Shields
"Sode (Shoulder Armor)
The sode were pieces of armor that protected the warrior's shoulders. Early samurai warfare consisted predominately of mounted archery, and therefore it seems that the sode were first developed out of need to provide the mounted warrior with a type of shield, that would allow him to have both his hands free for rider the horse and firing the bow. The sode used in the earlier Kamakura period (1185 - 1333) were much larger than those produced in the Warring Sates period (1477-1603); this was largely due to the improvements in the developments of the kote (armored sleeves) and do (body armor)."
http://www.geocities.com/bushiminiat...ponsarmor.html
Bows / Archery
The bows are quite impressive, as is the archery. But it's subject to the same individualism that all japanes combat in that period shows.
There where great numbers of bow-toting samurai, no question.
But they didn't fire as massed archers with high, ballistic trajectory like e.g. the english longbows did.
But shield are more or less useless against low-trajectory, high-speed arrow which are actually aimed at uncovered areas. Either the target spots the arrow and can step aside etc., or it doesn't and cannot block with the shield either.
Katana
These swords aren't heavier than their european 1,5-hand counterparts. Maybe even lighter, but "statistically relevant" data is hard to come by. However, they are easily wielded with one hand, as the curved blade puts the C.G. back from the edge and more above the hand.
While swinging the blade is held much more upright, so that e.g. you could stop a blow just halfway through without the blade "dangeling around", as the force is projeted straightly to the hand below. With a european-type straight sword, the C.G. would be well outside the hands arc, so an instant stop would put great torsion on the wrist. (Been there, tried that, got hurt
)
A big part of this is lost with the straight two-hand wielded split-bamboo practice sword, called shinai, which handles much more like their european counterparts. It resembles more the ancient dunno-how-it-was-called "first sword" that was used in Japan than the famous Katana.
This has a BIG influence on fighting style. To study Katana-styles, watch Kurosawa (sp?)- films ("Seven samurai" etc.): A Katana (or Tachi or Wakizashi) is used in a
cuttingway in contrast to the
hacking or chopping that goes along with straight blades.
There are good-balanced wooden katanas available, though, and I would recommend those for exercise.
A.
[ December 04, 2003, 19:01: Message edited by: Arralen ]