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PRIVATE LESSONS WITH SHIHAN SENSEI
A.K.K.F. PRIVATE LESSON PAGE
LEARN-DEVELOP-PROGRESS-ENJOY
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"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.”
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THE SWORD OF JAPAN
WRITTEN AND RESEARCH AND COMPLIED BY
LOUIS D. CASAMASSA
SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS A SAMURAI SWORD?
YES WE ALL THINK WE KNOW, HOWEVER, WHAT MAY SURPRISE YOU IS THE JAPANESE SWORD WHICH YOU CALL A SAMURAI SWORD IS NOT THAT...
IT'S THE SWORD OF JAPAN AND IT HAS MANY NAMES, MOST OF WHICH DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH WORDS AND THEREFORE JUST TO SIMPLIFY THINGS WE AMERICANS CALL THIS SWORD, A SAMURAI.
OK, LET'S BREAK IT DOWN:
TYPES OF JAPANESE SWORDS:
Japanese sword blades were/are made in a variety of lengths. The blade is classified by its length. A daito (long sword),either a tachi or katana, is over two shaku (one shaku equals approximately 12 inches or 30 centimeters) in length. A shoto or wakizashi has a blade length between one and two shaku. A tanto blade is normally under one shaku in length. The length of a sword blade (nagasa) is measured from the tip of the kissaki in a straight line to the mune-machi.
MAJOR PARTS OF THE BUKE-ZUKURI KOSHIRAE
The buke-zukuri style of sword mounting is the most common type seen today on antique Japanese swords. It is also called the uchigatana or katana style. A set of swords consisting of a long sword (daito) and a short sword (shoto) which are mounted in identical koshirae are referred to as a daisho. Daisho or daito could only be worn by samurai or higher rank, whereas the short sword (shoto or wakizashi) could be worn by merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen. This accounts for the increased value of daito (katana or tachi) versus shoto and for the greater numbers of shoto (wakizashi) found today. Swords in buke-zukuri mountings are worn edge up with the saya thrust through the obi (waist band)
INTRODUCTION TO THE SAMURAI SWORD
First of all, it is important to understand that the beginning of sword training will incorporate a boken;
A boken (sometimes spelled) bokken is a wooden Japanese sword that is used in sword training. Boku means wood and ken means sword, hence the name. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other Japanese swords such as the wakiashi and tanto. Bokken is really the term used in the west to describe the weapon, as the word is synonymous with bokuto in Japan, which is most often used to describe it there.
A wakizashi is a Japanese sword with ties to feudal times. Samurai often utilized it as a backup weapon and wore it as a companion to the katana (a bigger Japanese sword). When worn together, this tandem of swords was called daisho (meaning large and small).
The blade on a wakizashi is between 12 to 24 inches long. Along with this, it was often used to decapitate a samurai’s defeated enemies, as its smaller size was perfect for one handed use. The size of the blade also allowed samurai to bring it with them everywhere, even when they felt the need to leave their larger katanas at the door of an establishment. It is also said that the wakizashi was used indoors because of its size. In addition it was well established that it was used for ritual suicide. (Seppuku)
When practicing the use of the sword, it is important to wear the proper uniform. This uniform will consist of a top (Judo gi is recommended) White, blue or black). The bottom must always be a Hakama. (Black only).
The A.K.K.F. requires the following uniform code:
Head Sensei or Shihan, Black top, Black bottom
Assistant Sensei’s, Blue Top, Black Bottom
Students, White Top, Black Bottom.
Also remember that under the hakama you must wear black pants.
The Hakama should reach below the ankles, almost touching the floor.
SOME BASIC INFORMATION
Origins of the Samurai Sword
Before 987, Japanese swords were straight with no curvature. As the military class grew, and the need for a better weapon grew, the distinct curvature of the Japanese sword began to develop. Traditionally, Samurai are mounted cavalry men. When mounted on a horse, the sword is worn with the blade facing down (as opposed to un-mounted use where it's more practical to have the blade facing up - for faster drawing). This made it easier for mounted Samurai to draw their sword, and it also provided a much stronger "downward" cutting angle from atop a horse. Thus, the Samurai sword was born out of necessity of the mounted cavalrymen.
According to legend, the Japanese sword was invented by a smith named Amakuni Yasutsuna (c.700 AD), along with the folded steel process. In reality the folded steel process and single edge swords had been brought over from China through trade. The Samurai sword as we know it today started to take shape throughout the Heian period (794 to 1185 AD).
Birth of the Katana
But it wasn't until the 15th and 16th centuries, where the Katana came to be a widely used weapon. Until then, battlefield Samurai didn't use the tachi (cavalry sword) as their primary weapon. Lances, spears, and bows and arrows were the primary weapons of the day. It wasn't until close-quarter combat and unarmored combat became rampant that the Katana took hold as the weapon of choice.
The tachi and the Katana are very similar. The only difference being that the Katana is specifically designed for for two hands where the tachi is only practical as a one-handed weapon. Also, the Katana is worn with the blade facing up. This created a faster draw in close-quarter circumstance where speed is of the essence.
During the Meiji Restoration (1868), Japan was on a new course in history. The young Emperor Meiji was in a hurry to bring in the new modern world that had been shut out for over 200 years. In the process, the old ways had to be swept away. This meant doing away with the proud Samurai culture that had made Japan what it was. All swords were confiscated, the Samurai class was forcefully dissolved (everyone became equal citizens of the state), and it became illegal for anyone to wear a sword.
Even though the swords and status of the Samurai were dissolved, the spirit of the Samurai lives on to this day. The Samurai sword especially symbolizes a past lifestyle that the Japanese are very proud of today. The Japanese sword lives on through a variety of sword arts like Kendo, Iaido, Bujinkan, Jinenkan, and other various Kenjutsu styles.
