Reference Datasets for Analysis of Traditional Japanese and German Martial Arts

Abstract

The study of Japanese fencing and German Longsword Mastercuts based on exact motion measurements in specialist labs is summarized in this work. Based on a streamlined measuring technique, the need for a more thorough study has been suggested that might apply to the observation and evaluation of movement during training in a real-world setting. The requisite data sets and domain knowledge must be available to create motion analysis methods of human sword combat. Such information helps compare several algorithms and techniques, and develop and test new computational methods. In 2020, we created one of the world’s first reference databases of fencing actions, which included five master long sword strikes with kinetic, kinematic, and video modalities. We were able to assess these movements and suggest potential study directions thanks to the created methods and algorithms. This paper proposes to extend the presented registration technologies for long swords and swordsmanship to similar combat, such as Japanese Kendo sword fencing.