katana?

F

flatliner762

Joined
Aug 27, 2011
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27
hi everyone, i need some help. okay heres the thing, ive always loved katanas/japanese styled blades. they are just beautiful to me but ive always avoided them for a number of reasons. 1# their not really practical in todays world unless theirs a zombie outbreak. 2#i dont have any REAL training with them(even though i wish i did). 3# i feel if i get one im going to look like a mall ninja or poser.

i dont feel like i deserve to own a sword when im not a swordsman and have no experiance or training at all. the most training ive had is using a 24" machete in the woods. its like giving a 16 year old a sniper rifle, you have to earn the right to carry one. to me it just doesnt feel right. but besides all of those points i still want one. what should i do?! i really need some advice. thanks
 
okay, i'm probably the least qualified person here to give advice, but i'm also the most talkative of late, so i will put in my 2 cents

First, if you want a katana, get one... but get a real one... don't get a cheap stainless steel reproduction as you could possibly kill yourself when you break it.

If you buy one at all, get one that's CARBON steel... I have the $80 musashi Bamboo. It's well built, and will not break the first time you swing it. If you are willing to spend more but want to stay budget friendly, Hanwei makes some great offerings from 150 to 300


second, if you are clueless as to hot to use a sword properly, start VERY slow... don't cut anything the day you get it. if you can't take a class, then watch the instructional videos and follow along CAREFULLY... i'd suggest starting with a bokken, as it won't remove a leg if you screw up

Owning a sword doesn't require expertise. Using one does. Get yourself one, but use it wisely.

I will be glad to give you what advice my limited experience can generate as to what blades to look at, but there are others with MUCH greater knowledge here who will chime in soon
 
Try http://www.buffalokendo.com/ or similar product.
Either way, get one if you want one. There are many more people who own swords than know how to use them. If you want a stainless wall-hanger, get one. If you want a nihonto, get one of those. There's also a lot of room in between.

- Chris
 
You don't have to worry about what other people think. If you know you are not a mall ninja, that's enough. I personally don't own a katana or see any need to own one, but one of my best friends has several, and he does know how to use them. He has been taking Iaido classes for years now as relaxation therapy, and he swears by it.

So, sure it can be a cool hobby. The danger in getting something like a katana (besides hurting yourself if you cut yourself or if you buy a cheap one that breaks/fails), is that you'll hold it and admire it for a while, and then it goes into the attic and disappears when the initial enthusiasm dies down.

My advice: see if anyone is offering kendo or Iaido classes close to wear you live; then go check it out; then buy a katana if you are still interested.
 
you cannot learn iaido from a video or book, if you are interested try and find proper instruction
 
The thing is: what do you intend to do with a katana? There's nothing mall-ninja about wanting a katana for collection purposes. I myself have a modest collection of swords, among which are a daisho: the Chen "Dragonfly" carried by Bugei. I like the koshirae, and while it's a compromise of features, but I'm okay with that for the price point. A true nihonto is a bit beyond what I can afford, but maybe someday.... (Btw - I don't use any of my swords for any sort of tameshigiri or cutting: I'm not trained in the use of either the katana or any of the western swords in my collection.)

IMG_0060A.jpg

Before you go out and buy anything, I would highly recommend that you do some research on your intended purchase. You wouldn't buy a car or an appliance on impulse; you'd want to check out which brand and model would give you the "best bang for the buck" as it were. A sword (or knife) is no different. What can you afford? An actual nihonto is going to be expensive, but it will be authentic, if authenticity is your primary goal and desire. If you decide on a nihonto, do you want to go modern or antique? If a nihonto is out of your price range, you'll likely have to settle for one of the many Chinese-made katana which vary in both quality and price.
 
From your initial post, I'd recommend starting with a good, well-balanced bokken, daito, or shinai, and signing up for classes if possible. Japanese sword fighting is a lot more mental than most sword fighting arts, in some ways; there's no armor, and it's more about the dominance and crease and winning in a single blow than most other styles. Grip is also very different; you don't hold it like a baseball bat, for instance, but with your knuckles pointing more outwards.

But there's nothing wrong with owning one, even if you don't know how to use it. If you want to try some cutting and such, I'd go with a less expensive one. Hanwei makes a number of good offerings, Chris Zhou has some great stuff out there (he was a winner of the Masters of Fire competition, IIRC). I'm not a big fan of Musashi, but Kris has some okay stuff. You might even try one of the Himalayan Imports Everest Katanas, for durability and the ability to destroy worlds with a katana. Depending on your budget, I would be able to give you better recommendations.
 
Pueo154 said:
View attachment 237194
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I like the cinquedea. :thumbup:

crimsonfalcon07 said:
From your initial post, I'd recommend starting with a good, well-balanced bokken, daito, or shinai, and signing up for classes if possible. Japanese sword fighting is a lot more mental than most sword fighting arts, in some ways; there's no armor, and it's more about the dominance and crease and winning in a single blow than most other styles. Grip is also very different; you don't hold it like a baseball bat, for instance, but with your knuckles pointing more outwards.
Click to expand...

I agree that classes are the best way to start. However I'd argue that Western sword arts are just as "mental," and place a similar degree of focus on ending combat as quickly and efficiently as possible.
 
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