Question for duelers... Thrusting strength?

[Darth Ptera]

I've seen the strength of the US blades swinging into things and read that the Heavy Grade are capable of dueling bokkens and shinais.  I haven't seen anything about blades being jabbed into something though. I'm very accurate with my shinai and usually win duels thanks to a quick jab to the heart, I'm curious if this will be safe for my US. I read that the tips have a tendency to break off while dueling and I'm not sure if thrusts could possibly damage the retention screw. Not sure if I need to start altering my dueling style to get out of that habit before I get my saber but if anyone who has used them it would handy knowledge.

Thanks!

[Jammo]

Thrusting is sketchy, both from an equipment and safety perspective. While the Shiak mark of contact is considered honorable by the Jedi for causing the least damage to an opponent, practical concerns often make it unwise to attempt without some kind of chest protection in your sword play due to the blunt trauma it can cause. I've met a bokken with my heavy grades, by the way. It will make the parry...

[Darth Ptera]

I'm mostly worried about damaging the saber or the cap coming off at the last moment and jabbing with a possibly sharp surface(don't know if the uncapped tip even is sharp since I don't have one yet). However I can't imagine it would be any worse than getting caught with a pointy wood bokken to the sternum. Just for clarification we agree before the duel whether thrusts will be allowed or not, I don't just surprise people with that. Not nice or fun to pull that on a beginning sword fighter, best way to run people off from the fun of dueling is punishing them. As for getting hit... My master taught me that if you get hit, don't complain, you shouldn't of gotten hit in the first place. 

Also hadn't heard the term Shiak before, interesting read on wookiepedia, thanks!

[Ultra]

The blade will handle thrusting without an issue.  Personally, I do not allow thrusts in my duels because they can really hurt people if done by amateurs.

[Darth Ptera]

Sweet! Thank you Ultra, exactly what I wanted to know.

Again just to clarify, thrusts are agreed upon before our duels not just thrown in as a bad surprise. I don't know what you would consider an amateur, but since I've had formal training in swordplay and years of practice I no longer consider myself one.

[Jammo]

I've never had anyone hurt by a thrust either, but all of ours are pulled and with our knuckle deep, whack the hands style it doesn't come up much. I still get a little nervous when my guys Frost and Midnight insist on those damn body shot matches, though.

[Darth Ptera]

Ugh, I hate purposeful hand shots, that will result in a hard chest jab on the rematch. Accidents are ok, but purposefully striking the hand has resulted in longer pain than full contact hits to anywhere else.   

[Ultra]

Ive had the pointy end of a saber in the crotch before when dueling.  My kids now know that Daddy doesn't allow jabs.

[Jammo]

Hand shots are crucial to the theory of how a lightsaber works, though. I try to get the emitter with no hands, though. That is stylin' dueling when you can disable a blade with no harm done. Very Jedi of me when I do it, too...

[Darth Ptera]

True enough, point taken Jammo. I need to find some good knuckle protecting gloves.

[Jammo]

I actually used gloves for a while but gave up on them because they slowed me down.

[Darth Ptera]

Wow, i just got my saber in the mail and it's gonna take some getting used to. I'm used to more weight in my weapons. Props to you Jammo, it's hard to imagine how unwieldily a 48"  blade would be. I think I may add some weights in the hilt and chop the blade down a couple inches to make it closer to my shinais. Also now holding it I recall someone asking about a hilt made out of steel to increase the weight. Personally I'm starting to think that would be a good idea.

[Jammo]

I'm actually thinking about hacking a couple inches off the big boy. I'll still have a reach advantage and it will be a tad more controllable. The three on one I almost won with it was pretty fun...

[Caine]

As long as you don't thrust a tree or lamp post going 25mph, your blade and hilt should be just fine. 

[Darth Ptera]

I have no idea of my thrust speed... But that sounds like a good start to a joke though lol