What sets today's post apart is that its not about a movie sword fighter, but rather about an actor who actually can swing a sword, even if she hasn't done it on screen...yet.
In a resent interview, dramatic performer Yaaneea Bharadwaj talked about her personal studying of Nunchak and sword fighting technique, a study separate from her acting career.
Yaaneea, who is from Himachal Pradesh, India, rose to international recognition with her supporting role in the "Made in Heaven", a hindi-language dramatic series chronicling the traditions and internal conflicts in the modern wedding culture in India.
Yaaneea reportedly nailed the character Sukhmani in the episode ‘A Marriage of Convenience’. She played a Punjabi girl who desires to go and live in America but has to settle for a green card husband who suffers from impotency. - Bollywood Flim Flame Canada
Full disclosure: The series is available on Amazon Prime, and while I have not watched it, it did get added to my watch list.
In the interview, she spoke about what drew her to the two weapons styles.
"As an actress aspiring for world cinema and international entertainment projects, I wanted to dare to do something different - nunchucks and swords excites me .. I feel I am connected to them and I feel strong. I love practicing with sword and Nunchak to remain fighting fit. " She add, "As an actress I can position myself differently. Nowadays, international warrior series such as 'Cursed' and 'The Witcher' are on top of the charts and I want to become the first Indian actress with sword fighting capabilities to get a role in such prestigious global projects." - Yaaneea Bharadwaj
While the series does not feature any sword combat at all, Yaaneea is not so pacifistic in her private time. She encouraged young women and girls from both urban and rural homes to study weapons fighting in order to learn both self confidence and self defense.
While the series does not feature any sword combat at all, Yaaneea is not so pacifistic in her private time. She encouraged young women and girls from both urban and rural homes to study weapons fighting in order to learn both self confidence and self defense.
"And all Indian girls in urban and rural India should learn and practice them. In fact, some villagers in [Himachal Pradesh] gave me a rare historic artifact sword to practice."
The Nunchak, (also known as the Japanese nunchaku) were made world famous by Bruce Lee in the 60s. These weapons, derived from a farmer's wheat thrashing tool, are nominally good striking weapons, but excel at wrapping around an opponents weapon, or hand, or wrist and controlling their movements with crippling levels of force, and even pain if needed. Modern day practitioners of the weapon's stile are well regarded for the flashy presentation and blinding speed the weapons show during demonstration.
While the interview didn't talk about the specific style of sword, or sword fighting technique Yaaneea practices, the photos included in the interview show her holding a simple, but beautiful curved bladed saber style weapon that, even without an edge, could probably deliver a devastating blow to a person's arms or lets.
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| Photo by Vikram Bawa |
Even if the practicality of using melee weapons in self defense is questionable, there can be no doubt that the attributes of physical fitness, emotional confidence, and improved hand-eye coordination and reaction times would benefit anyone, both personally and professionally.
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| Photo by Vikram Bawa |
Yaaneea Bharadwaj's interest in weapons study and acting are both personal marks of her dedication and ambition, and reflective of the new level of opportunities available to women in India as the nation grapples with clashing old and new attitudes towards gender roles and women's rights, and
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| Photo by Vikram Bawa |
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"Long Live the King!"
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