Human Weapons?

[Scott A. Richardson]

Has anyone else seen the History Channel show "Human Weapon"? I think its a great show, but how many people believe they'll ever leave Asia to visit skilled practioners of longsword, sword and buckler, or rapier and dagger? Not bloody likely.

[Jeffrey Hull]

I actually like that show, but I did have similar thoughts.

It would have been nice if they had bothered to have an episode dedicated to Kunst des Fechtens.

Or at least had an episode about Olympic wrestling. They could have gone to train with some really successful wrestler / coach, like Dan Gable or somebody comparable, whom you could call a "master" of his respective martial art in the Western tradition.

[Will Adamson]

I thought the escrima show did a good job of showing the some of the issues with fighting under different rules. It seemed like every time the guy went in to do some sort of grapple technique, they called it off as illegal.

[Jeffrey Hull]

It was cool that the two hosts would listen to teachers of various disciplines within a given art/arts distinguish stuff like "this" technique is for sport while "that" technique is for combat. An important distinction in any real pursuit of martial ability.

Those escrima sparring sticks were an effective idea, the ones with the padded husk around a core of iron rod. Could be dangerous if not well-made, and hazardous for beginnners in any case.

But a lot like the idea of padded sparring "swords" we all know about, and as you can either make for yourself or buy nicely crafted from a maker like Realistic Sparring Weapons:
http://www.rsw.com.hk/

[Gene Tausk]

I actually like that show, but I did have similar thoughts.

It would have been nice if they had bothered to have an episode dedicated to Kunst des Fechtens.

Or at least had an episode about Olympic wrestling. They could have gone to train with some really successful wrestler / coach, like Dan Gable or somebody comparable, whom you could call a "master" of his respective martial art in the Western tradition.

Well, according to the show's website, they will be offering episodes on Russian Sambo, Pankration, Krav Maga (Israel) and Savate, so at least some Western disciplines are covered. I completely agree that it would be nice to have an episode desicated to swordsmanship or Freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestling, but at least they are headed in the right direction.

I agree also - I like the show. The two hosts seem to have a good blend of taking the subject matter seriously, but with a good sense of humor.

[Randall Pleasant]

I too really liked the show but I was able to see only a short section. I really the older teacher tell one of the guys, "Don't dance. This is not a dance studio, it is a martial arts studio".

[Jeffrey Hull]

FYI : New episode airs each Friday night, with re-runs on other days.

[Nathan Dexter]

I dont have cable, but I saw the episode on Mui Thai. That was intense . I liked the part when they went into the "ninja base"

[Matthew Miller]

Well, they will be going to France to learn Savate ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate ) and the preview advert showed what looked like some La Canne. That is at least in Europe, so there might be a Renaissance show after all.

[Jon Wolfe]

The match at the end of the episode on Karate, was a little dog and pony to me. No striking to the face, come on. Stopping once someone has fallen, come on. Though that's more of a quivel of mine with their sparring system. I don't mind that there is an over emphasis on Eastern styles, I just wished they would take a more critical approach to it, as opposed to the info-mercial like format.

[Scott Hanson]

I think the infomercial format is an unfortunate necessity. You don't get the kind of access they're getting without playing the game. I don't think any of those schools would have given them much without some kind of assurance of a positive spin.

[AlexCSmith]

I really enjoyed the Escrima episode and i did learn something that I didn't know on the Karate ep(I never knew the name change to karate was meant to make the art more acceptable to the Japanese).

The sparring on the Karate episode was a little weak and they kept referring to punches that were obviously being pulled as "full power blows".

I sure would like to see them do an episode on WMA in the second season(assuming there is one).

[Jon Wolfe]

Scott, I'm in reluctant agreeance with you on your point, but, that does speak against themselves, if those school's would not allow access without a positive light being cast in the editing room.

Alex, we can only hope and pray, for a second season that goes more indepth into the WMA, we can only hope and pray.

[Jeffrey Hull]

Probably of-topic : I would give those karateka their due. They do some tough stuff. Some of those old-school Okinawan sensei would have no qualms and probably little problem shattering the body of some thug who was asking for it.

[Jon Wolfe]

True enough, I've never trained at anywhere near that level, so let me not stand in such a light as that I could be seen bad-mouthing the schools, I just believe in subjectivity and openness, without stipulations.