Sword Dances:
The Solo Dance
A dance of skill and honor and a brilliant demonstration of both sword skill and dexterity. It is done by choosing music to dance to and by forming a routine.
To sink in with the tone, combine as one, music and skill. As if a dancer dancing and then a swordsman performing a kata. Physically it is done by training with
certain movements with the sword with the momentum of the sound. This is a complicated thing to describe with words. It is better to be passed down, as is the
true ways of learning. Let this knowledge inspire you to seek out a sword dancer to teach you this new art.
The Silent Sword (or the Silent Bokken)
This dance is performed either in a circle or a square. The edges being the boundaries. The two swords people cannot leave once they enter. The dance begins
by declaring who gets the first strike. Then that person takes one step and makes one sword strike. Ideally trying to kill with the sword or force them out
of the circle. The defender, simultaneously, takes one defensive movement and makes one block. Then the roles switch, back and forth. It ends when one is forced
out or struck by a sword. Note that both actions must be single, clean and clearly defined as one sharp movement, both feet and sword moving on one desired path
to a complete stop, then switching roles and continuing. Attacker becomes defender and vice-versa. This is the friendly dance and it is mostly used to practice
for the sharpened steel dance described below.
The Dance of Death - Sharpened Steel
This dance falls under the same guidelines as 'The Silent Sword' except that it is done with sharpened steel. This dance ends when the sword blade is pressed
against the opponents open area. That strike must be acknowledged as one that could draw blood. If the opponent disagrees, feeling the strike could not cut
nor would have been a deadly blow, they then have the right to take an offensive or defensive action. The aggressor of the initial action can draw their
blade to prove the strike is valid. If blood is drawn, even slightly, the defender must stop the action begun when they declared the strike invalid. The cut
proving the validity of the strike, there by ending the dance, the defender losing. This is the most dangerous dance of them all. Grant it the honor it
deserves and some honest fear.
Sword Dancer Rank Requirements