The Sword Club

News

Apologies

Our apologies for getting back to those of you who have recently submitted works or requested membership with the club. Things have been a little slow and we appreciate your patience. The Sword Club is once again up to date! Also, welcome to our newest members! Their pages can be accessed via the links in the New Members Section so check them out.

Sword Club Favourites

We are considering using the Favourites option (used by most deviants) to highlight works we stumble across and appreciate. This would of course benefit the Sword Club by adding to the front page, as well as giving our members a collection of our own personal selections through which to browse and perhaps spot some favourites of their own. Most important, it will provide yet another showcase for the talented artists that are featured for exhibiting their skill.

However, it's not quite as simple as turning the feature on and picking some favourites. DeviantArt has clear rules regarding clubs and their use of the Favourites option: No club or community on DA is permitted to select as favourites anything from the gallery of their members. This practice is called Favourites Abuse and there is a zero-tolerance policy towards it. This is the reason for our deliberation, and where our members come in.

Should we decide to activate our Favourites section, please help us ensure that none of our members' works are featured in the section. We will of course be as careful as possible, but accidents can happen. For more information on DA's Favourites Abuse policy, please see FAQ #216: Are there any rules for accounts being used as clubs or 'group' accounts?.


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Most Recent Members:

From now on all of our most recent joiners will be featured here, just to let everyone know who's new on board and give the new members a little added exposure. Thanks to ~Phoenixcrying for the initiative in recommending this idea. So...

Welcome to all of our newest members! ...Including the most recent: ~Silver11k, ~SwordOfScotland, ~risaphoenix, ~ScytheLust, ~LoboBrancoTimido and *darkestmidnight.


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To Join:

Firstly, the club needs contributors! All are welcome and encouraged to join. You don't necessarily have to have sword-related work in your gallery, as this club is as much for those 'looking' for swords as it is for those who already have them. Simply send a note to this account with the heading "Join" in the subject line. Any additional information about yourself would be appreciated, such as the sword art you practice (if any) or your reason for applying. Also, we ask that you please add us to your watchlist and add our avatar to your journal if you keep a list of your club memberships.

So in sum:

send us a "Join" note

add swordclub to your watchlist

add the swordclub avatar to your journal

To submit:

All artwork submitted must be original and sword-related, or at least featuring as a key subject some kind of bladed weapon. We are happy to receive photos (stock or otherwise) or original artwork of ANY medium. Simply send a note to this account with "submit" in the subject line, and a link to your piece in the body.

Due to the need for content, the club will accept one piece of artwork per day from each artist. Once we have a more solid base of contributors, we may tighten the limitations to one per week or month.

A note to artists regarding submissions: If we have incorrectly uploaded, categorized or entitled your work when posting, please inform us in a note and we will correct it immediately.


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Sworld-Related Links

Links section found here: [link]

The Links Section currently includes the following resources:

Commercial sword suppliers

Technical information

Sword technique resources

Miscellaneous sword links

Media (image and video)

If you have links to sword resources you find credible and helpful, please submit it by sending us a note with "Link" in the subject line!


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Members




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Techniques

This is a list of the sword techniques practiced by some of our members:

German longsword: a significant contribution to western two-handed sword techniques

Zen Ken Ren Iaido: a relatively recent school of the Japanese art of drawing the sword.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu: one of the oldest and most rare sword techniques of Japan

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai: A traditional school of iaido dating back roughly 450 years

Japanese Blacksmithing: A centuries-old artform, without which the aesthetic beauty and unquestionable strength of Japanese blades would be impossible

European Fencing: the traditional European art/sport which employs the foil, épée, or saber in attack and defense

Naginatajutsu: the Japanese art of fighting with the naginata, similar in style to the medieval European glaive

Kendo: the modern Japanese fighting style which combines martial arts with sport elements, meant to discipline through the principles of the katana

Kenjutsu: the Japanese adversarial fighting art that employs the bokken, practised to build katana technique against opponents

Wu T'ai Chi: the ancient Chinese soft martial art, which includes one or two swords, or spear, known for its ability to bring the practitioner health and longevity

European Medieval Sword: the various styles from Europe that teach practical technique with numerous weapons along with hand-to-hand combat as well as firm principles of honour and chivalry

European Blacksmithing: an ancient discipline calling for strength, passion and dedication

The Sword Club can be accessed via the following DA communities:

The Sword Club

News

Links Section Updated

A link on Aiki Batto (media, technique and information) has been added to the links section under "Miscellaneous." Thanks to ~kyoki-intonsha for this submission!

Sword Club Favourites

We are considering using the Favourites option (used by most deviants) to highlight works we stumble across and appreciate. This would of course benefit the Sword Club by adding to the front page, as well as giving our members a collection of our own personal selections through which to browse and perhaps spot some favourites of their own. Most important, it will provide yet another showcase for the talented artists that are featured for exhibiting their skill.

However, it's not quite as simple as turning the feature on and picking some favourites. DeviantArt has clear rules regarding clubs and their use of the Favourites option: No club or community on DA is permitted to select as favourites anything from the gallery of their members. This practice is called Favourites Abuse and there is a zero-tolerance policy towards it. This is the reason for our deliberation, and where our members come in.

Should we decide to activate our Favourites section, please help us ensure that none of our members' works are featured in the section. We will of course be as careful as possible, but accidents can happen. For more information on DA's Favourites Abuse policy, please see FAQ #216: Are there any rules for accounts being used as clubs or 'group' accounts?.


-----

Most Recent Members:

From now on all of our most recent joiners will be featured here, just to let everyone know who's new on board and give the new members a little added exposure. Thanks to ~Phoenixcrying for the initiative in recommending this idea. So...

Welcome to all of our newest members! ...Including the most recent: ~TheEmerald and ~FlaxenValley


-----

To Join:

Firstly, the club needs contributors! All are welcome and encouraged to join. You don't necessarily have to have sword-related work in your gallery, as this club is as much for those 'looking' for swords as it is for those who already have them. Simply send a note to this account with the heading "Join" in the subject line. Any additional information about yourself would be appreciated, such as the sword art you practice (if any) or your reason for applying. Also, we ask that you please add us to your watchlist and add our avatar to your journal if you keep a list of your club memberships.

So in sum:

send us a "Join" note

add swordclub to your watchlist

add the swordclub avatar to your journal

To submit:

All artwork submitted must be original and sword-related, or at least featuring as a key subject some kind of bladed weapon. We are happy to receive photos (stock or otherwise) or original artwork of ANY medium. Simply send a note to this account with "submit" in the subject line, and a link to your piece in the body.

Due to the need for content, the club will accept one piece of artwork per day from each artist. Once we have a more solid base of contributors, we may tighten the limitations to one per week or month.

A note to artists regarding submissions: If we have incorrectly uploaded, categorized or entitled your work when posting, please inform us in a note and we will correct it immediately.


-----

Sworld-Related Links

Links section found here: [link]

The Links Section currently includes the following resources:

Commercial sword suppliers

Technical information

Sword technique resources

Miscellaneous sword links

Media (image and video)

If you have links to sword resources you find credible and helpful, please submit it by sending us a note with "Link" in the subject line!


-----

Members




-----

Techniques

This is a list of the sword techniques practiced by some of our members:

German longsword: a significant contribution to western two-handed sword techniques

Zen Ken Ren Iaido: a relatively recent school of the Japanese art of drawing the sword.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu: one of the oldest and most rare sword techniques of Japan

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai: A traditional school of iaido dating back roughly 450 years

Japanese Blacksmithing: A centuries-old artform, without which the aesthetic beauty and unquestionable strength of Japanese blades would be impossible

European Fencing: the traditional European art/sport which employs the foil, épée, or saber in attack and defense

Naginatajutsu: the Japanese art of fighting with the naginata, similar in style to the medieval European glaive

Kendo: the modern Japanese fighting style which combines martial arts with sport elements, meant to discipline through the principles of the katana

Kenjutsu: the Japanese adversarial fighting art that employs the bokken, practised to build katana technique against opponents

Wu T'ai Chi: the ancient Chinese soft martial art, which includes one or two swords, or spear, known for its ability to bring the practitioner health and longevity

European Medieval Sword: the various styles from Europe that teach practical technique with numerous weapons along with hand-to-hand combat as well as firm principles of honour and chivalry

The Sword Club can be accessed via the following DA communities:

The Sword Club

News

Relevant Links: The Links Section is up and running! Because of the size of the list, a new journal entry has been created in order to keep it organized. Please bare with us while we gradually sort out the best way to maintain this section and please read the warning at the top of the links section.

The Links Section can be found here: [link]

A huge thanks to ~kyoki-intonsha, ~Phoenixcrying and *T-Wiz for their contributions to the links section! We've received a tremendous collection of links that will be checked, sorted and posted over the next few days. Keep them coming!

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To Join:

Firstly, the club needs contributors! All are welcome and encouraged to join. You don't necessarily have to have sword-related work in your gallery, as this club is as much for those 'looking' for swords as it is for those who already have them. Simply send a note to this account with the heading "Join" in the subject line. Any additional information about yourself would be appreciated, such as the sword art you practise (if any) or your reason for applying. Also, we ask that you please add us to your watchlist and add our avatar to your journal if you keep a list of your club memberships.

So in sum:

send us a "Join" note

add swordclub to your watchlist

add the swordclub avatar to your journal

To submit:

All artwork submitted must be original and sword-related. We are happy to receive photos (stock or otherwise) or original artwork of ANY medium. Simply send a note to this account with "submit" in the subject line, and a link to your piece in the body.

Due to the need for content, the club will accept one piece of artwork per day from each artist. Once we have a more solid base of contributors, we may tighten the limitations to one per week or month.

A note to artists regarding submissions: If I have incorrectly uploaded, categorized or entitled your work when posting, please inform me in a note and I will correct it immediately.

-----

Sworld-Related Links

Links section found here: [link]

The Links Section currently includes the following resources:

Commercial sword suppliers

Technical information

Sword technique resources

Miscellaneous sword links

Media (image and video)

If you have links to sword resources you find credible and helpful, please submit it by sending us a note with "Link" in the subject line!

-----

Members



Welcome to our first few members! We hope this is the beginning of a strong community. Be sure to spread the word!

-----

Techniques

So far, with only a few members, we have a strong and diverse base of sword techniques:

German longsword: a significant contribution to western two-handed sword techniques

Zen Ken Ren Iaido: a relatively recent school of the Japanese art of drawing the sword.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu: one of the oldest and most rare sword techniques of Japan

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai: A traditional school of iaido dating back roughly 450 years

Japanese Blacksmithing: A centuries-old artform, without which the aesthetic beauty and unquestionable strength of Japanese blades would be impossible

European Fencing: the traditional European art/sport which employs the foil, épée, or saber in attack and defense

Naginatajutsu: the Japanese art of fighting with the naginata, similar in style to the medieval European glaive

Kendo: the modern Japanese fighting style which combines martial arts with sport elements, meant to discipline through the principles of the katana

IMPORTANT: Please read!

All of the links contained herein are not endorsed by the Sword Club. The section is meant to provide an organized and comprehensive range of sword-related websites in order to simplify your search and perhaps contribute to your knowledge. Consider it the best means we have of thanking our contributors for their sword-related artwork! However, given the nature of sword retail and martial arts, online or otherwise, it is important to place all sword dealers/practitioners under the utmost amount of scrutiny before buying/learning from what you may come across here or elsewhere.

Quite simply, many retailers sell low-quality knock-offs and many martial artists do not know what they’re doing! This is where you come in. Because we do not have the time to conduct in-depth examinations of the links we post, we request that, if you have had any negative experience with a website listed below, please inform us immediately and the site will be removed.

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On a more positive note, all sites recommended by our members will be examined and taken into consideration for posting, so please contribute! Hopefully the list will become larger, and thus more helpful, as time goes on.

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Finally, the Links section will be undergoing numerous changes over the next little while as we work towards the most efficient system.


Commercial Sword Suppliers

Marto - [link]
Dynasty Forge - [link]
Tozando - [link]
Kris Cutlery – [link]
Mantis Swords - [link]
Bugei Blades - [link]
Don Fogg - [link]
Howard Clark - [link]
AtrimASA - [link]
Martial Art Swords - [link]
Darksword Armoury - [link]

Technical

Japanese sword-making process:
[link]
[link]
[link] ; [link] ; [link]

Japanese sword-polishing process:
[link]

Japanese handle-making process:
Tsuka: [link]
Tsuba: [link]

Information on treatment of different metals:
[link]

Japanese clay-tempering process:
[link]


Technique

Japanese katana holding technique:
[link]
[link]

Weight training for Iaido:
[link]


Miscellaneous

The Sword Forum International:
[link]

Fencing.net:
[link]

Sword and knife-makers around the world:
[link]

Japanese ‘great sword’:
[link]

Information on Aiki Batto, including media, info and technique
[link]


Media (Images, Video)

Muso Shinden Iai Demonstration:
[link]

Kendo World’s video section:
[link]

ShinKendo Demonstration (direct video link):
[link]

Miscellaneous Cutting Videos
[link]
[link]
[link]

The Sword Club

News

Today is the first day of this club's operation, if you can call it that. Established as a DA community for swords and sword enthusiasts of all kinds, we hope to provide a forum for those interested in the aesthetic and practical uses of swords, and hopefully compile a collection of sword-related artwork.

This is the "News" section of the journal, which is where all of the relevant information will be posted. All sections below this entry ("to join," "members list," etc.) will remain roughly the same, while this portion will change frequently to keep everyone up to date.

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To Join:

Firstly, the club needs contributors! All are welcome and encouraged to join. You don't necessarily have to have sword-related work in your gallery, as this club is as much for those 'looking' for swords as it is for those who already have them. Simply send a note to this account with the heading "Join" in the subject line. Any additional information about yourself would be appreciated, such as the sword art you practise (if any) or your reason for applying. Also, we ask that you please add us to your watchlist and add our avatar to your journal if you keep a list of your club memberships.

So in sum:

send us a "Join" note

add swordclub to your watchlist

add the swordclub avatar to your journal

To submit:

All artwork submitted must be original and sword-related. We are happy to receive photos (stock or otherwise) or original artwork of ANY medium. Simply send a note to this account with "submit" in the subject line, and a link to your piece in the body.

Due to the need for content, the club will accept one piece of artwork per day from each artist. Once we have a more solid base of contributors, we may tighten the limitations to one per week or month.

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In case you haven't yet noticed, we currently have ZERO deviations, FEW members, ONE journal entry, NO I.D., and NO avatar. Forgive the modest start, but meh... it's my first day. Most updates will occur on weekends.

Update: Disaster averted... we now have an avatar. Everyone calm down.

Members



Welcome to our first few members! We hope this is the beginning of a strong community. Be sure to spread the word!

Techniques

So far, with only a few members, we have a strong and diverse base of sword techniques:

German longsword: a significant contribution to western two-handed sword techniques

Zen Ken Ren Iaido: a relatively recent school of the Japanese art of drawing the sword.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu: one of the oldest and most rare sword techniques of Japan

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai: A traditional school of iaido dating back roughly 450 years