apan has a long and rich history with swordsmanship. The island nation first began making swords during the Kofun period (250 to 538). However, it wasn't until the Heian period (794 to 1185) when Japanese swords began to feature their characteristic hallmarks like curved blades and high-carbon steel. Today, we're going to explore some fun and interesting facts about Japanese swordsmanship.
Most Japanese Swords are Designed for Two-Handed Use
While there are a few exceptions, most traditional Japanese swords, including the katana, are designed for two-handed use. Using these two-handed swords, samurai warriors would push down using their front hand and pull up with their back hand to perform deadly vertical cuts.
Sword Drawing Was Emphasized
The katana paved the way for a new style of Japanese swordsmanship based around drawing the sword in a fast and fluid manner. Because the katana was worn with the cutting edge facing up, samurai warriors could draw it more quickly than other swords worn with the cutting edge facing down. This ultimately led to the creation of iaido, iaijutsi and battodo, all of which are still practiced today.
Kendo Originated Out of Prohibition of Japanese Swords
The Japanese government eventually prohibited the act of carrying swords in public. To keep the art of swordsmanship, alive, however, some practitioners came together to create kendo. Meaning "way of the sword," kendo remains one of the world's most popular forms of sword-based martial arts.
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