- Generally, Japanese swords with blade lengths of greater than 23.6 inches are classified as katana. Historically, a katana should be slightly more than two shaku--a shaku being 11.903542 inches.
- Katana were not of a uniform length in feudal Japan. They were made specifically for the wielder. When grasped at the hilt and allowed to swing naturally to the side, the tip should not touch the ground.
- Some martial arts schools prefer students have the sword long enough that when the sword arm is fully extended, the tip of the blade sets at the mouth of the scabbard. This creates a blade approximately 2 inches longer than the old standard.
- The hilt should be approximately the length of the forearm, from elbow to wrist, which is also about 3 palm widths. This averages to about 11 to 12 inches for a 27- to 30-inch sword. Shorter hilts create leverage and balance problems.
- Samurai warriors generally wore the medium-length single-hand wakizashi sword as a complement to the two-handed katana. In addition, they might also wear the short, dagger-like tanto. These swords were often produced as matched sets.
- Martial artists should consult their sensei. He will assist the aspiring artist in the acquisition of the proper length sword for the art. A sword artist who does not have a sensei should get one. Iaido (the Japanese art of the sword) is not to be taken lightly and is best learned in a safe and cooperative environment.
