Thread: Samurai
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Old 07-31-2003, 10:32 PM   #2 (permalink)
The_Dunedan
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Impossible to call. Various scholars have debated the issue, including Hank Reinhardt and Ewart Oakshott, but no conclusions have been reached. Contrary to popular beleif, medieval European martial arts did not consist of lumbering about banging people with barely-sharp bars of metal; they were every bit as developed and deadly as their Asian counterparts, and were in many respects quite similar.
It's quite possible to turn cartwheels in a well-fitted suit of armour, even the High-Goth plate from Milan or Wurzburg, if properly fitted to the wearer, can accomplish this.
Also, the extremely fine edge of a good Katana will quite literally shatter like glass if it meets a similar surface. Katanas are especially good at cutting metal; but only flat plates of metal, met at 75-90 degrees. Any less of an angle, and they glance off. If the edge of a Katana meets a similar edge, it will simply break. This is why most parries in Kendo and other traditional Japanese swordplay use the -back- edge of the weapon, to protect the cutting surface. Even European swords, which had much more robust, non-beveled edges, were typically parried with the flat of the blade, rather than the cutting edge, to avoid damaging the sword.

You must also realize that "Samurai" or "Knight" were no indication of martial prowess; they were simply titles of rank and Nobility. Certainly, most of them had some martial skill, and many were exceptional, but it was quite possible to be Samurai or be Knighted and have no martial inclinations whatsoever; although a Knight would be more inclined to do so.

Bottom line, if similarly armed and armoured ( full suit for each, double-handed sword or spear for each ) it is just too close to call, and would come down to the skill, ferocity, and luck of each fighter.
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