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PrintLiving It Up: Samurai Sword Fighting
Tonight Jackie Johnson's ready for battle. She's getting suited up and armed with steel. And she's Living It Up taking a stab at Samurai Sword Fighting.
(WSVN) -- We are Living It Up today learning the art of Samurai, if you've seen the movie you know it's all about honor, but there's also some intense technique involved.
Jackie: "Now do you notice that ever since this Tom Cruise movie has come out are more people coming in wanting to take the class?"
Dr. Cespedes: "Yes we have noticed an increase of people coming in here."
Jackie: "And what's so different about it?"
Dr. Cespedes: "In the Japanese martial arts, redirection of force is very important
. There is a neat philosophical angle also because whatever evil is coming towards you, you redirect that evil and it falls upon the evildoer."Jackie: "Okay well you want get started?"
Dr. Cespedes: "Let's do it."
Dr. Cespedes: "First thing that we are going to learn is the sword
. It's an art called Laido. The drawing of the sword and the movement of the sword through the air is an art form in so far that you control your breath with it, it also brings a sense of peace and focus in your mind."Dr. Cespedes: "As you draw the sword, turn it sideways a little."
Dr. Cespedes: "It's going to go out and across."
Dr. Cespedes: "It's going to go over the back."
Dr. Cespedes: "Bring it down."
Dr. Cespedes: "Japan was in a feudal era up until the 1800's and the Samurai was part of the feudal warrior class. The Samurai had values associated with nobility and associated with chivalry."
Dr. Cespedes: "The next thing we are going to do is the same technique, or very similar technique with the Kendo suit of armor."
Jackie: "Okay and that's the full armor?"
Dr. Cespedes: "That's the full armor over there."
Jackie: "So how long have suits like this been around for?"
Dr. Cespedes: "Suits like this have been around for centuries."
Dr. Cespedes: "Here we go, it's going to go like this."
Jackie: "I can't see you but I think I hit you."
Dr. Cespedes: "Let's add some Japanese etiquette, at the beginning you bow to each other."
Dr. Cespedes: "So let's try this with some Chinese swords much like the Samurai had to protect themselves against China, against Kubla Khan."
Dr. Cespedes: "The next step is learning unarmed combat, the Samurai had to prepare himself in case he dropped his sword or he broke it."
Dr. Cespedes: "You are just going to do this."
Dr. Cespedes: "You can't go force against force because the other guy would be typically in a suit of armor, so you have to throw him and let mother earth and gravity do the work."
Jackie:
"Now that is fun!"Jackie: "Well it was actually a lot of fun throwing everyone around today, I like that."
Dr. Cespedes: "Good, well we like to take pride in the fact that we teach values to people, we not only want people to learn how to defend themselves but be positive and proactive people that contribute to society."
Dr. Cespedes: "And it's been very educational Living It Up learning the Art of Samurai, a big thanks goes to Anta Fitness and Self Defense in Doral. I'm Jackie Johnson, watch out Tom Cruise, 7 News."
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: jjohnson@wsvn.com
Anta School of Fitness and Self Defense
305 599 3649