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Keep in mind that there really is no standard size as swords should be tailored to the individual's body and personal likes. As a general rule-of-thumb, the correct sword length can be measured when standing naturally erect while grasping the sword's handle just below the tsuba, the hand held comfortably along the side of the leg. Allowing the sword to rest point down, the tip should barely touch ground a few inches in front of the foot. Fig. 1 illustrates the prime example of a sword used for iai batto do. (Note: Illustrations may be added at a future date.)
a. Monouchi width about 2.5 cm (1")
b. Base width about 3 cm (1-1/4")
c. Tang length about 21 cm (8-1/4")
d. Sori depth about 1.5 cm (5/8")
e. Monouchi (striking area)
f. Hamon depth about 1/3-1/4 of the blade's width
g. Handle length about 24 cm (9-1/2").
h. Blade length about 67-71 cm (26-1/2"-28")
Proper Grip (TE-NO-UCHI). Regardless of one's hand size, the tsuka (handle) should be only long enough to accommodate a two-finger gap between the trailing edge of the right hand and the leading edge of the left hand (Fig. 2). It is acceptable for just a bit of the kashira (pommel) to extend from the left fist; however, one should refrain from employing a "baseball bat grip." The fist-to-fist baseball bat type of grip reduces both the amount of positive control to the blade, and power in executing the cut.
Additional care should be emphasized in placing the palms along the top of the handle's ridge line which strengthens the grip and also increases the strength of the cut. If the palms are placed along the flat of the handle, only the thumb knuckles overlap the handle ridge; this is a very weak grip and must be avoided. The sword can easily be dislodged from the practitioner while attempting to cut through a target if this incorrect grip is used. The knuckles can also be injured from impact stress, as well as by the force generated by a solid object (sword) traveling through the air. The muscles in the hand will work harder and tire more easily; the practitioner may lose control of the blade, or even send the sword sailing across the dojo.
Charin Shibori (wringing grip). While grasping the handle, exert a slight twisting action, as if to wring excess water from a dish rag. Both hands should twist inward; the right hand in a counterclockwise direction, the left hand clockwise (Fig. 3).
Length. Sword blades transition to 2 shaku 3 sun (about 70 centimeters) because the Tokugawa government Circa1600-1867 standardized the measurement. There are examples of swords being 2 shaku, and 2 shaku 5 sun; however, these were instances where a person's body height was extremely different from the average of the day. Also, the former Imperial Army and Navy military swords were standardized at 2 shaku 2 sun (about 67 centimeters).
Swords used in modern iaido range from 2 shaku 3 sun to 2 shaku 5 sun (about 70 cm. to 76 cm.) in length. Anything longer than that would be for an exceptionally large person.
Using a sword longer than 2 shaku 5 sun for tameshigiri (test-cutting) is inadvisable because the body of the blade may be a bit weak due to the excessive length of the blade. The blade may bend or break when combined with the physical shock of striking an immovable object, incorrect blade angle, and an incorrect striking angle. The longer a blade is, the more likely it is to be weak.
I had the considerable opportunity to meet the great master Nakayama Hakudo (Hiromichi) sensei and was able to hear his insight about the length of a sword. Nakayama sensei said that subtracting 3 shaku (90 cm) from one's own height was a good rule-of-thumb; the resulting difference would be a good sword length. From my height of 5 shaku 4 sun (164 cm), I subtracted 3 shaku. Therefore, a good length for my sword would be 2 shaku 4 sun (73 cm).
However, this length would only be good for practicing iai kata in empty space; it is just a bit too long for test cutting. After World War Two I was presented with a koto sword which was 2 shaku 4 sun 5 bu (74 cm) in length and 1 used it for about five years. But once while test-cutting, my grip was not on the mark and I ended up bending the sword beyond repair. The standard blade length for modern test-cutting is 2 shaku 3 sun 5 bu (71 cm); I recommend that students do not use swords exceeding this length.
Weight. A regular sword which is good to use will weigh from 1.1 kilograms up to 1.3 kg, including the handle and tsuba. If the sword is any heavier, the practitioner will have to use physical strength. It may appear all right while practicing iaido forms, but when cutting forcefully downward or executing chiburi (blood removal), the blade will often shake uncontrollably when brought to a halt. The root cause of many bad habits in swordsmanship is that the sword is too heavy. It is essential to use caution with a heavy sword.
Sori (curvature). The sori is measured at the deepest portion between the imaginary "length" line and the back of the blade. A sori of 5 bu (1.5 cm) is adequate for a sword of 2 shaku 3 sun (70 cm). Anything deeper or shallower is unsatisfactory for high class swordsmanship.
Mihaba (blade width). The ideal blade width will be approximately 1 sun (3 cm) at the tsuba-moto [base of the hand guard), and about 8 bu (1.4 cm) at the monouchi ("sweet spot," about 1/3 of the blade measured from the point). The balance of a sword with these measurements will be good. As with the sori, anything deeper or shallower will be unsatisfactory for high class swordsmanship.
Nagako length. The length of the nakago (tang) affects the balance of the sword; this becomes very important for the principles of high class swordsmanship.
Generally speaking, koto and shinto swords will have a nakago of approximately 5 sun (15 cm). The standard handle length is 8 sun (24 cm). If the nakago is too short, when cutting through material, it can break where the butt of nakago meets the handle (fig. 4). If the handle is 8 sun the nakago should be 7 sun. If you have a long nakago, the balance point of the sword will be at the handle. Moreover, in the opposite case, if the blade-weight is light, a short nakago will improve the balance of the sword.
In the case of a heavy blade having a short nakago, the balance can be corrected by placing lead inside the handle cavity near the pommel. The blade will feel lighter because the center of gravity was shifted.
Some swords of the 1933-1945 period will have a short nakago because they were designed to be used with one hand so that a pistol could be used in the other. A sword with a short nakago should not be used for test-cutting; however if this is all you have, then please do so with the following advice.
When the nakago is short (about 15 cm long) a baseball bat grip should be used when test-cutting to provide additional support to the cut (Fig. 4). Only in this instance should the practitioner choke up on the handle, allowing an unsightly amount of tsuka to extend past the left hand.
If a baseball bat grip is not utilized in this instance (e.g., if the "proper" grip is applied), the torque created by the wringing action, and the impact shock stress generated by cutting will lead to structural degradation of the handle where the nakago ends, and it will break [I have done this while practicing kata with an older Showa era sword that had the original handle. On this note, if you are using a sword with a handle over twenty years old, have the handle replaced.)
Hamon depth A hamon (temper line) depth of one-third to one-fourth of the blade width is adequate. When the hamon is gaudily too deep, the blade is generally brittle and will chip easily; also, the blade will break easily. Worse yet, when the blade is hard, its kireaji (ability to cut well) will not be very favorable.
Mekugi. Swordsmanship is one martial art in which safety is of paramount importance. Always check the mekugi prior to practice, even if you are alone. Replace any mekugi that is thin, broken, or appears weak.
Failure to do a safety check can lead to disaster. A high school student was killed in Japan while he observed an iaido demonstration. The performer's blade was thrown from its handle into the audience because the mekugi had slipped from its housing. This terrible accident could have been prevented if the performer had checked his handle prior to the demonstration.
Ideally, the primary mekugi should be made of bamboo. Bamboo is the preferred material because it is flexible; even if it breaks, the fibers are resilient enough to prevent the blade from being propelled across the room. The handle should be designed so that the mekugi can be inserted from only the side of the tsuka which is covered by the palm. Therefore, the primary mekugi should be of bamboo, inserted from the right side of the handle; the hikae (reserve) mekugi should be manufactured of iron or steel and inserted from the left side.
The metal-to-metal fitting of hikae mekugi to nakago might be smooth, lacking sufficient friction to lock in. Create a firm fit by roughening the outside of the metal mekugi with a file, hacksaw, or wirecutters. The resultant "teeth" will bite firmly into the soft steel of the nakago and prevent the metal mekugi from slipping out during training. In the interest of safety, pracioners of Toyama Ryu and Nakamura Ryu utilize two retaining pins (Fig. 6). |
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