I'm looking to do any kind of martial art with swords and i dont know any martial art names.So could you please list as many as you can think of so i get some options and maybe one of the arts is in my neghiborhood and i can train with them.

PEACE

You could start by heading over to http://www.koryu.com

If you want us to help you find training oppurtunities in your neck of the woods, you're gonna have to tell us where you are. You're profile says your in New Jersey. Head over to http://www.swordforum.com and http://www.e-budo.com and search for New Jersey. Look particularly for Iaido, Kenjutsu, Kendo, and Iaijutsu. There is stuff to be had, I just can't recall the details off the top of my head.

Kung-Fu - Shaolin especially. They use both the Dao (a heavy saber) and Jian (double edged cut&thrust), as well as other weapons. Some schools teach some things and some don't.

Kenjitsu - Litterally, the art of the sword, includes all the katana arts, encompassing a broad range of styles. It focuses on drills, while some schools also have cutting exercises. Main weapon: bokken (wooden katana) and katana for cutting practice. Very few schools have two bladed arts (Unless you are in Seattle or Canada, forget it)

Iaido - Specific part of kenjitsu, the art of the katana draw. Also called Iaijitsu and Battojitsu. Uses mostly an iaito (unsharpened katana), with advanced students using sharpened blades.

Kendo - the sport version of Japanese swordplay. It consists mostly of armored duels with bamboo shinai.

Fencing - Moving westward, we get to a Franco-Italian style. It is armored combat along a strip with one of three weapons, foil, epee, and saber. Foil and epee are stabbing only, while saber is slashing. Electric scoring has moved things a bit far from their original intentions, especially in foil, but recent changes to timings should make things better.

The SCA - A group of people who teach various weapon arts including sword and shield, rapier and dagger, and broadsword. There is only one problem with them. I have been thoroughly unimpressed by any SCA group I have seen. The stretches are seconds long and useless, the techniques are showy, but ineffective, and their people were thoroughly slaughtered by two fencers that I know with minimal effort. I would suggest you avoid them and anyone else who teaches "Combat" swordsmanship.

There are other styles certainly, including Philipine swordmanship, but I'm not very familiar with them. The ones listed above are the big players on the field.

Kendo and Fencing are probably the most active and exciting of all of them, but are furthest removed from actual swordplay. Iaido, on the other hand, is very true to the katana, but many of its own masters has said that it should be like watching paint dry.

Good luck finding a school.

Just my suggestion... seek out any Fencing Salles near you. It is quite a bit different from the Eastern sword arts, but it is a very fulfilling and challening art. If you do not enjoy the concept of electric scoring in modern fencing, there are classical fencing classes that teach weapons in the forms of dueling and combat, rather than with the FIE rules. My Salle in particular teaches many different types of classical weapons including the Rapier, The Longsword, and even the Katana.

Krabi Krabong is the Thai weapons art. It teaches you how to use the Krabi (Thai sword), The Plong (Staff), Ngao (bladed staff), Daab Song Meu (Twin Swords), and Mae Sawk Sun (Twin Clubs). It also includes techniques from Muay Thai. There is also Kumdo which is the Korean version of Kendo...there are differences, but I wouldn't really know coz I don't take Kumdo.

Might wanna try doing some research at www.thearma.org, if you're interested in western swordfighting. I've read a book by the founder, and he knows his stuff. Then again, maybe you're part of the majority in here, and are interested in eastern swordfighting (can't us westerners get a fair shake? ).

I would try western fencing...but I couldn't find any place in my neck of the woods...hell it took me forever to find the kendo dojo I'm at now. I think it's fair to say.. Anyone who can find a place that teaches any kind of sword art be it eastern or western...you're lucky! hehehehehe

PEACE!

well, if you're interested in learning the arts of the Viking longsword, there's a video by Hank Reinhardt on it. You check it out here: http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=925
Enjoy!

what about medieval swordplay, if not The SCA , then what style train that ?

Many Fencing Academies are starting to teach historical swordplay without being related to the SCA. The SCA is showy and is generally ineffective, but most of the academies that teach historical weapons teach Medieval battle weapons such as the Longsword.

The longsword, you say? I must ask, what type?

Fencing or Kenjitsu to be more specific.

I am think they teach in the French style, but since I do not actually take the historical class I'm not sure.

As far as longsword fencing goes. The most commonly practiced Is the german style and the itialian style, I belive there are were some english masters who left books too(sliver to name one) Though some would argue(and I agree) that all of those "styles" are one masters take on one art. Afterall italy and germany were both the holy roman empire at the time when longsword was used the most. The major differance between italian and german is that the germans tend to stay at the sword, or in a bind more. That is useing techniques while the swords are touching. While italians tend to be much more Parry riposte oriented. But each style has elements of the other. I myself study the techniques described by Johannes Liechtenauer and his line of students which is the primary source for all of the "german" techniques. Books that i recomend on the subject can be found here: http://www.revival.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=216

They have the best books on both itialian and german styles as well as other arts besides the longsword.

As a side note A long sword is generally described as a sword that has a hilt anywhere from 7 inches to 11 inches and a blades rangeing from 34 inches to upwards of 40 inches. In the historical treatises the germans are illustrated useing swords on the longer end of the spectrum, while italians and english seem to prefer the shorter swords. which makes sense because a shorter lighter sword crosses and uncrosses quicker lending itself to the parry and riposte style better. while the longer swords are better to work from the bind or crossed swords.

To clarify a bit; working from the bind or Am Schwert(at the sword) consisted of moveing the sword to various postitions trying to get your point online for the thrust, or to cut them from their blade, or slice them from thier blade. And those types of techniques are called winding, which are almost exclusive to the german styles. Now I know it might seem stupid to say at the sword instead of disengaging and finding another oppening(which the germans did do if neccisary) but look at it this way: Its like the old conflict between grappler and striker. even if your a striker(parry and riposte) you still need to know how to effectivly counter a grappler(winden am schwert). Well enough rambling on my part. buy the books or go to www.swordforum.com to learn more from more knowledgable people.

This may sound like a flippant answer but its not meant that way.

You also my want to check out re-enactment, as well as theatrical groups. These are not so much historically accurate all the time but usually have an eye towards visual impact and can be a lot of fun without necessarily having to become involved in swordsmanship at a more serious organizational level. I had a chance to do some research with a person who had a theatrical sword background and it was all good fun as he was flexible enough to stand-in for me as a kind of "vanilla" sword partner while I worked on various research issues. FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce