THE LEGENDARY SWORD OF THE SAMURAIS: KATANA

Although katana is the name of the traditional Japanese long sword, over time the word katana has been used to describe all types of swords. Slightly curved, single-edged swords were the traditional war weapon of the samurai.

The short sword, called the wakizashi, could only be carried by the samurai as a symbol of belonging next to the katana and was used to commit suicide (seppuku). Masterless samurai, called ronin, did not carry wakizashi. The sheath of the katana was called the saya.

Although the samurai carried bows and spears, only the katana reflected the samurai spirit. At the beginning of the Edo period, peasants were forbidden to carry weapons - a sufficient reason for being killed - and only samurai could carry swords. During the war, the katana was not the first weapon used by the samurai, and it was their turn after the arrow and spear.

While similar Chinese swords were used before, the first Japanese style sword similar to today's katana was started to be made in 900 AD. After the use of firearms in warfare during the Tokugawa Shogunate, sword making declined. After the Haitorei edict banned the carrying of swords and firearms in the streets in 1876, the last samurai went invisible.

TYPES OF KATANA

Tanto 'knife' is smaller than 1 shaku (30 cm)
shoto 'short sword' 1-2 shaku (30-61 cm). Katana is included in this group and has an average length of 70 cm.
Daito 'long sword' is longer than 2 shaku (61 cm)
Ōdaçi/nodaçi 5 şaku (1.5m)

HISTORY OF JAPANESE SWORD

AD 987: The Çokutou Straight sword, Moroha Zukuri double-edged, identical to the Chinese swords of the period.

987-1597: Koto, near the hilt, is the deepest point of the fold. It is the pinnacle of Japanese sword making.

1597-1760: Shinto was produced at a time when manufacturing characteristics were declining.

1761-1876: Shinto lags behind koto even though it is of better quality than Shinto.

1876+: Swords made after the Haitorei edict banned the carrying of weapons.

Before being delivered to their owners by skilled craftsmen, katanas were tried and tested on corpses, armor, straw bales and even metal sheets.

HOW TO HOLD A KATANA?

Hold the long sword (katana) with your thumb and forefinger as if flying, neither tight nor loose with your middle finger and a firm grip on your last two fingers. There should be no movement in their hands. Your grip should not change and your hands should not be afraid while you mow down your enemy. You need to slightly change the feel of your thumb and middle finger when pushing, parrying, or forcing the enemy's sword to the side. Above all, you must be determined to slash the enemy the way you grasp the sword. The combat and sword trial grip are the same. There's no such thing as a mowing insight. I usually don't like constancy with the long sword or the hands. Constancy means a dead hand. Flexibility is a living hand. You should keep this in mind.

The great swordsman always puts himself before his surroundings. You cannot defeat a good swordsman, because he subconsciously sees the root of every real action. In Kendo practices, it is still possible to see old nobles hitting young champions on the head, almost as a result of coincidence. It is the ability to instantly detect a changing situation.

ACT BEFORE THE ENEMY