Читать книгу Traditions. Essays on the Japanese Martial Arts and Ways онлайн

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Most unarmed combative systems developed because people who needed them either did not have ready access to weapons or because for social or religious reasons, did not want to use them. Combative exponents well armed did not deliberately go about compromising their effectiveness by not using the weapon in favor of a kick or punch. Despite romantic claims to the contrary, in a fight between trained and experienced exponents, a weapon is a tremendous advantage. Only under the most extraordinary or unusual circumstances could anyone get away with kicking at a swordsman and leave the encounter as a biped. And only under the most dire and desperate of situations would a swordsman ignore his weapon’s considerable value as a cutting or striking implement and resort to kicking or hitting an opponent with his arms and legs.

Related to this sort of dramatic fantasy is the literary and cinematic device of the martial arts hero tossing aside his weapon to confront his enemy empty-handed. Besides being a phenomenally stupid strategy, this is a classic example of cross-cultural confusion.