A fight between two samurai would be over in a few seconds (or a few hours, if you include all the screaming and posing TV shows seem to think is necessary).

The reason that katana were worn with the blade facing up is so the wearer can draw the sword and cut in the same motion. The main advantage of a katana is you can get your first stroke in fast. The katana/wakizashi combination had become the main weapons of the ruling samurai class, and represented their power and personal honour. Samurai would also carry weapons with smaller blades (tanto, under 30cm) and occasionally longer (odachi, over 90cm), but they were less commonly used. Wearing both weapons together was the distinctive and official feature of the samurai, although the merchant class were permitted to wear wakizashi and often did so when travelling. This is a companion sword for the katana, used as backup, for close-quarters fighting, and sometimes for ceremonial purposes. Only samurai were permitted to carry them.Ī similar sword with a shorter blade (between 30cm and 60cm) is a wakizashi. It has a grip intended for two hands, a square or circular guard, and is worn with its scabbard thrust through your sash (obi) and the blade facing up. Only a samurai can carry both.ĭescription time! A katana is a sword with a single-edged blade that is longer than 60cm and moderately curved (unlike the older tachi).

Katana fleet star wars