The best you could do is train the arts like the samurai use to iaido, kenjitsu, and kendo
Fencing IS swordsmanship. Aren't you being biased? For your information...80% of the time when an average fencer goes up against an average kendoka the kendoka will lose. I live in the bay area and there are MANY kendo schools here and I also know many people who take kendo/iaito in my class. I don't know what crud you're fed with(anime/japanese movies most likely) but don't ever say stuff like that when you've never even sparred against a fencer. To denounce a style without having sufficient knowledge of it is purely ignorance. I bet you didn't even know that the German Longsword techniques are really similar to kenjutsu. See? "non of that fencing and other stuff" You're this ignorant already and you expect that you can be a "real" swordsman? You're not open minded and one of the most important thing in learning sword arts is to be open minded to learning different things.
But if you're serious let me give some advice.
1. Sword style do not matter.
2. Have no bais on the different sword disciplines.
3. All swords and sword discipline can be applied on any sword.
4. True swordsmanship is when you can use anything LIKE a sword. "The pen is stronger than a sword".
5. Swordsmanship is proficient depending on the individual. Sword disciplines and sword styles do not matter.
Take up a sword discipline first that's your first step. Fencing, Kendo, Jianshu(Chines sowrdsmanship), German Longsword, etc.
I've wondered the same thing. I agree that there is little DIRECT use for swordmanship in contemporary culture, but weapons martial arts translates over to other forms as well -- like Kempo informs Aikido, etc. I also do think that contemporary, sport fencing obviously has a more practical heritage and should not be discounted. I'm not an expert, but it seems to be that the core principles and foundations would be similar and beneficial. Still, the objectives in sport fencing are different than martial fencing and it seems fun to me to learn the latter and all the different techniques from different time periods.
Anyhow, these are some resources I've found:
http://www.dimicator.com/index.php
http://www.hemac.org/
http://www.hroarr.com/organisations-and-...
Unfortunately all of the above groups seem to only have European chapters, but maybe you can find something in the USA through them. Make sure to let me know if you do!
These folks are dedicated to the Scottish broadsword specifically:
http://cateransociety.wordpress.com/
Here's a great video to get you inspired:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhpqAGdZ...
Best of luck. Cheers.
Step 1: Go to time machine
Step 2: Go to 14th century
Step 3: Find some Ninjas
Step 4: Learn their ways
Step 5: When finished use time machine again and BACK TO DA PRESENT!!!!
Step 6: Stab some goons!
Go look for a swordsmaster. And, seriously? You're gonna use swords against people? That's nuts in the age of guns.
I'am talking learning the way of the sword like the old days. Non of that fencing and other stuff. Just learning how to fight with the sword for example katanas because I am serious to learn it I just want to know so when I turn 18 I can learn it.
