Any proficient martial arts or sport specific instructor understands the concepts of cadence, energy transference, tactile awareness and reflex action. Understanding and imparting that information can prove to be a bit of a task.
As instructors we know how important it is for a person to practice the body mechanics to facilitate the desired result. Time is a commodity, especially in this day and age. To maximize the minimum amount of time we have, we need to train in an economical manner and gain as many attributive results as possible.
Folks who follow weapons systems find that the training methodology allows for quicker development in body mechanics. The reason for this is that balance and economy of motion is challenged and bio-feed back is offered immediately. Basically, if you swing something it needs to be in control or you will be off balance, fall over or worse hit yourself.
Taking into consideration that in most western communities we are not allowed to carry blades over a certain length, this limits the law abiding citizens ability for self defense. The less laudable citizenry don’t give a hoot, and will do what they want. Training in blade usage heightens a participants skill set, to be able to defend against a blade when empty-handed the skill set needs to be much higher. Since we cant carry a big blade and our skill may be less than what we desire, we need to cultivate a higher degree of vigilance. If we remain fixated on a specific tool we lose the ability to be proactive in seeking impromptu tools to be used for interceptive defence.
There are many more blunt objects available for a person to defend themselves with rather than a nice balanced blade from times past. The most important thing about an edged weapon may be argued is not the keenness of the blade but rather the keenness of the hand that wields it. In my opinion this refers to edge awareness or the line of impact. Obviously there is more to blade fighting than making sure you are holding it right. There is technique of course, but before that is the fundamental understanding of edge awareness which is an imperative for interceptive defense and with tool use in general.