[CowboyPete]

Originally Posted by Mr Silver

I think we have to refine this argument a little...

Are we talking about the fighters from the period, or just the weapons?

BTW Batman rocks.

Just the weapons. It's weapon vs. weapon not fighter vs fighter. Although if you've got some interesting info about bastard/katana weilding masters, please share it.

...and yes. Batman rocks hardcore.

[Tim Chan]

i would just compare weapons since i've never really formally trained in either. I do have training in other curved swords which seem to adapt

[Gregster]

Well, I think either is best depending on which school of swordplay you prefer. The bastard would probbaly be a poor choice for the more, circular, mobile, slashing style preferred by the Japanese, and a katana not so great for the aggressive, clobbering, stabbing Western style.

Someone mentioned armor as a factor; I agree completely. Katana techniques placed heavy emphasis on slashing at the joints where the armor was weakest, saving a stab for a finishing blow (which was generally done with the tanto). On lighter European armor, this might work well; on a suit of full plate, not so much, though a person so suited I think would probably be mounted on horseback so I doubt it even matters.

If I had to choose for me: katana. One clear reason being that I've at least a smattering of kendo training, whereas I've never be shown how to wield a bastard sword. And I think I could fight longer and harder with the comparatively light katana.

[King Kabuki]

Hey I found a demo video of the Scottish Broadsword. I know it's not the same as the Bastard but it might give a little more insight on European Sword-use in terms of practicality.

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

[CowboyPete]

Originally Posted by King Kabuki

Hey I found a demo video of the Scottish Broadsword. I know it's not the same as the Bastard but it might give a little more insight on European Sword-use in terms of practicality.

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

That video is a good reminder of the devastating power of any sword. With all the crap in the movies and on TV where no one ever gets hit with anything but a thrust (or it's just anime bullshit), you kind of forget how vicious a blade can be. If a fat dude with half-decent form can hack up a piece of meat like that with one hand, just imagine the damage you can do with a single strike from a bastard or a katana.

Also, it illustrates the sort of hacking attack you'll make with the blade of a straight sword as opposed to a more slicing attack that you'd make with a curved sword. Don't let that fool you into thinking you can't cut just as deep with a curved sword though.

[Tim Chan]

to be fair that looks like a 1 handed weapon to begin with. the handle doesn't look like it's easy to hold with 2 hands.

though a guard like that would probably make it harder to make circular attacks eventhough i've never touched a european blade with a hand guard.

[machbreaker]

There is also katana meat cutting demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzX9GZ3qKE

You can see difference in cutting power compared to straight sword.

[Hurricane Brad]

I don't think it's fair to compare the cutting power of a katana held with two hands to that of a straight sword held with one. Still, cool demonstrations to watch.

[Tim Chan]

In general it's the person weilding the sword that also creats cutting power. I did manage to cut an empty plastic bottle with my katana with 1 hand(which is a lot harder than with a filed bottle). though i'm really inconsistant with it 1 or 2 hands. it usually flies off.

[Team Dragonfire]

i've been cutting for years and cutting tatami mats is very, very hard... especially the large ones... lots of time for your blade to turn or your cut to go awry..... do you guys actually own cutting swords or just souvenier type katana?