Sword training is an integral part of many martial arts. Whether it’s a razor sharp katana, broad sword, rapier, or a machete, training with sword weapons have many benefits and advantages. While all martial arts share core fundamentals, not all weapons arts share techniques, uses, or symbolism. We will discuss the Samurai Sword (katana), the training required to wield it properly, and it’s many benefits.
*Note: This will not be a history lesson. Although some historical knowledge will be dropped, please do your own research into the history of the katana or swords in general for full context and understanding.
The katana has been around for well over 1,000 years and was a very dominant weapon for most of that time in Japan. The beautiful, razor sharp katana is a formidable weapon, especially in the hands of a skilled practitioner, and demands respect. It is easily one of the most efficient and deadliest handheld weapons. Even someone with zero experience handling a katana could do some major damage. But for many warriors in Japan, their life and the lives of their family or community depended on the sword. Their training and care for the sword were required out of necessity.
Respecting Weapons
When one carries a weapon on their side or anticipates the need for using one in self-defense or war, the utmost care for both the trainee and the weapon must be taken. Those who use weapons must also realize they are handling an instrument of death, whether it be a razor sharp blade or projectile. Training can be hazardous for the practitioner’s health, or that of others, if respect is not given. Equally, if proper maintenance and care is neglected, the integrity and functionality of the weapon will be compromised. If you were a warrior in ancient Japan and your sword was deemed inoperable, it could mean the end for you, your clan, or your family.
Katana can be extremely sharp. Acknowledging and respecting this fact not only ensures your fingers stay attached and training partners do not get cut, but forces you to develop discipline in how you handle the blade. In sword training, it does not matter if you are using a bokken (wooden sword), iaito (unsharpened practice sword), or a shinken (sharpened sword), all practice should be performed as if the blade is live. This means withdrawing, sheathing, striking, movements, and cleaning should be done with extreme focus and zanshin.
There is no “horse-play” in a sword or weapons class. It is far too easy to “accidentally” stab, the mat, your foot or another person. Your complete attention and focus is required to safely navigate the dojo and learn the essence of the katana. Also, the katana is not to be dropped, bent, rusted, chipped, misused, or mishandled at any point in time, inside or outside the dojo.
When handing off an unsheathed sword to another person, we should never touch the blade. if you must support the blade for any reason, it should be over clothing such as your sleeve or while only touching the back of the blade (mune). One way to perform a proper hand-off is to point the blade straight up in the right-hand with the blade facing away from the receiving party but not towards you. Both parties will turn to face the same direction and the receiver will grab the tsuka (handle) with the left-hand while supporting the kashira (bottom of handle) with their right-hand. Both will then distance themselves from each other while the sword is properly sheathed, never taking their eyes off each other until the sword is sheathed.
Efficiency
The curved design of the blade is what makes it so efficient and practical. It allows the ability to cut down an opponent as it is withdrawn from its scabbard. Although you can do this with most any sword weapon, the katana’s design allows this to be done with extreme quickness and efficiency. With proper training, you could draw the sword, neutralize an attacker, and place it back in its saya (scabbard) in seconds. This is Iai-jutsu.
While the sword is withdrawn and ready for battle, we practice the art of Ken-jutsu. Essentially using the sword to attack, counter-attack, or defend against opponents. The curve of a sharpened katana allows for a smooth slicing strike which could easily slice through bone and sinew. If the sword is misused or gets wedged inside an opponent, it will increase energy consumption and time to remove it; time and energy which could be used to defend from others.
This idea directly translates to any scenario in life. Time is the most valuable resource we have as we only get so much allotted during our lifetime. Be decisive, smooth, and use as little energy as possible to achieve a desired outcome. When a problem, task, or circumstance presents itself, be decisive about whether or not you will move in a destroy it or run away. Once you decide to move-in, do not hesitate or stutter. Everything you’ve learned till now must come to surface into a smooth, flowing, natural manner with 100% confidence. We do not want to grip the sword too hard, take extra or unnecessary steps, or panic as these will drain your energy faster. This is particularly important in long battles.
Be like the katana… deploy yourself, cut down the opposition, and move on. Think of the antagonist in a movie that stops to explain himself or their plan instead of just killing the hero. It all results the same. Just do what you need to do and move forward.
Precision
The the days of the samurai, the often wore armor into battle. This mad it very difficult to fatally wound the enemy. The solution is precision. We practice many strikes in ken-jutsu but most importantly, we take notice and care to be precise. With full armor, only choice targets are vulnerable. Often, those choice targets were fatal or disabling if struck. Areas not protected were typically joints to allow maneuverability such as the wrist, hips (groin and pelvis), armpit, and neck. Without precision training, your chances of striking one of these would be close to zero. Your attacks must be on-point and with great technique.
Precision goes hand-in-hand with purpose. Once you have a target, aim for it with intent. Without purposeful intent, you will simply hit all of the surrounding armor and affect nothing allowing them to walk all over you. Compare it to a non-working computer. You replace the hard drive, motherboard, and RAM but still won’t work… well probably because you never had it plugged in to a working receptacle. Get straight to the point and aim for the most likely solution first.
“Hit ’em where it hurts”
Speed and Technique
Slow is smooth; Smooth is fast. We should take a lesson from all martial arts that training speed without technique makes you go nowhere… fast. Technique learned at a steady and consistent pace allows for the body to learn the movements properly and record them into your subconscious. While working with a sharp blade, the last thing you want to do is move fast. A chef does not cut vegetables super fast at first because they will lose a finger. Slow, concise movements with good form over time will produce speed.
Katas are great for learning this fundamental idea as there is zero stress and no threat of harm. Practice footwork, handling, precision, strikes, movement, blocks, etc until you’ve mastered them. Do the same with a live opponent but will slow speeds at first and building up to varying speeds. Do not rush the learning process as it will only do the opposite of getting excellent fast. Many of the empty hand arts of Japan such as Jiu-Jitsu and Aikido stem from sword lineage and use the same very motions for their throws and maneuvers.
Samurai Sword and the Modern World
Nobody is walking around with swords these days. So why study the sword anymore if it’s obsolete? Any random person can use a katana and swing it around to do major damage. It takes a skilled practitioner to do it with poise, balance, technique, and precision. Your confidence level will increase. Hand-eye coordination will improve. You movement and footwork will enhance empty hand performance. Ability to handle stress will become easier and reduce anxiety. You will learn to respect a blade and other weapons. Although the samurai sword has no place in the world today, it has a place in history as one of the deadliest and efficient weapons. We are preserving its history and lineage for as long as we can. Eventually, the martial arts of iai and ken-jutsu will be so diluted in context and form that it will be unrecognizable since it is no longer utilized. Aside from how fun it can be and satisfying it is to become a skilled swordsman, it’s our responsibility pass it on to future generations.
