Interesting, so, the Katana was longer, then was what I call tachi even longer too? Or simply the Katana was Tachi sized before the Edo period? Out of curiosity.

@@FedericoMalagutti Just different words implying the same thing. There were Tachi that was as short as Edo period katana for better deployment, basically the length and curvature depends entirely on user's preference in both war time and peace time.

@@FedericoMalagutti The eternal question, what is a tachi and what is a katana! I'll try to make it short but I'll suggest you to look after Markus Sesko or Kōkan Nagayama definitions. It is quite complicated because it is a definition that changed over time. Usually you would say a katana is shorter with Edo period length definition, which were set at 2 shaku and 9 bun iirc. However this is based on the notion that there was a standard length in place, which was the case only after the 1630-40s. Tachi are longer because they also have a longer history, being used since the 900s. Nanbokuchō (1300s -1400) period tachi were longer, pretty much in Longsword/warsword range. Katana were shorter at that time and usually one hand (you can look at some period emaki such as the 日蓮聖人註画賛). By the mid to late 16th century, you distinguish them by the koshirae (fittings) and where the signature is more than the length. I have seen katana in ubu form with 86 cm blade length, but it is still katana. TL;DR it is mainly post Edo/ modern period classification that does not necessarilly work with period examples.

Another way to put it is in reference to small sword and rapier. Immagine that they would had been called the same name through different periods, with the addition that older rapiers would have been shortened en masse during the 18th century and re hilted. I think applying this excercise allow you to see the situation with Japanese swords and their dimensions ;)

@@lucanic4328 ok thank you for the explanation. Now it's easier to understand. While I'm passionate of Japanese swordsmanship I never ended up looking into this nuances.

Thanks mate ;-)

I personally think the sigi katana is a terrible representation. Not dissing on Sigi of course, the durability and safety is spot on as always, but the hexagonal blade shape of the katana is what makes alot of technique works like Kiri Otoshi for example, and can't be done properly with a flat blade like Sigi. A better representation should be the katana from Akado Armoury

@@jaketheasianguy3307 yup I understand well what you mean, but I'm a little concerned with thrusting and accidents. The SIGI is good in mitigating such things, while I perfectly agree on the fact of the shape.

Thanks ;-)

@@FedericoMalagutti I saw in another comment you were curious about nihonto lengths earlier than the Edo period. I just posted a video on my channel systematically looking at surviving swords from these old blades (and comparing them to historical longswords!) I don’t know it will let me link in the comments but it should be the second video on my channel at present.

Thanks ;-)

I will consider this, thanks ;-)

;-)

That synthetic is around 50% of a Longsword weight.

Roger that

Well, the entirety of Longsword I study is meant to fight without armor, in civilian self-defence scenarios and in one on one duels, it definitely adapt to the partial armor situation when needed. Same is for many Japanese fighting styles, some of them (Like Katori Shinto) are for (or also for) armored fighting, while many others are for self defence in civilian scenarios. After all, most people carried weapons, but armor was far from being everywhere every time.

That said, it would be indeed interesting. Yes.

They also have exotic swords like katanas and jians, steel or synth.

Yeah I know, I used this as it’s the same used by Seki Sensei in his video!

@@tatumergo3931 Nami Ryu

Specifically the Masa Katsu branch.

Hehehe! Love it!

You are right, but on the grip I have to tell you that both with Longsword and this bokken I was able to grip the sword pretty well, inside the sparring glove I am able to move my fingers far more than how it seems from the outside

Yes, I already had that one in mind too ;-)

I really like to have the number of joints I already have on my fingers ;-)

I mean, the whole point of the video is that I'm doing another thing and I try a Katana. Anyway, I trained in Shindo Muso Ryu Jo-Do for four years.

A cut is a cut, a thrust is a thrust, violence is violence. You don't need to learn a traditional style to use the thing if you already know how to use a 2 handed sword with proper form

​@FedericoMalagutti I also study Shinto Muso ryu! I was just wondering, did you get to learn Kasumi Shinto ryu as well. I believe that's the name of the kenjutsu Shinto Muso ryu teaches.

@@josephlucas4024 i unluckily wasn’t able to go that far

@@jaketheasianguy3307 It's not about the style, but the more physic way like difference in reach, weight, handle length blablabla. And you definitely need to work it out, which learn from someone who familiar with the weapon is going to help a lot.