Only so many ways to skin a cat!
We have always held that there are, regardless of cultural packaging, given the human body and mind set and similar tactical situations and weapons types, the solutions will be similar. This is an example to support that.
We have always said that regardless of cultural origin and period that there only so many ways that the human body will work. There are only so many ways to swing a weapon and only so many ways to move. However it is always nice when you see something that confirms it.
I came across this picture while looking through a book on Kendo in the library of The Guild Master, John Waller . The book was written in the early 1960’s
This picture is from Talhoffer's 1467 Fechtbuch
There are obviously minor structural differences, the Kendoist on the right is further into his attack, his arms are straighter and his hands are higher. His right foot is higher off the ground, but I would say that this is to do with fighting on sand. Otherwise his position is pretty close, to his German cousin.
Both swordsmen on the left are in almost identical positions. The Kendoka is hitting higher to his opponent’s face, but that in my opinion is because his opponent has his hands higher. The only other difference is his back leg, which is not pushing him so far forward. I interpret this as him withdrawing slightly as he counter strikes his advancing opponent. Otherwise the angling of the upper body, front leg, arms and sword is mirrored.
The picture of the Kendo is from a book written in the early 1960s in Japan. So we have two images roughly 500 years apart and on the other side of the world , unsurprisingly seeming to show the same solution to a similar tactical situation.
Jonathan Waller