How To Properly Display A Katana

Download Article

Download Article

A katana is a manner of Japanese sword known for its long curved blade that's able to hands cut through a variety of materials. While it may seem simple to swing a katana, cutting and hit with one properly takes fourth dimension and do. Stand in front of your target and swing the blade toward your target so the cut edge makes contact. You can also try using your katana to block incoming attacks while you're sparring. When yous're finished, put the blade back in the scabbard and then you don't impairment it or hurt anyone. Simply remember to be careful because katanas can exist extremely sharp!

1. i

   Position your hands at the acme and lesser of the handle. Concord the katana in front of yous so it's perpendicular to the ground. Go along your ascendant paw 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the tiptop of the handle, and wrap your fingers and pollex so they're on opposite sides of the handle. Place your nondominant mitt at the lesser of the handle before wrapping your fingers and thumb effectually it. Make sure the backs of your hands face out away from the sword on their corresponding sides. Keep a grip that'south firm enough so the katana doesn't slip, but loose enough so y'all tin can easily maneuver effectually.^[1]

   • Don't touch on your hands together or else y'all'll cut with a hacking motion and you lot won't be as accurate. Keep at least iii–four inches (7.6–10.two cm) between them.
   • Avoid keeping your thumbs on top of the handle since you lot won't get a proper grip on the sword.

2. ii

   Stand up in front of your target so you can accomplish it with the end of your blade. Traditional targets for practicing with a katana include bamboo or rolled tatami mats. Stand with your feet shoulder-width autonomously and pointed toward the target. Fully extend your arm with the katana and accept a few steps then the blade extends 4–five inches (10–13 cm) past the front of the target.^[2]

   • Other targets y'all can try include pieces of paper or filled plastic bottles.
   • You can besides practice without a target if you only desire to perfect your form.
   • Brand sure there's nothing around your target that could harm the blade or get cutting by the sword. Aim to keep other items at least x ft (300 cm) away.

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Concur the bract to a higher place your head so it'due south near parallel to the ground. Keep your elbows slightly bent as yous raise the blade over your caput. Leave your feet firmly planted on the ground and your torso pointing toward the target. When you have the bract most horizontal, stop your backswing and concord information technology in place.^[iii]

   • Yous tin can also cut down at an bending if you want to strike the target from the side. Signal the tip of the bract closer to the side where you desire to offset your cut.
   • The cutting edge of the katana will point upwardly while it'southward over your head.

   Tip: Go tiresome while you're get-go learning to work on your form and stay safe. Every bit you lot get more experienced with your katana, you'll be able to speed up.

4. 4

   Push the top of the handle frontwards to help the blade arc. Don't start your swing until you're ready to go through the full swing in a single fluid motion. Straighten your dominant arm and wrist so the blade starts swinging in a forward motion. Every bit yous fully extend your arm, the katana blade will start to motion forward and gain speed and so it's more likely to cut through your target.^[four]

   • It's okay to break down the steps of your swing and go slowly while you're practicing.

5. v

   Step forward every bit you bring the blade down toward the target. Once you bring your hands in front of your head, take a step with the leg on the same side of your body as your dominant paw to get more power. Try to step forward by 3–iv inches (7.vi–10.two cm) so it extends the reach of your bract also. As you stride, continue the forrard motion of the bract and then you don't hesitate during your strike.^[v]

   • If you're bringing the bract down at an bending, step frontward with the foot that's on the opposite side as the end of your cut. For instance, if you're cutting from correct to left, step forward with your right foot.

6. 6

   Slice into the target at a 45-degree angle. Slightly plough your hands to readjust the angle of the bract as you're about to brand contact with your target. Continue swinging through the full motion to cut through your target as cleanly equally possible. Try to keep the cut at a 45-degree bending so it makes an angled cut and makes the best contact with the bract. End the blade then it's at least two feet (61 cm) off of the basis and doesn't become damaged.^[6]

   • If yous're swinging to practice form, try to finish your movement when you take the blade at chest level. That way, yous're able to develop ameliorate control of the sword.

7. vii

   Swing the blade horizontally from your side for a mid-level attack. Maintain your grip on the handle so your dominant manus is on acme and your nondominant hand is at the end. Concord the katana on the side of your torso that you want to strike from so the blade points upwardly at a 45-degree bending. When you lot desire to strike, straighten your dominant arm so the blade swings out in front end of yous at chest level. Effort to keep the bract parallel to the ground and end your swing when the blade is in forepart of your opposite shoulder.^[7]

   • You tin do horizontal strikes using only your dominant paw but you may not have as much control over the bract.

8. 8

   Tilt the blade upside-downwards to strike from below. Position the katana and then it's at a 45-degree angle pointing toward the basis behind you lot and the cut edge faces forward. Keep your dominant hand most the baby-sit on the handle and the nondominant one at the finish of the handle. When yous're prepare to strike, fully extend your dominant arm and swing information technology forward. Stop your strike at chest level so the cutting border of the blade faces up.^[8]

   • Keep your nondominant wrist loose so you can hands command and maneuver the blade.
   • You may need to cantankerous your dominant arm over your nondominant 1 if you lot're hitting from the other side of your trunk.

Advertisement

1. one

   Use the side or back of the bract to cake incoming hits. If y'all try to employ the cutting edge to deflect incoming blows, you may impairment or flake the katana. Attempt to block the strike nigh the center of the katana so it lands along the sides or back of the blade where there'southward thicker metallic. Avert blocking the strike with the terminal one foot (xxx cm) of the blade'due south pointed cease since you may lose your rest or grip easier.^[9]

   • Endeavor to sidestep abroad from blows while you're blocking so you tin can get out of the way of the attack.

2. two

   Keep the blade at a 45-degree angle in front of y'all to block overhead strikes. When you expect an attack from overhead or at an angle, hold your katana so your easily are about ane foot (30 cm) above your head. Point the tip of the bract at a 45-degree angle to the ground in front of y'all so the strike slides off the katana more easily. Make sure the cutting edge faces downward so yous don't harm the sword.^[ten]

   • Go along the cutting edge perpendicular to the footing then it doesn't signal dorsum at you.
   • Place your nondominant palm against the side of the katana blade to help you back up it, but exist careful not to touch the cutting border, or yous could hurt yourself.

3. 3

   Hold the blade upside-downwardly to protect against low and side attacks. Keep your wrists loose as you rotate the blade around so it's easier to position correctly. Move your katana to the side where you're expecting the strike, and turn the blade so the tip points to the footing and the cutting edge faces abroad from y'all. Lock your wrists and plant your feet firmly to set for the strike then the blade doesn't motion once information technology's hit.^[11]

   • Practice with a sparring partner so you tin can larn how to properly deflect hits.

Advert

1. 1

   Push the katana's guard from the scabbard with your nondominant thumb. Agree onto the scabbard with your nondominant manus and so your thumb rests on top. Put your thumb against the circular guard around the handle of the katana and lightly push it forwards. You will feel some friction before the blade slides easily within the scabbard.^[12]

   • The scabbard holds the blade tightly in place near the guard so the katana doesn't skid out accidentally.
   • Exist careful not to push the blade out too far or it could fall out from the scabbard.

2. two

   Pull the bract out by its handle. Accomplish across the front of your body using your ascendant hand and hold onto the handle ane inch (2.v cm) from the guard. Push the handle down lightly as y'all pull it out so the cut edge doesn't get caught on the scabbard when you remove it. Pull the blade straight out and slowly signal the tip out in front of y'all so the blade faces down.^[thirteen]

   • The katana will have a sharp cutting edge and a boring edge along the back.

   Warning: Katanas are extremely precipitous, so be mindful of where you hold the blade while you accept information technology out of the scabbard.

3. 3

   Wrap your hand around the terminate of the scabbard when you sheathe it. Cup the bottom of the scabbard most the opening on the end and so your nondominant hand makes a U-shape. Wrap your thumb around the top of the scabbard to concord it firmly in identify and so information technology doesn't movement around while you endeavor to insert the katana.^[fourteen]

   • Never try to resheathe the katana without belongings onto the scabbard since the blade could easily slip from identify.

4. four

   Guide the tip of the katana into the hole in the scabbard. Slowly and carefully turn the tip of the bract toward the scabbard and then the cutting border points upwardly. Set the blunt edge of the sword on your fingers underneath the scabbard's opening and employ your ascendant hand to push button the tip within. Go along your grip firmly on the scabbard even afterward y'all put the tip in.^[xv]

   • Be careful moving the tip of the katana toward y'all so you don't accidentally cut or stab yourself.

5. v

   Button in the katana until there's one in (2.five cm) of bract exposed. Slowly guide the rest of the blade into the scabbard using your ascendant hand. Don't let the cutting border scrape the top of the scabbard since it could boring the blade. Continue pushing the blade in until y'all experience friction, which is usually when in that location's well-nigh 1 inch (2.5 cm) left to insert.^[sixteen]

   • Don't try to forcefulness the blade into the scabbard since you lot could impairment the bract.

6. 6

   Press the guard against the scabbard with your nondominant thumb. Hook the thumb on your nondominant hand effectually the guard of the blade and pull information technology into the scabbard. Don't attempt to forcefulness the blade into position or else yous could harm the tip. Keep pushing the guard until yous tin't see the blade anymore and the katana doesn't motion around in the scabbard.^[17]

Advertising

1. 1

   Practice in an surface area with enough space around you to handle your blade. Await for an open area where you lot have at to the lowest degree eight–10 feet (2.four–iii.0 m) of empty space effectually you. Hold the katana straight out in front of y'all while it'due south still in its scabbard, which is the protective instance around the blade, and point it forwards. Turn in a circumvolve and brand sure there'due south nothing in the path of the sword equally you movement it around, or else y'all may cut into it.

   • Don't swing your katana anywhere that yous could striking someone or something that yous aren't intending to cut.
   • Try practicing in your one thousand if you have the infinite to move around.
   • Check local laws and regulations to find out the legality of bringing a katana in public since it may not be immune in your area.

2. 2

   Apply a wooden or bamboo sword while yous exercise if you don't want a existent bract. While you lot need a real bract to cut through your target, practicing with one can be more dangerous if you're inexperienced. Search for a bokken that'southward the aforementioned size and length as your katana that y'all tin can use while practicing your class while striking and blocking. Whenever you feel comfortable switching to a real blade, use extra caution then you don't hurt yourself or anyone else.^[eighteen]

   • You can buy bokkens online or from martial arts stores.
   • Even though bokkens don't have a cutting border, they will even so hurt someone if you striking them with information technology.
   • The thinner edge of the wooden blade is considered the cutting edge while the wider flat edge is the back of the blade.

3. 3

   Look for a course at a martial arts school to improve your katana skills. Check for dojos or martial arts instructors in your expanse that specialize in using Japanese swords and then you lot can larn the correct techniques. Compare the prices, the lessons, and the amount of fourth dimension y'all spend in each form to run across what manner works all-time for what you want to learn. If y'all have any questions, call the teacher and ask them annihilation you're concerned about. When you find a style yous desire to study, enroll in the grade so you tin start learning.^[nineteen]

   • Many dojos or instructors have strict rules for practices and uniforms, and so brand sure y'all follow them completely so y'all can stay in the course.

   Unlike Classes to Try

   Take kenjutsu to practice general Japanese swordsmanship.

   Attempt iaido to practice quickly cartoon swords and responding to quick attacks.

   Practice kendo if you want to become better at sparring with bamboo swords in protective armor.

Advert

Add together New Question

• Question

  How do I go a skillful sense?

  

  Search up Kenjutsu schools or other sword fine art schools almost you, then see the ratings on the ones you lot like.

• Question

  How long does it take to primary a katana?

  

  Information technology will take a lifetime, every bit fifty-fifty the most dedicated masters are not completely satisfied with their art.

• Question

  How precipitous are katanas?

  

  It all depends on how much yous sharpen them. Some tin cut a pilus with a touch.

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

• If you lot don't experience comfy using a real blade for practicing, wait for a blunt-edged katana or get a wooden practice sword for your drills.

• Keep the katana in the scabbard whenever you aren't using it so you don't risk cutting anybody.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

• Be extremely careful when handling a katana since it will be very sharp and you could hands cut yourself or someone else.

• Pay attention to your surroundings when using a katana then y'all don't slice anyone or anything.

Advertisement

About This Article

Article Summary 10

Katanas are long, curved Japanese swords that tin can be used to strike targets and cake attacks. To hold your katana, keep it perpendicular to the ground. Put your dominant hand at the top of the handle and your weaker hand at the bottom. When you're practicing with a target, stand in forepart of it and so you tin can bear upon information technology with the tip of your bract. To strike the target, button forrad with your dominant hand to make the bract arc, step forward, and slice into it at a 45-degree bending. If you lot're blocking an attack, use the side or back of the blade, since blocking with the sharp border may damage your sword. Whether you're practicing hitting or blocking, remember to practise in an open expanse with at least 8 feet of infinite all around you and so yous don't hurt anyone or harm anything. For tips on how to strike upwards or block an overhead attack, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 454,551 times.

Did this article assistance you?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Katana-Properly

Share this post