ChainsawAsh said:

Thanks for that video, it was pretty sweet.

It also demonstrates exactly why we never see realistic swordfighting in movies. It all happens in the span of about two seconds, then one person has a sword in his brain. Not very cinematic.

Precisely. Real one on one duels with swords were over very quickly once someone made the first move. Also, historically, the vast majority of duels ended with BOTH people either permanently maimed/crippled or dead. Not very cinematic at all.

There were exceptions though. The most famous is probably Miyamoto Musashi. He was a samurai in fuedal Japan who fought over 60 duels and never lost (there was one draw). He also fought in several major military battles. At one point he was ambushed by an entire sword training school after defeating both of the school's sensei in duels and he was able to fight his way out by luring them into muddy rice fields. The school was one of the most famous in all Japan and some estimates put the ambushing force at as many as 80 students. The school's reputation was utterly destroyed and it ceased to be after its encounter with Musashi. The man has become absolute legend over the years. Here's his wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyamoto_Musashi