Another theoretical question: what are those Central African swords used for anyway?

Conogre · 18th April 2005, 09:09 PM

Some of you seem intent with comparing African pieces to cultures that they had no contact with what so ever and making a pronouncement of "inferior", and while, if taken literally, you are correct, but to consider them "awkward" and impossible to use seems equally ridiculous.
When I got my first Potto knife, the fact that it wasn't much thicker than a 50 gal oil drum struck me immediately, but over time as I gradually figured out how to hold it in such a fashion that it became comfortable, the knife/sword won me over.
Swing into the end of a 2"X10" board so that it bites into the grain and the results are striking, to say the least.
Likewise, into meat or flesh, a la the "Cold Steel" demos and you find that you have a deadly piece of hardware whose lighter weight makes it VERY fast, and likewise the shorter length enables it to be swung, even in heavily grown areas, where as a long sword or such would end up tangled in the vines.
As to martial arts, if you're trying to use many of the African pieces in established forms from other, far removed parts of the world, I have no dobt that it would be awkward, but again, the point is what?
They weren't MADE to be used that way.
Even with martial arts themselves, it often ends up coming down to the skills and abilities of the fighter himself, for often the defenses are only truly effective against someone fighting in the same style.
I've seen Kung Fu masters laid out with a single punch from a professional boxer.
African weaponry as art, yes, beyond a doubt, but to discount the effectiveness in the society and terrain in which it originated seems to be nothing more than argumentative.
With enough ammo and the proper firearm, ALL bladed weapons are primitive and next to useless...same thing.
Mike

18th April 2005, 09:09 PM	#25
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Some of you seem intent with comparing African pieces to cultures that they had no contact with what so ever and making a pronouncement of "inferior", and while, if taken literally, you are correct, but to consider them "awkward" and impossible to use seems equally ridiculous. When I got my first Potto knife, the fact that it wasn't much thicker than a 50 gal oil drum struck me immediately, but over time as I gradually figured out how to hold it in such a fashion that it became comfortable, the knife/sword won me over. Swing into the end of a 2"X10" board so that it bites into the grain and the results are striking, to say the least. Likewise, into meat or flesh, a la the "Cold Steel" demos and you find that you have a deadly piece of hardware whose lighter weight makes it VERY fast, and likewise the shorter length enables it to be swung, even in heavily grown areas, where as a long sword or such would end up tangled in the vines. As to martial arts, if you're trying to use many of the African pieces in established forms from other, far removed parts of the world, I have no dobt that it would be awkward, but again, the point is what? They weren't MADE to be used that way. Even with martial arts themselves, it often ends up coming down to the skills and abilities of the fighter himself, for often the defenses are only truly effective against someone fighting in the same style. I've seen Kung Fu masters laid out with a single punch from a professional boxer. African weaponry as art, yes, beyond a doubt, but to discount the effectiveness in the society and terrain in which it originated seems to be nothing more than argumentative. With enough ammo and the proper firearm, ALL bladed weapons are primitive and next to useless...same thing. Mike