Test cutting

[Sal Bertucci]

What's the point of cutting through watter bottles and such things? I'm mean, they're cheap, and easy to find, but is there any significance to the cut though? Does it relate to something on the body that I'm not seeing, or is it mostly for kick?

[Brent Lambell]

I am sure I will not be the only who will have something to say on this one, but here is my two cents worth. I think the efficacy of cutting water bottles is debatable, but most ARMA members would prefer more realistic targets like a good side of beef. Tatami mats are not so bad I hear, and there are other clever targets one can design if you are resourceful. However, whatever the target, there is legitimate value in test cutting. In my (unfortunately limited) experience, I have seen several areas for my improvement that have already helped my form. Your hand-eye coordination is honed with test cutting, you improve your power generation and edge alignment.

It may not be historically documented, but I think video taping our training, reviewing it and posting clips on the internet for peer review lacks historical precedence as well. Our ancestors had the benefit of a living martial art tradition, we sadly do not. I will also scoff and raise-my-nose-thusly at those who admonish test cutting while they themselves do not have any appreciable experience with it.

I will say in closing that the purpose is for training but there is an addicting kick to it as well. When the blade goes snicker-snack through your target, there is a satisfaction to a cut well done.

[Stacy Clifford]

Water bottles are often one of those "better than nothing" targets simply because they're cheap and easy to get, but they're too light weight, not anchored in any way, don't behave like meat, and turn the ground all muddy where you're cutting. Some kinds of plastic are also amazingly resistant to being cut. The one real value they have in my opinion is that in order to cut through them cleanly your form and edge alignment has to be spot on, otherwise you bash them across the yard like a baseball bat. It's like doing target practice on birds to make sure you can hit a buffalo.

The Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth study groups have started using a new cutting target that is still cheap and easy to make but gives a much more realistic feel, similar to cutting at a leg without the expense of ruining perfectly good meat (though meat is still more fun). Here are the instructions for making them and pictures of our test cuttings using them last year:

These paper targets were made by taking ¾ inch Zurn Pex plastic, and wrapping newspaper around it to a thickness of 1 to 1-1/2 inches. The newspaper can be printed, or unprinted. The paper was secured to itself, and to the pipe above & below it by wrapping with duct tape. These pipe/paper targets then need to be soaked in water for 24 hours to firm up. The source for this idea is in Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of the Longsword, by David Lindholm and Peter Svard in the chapter entitled, "Test-Cutting", page 225.

http://www.armanorthhouston.org/testcutting0307.htm

http://www.armanorthhouston.org/testcutting0607.htm

[Derek Wassom]

I like those pipe/paper targets. They are a much better choice than bottles, but bottles can still help you learn proper aim, distance and edge alignment. The pipe/paper targets can also reveal any manufacturing flaws in your weapons!

[Sal Bertucci]

ok, I was just wondering b/c I was watching a promotional video, and they cut through water bottles, and trash cans, etc. I always thought it was something cool that they did (especially cutting through a trashcan full of water) but was one of those things that looked cool, but had no real significance. Now that I've read this though I'll save some 3 liters for my poleaxe.

[David Kite]

Derek,

Wow, that's too bad, especially if that sword is what I think it is. I hope their customer service is taking care of that for you!

Stacy,

Where can I find thay type of plastic? Is it readily available from hardware stores?

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

[Stacy Clifford]

I think you should be able to find it, probably in the plumbing section, but Kyle has bought our supplies of that so far so he or Ernie from Dallas could tell you for sure. If you can't find that then you could try other types of PVC pipe, but I believe this type in particular is less hard and brittle and cuts more like live bone, minus the chipping.

[Derek Wassom]

Derek,

Wow, that's too bad, especially if that sword is what I think it is. I hope their customer service is taking care of that for you!

I should point out that the sword should not have broken and Albion replaced it almost immediately.

[Matt Bryant]

Derek,
Where can I find thay type of plastic? Is it readily available from hardware stores?
GFS, ARMA in IN

You can find it in the plumbing section of Home Depot or Lowe's. I've bought it at both places. I have also made the same targets without the pipe in the middle. They tend to absorb the force a bit more and not cut quite so deeply, but all you need to do is grab a news paper and some duck tape and you are ready to rock.

[David Kite]

Do you soak the newspaper in water, or cut it dry? I've cut it soaked with decent results, but I've never tried it dry.

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

[Matt Bryant]

Do you soak the newspaper in water, or cut it dry? I've cut it soaked with decent results, but I've never tried it dry.

David Kite
GFS, ARMA in IN

I would definitely cut it while its wet. I've never cut it before soaking it, but I don't think it would be very productive. Cutting it while its dry after soaking it would be bad. It kind of solidifies into some sort of newspaper-concrete.