I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

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Jotun
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I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

…I ordered - in Japan - a custom iaito (practice sword). Thanks to my size alone, it was 200 Euros on top of the basic price for starters - heavyweight blade and 2.7 shaku (82 cm) length of the blade, the 9.5 sun (about 29 cm) tsuka (handle) also cost extra. So I decided out of spite to splurge a bit on a "navy" look. Brass tsuba, navy blue saya (sheath), navy blue tsuka wrapping, yellow gold sageo (the cord that ties the sheath to the belt) and brass/gold applications wherever possible.

I also ordered a brocade sword bag with my first name embroidered on it in katakana (Henrikku) with a yellow basic color and a navy blue cord to close it. If you got it, flaunt it, right?



Yes, I have now committed to practising toyama-ryu kenjutsu.
Blue gi and a hakama are also on the way.

My wife and I just got a 9.000+ Euros tax refund. My designated fun money is now gone :D
Last edited by Jotun on Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
David Newton
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by David Newton »

So it's fair to say the fun money has been put to the sword.
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

David Newton wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:00 pm So it's fair to say the fun money has been put to the sword.
Yup. I thought long and hard about it. But, to use a German proverb: If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
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jemhouston
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by jemhouston »

Jotun wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:04 pm
David Newton wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:00 pm So it's fair to say the fun money has been put to the sword.
Yup. I thought long and hard about it. But, to use a German proverb: If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
We have the same saying in American English, though it's actually: If you buy cheap, you buy often.
Micael
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Micael »

1. Cool!

2. I approve of yellow and blue as colors. ::P

3. Perhaps a youtube channel that you may find of some interest:
https://youtube.com/@letsasksekisensei? ... rGP09EeHE-
gtg947h
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by gtg947h »

jemhouston wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:23 pm
Jotun wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:04 pm
David Newton wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:00 pm So it's fair to say the fun money has been put to the sword.
Yup. I thought long and hard about it. But, to use a German proverb: If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
We have the same saying in American English, though it's actually: If you buy cheap, you buy often.
Alternatively, "buy once, cry once"
kdahm
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by kdahm »

Pratchett:
The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. ... A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
There's also my theory on tools. Buy extremely cheap, and plan on replacing, or buy expensive pro quality and buy it once. The middle ground is false economy. So my main welder over a thousand, but I get 4.5" hand grinders from Harbor Freight for $15. Had to finally replace the DeWalt cordless tool set last year, because the plastic bodies started cracking after only 25 years. The medium economy consumer kit isn't as good as the pro grade, costs a good proportion of pro, and yet only lasts a bit longer than bottom rung.
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jemhouston
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by jemhouston »

Harbor Freight, I've upgraded from cheap to inexpensive. If I'm not planning on using it much or if it fails, no big deal, I go Harbor. Power tools, I decided on Dewalt only.
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

jemhouston wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:12 am Harbor Freight, I've upgraded from cheap to inexpensive. If I'm not planning on using it much or if it fails, no big deal, I go Harbor. Power tools, I decided on Dewalt only.
Can't go wrong with Makita, IMO.
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jemhouston
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by jemhouston »

Jotun wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:02 am
jemhouston wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:12 am Harbor Freight, I've upgraded from cheap to inexpensive. If I'm not planning on using it much or if it fails, no big deal, I go Harbor. Power tools, I decided on Dewalt only.
Can't go wrong with Makita, IMO.
Since I'm cordless, I went with Dewalt for the first one and staying that way. Toolboxes, Dewalt Tstack and Tough System. I went with Milwaukee for the pickup since it's red and easier to find things in low light.
Evileconomist
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Evileconomist »

Mine is bigger than yours...

My old Iaito is 2.8 shaku with a 10 sun tsuka
Overall about 128 cm, Weight is about 1.5 kg

However, my Iaito is quite plain, basic black and black silk wrapping... the handle is a bit worn from practice
Don't ask me to do any katas today, I'm older and my strength is not compatible with my blade...
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

Evileconomist wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 6:54 pm Mine is bigger than yours...

My old Iaito is 2.8 shaku with a 10 sun tsuka
Overall about 128 cm, Weight is about 1.5 kg

However, my Iaito is quite plain, basic black and black silk wrapping... the handle is a bit worn from practice
Don't ask me to do any katas today, I'm older and my strength is not compatible with my blade...
Whoa. Just how tall are you that you have such a monster? :D
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

Micael wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:24 pm 1. Cool!

2. I approve of yellow and blue as colors. ::P

3. Perhaps a youtube channel that you may find of some interest:
https://youtube.com/@letsasksekisensei? ... rGP09EeHE-
I like that channel a lot. I have yet to ask my sensei what he thinks of it...not that his verdict would change that in either direction :)
Evileconomist
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Evileconomist »

I'm just 1.8m tall.
Our Japanese Sensei liked large swords. So we all got big ones (many used 2.8 shaku swords)
My hands are small so many of the techniques to draw and cut need some "adaptions"
For example, the initial draw required me to twist my torso a bit to allow the kissaki to leave the saya

Anyway, I don't practice Musu Shinden Ryu (or Iaido) any more. Still have the sword :-)
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

Evileconomist wrote: Wed Dec 20, 2023 4:49 pm I'm just 1.8m tall.
Our Japanese Sensei liked large swords. So we all got big ones (many used 2.8 shaku swords)
My hands are small so many of the techniques to draw and cut need some "adaptions"
For example, the initial draw required me to twist my torso a bit to allow the kissaki to leave the saya

Anyway, I don't practice Musu Shinden Ryu (or Iaido) any more. Still have the sword :-)
I am just starting. I took up martial arts to help kick my depression‘s butt. I think the psychomotoric aspects of martial arts (kata especially) are extremely beneficial.
For clarity:
Shotokan Karate
Kobudo
Nihon Taiho Jutsu
Toyama Ryu Kenjutsu/Iaido/Battodo
All IMAF
Drunknsubmrnr
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Drunknsubmrnr »

I’m still surprised you got a sword not a tetsubo.
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

Drunknsubmrnr wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 1:09 am I’m still surprised you got a sword not a tetsubo.
Please elaborate...^^
Drunknsubmrnr
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Drunknsubmrnr »

A tetsubo is a giant studded iron mace, only wielded by the largest and strongest of the samurai.

Not sure if they had an actual martial art to it other than “Hulk smash”. Apparently it could shatter a katana if it caught the blade right.
Jotun
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Jotun »

Drunknsubmrnr wrote: Thu Dec 21, 2023 1:56 pm A tetsubo is a giant studded iron mace, only wielded by the largest and strongest of the samurai.

Not sure if they had an actual martial art to it other than “Hulk smash”. Apparently it could shatter a katana if it caught the blade right.
I know what a tetsubo is. Should have guessed :D
Shattering a katana, at least a legacy katana, with another weapon isn‘t that hard in any case. The available steel was not of a very good quality. European swords were a lot more resilient.

Is there such a thing as tetsubo jutsu? Hmmmmm…
Craiglxviii
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Re: I just burned 950 Euros on martial arts stuff…

Post by Craiglxviii »

Jotun wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:57 pm …I ordered - in Japan - a custom iaito (practice sword). Thanks to my size alone, it was 200 Euros on top of the basic price for starters - heavyweight blade and 2.7 shaku (82 cm) length of the blade, the 9.5 sun (about 29 cm) tsuka (handle) also cost extra. So I decided out of spite to splurge a bit on a "navy" look. Brass tsuba, navy blue saya (sheath), navy blue tsuka wrapping, yellow gold sageo (the cord that ties the sheath to the belt) and brass/gold applications wherever possible.

I also ordered a brocade sword bag with my first name embroidered on it in katakana (Henrikku) with a yellow basic color and a navy blue cord to close it. If you got it, flaunt it, right?



Yes, I have now committed to practising toyama-ryu kenjutsu.
Blue gi and a hakama are also on the way.

My wife and I just got a 9.000+ Euros tax refund. My designated fun money is now gone :D
Only just seen this. All I can say is, good man! Sometimes you need to do things for fun and enjoyment. One can never have too many power tools, swords, knives, models and bits of tech.

Please to tell your wife; boys never grow up, our toys just get bigger and more expensive!
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