Hi everyone,
I just joined this forum yesterday. I have a couple of questions. A couple of years ago, a relative gave me a pair of "gift shop" Japanese swords as a gift. I was excited, and being a guy who likes to have some knowledge about the things he owns, I contacted a local instructor. I told him that I was a 57 year old, overweight, guy who was interested in learning something about Japanese swordsmanship.
He didn't seem too interested in me and I got the impression that he was blowing me off. Is the idea of a 57 year old overweight guy with a beer gut studying swordsmanship a stupid idea? In my earlier manhood, I was a good athelete who played baseball, football, swam, and wrestled in addition to bodybuilding. I still have good shoulders, arms, chest, and legs which are overshadowed by my flabby beer gut.
My questions are:
1) Is there any worthwhile physical fitness value in training with swords? Using two hands to swing a light katana around doesn't look too demanding. Although I'm sure there's a lot more to it that that.
2) Is there any significant psychological tranquility and peace of mind benefits in sword training? It's a pretty violent, combat sport.
3) How expensive is it buying a real sword that is adequate for training? Is this an art of the rich and wealthy?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
I just joined this forum yesterday. I have a couple of questions. A couple of years ago, a relative gave me a pair of "gift shop" Japanese swords as a gift. I was excited, and being a guy who likes to have some knowledge about the things he owns, I contacted a local instructor. I told him that I was a 57 year old, overweight, guy who was interested in learning something about Japanese swordsmanship.
He didn't seem too interested in me and I got the impression that he was blowing me off. Is the idea of a 57 year old overweight guy with a beer gut studying swordsmanship a stupid idea? In my earlier manhood, I was a good athelete who played baseball, football, swam, and wrestled in addition to bodybuilding. I still have good shoulders, arms, chest, and legs which are overshadowed by my flabby beer gut.
My questions are:
1) Is there any worthwhile physical fitness value in training with swords? Using two hands to swing a light katana around doesn't look too demanding. Although I'm sure there's a lot more to it that that.
2) Is there any significant psychological tranquility and peace of mind benefits in sword training? It's a pretty violent, combat sport.
3) How expensive is it buying a real sword that is adequate for training? Is this an art of the rich and wealthy?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.