Sword fighting

[Blade]

I'm a novice martial arts exponent and I'm learning hand and leg techniques to be able to be knowledgeable enough to learn a weapon. Particularly the sword. I'm interested to know the different styles of sword fighting there are. All I know is the Chinese Tai Chi that I heard to be focused on dexterity and adaptable to to any situation. The Japanese Iaido in regards to samurai that focus on speed, power and execution. I'm undertaking Fencing as the European component and I would like some opinions and comparisons of the styles because it will help me make a decision to choose the style I will study. But I know there are a lot of practioners out there that are biased and therefore will give me an inaccurate opinion. I feel if someone is to give a weakness of a style at least say a strength of it. Your help is much appreciated to me. I'm interested to know the principles and general directional movement, offence/defence of any style that you could tell me. I understand this section is quite popular so if you could email zeoblade@hotmail.com so that I won't clutter up this forum.

Kind regards,


Blade