Originally Posted by munrock
The European knight is slow and cumbersome compared to the Samurai. The best that European armour will do is protect the knight until he's been knocked flat on his back and his sword is broken, and then the armour will stop him getting up.
On top of that, a Knight's arms will be clad in plate, and his sword will be heavier. He's just not going to land a blow on a lighter, faster Samurai who's spent hundreds of hours honing his parrying techniques and who goes into battle expecting to be parrying something a lot faster than a claymore.
The knight will tire so much faster.
This is without taking into account the different attitudes to death. The only European that will match a Samurai in frame of mind is a commoner defending his home, or a truly devout cruesader. One will be ill-equipped and the other will be few and far between.
Then there's the Ninja.
And better hygeine.
The difference in date is showing through the details.