Draw Cut?

[Neil]

No doubt some differences in hack vs. chop vs. draw cut etc. are relative to the shape of the blade, and how it plays out in a real exchange. Relative to the exchange I am talking about the dynamic motions and or distance occurring between combatants.

I like the previous examples of cutting tomatoes or cutting vegetation with a machete too. I really think KuKulzA28 nailed when he said go out and experiment with the sword yourself, safely of coarse. Cutting and even light sparring with wooden, resin, or padded swords can open your eyes to a lot about honest swordsmanship.

[fearn]

As someone who uses a kukri as well as a machete... never mind. You get the point.

The hack vs. chop thing is something I got from a Cold Steel machete video. Hacking (under Lyn Thompson's definition) is what you do when you don't have full arm motion available. Think pounding in a nail. A chop is when you've got full range of motion in your arm and body. Think cutting firewood with an axe. Obviously these are arbitrary terms, just as slash and draw cut are. The major differences are precision (in this version, a hack is more precise) and which muscles you use (a chop should use the full body).

I'd point out that you don't have to have a disk pommel for a draw cut, since a katana can do a draw cut quite well. A good grip of some sort is mandatory, though.

[Rick]

A good way to practice a draw cut is with a standing pool noodle .

If you do it correctly the noodle is severed; if you do it wrong the target just bounces off the blade .

[David]

I believe the term draw-cut is used in two different ways. Firstly as Gav suggests, the first cut or series of cuts one makes upon drawing the sword from the sheath. This seems to most often apply to with the Japanese nihonto. Then i also see the term used to describe an actual type of cut as describes here when cutting, say, a tomato. I believe the correct usage will apply to the context...

[kronckew]

this youtube video of a barong in action shows mostly draw cuts - he shows a few draw cuts on the armpit as well as other targets. (it's also the opposite of a 'push' cut, where the blade is moved away from you during the slice, while the draw cut is done slicing towards you. )

Barong Training

[Stan S.]

Originally Posted by kronckew

this youtube video of a barong in action shows mostly draw cuts - he shows a few draw cuts on the armpit as well as other targets. (it's also the opposite of a 'push' cut, where the blade is moved away from you during the slice, while the draw cut is done slicing towards you. )

Barong Training

Totally badass! This guy can dismember you in sooooooooo many incoceavable ways!

I noticed that at around 1:35 when the instructor starts twirling his blade, his routine looks very similar to the various videos of gatka exercises

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Stan S.

...

I noticed that at around 1:35 when the instructor starts twirling his blade, his routine looks very similar to the various videos of gatka exercises

every martial art seems to have two types of training, a 'dancing' type, ie. 'kata' in japanese arts, and a sparring type. the 'dance' is to repeat fixed forms over and over until they become reflexive muscle memory, that you can do quickly without thought. the combative sparring is to train you to use that muscle memory against an uncooperative opponent, to expect the unexpected.

one of the more dangerous opponents is one that doesn't play by the rules that have been ingrained by all this training, one that uses a move you've not seen before.

gatka is cool; many of the same moves are likely a similar response to a similar threat. (i strill haven't figured out how they do all that twirling sabre work with a tulwar hilt - it'd break MY wrist.)