Be sure to watch Part 2 below! We bring a rapier instructor and 3 rapiers against the katana kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rLxzqM6blcDdhY0.html

Always fun to see the theorey in practice. Especially when it gets into body to body fighting. Gratitude for the video.

On the next occasion have your sparring partner also use a dagger with the rapier, which was seriously utilised during that time period, and see how much more difficult it is to fight and defend against a rapier.

Would also be interesting to mix the cards a little bit. Katana and Longsword/rapier have been done to death imho. Nodachi vs falchion, katana vs falchion, nodachi vs rapier and so on would be more interesting as in never really seen before

Excellent video!👏👏👏

Great video. Do more like these.

It's like boxing someone reachy- hard to get closer.

Thank you for your video

I fence a kenjutsu/iaido practitioner every so often but using more early rapier (sidesword) and destreza. Usually using what is more typical of a sailor at the time: a bilbao sword (boca de caballo) which is about 30"/76cm broader blade on a shell-hilt handle. It's a fun match-up, and less focused on the reach. That said, once I get a proper destreza/sidesword blade at longer length I want to go for that too.

Nice video. I think it’s always important to remember that the rapier is essentially a dedicated dueling weapon, it shines when you don’t have to worry about it getting stuck in things, breaking, or the how uncomfortable the guard is when worn at the side.

Rapier vs Jian Katana vs Cutlass Guandao vs Bardiche/ Dane Axe

2:16 geniunely the most violent proboing ive ever seen lol.

Great channel. How about a similarly-length rapier vs. odachi? Or perhaps a match with a rapier vs. Glock 19?

Happy to lend you my katana for the sparring lol

A naginata versus a glaive might be interesting

Great sparring footage! Europeans came to Japan to trade so most times they would even encountered each other historically would likely be from the scabbard. Can you experiment around with this scenario and how the rapier might have to deal with it? Also what Ryu does your reconstructed style stems from? I don’t think I’ve heard it before but I’m always interested in ones that have been revived

Fun video to watch. I can't comment on the rapier player but as a Kendoka for the katana player a couple things... Don't lean forward. Puts all your weight on your front leg and plants you in one place. Stand straight with weight balanced on both feet so you can move in any direction quickly. Against a rapier using kendo/kenjutsu would mean either getting in close enough to be past an effective thrust for a close cut, or a dodging parry strike. With a two handed sword you can control your opponent"s one handed sword more effectively. But it all starts with footwork and a stronger stance

If you guys have partisan, halberd, yari and naginata simulators, I'd like to see those put to the test!

Katana is fun but any time one comes out at my local club the user tends to get liquidated by raper and longsword. Not a meta on katana as a weapon, as I do enjoy it. Just sharing my own first hand doing full speed sparring with em. Having said that, this tends to be true in most matches with a much shorter weapon against a longer one. I feel similar using my 36inch broadsword against 40+ inch rapier. Doable but the difficulty level rises significantly.

The key to defeat the rapier is treat it like a spear. The second you touch it and block it down, either grab it , and close in. Fencing with a longer weapon will only slow things down. Attack the weapon first ....hard..and the Katana can actually block the thin blade long enough to run in past the sharp point. If you can get the user against a wall it will be easier to win.

I would really love to see some of these with Chinese jian or dao.

My so far first and only fencing partner used to do a lot of destreza, while I do sidesword mostly. One thing I learn fighting against a rapier is that those things seem to have their tips with a spring coil attached to the center line. No matter how much you move the blade away from you, it will return at the center line and the harder you do this, the faster it will come back at you. At a certain point gets annoying 🤣

I'd love to see this fight done over, but with an appropriate side-arm for each fighter. Maybe Wakizashi for Katana, and a dagger or stiletto for the Rapier. The length, and thrust on a rapier is so difficult to evade, but without a side-arm to block with, all attacks leave the wielder open to counters which, against the slashing of a Katana would almost always be fatal. At least, that's how I imagine it would play out.

Katana vs "anything" : Ever consider a sparring session starting from the scabbard each time for both weapons? Seems like the katana was the equivalent of a modern side arm in a owb holster (vs as the primary battle weapon) , so it's greatest inherent advantage might be from the speedy draw/strike from the saya vs a prolonged encounter?

Reconstructed kenjutsu system.......

I prefer a rapier against any not heavily armoured opponent with a blade of any kind : superior reach , superior stabbing ability and , contrary to what some claim , a very , very decent cutting ability.

That was really good, and demonstrated that length confers a serious advantage. So the rapier will win. But the blows by the katana would have been significantly more damaging. The fight illustrates the central point of rapier v katana. The context is the weapons were built for particular circumstances. Both weapons are better, in the conditions they were developed for.

The batelfield also matters allot. In a confined space like on a ship woth lots of people fighting around you for instance a Katana would definitely be a better option. On a open field with lots of space the Rapier is definitely superior

I suppose in a competition I would see this useful, with rules. The real thing playing by rules will be a disadvantage.

Keep in mind Europeans of the 1500s time period most likely also offhanded a parrying dagger until firearms where mainstream. Especially in Spain and Italy where it was common.

Seeing you spar in jeans has me very worried! That rapier looks kinda short as well, definitely not the 130cm of my HF armoury.

I would like to see katana vs rapier and dagger, since that would have been a historical match.

You should do katana vs an athletic person with a stick.

It’s more likely than you would think for a rapier to go against a katana. In 1582 the Spanish fought the Japanese in the Philippines.

A Chinese Jian would be a good match against the rapier.

Replace the katana for an odatchi and repeat the experiment.

Very interesting fight! During the 17th The Tokugawa Shogun had to ban the dutch officers to bring their swords to shore with them because they were decimating japanese nobility in dueling! Most of those swords were rapiers from Toledo captured from spanish offciers during the Eighty Years' War!

The rapier looks very short to me.

It seems like if you get in close, the katana would have a huge advantage.

Is there any reason why your opponent didn't seem to try and stab you in the hands, specifically? I myself found it a really effective thing to do against both katana and longsword users - not only can it hit, the threat of it forces them out of longpoint/posta longa/sprechfenster position. That in turn makes it even easier for the rapier to fake them out with a blade void.

There are Rapiers even longer than this one. It really is hard to get passed one with a Katana. The key is speed. You have to be very fast. I saw two guys who had wooden models spar and the Rapier guy definitely had more deadly hits. The Katana guy did manage a few and when he did it was only because of speed and surprise

That Rapier is much shorter and propably lighter than mine (1140g, 104cbm blade) and as you are allowed to use 2 hands, he should be too and use a dagger in the off hand. That changes SO much. AAND that fight happened with the Portugese beeing in Japan. But what you expirienced corresponds to what we were in our club, when not using a dagger

Longsword vs Katana next?

This is very interesting. If a French musketeer or pirate were to find themselves in Edo period Japan, as much as I absolutely admire and love the katana, I honestly have to say, an un armored samurai policeman or city official mayor in charge of keeping the peace I think would actually be at a disadvantage. Now I’m sure this is not actual live combat speed. They had to slow it down for demonstration and safety purposes. I have to say that a French or English soldier or privateer might actually get the upper hand on a samurai. Now if this was during the Sengoku jidai, where warriors, both ashigaru and samurai who are combat tested and have fought in battles defending against swords and spears, then I think the conquistador might be in trouble.

The rapier user looked very comfortable. A stylish duelist vs. the denim bandit.

From a current military point of view I see the squared stance of the samurai as making the armor work for them to protect the armpits and the simple long hilt of the katana makes it quick to deploy and maneuver in armor during adrenaline dumps as a PDW. I don't see the katana as a great unarmored dueling sword where first blood is concerned against swords designed for that purpose. The katana practically looks to be designed for a fight in armor as a backup tool where a squared stance opens up many grappling opportunities and the armor allows one to sustain a cut to secure the victory so to speak. Outside of armor the speed of deployment also shows it is concerned with defending against surprise assaults and not strict duels. It makes sense for what it is designed for and is silly for what it is not. It is however better than other swords due to its relevance in popculture and subsequent revenue fictional katanas generate. We can thank a yellow jumpsuit, a turtle, and any anime or marvel garbage for that.

Rapier wins easily in this kind of duel. Assuming equal blade length, 1 handed gets much more reach than 2 handed. Also much easier to score points with thrusting weapon as opposed to trying to thrust with cutting blade.

I think it would be realistic if it would simulate a fight to the death. A rapier can get first blood much faster but unless it hits some important artery is superfecial and the other csn double and kill the rapierist

Hello, great video, point of flag etiquette, however: When the US flag is hung vertically, the stars should always be in the upper left, your flag is currently hung backwards. Fecht on brothers

Why is the rapier fencer's stance so deep? A taller stance would allow him to control the range better.

I'm not sure whether I understood correctly, but did you say that fights rapier vs katana wouldn't have happened historically? Because they certainly did, and we have records thereof.

The rapier user doesn't have a left-hand dagger, as he typically would - so he's essentially fighting 1-handed against a 2-handed opponent. 🤨 And despite having that *huge* disadvantage he still comes out ahead 😜 Also, both have armored gloves, which eliminates the rapier's critical advantage in being able to easily attack the opponent's hands (...since the katana has awful hand protection), while the katana cant' retaliate due to the rapier's superior complex hilt.

bare hands vs m4

Fighting against the rapier seems to negate most of the katana's edge, forcing you to use just the tip of the blade, making the katana into a thick short rapier. Not a happy place to be!

The rapier is the better sword tbh, but the way of using a katana is superior to the way of using a rapier. Especially if you aren't familiar with how they are used.

So, a katana specialist against a longsword practitioner with a light, thin rapier? OK, how about a rapier specialist with a battle rapier, like the LK Chen Saxony rapier? Modern rapiers are too light and short for a historically accurate comparison.

I don't know that repair looked a little short, mines short and it's 40 inches of blade, My katana is long at 30 inches,those two look equal

Im confused, why make this video without 2 respected professionals of the craft ? Neither of you study the katana or the rapier right ? Isn't this a misrepresentation of the vs sparring? 🤔

That Rapier seems shorter than 40 inches. Size is key in order to make it realistic. The Katana would have way less advantage if the Rapier was its true size. The Rapier is actually the longest sword worn from a belt in history. Anything longer had to be worn on the back.

Katana is a 2 handed sword and must be tested against an European long sword

A lot a bad, very bad hits from the fighter with the rapier. The problem with a weapon that does not have a lot of energy in the cut is that the target, the force behind the cut, the part of the blade that does the cutting and as always the edge alignment need to be very, vey good for the rapier to cut well. On two occasions where the presenter judges the result as a double in fact the Rapier didn't do anything since it was actually a hit with the flat of the blade against the forehead. Most other cuts where very, very weak. Event if the forehead was cut, so what, the forehead is a very strong bone and for a good reason. Do not make the mistake of simply saying well the head it the premium target and a best target for a "light" hitting weapon. "Tag playing" can be done with a Longsword if the target is the head but not with a Riaper, the hit needs to be good, the egged needs to be well aligned or else it's all weatsed. You cannot treat the head there everything is encased in a bone cage as you would the neck, the head is not an easy target for light hitting weapon at all.

Why ppl that can barely stand their feet make such videos to embarrass themselves beyond my understanding.

Wow, what an entirely useless video. It is clear the the person with the katana has no skill in using it. Given that, what value is drawn from watching a video in which the participants have no actual skill in the weapon they are using (at least one of them)? About as useful as watching 2 moneys beat each other with mops.