link I have found in something Mike OLeary sent me (cheers Mike), with some good stuff about Okinawan Kobudo is http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/013/index.html

 

A link I found in a thread over on Sword Forum: http://www.hi-net.zaq.ne.jp/osaru/e_midokoro.htm

It has about the evolution of the Japanese sword, and looks good to me

 

Another site I have found about the Katana is this: http://encyclopedia.lockergnome.com/s/b/Katana

 

I dont know how good it is becuse it mentions two thing I know to be false.
"The long sword was ideally able to cut through iron nails "
and "although the chisel-like tip, called the kissaki"

I dont think swords we ever manufactured to be able to cut through iron and the kissaki of japanese sword is not at all chisel like.

And I dont think Iaijutsu was a battle field art.

 

Looking at the iaito I have, it must be a very strange chisel they were looking at

And they are probably getting too tied up with the myths to say they would cut through iron :bang:

 

that and I looked at what they had to say about sords in general and they said that longsword is not a histroical term. which it is. I can pull up historical manulas that refere to langenschwert

 

www.ebay.com is the cheepest way of getting stuff...

 

The problem with ebay for weapons (especially swords) is that the seller may not know much about what they are selling, such as selling a 440 stainless wall-hanger as functional.

You don't know until it turns up at your door

 

when shopping on Ebay its YOUR responsiblity to make sure what you are buying is wha you expect. So ask the seller lots of questions.