Samurai Sword Facts

The first samurai swords we're actually straight bladed, single edged weapons imported from Korea and China known as chokuto, which were later replaced with the curved blade variety at the end of the 8th Century. The name of the curved blade swords which replaced them was Tachi. The reason for this transformation was samurai found that a curved sword could be drawn from the scabbard more swiftly and provided a far more effective cutting angle.

The point of a samurai sword is called a Kissaki. This is the hardest part of the sword to polish and forge and to hand create a quality one would require an extremely skilful artisan. The value of a sword is determined largely by the quality of the point.

Samurai would use wooden swords (Bokken) for practice for safety reasons as well as for preserving their real swords from unnecessary damage.

The samurai would give names to their swords as they believe in the sword lived their warrior spirit.

There are three main types of samurai sword. 1: Katana: The longest type of sword, over 24inches, generally used for outdoor combat. 2: Wakizashi: Around a third shorter than the Katana at between 12 and 24 inches, this was worn in indoor establishments by samurai for its obvious better manouverability indoors. 3: Tanto: A small knife used in much the same manner as a Wakizashi.

As part of the samurai sword making process a sword tester took the new blade and cut through the bodies of corpses or condemned criminals. They started by cutting through the small bones of the body and moved up to the large bones. Test results were often recorded on the nakago (the metal piece attaching the sword blade to the handle).

Shogun is the name of the most powerful samurai, and they would wear two samurai swords. A Katana and a Wakizashi. They had a license to dismember anybody who offended them.

Early samurai would fight on horseback, and they're weaponry in addition to samurai swords was bows and arrows.

Article by Nick Johnson of Japanese samurai swords Dot Net http://www.japanese-samurai-swords.net

Nuts & Bolts of Self Defense

Fundamental "Nuts & Bolts" training for close combat should be... Read More

Does It Hurt When I Do This?

Let me tell you something. I don't bruise too easily.... Read More

Expect the Unexpected Grass Hopper

The Myth perpetuated by Self Defense Oriented Martial ArtsI just... Read More

Martial Arts Strength Training

According to various sources on the internet, a 1996 article... Read More

Eight Simple Rules for Saving Your Life

Let's put the non-lethal fantasy to rest.1. Never trust your... Read More

How to Select Your Martial Arts and Self Defense Equipment

The most common place to buy martial arts or self... Read More

Grown Man Quits After 3 Mat Pulls!

A matt pull is the simple act of lying on... Read More

Catholic Self Defense

Note: I wrote this essay regarding the development of Tekkenryu... Read More

Martial Arts

Traditionally, people trained in Martial Arts in order to utilized... Read More

Martial Arts and The Zone

On the occasions you delivered the perfect strike; blocked without... Read More

I Know Karate and Kung Fu and Lots of Other Foreign Words!

Martial arts have become incredibly popular in the US. Drive... Read More

Learning the Modern Dynamics of Judo

You may have the erroneous idea that force is not... Read More

Things to Know About Learning Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Chi Boxing)

For Easterners, particularly Chinese, this MAY not be an issue.... Read More

Samurai Armor Part 1

The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in... Read More

The Test

"Will this work so that I can use it instinctively... Read More

Regular or De-escalated

We always stress that NOTHING occurs in a vacuum. There... Read More

Samurai Swords and The Swordsmiths

Back in the early times of sword manufacture, the production... Read More

Strategy as Applied to Warrior-citizens

After years of study, I have come to a small... Read More

Judo Nagewaza (Throwing Technique) In The Street

How practical are throwing techniques (nagewaza) for self-defense or street-fighting?... Read More

Is it a ?Hurt? or is it an ?Injury?

My father fed me this line every time I felt... Read More