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THE RIGHT SIZE KATANA

by CHARLIE
(NEW JERSEY,USA)

QUESTION: I'M CONSIDERING PURCHASING A FUNCTIONAL KATANA. THE BLADES OF THE ONES I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE (27"-29") BIND WHEN DRAWN FROM THE SAYA AT A "WORN" POSITION. ARE MY ARMS TOO SHORT FOR A FULL SIZE BLADE? DO I NEED A SHORTER BLADE? IS THAT JUST THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE? I DON'T WANT TO INVEST $$ ONLY TO BE DISAPPOINTED- PLEASE OFFER WHATEVER ADVISE YOU CAN. AND THANKS FOR SUCH AN INFORMATIVE SITE!
-CHARLIE

ANSWER: Hi Charlie,

Here's an easy way to get a rough idea of how long a Katana you should have. Get an extendable tape measure and hold it in your right hand, with your thumb extended down. Then relax your arm at your side and extend the tape until it nearly touches the ground and check the reading where your thumb touches the tape.

This will give you a rough and ready idea of how long the blade will need to be.

Hope this helps.

- Paul

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THE RIGHT SIZE KATANA

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Jun 08, 2008
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starstarstarstarstar 		psychological conditioning
by: Anonymous

I have done this on a very informal basis but it really did help.

Find the longest, heaviest rod you can ~still barely~ handle ~somewhat~ like a sword. If you have time, make a "pretend" saya for it. If not, use the web of your index and thumb as a pretend ~koiguichi~. Practice your kata with it. Or heck, just keep swinging it! Do this for a concentrated time every day. After perhaps a week of this, ideally at least 2 weeks), take that 27" to 29" sword (which is significantly shorter and much more manuverable than that clumsy rod you've been practicing with), draw it, and notice the difference. You should feel much more capable; I don't ~think~ it'll "bind" anymore, because the heavy rod should have helped you adjust to this. So, assuming you feel nimbler with even the 29" then, the question you need to ask then is, do you need to feel even more "nimble" (that is, shorter blade length), and how much.

Hope that helps
Feb 10, 2008
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starstarstarstarstar 		great method of measurement.
by: b&g miron

bern- 6' tall in the morning, somewhat shorter at night..............27"


gin- 5'3" all the time apparently.....any wakazashi............ah, ha, ha, ha!

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