International Sports Chanbara Association

[Old Horse]

This link has been doing the Facebook rounds for a couple of days now but it hasn't been posted in the Bel boards yet.
It seems to be very similar to Kendo but with more relaxed rules.

Spochan- Japan Times

[Soo Ma Tai]

I have seen a little of this before. It's becoming popular among martial arts competetions here in the states. I had a local MA place ask me to come down and teach some foam sword skills. I am actually trying to get some more info on the chanbara assoc. Perhaps it's something we as a community may be able to get into and promote.

[Forkbeard]

There is a Chanbara outfit, "dojo" I guess, here in Ogden. They came out this summer and checked us out. There are only a few of them, maybe 5 and they came out and fought they guys at practice. They lost resoundingly according to their rules and ours, though, from watching videos of Chanbara competitions, they we3re doing it the way they were suposed to be.
I think it was a case of our people not being hung up on the weird fighting forms. The Chanbara guys were trying to fight they see people in videos of comps and samuria movies fight. Our guys just hit them with the stick, over and over. Kind funny.
Although everyone got along swimmingly and they said they would be back becuase they felt they needed experience fighting more strangers, we ain't seen em since.
I for one would LOVE to go to a big Chanbara comp and compete. I feel like the good single blue and min red fighters I know would do really well while being resoundingly hated for being from a foam combat game instead of a proper marshall art. This has the makings of a classic 80's style movie.
I've watched alot of video's of these guys both here and in Japan and I haven't seen anyone I could take out.
FB

[Dane]

The guys in the World Championship video look like the average Belegarth single blue fighter with more active footwork. I think it's time to be a world champion.

[MeleeMoses]

The "toys" they use look like they bend like **** crazy....
I would love to hit one of these douche bags saying
"my made up way of fighting is better then yours "
**** nerds
get ripped

[MeleeMoses]

The guys in the World Championship video look like the average Belegarth single blue fighter with more active footwork. I think it's time to be a world champion.

so true!!!
The foot work is just **** lolz as well
this whole thing is just lol after lol
i would love to see bel dudes just go and ruin these guys **** year....
so funny

[No'Vak]

Certification:
Two-day Certification courses are now available in your area. Your invitation to host one of the most comprehensive martial arts courses in the country has arrived. This course will show the instructor and his/her assistants the correct and documented ways to teach Chanbara.

During the intense two-day course you will learn:

1. Kihon kata (basic forms with the weapons)
2. Striking sets
3. Blocking sets
4. Sparring techniques
5. Correct ways to handle the weapons such as swords, double swords, staves and pole-arms
6. Tournament rules and fighting, and
7. How to be a certified Chanbara judge at soon to come Chanbara events in your area.

By holding a two-day seminar/certifiaction clinic at your school, you can easily cut your own cost by inviting all your students and assistants to enjoy sport chanbara with you. For Chanbara is universal and all styles are welcome.

http://www.huards.com/chanbara.html

Found this. Bolded the interesting part.

As far as I can tell the weapons are inflatable.

[Old Horse]

Their weapons are kind of expensive, wish we could take one apart.
http://www.actionflex.com/swords.html

I've seen very similar ones at Toys'r'Us for about $25 a pair (scratch that, they are on sale for $15 a pair now)
Banzai Dueling Sticks

[Arrakis]

Actionflex sticks are SO BAD.

But I do feel like it'd be pretty baller to take some Bel fighters and go wreck a Chanbara tourney.

[Slagar]

I'll drive. Where are we going and who wants to chip in on gas. 100% serious. Do these guys keep a tourney schedule posted anywhere?

[Soo Ma Tai]

So far as I can tell it's not very organized unless you are in Japan, I am looking into it though.

[Slagar]

For reference, here are the 2008 world champaionships. I vote we add this column to the oktoberfest banner now, and make it happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmeaM1pAaNs

[Isk]

It looks like they have a chanbara competition at the WOMAA competitions, their events are here:
http://www.womaa1.com/upcomingeventspage.html
But it they appear to be done for the year.

The 35th World Championship is on November 8th in Japan. . .

Has anyone used one of their whippy sword things? They look like they absolutely suck for any defensive sword work.

[Thorondor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmeaM1pAaNs

At about 1:55 there's a shot of the sword bending almost 90*...rather crazy.

[Soo Ma Tai]

They do flex a lot, and i am not sure how the rules work if they would take a hit if it bent around your block. They do bend to about 90 degrees though.

[Outhro Youkker]

Whoever can find anybody of Chanbara, first be humble about it and be nice.
"That is awesome what you are doing. I am very curious on how your fighting could bring a better technique to my fighting game. I was wondering if you guys could come to one of my Belegarth practices and give us some pointers"
and that is when you get em

We could have Peter The Quick crush their floppy sword fighting spirit.

[Slagar]

Nah, dude. We have Joe Schmoe crush their floppy sword-fighting spirit. You don't really need dynamite for a mouse hole.

Seriously, I want to work on finding the US champs, and a local tourney to win to send me there. If not me, then some other Bel fighter who could do the job. This would be amazing PR for our sport. We don't need to be * about this, but this is a golden opportunity for us to win some legitimate publicity for Belegarth. We should jump on it before some Sword Knight in Texas does.

[Brennon EH]

Right, because it's not like we read your boards or anything.

[Peregrine]

Right, because it's not like we read your boards or anything.

lol you discovered slagars plan to take over the world.

[Arrakis]

Right, because it's not like we read your boards or anything.

Now begins the real challenge: Which group is less lazy?

[Slagar]

Heh. If you can find the free time, you should go for it.

[Kyrax]

Right, because it's not like we read your boards or anything.

Eh, I'd be amused if anyone from one of our groups took over the top spots in such a martial art.

But when I youtubed this thing, it seems like there are vids of several similar floppy sword fighting groups out there. (sound familiar?). Could be several little fake fighting groups, I mean Martial Arts, to conquer!!!

[Slagar]

This one has membership of many hundred thousand, and has had world championships held in at least three countries. It'd make a good start.

[Outhro Youkker]

1-Find local floppy foam fighting martial arts with international connections
2- Follow Conan's Best things in life ("To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women")
3-Free world wide advertising to Belegarth
4-?????
5- Profit

[Peregrine]

I can see it now.


reporter: so champ, so in what system do you train.
Champ: Belegarth

[Outhro Youkker]

I guess only then someone will be sponsored by Edhellen

[Slagar]

I can see it now.


reporter: so champ, so in what system do you train.
Champ: Belegarth

This, right here. Hell, reporters stuck covering some goofy martial arts story would love that angle. You'd get a proper article about how 'love of history' and 'recreationist spirit', or some other nonsense led some dude to join Belegarth, train, and go on to become world chanbara champion. They'd use stock photos, and Derian's snazzy website would get linked to death.

By the way, I checked. The US Karate Federation Championships, held November 21st in Twinsburg Ohio this year, includes a Chanbara section. Any Avalonions have that weekend free? My knee won't be ready by then, but next year, if it's still in the Midwest, you can bet your * I'll be draggin everybody who I can fit into a car down there.

[Soo Ma Tai]

yeah, the tournament's around here are starting to do it too. we shall infiltrate!

[Tiercel]

I'm still scratching my head at how the creator feels this sport is more realistic than "other combat sports." My only guess is that he saw a LARP and doesn't know about Bel/Dag at all? Or perhaps its the headshot/hand on weapon thing.

[Forkbeard]

I have used both the inflatable Chanbara swords they use in Japan and the foam ones they use over here. The foam ones have a short core that only goes halfway up the blade. The inflatables only have core in the handle. They are crap. But thats part of the game. They do not block the way we do. Is seems to me that whoever gets there to tag the other guy first wins.
They also take garb and limbs as death. Pretty much any touch of the weapon.
But, that just means you gotta stick that pick first, no **** around.
Like I said, these guys came out to practice with their sword. We fought their way for a while and beat them down. Then we used single bules and they were totaly surprised by solid blocks. Then we gave them sheilds and started bashinng them into the ground. They said they would be back, but I haven't seen them for months. I've been hoping they were training and plotting to come show us what is up. Hopefully. I'd love to get schooled.
FB

[The Great Gigsby]

After watching some of these vids I'm wondering:

Where's the stabbing?
Why is everyone sticking their head way out, only to get hit in the dome?

and

Why the **** am I watching this?

[Outhro Youkker]

I see these noodles flung around where they reach in and flick the weapon to make the hit.

I bet we are considered savages with clubs that weigh a ton to their quick wrist light sabers


Here is your stabbing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8UV3OD_DkQ&feature=related