| You can spend years learning about Ancient | | | | Discipline that teaches you the art of Ancient |
| Sword Fighting. There are many swords, | | | | Sword Fighting, including cutting opponents. Also |
| components of these weapons and various | | | | Laido is popular, which is the art of drawing and |
| cultures to consider, but this article will briefly | | | | re-sheathing a sword. The Romans brought the |
| cover some of the most popular cultures and | | | | concept of Sword Fighting to the West. The |
| how these weapons came into play. From the | | | | Roman Military and elite Legionaries used the |
| Gladiators of Europe and the Mediterranean, to | | | | Gladius. The Gladius was a sword used for |
| the Bushido of Japan, Ancient Sword Fighting is a | | | | thrusting, which they used with the Scutum, which |
| subject that is fascinating to a lot of us including | | | | was a specific model of shield. |
| myself. | | | | During the Viking Age, the sword actually had little |
| The Chinese used a Sword that was sharp at | | | | use. The spear, axe and shield were much more |
| both edges and was called the Jian. This weapon | | | | popular during this time period. This even includes |
| took a great deal of skill to master, and | | | | the Vikings, however most people associate this |
| commanders that wielded it claimed it was easy | | | | culture and time period with swords but the truth |
| to move around the troops. Koreans primarily | | | | is history didn't quite roll out this way. The sword |
| used a sword called the Yedo. This weapon was | | | | was actually more of a status symbol only used |
| 3-4 feet in length and was considered a single | | | | by the elite in this period. A century or so later |
| edged saber. A weapon called the Jedokgum was | | | | the art of swordsmanship was further |
| used by the Korean Military Elite and was 5-6 feet | | | | encouraged in the European regions such as |
| long. It had a blade that was sharp only on one | | | | Rome and Greece to better equip them to taking |
| end. | | | | on enemy combatants and to improve their |
| The Japanese were heavy on practicing the art | | | | chances of losing less soldiers. |
| of Kendo. Kendo is a Swordsmanship based | | | | |