How to hold the Japanese Sword (Katana)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ค. 2017
- A brief teaching on the proper grip of the samurai sword.
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For training in person at The Dojo:
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Speaker:
Sensei Todd Ryotoshi Norcross
I'm not an aspiring swordsman, but I am an artist. I really want to accurately draw katana wielding characters and It's super hard to find references for this kind of stuff, so thanks for the awesome video!
Good luck
love the mindset!
We're in the same way.
same here
Nice work mate . I hate when I see this like for example the highlander show guy uses katana holding it like a bat and I’m like no I’m sorry I can’t I will boycott art that doesn’t portray correctly.
I tell you though a good movie to watch for your art is yojimbo or seven samurai
Great films they’re also required viewing in film schools .
Also where the spaghetti western films got influenced and actually used some ideas from the old films . Like the good the bad the ugly and fist full of dollars etc .
If you watch these old films they’ll give you a lot of insight in authentic Japanese samurai.
Just found out my grandpa has a bunch of old katanas and was a high achieving martial artist. The legacy will continue.
Awesome!
here all this time I was holding it by the wrong end.
bwahahahahahaha! brillaint.
Clearly someone never watched the first /second season of Game Of Thrones 😂 Rule number 1 with Needle 🌻
Here I thought the tsuba was meant to keep my blood off the rayskin
Thank you for showing us this in first person.
I love the use of “bad guy.” This clearly isn’t just “for fun.” There is a purpose to this art and that purpose is to stop bad guys. Love it!
I watched demon slayer and naruto now I’m here
*casually carries katana on backpack ready for danger*
Fallz If only this wasn’t illegal to do
@@paffomi5110 I find it incredible that rifles are legal to carry in the US but not swords.
@@mikenov.3468 demon slayer was good
These videos are so great! Thank you.
Demon slayer training begins with this URGGGGAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
@@Parth_Karvekar_ART ahh muzan is here!
So I'm not the only one here from Demon Slayer?
@@thana203 no
argghhhhh
Ahhh yes imma wait till june till i got my katana
you have a very soothing voice while giving instruction
Thank you for teaching me,I have been holding it the wrong way until now,and have always wondered why every sword felt so heavy when I swung it,now I know how to hold it correctly and all my frustration is gone because every sword now feels so much lighter,I also wanted to mention how beautiful your sword is,especially the tsuba.
The Menuki inside the Tsuka-Ito is actually considered as a lucky charm, they are placed on a specific spot on the Tsuka so that the fingertips of the person holding it are touching the Menuki. It's there to bring the Samurai good luck.
They were originally used on the Tachi to hide the Mekugi pins. In some swords, they could be wrapped in a specific place for the palm swell of the grip and aid in hand placement. Now, they are just more for decoration.
The smallest things like how you hold a katana makes all the difference
Yep! Form is key.
This guy knows how to use both arms. I won't go against him.
What sword is that? It's absolutely beautiful. When I get to a higher level of swordsmanship I'd really like to buy it.
@jj05 there are different kinds of katanas idiot.
I tried to use 3 swords
2 on hands
1 on mouth
Success ? Nope
Im Kio
Is your body still in ONE PIECE?
@@yongli8276 perhaps
It does
@@2_op962 we need more people like you in the terrible world
Very informative! And well explained! Thank you very much. It is clear you are knowledgeable in the subject and I’m glad you decided to share your knowledge.
Thank you! Sooo much this helped me swing my katana, it’s a stick but I’m saving for a practice one, but it feels so much comfortable!
I was told the menuki actually served as an index to tell the user which way the edge was oriented
My entire life i was told by people i don't know how to use a sword. This just basically told me all my life i was wielding them correctly.
Awesome brief, well explained video. Thank you
Thank yhu so much man I’ve been holding my sword so wrong now it swings so much easier and it is a lot easier thank yhu
Thank you Sensei
Brilliant explanation, transformed my cutting, thank you!
Thank you, John!
What a great video. Very informative.
The "dead wood" bit is all depended on how you were taught to cut. If you use primarily your right hand to power the cut, then you want to utilise as much leverage of the tsuka as possible. However, if you use primarily your left to power the cut (like eg. Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido), then you want a short distance between your hand - this distance will be the same regardless of the length of the tsuka. This means that if too much of the tsuka is protruding below the left hand, it's not necessarily that you're holding it wrong, but the tsuka may be too long for your hands.
I'm left handed too, I heard Miyamoto Musashi was known to be left handed, so he came up with a 2 sword style called Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū
Great instructional video thank you!
Rarely I subscribe someone, you do real good videos. Wish you best in your doings!
Exactly. Well explained.
Thanks man, totally felt the difference
I just bought a battle ready katana today and i need more training bc this way feels harder to swing but im glad i learned early
Im so glad i have been holding it the right way
I've recently obtained a very nice katana to add to my options living the armed lifestyle. I believe in training and this video lesson was excellent. I'll spend lots of time practicing just the grip.
Unfortunately there is no dojo in which to train.
Very good video, thank you
Beautiful sword!
Awesome video! Really helped
Tenouchi- the proper gripping of the katana/shinai/bokken. This is something I learned in studying a little of kendo.
Being Vergil no longer has to be a dream
I. NEED. MORE. POWER!
I ve been taught to keep my left hand a bit higher to create 'deadwood' in order to hit someone with that left over peace if you dont want to slice/strike and you dont need to make the V shape, you can just include your thumb and pointing finger in that grip which will be better for some people
Good instructional video, thanks. Also, that Katana is beautiful! It seems like a custom made, may i ask where did you buy it?
Did you know,that Japan is the best place that have the best Katana.
I mean..Katana are their traditional weapons so they make Katana pretty strong amd durable.
i don't deserve subs No, i’m sorry I didn’t know that whatsoever, wow i should be thanking you for your time and help towards us incapable mortals
Very nice. Thumbs up just subscribed
Thank You
Wow thank you so much for this awesome incredible teaching video. This is fascinating t o me and has been for years. I must get a Katana a nd learn. 👍👍🔥🔥😎⌛
Thank you
Thank you for this through explanation . Much appreciated. When do we do the Chakin--Sabari (Wringing the cloth) Please? At the moment of impact?
Scratch that question. I can feel it happen when i get the correct hand position.
Hold the sword like a baseball bat and let it fall...drops sword on foot SON OF A BI..video ends
😂
So into the vena cava, or avoid? Or severe forearm tendons holding a firearm? How fast would one have to be
Hello there! I'm afraid I cannot use my left hand to hold my nihonto the way it is taught in this video. My nihonto is a tachi-style one so the bottom of the tsuka has a kabuto gane and a saruda (ring) to which the tsukaito is wrapped. Thus, I am compelled to hold it a bit higher. Despite this, I can still do a kiri age cut by momentarily losening my left hand's grip on the tsuka. Is this OK? Any additional tips would be helpful.
Yes. Learn to adapt to your weapon however your body and practice allows. Looks like you already adapted well for yourself. Good job!
Thank you so much for the knowledge, Sir. But how about handling wakizashi? It comes with shorter handle whhich need to maximize one handle
Wakizashi or shoto have different techniques, but gripping is the same, unless you use reverse grip in which is changes.
@@thedojomartialarts thank you, Sir
Now I can use my katana correctly!
Thank u
Around 3:00 you talk about the useless length on the hilt exposed.. I was always told that is for defense, to disarm your opponent. In close enough contact ofcourse
Thanks it help
Glad to know that I’ve always held it correctly...
That TSuba is beautiful G
Lmao ,I'm here because i still have my grandfather old katana, and I wanna know how our arms are stress out quickly if, sway/grip it wrong
Thanks
I studied the book of way of the Bushido of the samurai
I have a super similar wakizashi
If you know how to hold a cricket bat you know how to hold a Shinken
My katana has a chain at the end of the handle, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with the chain though.
I need an image of this
Oh so you're also left-handed. Awesome!
I have that exact one
Did you ever actually fight someone?
the black pencil....
Let’s say that he has, hypothetically right, if that were the case then he would’ve had to kill the opponent because well..
1) HE is still alive
And
2) if they are both alive then it WASN’T a “fight” as you mentioned and wouldn’t actually fall under the basis of your question in the first place
And
3) I’m not sure ANYONE would be quick to say (admit) that number 1 happened, especially if the admission will be publicly posted on TH-cam for however long.
What’s your thoughts? ✌🏼
Wtf you dont learn boxing to simply fight people
Just wanted to understand grip and what the book of five rings talks about slack grip .
But I’m using it in modern day samurai style as one can not walk around with a sword but my gun is my sword . And a collapsible baton .
I kinda want to hold it like a katana although I do practice to shin do from Steven k hays.
But not at the moment covid etc no money but a gun is a lot like holding a katana in many ways it’s just I have this concept of taking samurai philosophy and applying it to modern self protection
And of course studying book of five rings
My gun is my soul my sword I carry it everywhere and like a rifle is the long katana and a handgun is the smaller sword to which is the one you use in your home etc and with a smaller hidden knife on me as samurai use to do. I forget the proper names for all of this but you get the idea samurai philosophy applied in modern settings. Like never leave your weapon lying around or out of reach etc
I’m a lot older now and I’ve been doing this from the age of 13 learning from my uncle who was secret service.
I am a samurai at heart a ronin and in these new political climate I do feel a lot like the last samurai who fought against loosing their sword. There’s actually a lot of people doing this .
Like ronin tactics is a good learning school for guns and etc mostly all Asians I am the only white person I see doing this anyway I’m just long winded thanks for videos.
Why are you using menuki on the finger side?
Depends on their placement under the wrapping? There are many ways and places to stick the menuki by the handle wrapper. Menuki can also help "swell" out the wrapping for a better grip.
Is it the same with bokken?
Fahri. Yes. Good training!
@@thedojomartialarts thank you for answering. i have been training with bokken by my self because from where i live it is hard to find and join a kendo/kenjutusu/ninjutsu/etc dojo that teach japanese swordsmanship, and after thousands of swing i always knew that something is wrong, and i was quite sure even my grip was getting better but something was off, and this video really tells me where was i wrong.
when do i learn breathing techniques
As soon as you leave the womb. ; )
Lmao
As a left handed person the problem is getting a left handed Saya. The knob is on the wrong side for lefties. And if there is decorations it's also on the wrong side.
Do you own a Nodachi sword ?
It is very natural for someone who plays badminton. LOL It is the same principle cause you need to use your wrist to apply the final force for the tip of the sword to hit harder.
i hold my sword wrong. Thank you for the tip 😊👍
….left pinky is where the power comes from. Yubitsume.
Can I have a wooden katana? I wanna try to train
Yes. They are available all over the internet for sale. Good luck!
www.centurymartialarts.com/shop/weapons/bokken/
How old do you have to be to attend
Hello. Please check the school web site for details on joining The Dojo. www.thedojoinc.com/
@@thedojomartialarts oh you guys are up in ohio . That's abou two states away i won't get my beginners licence till later this year so probably won't be possible for a few years until i get my full license
Do I need a certificate or license if i want to buy a katana ?? A real one 😅
Depends on your country? Check with your local laws.
Billie Eilish:
**Paniks**
Pog
This is some ASMR sword talk idek.
I'm ambidextrous but weirdly I prefer left on top despite typically using my right more for everything.
I'm left handed but I naturally put my right hand over my left hand lol
See I thought I was holding wrong but I made my own technic and no it’s nothing like a baseball bat but my technic is very similar but I thought myself on what feels comfortable and that’s not holding me back hmmm weird
The only time I want to be right handed 😭
Or just hold it the way it fits your soul when will people learn that there is no correct way to hold the sword you hold it by the moment in the fight each second can change
Finally i know how to hold a katana
POV:you were holding it wrong
Mine is definitely not 2 handed the grip is too short
Just look at the thumbnail and you'll know
Wrong, you do not hold the sword with 1 hand
Step 1 : you must have a sword
Right now i'm using a shoehorn cause i don't have anything else😕 Very hard grip and not comfortable
You sound like jack black
I looooooove katanas I WANT ONE BAD BAD BAD BAD
Gaspppp 🥴💬
2:33 "You want as much room as possible between the two hands (...) so that the sword can be manipulated in all directions. If your hands are close, (...) that impedes my movement."
No, it doesn't. On the contrary, the closer together your hands are, the shorter the movements you need to make in order to manipulate the sword in any and all directions. Wide spacing means wide movements, which translates into slower movements. Long grips didn't really become a thing until Edo - during the Sengoku jidai, sword grips tended to be short, around 8 sun (about 9,5"), and many styles still emphasise a striking technique - using the lower hand for power - which necessitates the hands being close together.
Please come and train with us so we can work out your theory. Yes, you are correct on the lengths, etc. but close hands equals more big, wild arm movements, which is slower. Hands far apart is what every single teacher from different ryu-ha (over twelve) taught and stressed to all of us. How many of your teachers taught you that hands closer together is faster? Where do you train and who is your sword teacher?
@@thedojomartialarts More "big, wild arm movements"? How so? You have to move the arms longer the farther apart they are. The farther apart, the stronger the leverage in a bind, but closer together is quicker, and telegraphs less - precisely because smaller movements are required.
My background is Muso Shinden ryu Iaido. If I lived close by to you I would be happy to drop in for training, but I live in Norway - which I assume you don't.
If you look at various videos of Japanese masters, you will see many actually do have their hands very close together. Some, like James Williams's style, favour an almost absurdly long grip. Long grips can be very good for single-handed use, but two handed styles can make good use of them as well. But the method for generating power will be different.
I disagree. Hands farther apart on the tsuka is far superior, especially when wearing Yoroi. You keep training however you wish. I will continue to do as my teachers taught me the past 40 years. Simple. How we hold the sword doesn't even matter, as long as the result is victory. Good training to you.
Problem is in CA
Let's say someone breaks I your home has a cro bar a gun knife Let's say you at close range. You cannot use your sword against the law . Same with a throwing star. You cannot use that as a striking object
This is why we train, Michael - firearms are a great option for home-defense.
This is nice to know, but I really just need to know how to chop a man I half really fast.
I watched zoro and now im trtimh to surpass him!
first like and commentB) and interesting
Is this in Ohio??
Bleach??? Anyone???
Your almost right.
No left hand swordsman except for two swords use.
Left hand little finger should be even with pommel.
All fingers need to grip for grip strongly fir a strong grip.
Menuki are usually on the wrong side. They are meant yo fit into hollow of the palm for comfort and grip.
False, Ivan. There are several documented left-handed sword techniques in Kenjutsu Ryu-ha. The katana is not meant to be gripped with all fingers, super tightly. That would surely restrict the movement and align the hands and wrists incorrectly.
@@thedojomartialarts really??
Try holding anything without a full grip then hit something and feel how much control you have….
How’s you test cutting on tatami targets??
Ivan. Been training since age 10 with more than six teachers from Japan. Not going to argue with someone form the internet - unless you have high black belt ranking, your own dojo or teaching certificate credentials to show that you know what you are talking about. Feel free to hold your swords the way you wish. To each his own. Good training to you.
@@thedojomartialarts but the question was do you test cut on tatami , and if yes do you tighten your whole grip to cut
Yes. No sword art can be called that without tameshigiri practice. Thousands of mats over the decades teach us a lot about grips and tension release. You of course squeeze your grip when you make contact. There is context to everything and the timing of grips, etc. That is why it is so important to have teachers and physically get to dojos to train. Otherwise, people are just assuming.
uchia. saske