Dale Seago on MythBusters

[plasma]

The Discovery Channel TV show "MythBusters" (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/m...bout/about.html) is doing an entire episode on fact vs. fiction about "the Ninja", and they got in touch with me for information. I shot three segments with them last Friday; was able to set them straight on a lot of things, though I don't know how much will get used that wasn't actually in the filmed segments. (They're also doing a lot of other stuff regarding "ninja gadgetry" that I'm not involved with.)

Probably the most dramatic is going to be where they explore the myth (?) that shuko hand claws can stop a sword cut. None of my folks were available at the time they wanted to shoot it (10 AM), but fortunately judan Joel Elliott from the Sacramento dojo came out to help. It really wouldn't have been the same without him, as I needed someone who really knew his way around a sword to show the realism of it. And fortunately I was able to first explain on-camera the tactics that allow you to do something like this. They were surprised to find that we were going to be actually moving around, jockeying for position, etc.

Insurers insisted we use a mogito -- steel blade but not sharpened, which could still be really nasty if it hits you. They also wanted me to wear a helmet, but I declined and signed a release for that.

Then we just did it. Cold, no rehearsal with each other beforehand; and Joel was giving me such a good "real fight" feeling that it didn't even occur to me to just stop the sword -- I kept flowing and did the sort of thing I would have had it been a real situation and "killed" him. We did about 20 takes of that, all with the same result, as they wanted to get it from different angles.

Then they said they wanted to have one of their crew try to get me with the sword. Much to my surprise it turned out to be Kari Byron. Again, we did it cold (but from a stationary start, and I didn't "kill" her), though I did first show her how to "get the distance" by placing the sword on my head in the "finished" position and then taking a step back. We did about ten or 12 takes on that one, and what she lacked in form and technique she made up for in sincerity as she tried to split my skull.

In the afternoon we filmed some other stuff, starting with Adam & Jamie coming in and observing a class in session for a while, then asking me some questions, and finally Adam wanting to try some stuff out. I invited him to play with the Kukishin kata we were working on, but he said he'd rather just attack me and try to kick my @$$ (his own words) and see what happened. The results were predictable.

I should have the air date in about a week; right now it looks like sometime in April. I'll keep you posted.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings, however, I'll like to see the Ninja master in action with something that actually might impress me (he has yet to). I have played with doing this before and even done it for demostration a few months back.

Bonus point to whoever tapes/youtubes it.

[CanucKyokushin]

I wouldn't mind seeing that for the "LOL!!" of it all.I can't wait to see the TV promos.

You just know every ninja nerd on the western seaboard is going to have one humungess collective orgasm when this airs.

[MacWombat]

If this episode sucks and is completely non-factual the entire bullshido community should send viewer mail in.

[Neildo]

I love Mythbusters, I can't wait for this show. Airs in April? ~anxious dance~

[Rubber Tanto]

Yeah mythbusters rocks...though there has been times when they try to bust a myth and the way around it kind of seems the "unrealistic" way of testing the theory.

I too would like to see Dale in action. Most people don't like what he has to say. Others tell me that he is pretty awesome to see in action. I can't comment because I have never seen him except for that clip where the young goofy kid is trying to punch him and that wasn't really a serious clip to start off with.

This might be interesting.

Though I would have been more impressed if Mythbusters looked to see if someone could climb a wall with shuko.

[Ridge]

Yeah mythbusters rocks...though there has been times when they try to bust a myth and the way around it kind of seems the "unrealistic" way of testing the theory.

They usually just try adding more force or explosives until it just eventually works, Shit blowing up always makes good TV.

[Rubber Tanto]

Actually, come to think of it.
Didn't National Geographic do a documentary on the history of the ninja (where they had a navey seal team, then S. K. Hayes, try to get past two cops to grab some guys - who the cops were ment to be protecting - and pull off his hat) where Hayes blocked a sword with shuko against one of his students?

[JohnnyCache]

Doesn't Dale pretty much dress just like the one guy from mythbusters? I wonder if that was weird for them.

[ojgsxr6]

Doesn't the fact that they're using another Booj Ninja ruin the objectiveness of the experiment? Wouldn't it have been better to use kendo practitioner or anyone who doesn't practice Booj Kenjutsu?

[rw4th]

[plasma]

Doesn't the fact that they're using another Booj Ninja ruin the objectiveness of the experiment? Wouldn't it have been better to use kendo practitioner or anyone who doesn't practice Booj Kenjutsu?

No. Many Kendo-ka have no idea how to use a real blade.

an Iaido-ka or a Ko ryu Kenjutsu-ka would of been better then a Bujinkan Kenjutsu-ka, however, Dale probably wanted someone he could trust. Either to make himself look good on tv or to make sure his uke didn't do something crazy and unpredictable.

[plasma]

I have seen it done. Granted it take an incredable amount of skill, but driving into a cut at the hand /lower part of the blade, which isn't moving as fast as the tip , is possible.

I assume this is scarasm.

[Muqatil]

The original plan was to use a live blade. Insurance issues for Mythbusters though.

[rw4th]

I have seen it done. Granted it take an incredable amount of skill, but driving into a cut at the hand /lower part of the blade, which isn't moving as fast as the tip , is possible.

Yeah, I've seen it done and practiced it as well. I still think that in a live environment, where the attacker is not doing the "attack once and wait there" and is actually chaining multiple cuts, that's it's next to impossible.

I assume this is scarasm.

:jihad:

[rw4th]

The original plan was to use a live blade. Insurance issues for Mythbusters though.

I'd rather see aliveness then a live blade anyway, but I doubt there will be much of that either.