We've been a bit quiet on the blogging front but no news is good news as they say, and there's a lot to be going on with here at AMAC!

A Young Bruce Lee training with the late Great Grandmaster Yip Man in poon sau.

Last night Altrincham Martial Arts Club were privileged to say goodbye to one of the family with an excellent night exploring the majesty and skill of Japanese swordsmanship. Martin Farncombe has been a regular at the club for some time, as well as being a fantastic student he is also a high ranking martial artists in many disciplines of Japanese weaponry.


Martin went from student to Sensei as he took us through the types of weapons associated with various arts and how they are used. Showing an ornate 16th century blade and a very fine example from the 1970s, we were lucky enough to get a feel of the power of a live blade. However to make sure everyone survived the night we were soon on to bokken (a wooden version of swords used for practice).

First we went through the skills of Iai. An art designed to recreate 'social' uses of swords in traditional Japan. Practising 'assassination techniques' we learned how although Japanese swords arts appear alien at first there is much similarity to be found to in terms of tactics and ideas for despatching an opponent.

While we may have lacked the grace and power of a Sensei for the night. It was impressive and heartening to see everyone enjoying something so new and different. Moving from combining footwork and single strikes we developed a repertoire of sword strikes and blade cleaning techniques that included taking down guards on the way to hitting your target. All imaginary of course! Sensei Farncombe did not have us taking turns to be on the receiving end of a woody death!

That is to say until we took to Japanese battle field fencing. Taking in mind the art of Kendo where the sword is already drawn to practice what you might call two person forms. One attacks, the other yields or deflects and counters. Here the similarity between swordsmanship and the empty handed elements of Wing Tsun combined. Little light bulbs were going off everywhere as we discovered “Chi Sau with blades” as one person put it.

With great enthusiasm and plenty of loud shouts we clashed bokken on bokken (or heads in my case) and combined intricate steps and strikes to great effect. The skill needed to judge range, power and accuracy showed us all just how these swords spurred Japan on to becoming a major military power in Asia. The night was spent with much focus from us all and the expert guidance from Martin meant we accomplished much in only two hours.

It's with much gratitude we say a temporary goodbye to Martin both for a great night of something new and different, but also for his great approach to training, his enthusiasm and humility. All of us at AMAC wish him well and hope he'll back with us again some time soon.

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