Cutting theory (inc. video)

[I. Hartikainen]

Hello everybody!

I was pointed here to read discussions on control and cutting. Very interesting read indeed. I didn't want to reply to those posts, because the threads were already such a mess.

I feel, however, that we could discuss ways of cutting and controlling even further, and try to avoid getting too personal.

My personal feeling is that through proper training you can indeed cut safely and fast with any kind of weapon (or simulator), as some mentioned.

I think these things are much more easy to discuss in person than in the internet, but this is better than nothing. To display my idea of cutting hard and soft I made a funny video for you where I beat a tire-pell. Please don't send this around, it is ment to be a bit funny, and my technique is far from perfect. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

cuts.zip (6Mb)

br,
Ilkka Hartikainen

[Lance Chan]

Hello! Thanks for your video. I especially liked ur choice of music that's not the usual heavy metal stuff. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> Makes a more elegant image of our swordplay.

As of the speed difference, I notice that with less cutting power, your sword tip travels very slightly slower. But with more cutting power, your cuttings have a slight pause before cutting to "coil up the power". So at the end both reach the target about the same speed!

Nice work!

[I. Hartikainen]

Hello Lance!

Good catches! I am trying to cut as fast in both ways, but I can't do it that well yet. Maybe after a couple of more years of hard training..

The pausing is bad technique - I try to accelerate my blade during the cut, to time it properly and to present threat first. I know that I usually end up moving my body first and tensing up, when doing it fast.. <img src="/forum/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" /> (Working on it <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />)

Thank you for the comments!


Yours
Ilkka Hartikainen

[Alfred Wong]

Hello Ilkka,

I watched your video. I must say that I like the background music too! <img src="/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

Your coordination with foot is nice. While I have some suggestion on some other aspects,

1. For starting position, the zornhut can deliver the most powerful blows. Im my opinion, it may restrict the diversity of attack options, which means, it can be quite predictable for the opponent if you start there. How about some overhead vom tag?

2. I've never cut tires before. But it seems that it hinders your "follow through" motion. A bad habbit of bashing may develope. Maybe you could include some "air" cut and do the whole motion and include it in your next video?

3. The "charge up" of the strong blows create a time lag that can telegraph your opponent, with the starting position of zornhut, the opponent can easily calculate a counter to your arm. Extending the arm more would do some help. But eliminating the "charge up" would even be better.

Just my thoughts,
Alfred <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[I. Hartikainen]

Hello Alfred!

Thank you for the comments. I chose to do all cuts from Posta di Donna mainly just for fun. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> I could have made all the cuts from the same position having my weight forward (kind of like Vom Tach), too. The idea of Donna is (partly) that your options seem restricted. But in fact you can cut in all lines from this position, as Fiore dei Liberi tells in his treatise. And you should not usually take this position, if you are close to your opponent.

Tires make a great target for cutting, because you can hit them hard or soft. I thought I was trying to follow my cuts through, but if you mean that it hinders it by turning down, then yes, that is because of the bad design of the pell. I will fix it one day.

I practice cuts in the air too, it is fun to see the difference in your technique when hitting air and when hitting a target!

The time lag is from trying to time my actions right. I am attempting to accelerate the blade, but it doesn't go right in most of the cuts. If I did them right, it would be hard to hit my arms. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> To make that counter harder I should also choose a good time to attack, where I have already limited my opponents options.

br,
Ilkka Hartikainen

[Alfred Wong]

Dear Ilkka,

How about including some other cuts from the Donna in your next video too?

For me, a lot of the blows can be started in nearly all of the guards. But there are "better" cuts in each of the guards, in my opinion. Such as a side vom tag - you can do oberhau, or do an unterhau. Both can be executed, but for me the oberhau works better! If you do a diagonal cut from Donna, the right one would be more natural than the left one, and it seems that the right one works better. Simply less time is needed, the farer you can hit, and the less opening is exposed before the blow landed.

From my point of view, the importance of range, timing and body mechanics would be much more significant in sparring than solo drill.

To shorten the time of "charge up", I would start in the position that I need not to pull the blade before cutting, it do a little help.

I am still doing my drills in the basic guards, so I could possibly mis-apply some principles, please tell me more. I anticipate your next video!

Best wishes,
Alfred <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[I. Hartikainen]

Hi!

How about including some other cuts from the Donna in your next video too?

Sure, if you're interested.

Being able to time your cuts from rear weighted positions with your feet is important, just because it is difficult does not mean I shouldn't practice it. <img src="/forum/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

In combat, rear weighted Posta di Donna has it's virtues. You appear to be further away than you really are, you open certain lines to invite certain actions from your opponent and so on. Certainly I practice cuts from other guards too!

Yours
Ilkka Hartikainen

[Ray Brunk]

Ikka,
Excellent job on the video. Good demonstration of you techniques. Lance made some good obsevations. I see that your cuts with less power are performed with a slight drawing upon contact whereas your power cuts are followed through. This was one of 3 options I had discussed on a prior thread enabling one to cut "soft" at full speed. Unfortunately it was not received well.
Keep up the good work, it appears to be paying off.

[SzabolcsWaldmann]

Ikka,

Your video is just _great_. I like the music, your cutwork with the film, your choice of guards and cuts, your rather floating body movement wich is most bueautiful and makes even EMA members think (I showed the video to some Iaido-kas and they had a VERY good opinion on your movement). I like the Pell. It's all just perfect. Just..... way too short <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />
Y'know, in Hungary, there is not much help in this topic, so every video is most appreciated and avaited. If you would be so kind.... if my humble self can ask for such a thing... would you do some other cuts as well, in a new video? I would be happy to see some cuts from Vom Tach and Pflug, with some undercuts or so <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, thanks again,

Szabolcs Waldmann