Should Donatello have upgraded from a bo-staff to a naginata?

[XERO]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Pacifism is pretty much the antithesis of bushido/the Way of the Warrior. bushido is just a code of conduct -- actually, a samurai thing by root -- that Splinter probably just instilled in them to keep them from going too batsh*t insane on the streets of New York.

Which makes them even more complex. They train under a ninja way, but they also have samurai tendencies. Besides, if Splinter didn't instilled that conduct within their heads, would you think for one microsecond that they'd be considered 'the good guys'?

Not only did Splinter condone it, he encouraged and insisted on it.

Heh, probably because he lacked the youth to go 'batsh*t insane' on the Shredder himself.

From what I'm reading in your posts, you're pretty much going the comic route. And since I never really had the pleasure of reading them myself, I understand where you're coming from.

But based on my ideals, I'm still saying that you mostly choose who you are and what you decide, no matter what weapon you wield, what style you train under, or what philosophy you live by.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Benvenuto

Heh, probably because he lacked the youth to go 'batsh*t insane' on the Shredder himself.

Probably. The Splinter thing is point of interest... especially since he didn't even accompany them on their fight.

From what I'm reading in your posts, you're pretty much going the comic route.

The source material of the TMNT, yes.

But based on my ideals, I'm still saying that you mostly choose who you are and what you decide, no matter what weapon you wield, what style you train under, or what philosophy you live by.

You probably weren't raised and conditioned from birth to one day assassinate someone.

[XERO]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

You probably weren't raised and conditioned from birth to one day assassinate someone.

Last time I checked, no.

Besides, it was a canister of ooze that started this whole discussion in the first place.

[Vivi]

I would love to see Don fight with that thing, and occasionally it would be really interesting to see all the turtles fight with blade weapons. On a regular basis, however, I think that the bo is just his weapon. It's more of an occam's razor fighting method, ie. the simplest weapon is often the most effective.

heh.. I always find it interesting that alot of people are under the impression that a bo isn't a "lethal" weapon. It has no blades and points, but that doesn't take away from the bo the ability to beat a person into a bloody, broken, mangled, painful death.

The staff is such a fantastic weapon with so many practical uses. It's one of the oldest weapons conceived from raw materials in nature, and it's one of the most global weapons, with just about every culture in the world having staffs.

I have to say infact that the bo is one of my two top favorite melee weapons. The katana being the other.

Anyway, no I don't think Donatello should have "upgraded" to the naginata. I wouldn't even call it an upgrade. The bo is such an excellent weapon as it is.

[XERO]

My top 2 are the nunchakus and of course, the nagi.

Just like the bo, it also has culture. The only difference is that it has a friggin' blade attached to it.

Like Ryona just mentioned, it wouldn't be much of an upgrade for Donny. Just a change of weapon with a greater kill risk.

I think this video pretty much sums up just how badass non-bladed/non-pointy weapons are..

[Andrew NDB]

I dunno... the bo is all well and good against untrained, unbladed combatants... but imagine if Don walked into a room full of well-trained Elite Foot all brandishing daisho. Or worse, no-dachi. They could just hack his bo in half and then cut him up like piecemeal.

Maybe if his bo-staff wasn't wooden he could play off the reach factor better.

[XERO]

Heh, Bruce Lee could kill you just by looking at you.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I dunno... the bo is all well and good against untrained, unbladed combatants... but imagine if Don walked into a room full of well-trained Elite Foot all brandishing daisho. Or worse, no-dachi. They could just hack his bo in half and then cut him up like piecemeal.

Maybe if his bo-staff wasn't wooden he could play off the reach factor better.

Well, that's a good point. But I think a fight of one skilled warrior versus a group of skilled warriors is pretty unfair already.

Even Leonardo, the most skilled and dangerous ninja turtle, and weilder of the most lethal weapons of the four, is unable to fight a massive number of ninja (plus Shredder) alone without nearly dying, as we saw in the Leonardo #1 Mirage comic.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/swords/naginata.html



And he did, in #20 of TMNT Vol. 1 (Mirage) for a pagae or two. I don't see why he wouldn't long term, though.

well... what I've heard that he uses the Bo cause he's the pacifist and want to wield a nonlethal weapon, when that's said the Bo is extremely lethal and can shatter swords and easy kill a person.

The Bo is superior to the sword due to its force and length.
And the Bo and Naginata have a whole different style, unless he'd trained with it before he'll be more unbalanced with just switching instantly weapon

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Ryona

Well, that's a good point. But I think a fight of one skilled warrior versus a group of skilled warriors is pretty unfair already.

True. Though TMNT vs. Foot has always come down to... trained ninja vs. ninja trained... that much more.

Even Leonardo, the most skilled and dangerous ninja turtle, and weilder of the most lethal weapons of the four, is unable to fight a massive number of ninja (plus Shredder) alone without nearly dying, as we saw in the Leonardo #1 Mirage comic.

Quite right. Though he seemed to be able to kill no one but two Foot Elite simultaneously in Return to New York, and then go on to kill Saki himself solo. He seemed to learn from his mistakes quickly, especially after coming out of that coma.

Originally Posted by Kiwamu The Kappa

well... what I've heard that he uses the Bo cause he's the pacifist

Stop listening to whoever is telling you that. It's a fanfiction, or a children's spin-off thing.

[Candy Kappa]

yes I have trouble beliving that since the Bo is far more lethal than the Katana

Originally Posted by Kiwamu The Kappa

yes I have trouble beliving that since the Bo is far more lethal than the Katana

Are you serious? More lethal than the katana? My dear boy, the katana is designed to be a killing instrument. The bo, while it can be lethal, is not designed to be lethal. Understand?

Infact of the group of weapons.. katana, bo, sai, and nunchaku.., the katana is the only one of the four that is designed for killing. The others are more so for protecting oneself.
Simply put, the bo, sai, nunchaku, and other Okinawan weapons are for self-defense. The katana however is a weapon for war.

[XERO]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Stop listening to whoever is telling you that. It's a fanfiction, or a children's spin-off thing.

If I remember correctly, isn't that what it says in his 'bio'?

Probably not word-for-word, but that's the direction they're trying to go.

[Candy Kappa]

he calls himself a combination of a pacifist and a ninja in the bio on their website

[Sewer Bull]

When I was a wee kid, I stole an old broomstick from the kitchen, duct taped it around and felt like like Donatello.

[Candy Kappa]

I've just started with Bo, and its tough to use it, and really creepy when aiming for the head of my training partner

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Kiwamu The Kappa

he calls himself a combination of a pacifist and a ninja in the bio on their website

That bio isn't based on the Mirage Donatello.

[Dragon Turtle]

Originally Posted by Ryona

I think this video pretty much sums up just how badass non-bladed/non-pointy weapons are..

One of my favorite fight scenes using staffs:

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I dunno... the bo is all well and good against untrained, unbladed combatants... but imagine if Don walked into a room full of well-trained Elite Foot all brandishing daisho. Or worse, no-dachi. They could just hack his bo in half and then cut him up like piecemeal.

Give Don the Ultimate upgrade.