History, Politics And Current Affairs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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-

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

Drunknsubmrnr wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 1:09 am I’m still surprised you got a sword not a tetsubo.

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.

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