The University's K gym on 23rd Street looks like a traditional school gymnasium, but on the eastern-most wall, there is a big, parchment scroll.
"It's not best to win a hundred out of a hundred battles, rather the highest level of skill is to defeat the opponent without engaging in battle," the scroll says in Chinese characters.
In two straight lines, 12 barefooted students turn and bow to the scroll. Then they turn back to the mirror, kneel and bow to the swords in front of them.
For the next hour and 40 minutes, the students take turns slicing their wooden swords through the air, stopping inches from the chest or face of their partners - all while shouting in Japanese above the whirr of the fan.
It's possibly the most offbeat way to earn a credit at GW.
Japanese swordsmanship is just one of many nontraditional, one-credit exercise and sports activities classes GW offers. Courses such as scuba diving, hip-hop conditioning, massage and foil fencing may not have much to do with the degrees that students are earning at GW, but the classes fill to capacity every semester. A horseback riding class even goes to stables in Rockville, Md., for lessons.
Everyone has his or her reasons for wanting to deviate from the traditional course load. Some are looking for a unique way to exercise and some are looking for an escape from their other, more stressful classes. Others are just curious.
"I'm taking it 'cause of 'Kill Bill,'" said freshman and Japanese swordsmanship student Chris Diaz, referring to the popular movie that features international assassins and a bevy of sword fighting.
When asked if the drill-oriented course met his expectations, Diaz smiled.
"Well, I didn't expect it to be exactly like 'Kill Bill,'" he said. "But I kind of wish we did a little more fighting other people - it's a lot of technique."
Instructor Brian Wright, who also instructs a course in taekwondo, developed the class himself after convincing the Exercise Science Department to let him share with students what he learned while training with a local swordsmanship group in Rockville.
"It's not best to win a hundred out of a hundred battles, rather the highest level of skill is to defeat the opponent without engaging in battle," the scroll says in Chinese characters.
In two straight lines, 12 barefooted students turn and bow to the scroll. Then they turn back to the mirror, kneel and bow to the swords in front of them.
For the next hour and 40 minutes, the students take turns slicing their wooden swords through the air, stopping inches from the chest or face of their partners - all while shouting in Japanese above the whirr of the fan.
It's possibly the most offbeat way to earn a credit at GW.
Japanese swordsmanship is just one of many nontraditional, one-credit exercise and sports activities classes GW offers. Courses such as scuba diving, hip-hop conditioning, massage and foil fencing may not have much to do with the degrees that students are earning at GW, but the classes fill to capacity every semester. A horseback riding class even goes to stables in Rockville, Md., for lessons.
Everyone has his or her reasons for wanting to deviate from the traditional course load. Some are looking for a unique way to exercise and some are looking for an escape from their other, more stressful classes. Others are just curious.
"I'm taking it 'cause of 'Kill Bill,'" said freshman and Japanese swordsmanship student Chris Diaz, referring to the popular movie that features international assassins and a bevy of sword fighting.
When asked if the drill-oriented course met his expectations, Diaz smiled.
"Well, I didn't expect it to be exactly like 'Kill Bill,'" he said. "But I kind of wish we did a little more fighting other people - it's a lot of technique."
Instructor Brian Wright, who also instructs a course in taekwondo, developed the class himself after convincing the Exercise Science Department to let him share with students what he learned while training with a local swordsmanship group in Rockville.
