the coke test cutting challenge

[Ryan Ricks]

hi all,

in last week's class, we tried test cutting on a 2 liter coke bottle full of water with a hand and a half sword. no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't wound it.

now, we have been quite successful with milkjugs and a 2 liter of country time lemonaide. all of my swords are pretty sharp. we can sever milk jugs and the country time bottle in one strike. we're getting quite good at this actually. i balanced a half gallon jug on it's cap, and was able to sever a big slice of it off with the same hand and a half, so i don't think our technique is bad...

so what's up with the coke bottle? is the plastic different? or are we just incompetent? can someone else try this and tell me what's happening?

ryan

[Craig Peters]

Ryan,

Out of curiousity, which company/person made the sword that you are using?

[Matthew_Anderson]

I'm kind of surprised by this really. I was always able to cut soda bottles pretty easily, even with only moderately sharp swords. I don't even use them anymore as they are just too easy to cut and provide no resistance. Perhaps you are not getting good edge alignment (a common problem) or are not getting the blade moving fast enough.

[Ryan Ricks]

hmm. yeah it's a mystery. like i said, we can sever the lemonaide 2 liters. i'll have to try with my one hand swords and see.

i guess it's possible that larger swords are harder to cut with? sometimes i'm afraid that i'm going to smack the hand and a half into the ground on the recovery. maybe that has something to do with it.

all my stuff is MRL

ryan

[Ray Brunk]

Ryan,
First off welcome to ARMA. The 2 liter soda bottle was my first attempt at cutting and also had a hard time getting through.The first time I tried the bottle flew about 30 feet with nothing but a dent. I found that it was a combination of poor trajectory and blade speed. If you are cutting strictly horizontal, that is more difficult. A good zornhau is the best cut to begin with. As you improve blade speed and angle,you will be able to use any cut. After I stepped back, took a moment to think, and stopped swinging my sword like a bat....the 2 liter was easily conquered. I now cut through soda bottles quite easily with any cut. I have also stopped using them as often as they are too easy. Still fun to pull out along with some milk jugs when I know the neighbors are watching.
Keep cutting,
Ray

p.s. almost forgot. On your first couple of bottles, remove the plastic label. Until your cutting form is improved..the label actually does make a small difference

[Shane Smith]

I am certain you are seeing the result of one technique flaw or another in action based on your description. Ray and Matt nailed it in this case in my opinion. Edge alignment and speed are almost everything on these light targets assuming decent form.Cutting plastic bottles isn't terribly challenging but it sure is fun once you get the hang of it <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Ryan Ricks]

incidentally, what should we try test cutting after we master the bottles? something that would be the next step up

i had kinda planned for everyone to practice some precision thrusting into the milk jugs after we all have mastered severing them with the various cuts.

ryan

[Ray Brunk]

Ryan,
I would next try rolled up newspaper soaked overnight in water. I bought a few of those japanese mats(pulling a blank on their name right now) and they were really great. Had a chance to try them out first at the International Event last year. They need to be soaked in water for 1-2 days. After that pass around a hat, collect a few bucks and go see the local butcher. Real flesh &amp; bone is the best. I had a few friends promise to bring me their deer kills this year so I could attempt to lop off the heads, but of course this turned out to be the first year they both struck out. Always next year. Thrusting works well on dense melons too.
Ray

[Jamie Fellrath]

Where does one find those tatami mats (there's that name, Ray!)? I have no clue where to go to buy them...

[Lance Chan]

I guess you can get some from www.tameshigiri.com

[David Kite]

There's also www.bugei.com They've got 3 different varieties.

David Kite

[Jamie Fellrath]

Thanks, Lance and David!

[Ryan Ricks]

upon further reflection, i think i found the problem.

every time we test cut, we start in either vom tag (over the head version) or the tail guard (german escapes me). based on the milk jugs, it looks like we're getting good edge alignment.

the problem, i think, is that we're not moving the blade fast enough. milk jugs don't really take all that much to sever, i guess.

so i think the idea is to practice making the cuts as fast as i can, while maintaining proper balance, footwork, and control.

then i think we can defeat the 2-liter

ryan

[Ray Brunk]

Ryan,
Tail Guard= nebenhut
Definitely work on blade speed but don't overlook the edge alignment. Coke bottle can be sliced easily with a schnitt from pflug which doesn't have the speed of a Zornhau. I also found that in the beginning, nebenhut was the hardest stance to cut from and keep my blade aligned. Be sure you are cutting at an upward angle and not swing horizontally like a baseball bat. Should be ending in left ochs. Best bet....keep on cutting!
Good Luck
Ray

p.s. you can slice through milk jugs with a good swing with a large knife. They pretty much cut as long as you generally hit them right. Kill that darn 2-liter!

[Shane Smith]

I don't know if simply going as fast as you can will solve the problem.I have seen Matt Anderson And Joel Thompson tip-cut two-liter bottles with blunts as a joke while wearing an easy smile the entire time.It's really more a function of good technique and impact speed and neither part of the equation can be discounted. Remember,cut as powerfully as you can consistant with good form,but no harder. You will eventually slay the dreaded two-liter nemesis <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

PS:What area of the blade are you making contact with on impact?