How to Swing a Katana

A katana is a type of sword used by ancient and modern day samurai warriors of Japan. The katana is a thin, slightly curved sword of moderate length and heft. Unlike broadswords which are meant to stab with their tip, the katana sword is meant to be used in a chopping or cutting motion. The blade of the katana is one-sided, with the curved portion being the sharpest part of the sword. Swinging a katana correctly is not as easily done as one might think and will take practice, effort and a bit of knowledge to perfect.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Katana sword

1. Pull the katana from its sheath, and hold the sword in front of you like a bat. Place your dominant hand at the very top of the handle, directly below the hilt.

2. Place your other hand approximately 3 inches below your dominant hand, and grasp the sword firmly.

3. Raise the sword directly above your head in a long swooping arc, yet keep the blade perfectly vertical while doing so (don't tilt the blade to either side).

4. Swing the sword forward and down at your target. Toward the end of your swing, push forward with your dominant hand and pull backward with your non-dominant hand to "snap" the sword through its final few inches of the swing.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply the same principles when swinging the sword in other positions (do not tilt the sword unless your target is extremely tough or thick).

Resources

• Purchase a katana here.

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