Anatomy of a Samurai Sword. Appreciating a Katana

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 23 січ 2021
  • Looking at a real Nihonto Katana - hand forged in Japan.
    Miike Domain (三池藩, Miike-han) was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was associated with Chikugo Province in modern-day Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu.
    Background Music by Riley Lee - "Dimante Lapis". A shakuhachi piece composed around 1150, recorded during the Sunday service in the Dome at Sunrise Ranch, Loveland, Colorado
    Presenter:
    Todd Ryotoshi Norcross
    Stream Sword Basics on Viemo:
    vimeo.com/ondemand/katanabasics
    Advanced Battlefield Sword Techniques:
    vimeo.com/ondemand/advancedsword
    Instructional Martial Arts Downloads:
    www.thedojoinc.com/download.html
    Martial Art DVD's:
    www.ebay.com/sch/thedojomarti...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 265

  • @michaelstordeur5177
    @michaelstordeur5177 Рік тому +12

    Love this, my guard has 4 extra pieces on my katana. I was told that the village where it was constructed does not exist anymore.

    • @daniellapiz3719
      @daniellapiz3719 9 місяців тому +2

      really? that's sad to hear because bladesmiths in japan decreasing by year passed

  • @kevinstachovak8842
    @kevinstachovak8842 Рік тому +8

    I adore good Nihonto. The beauty of the hamon, on a crane-neck katana (unokubi zakura), is a lovely thing. All of my katana can be broken down into constituent parts

  • @thomasboully6545
    @thomasboully6545 Рік тому +5

    A fitting name would be Scud, a name for a low flying cloud.

  • @miyan0908
    @miyan0908 8 місяців тому +3

    Hello from Japan. This sword was made in 1992 by a swordsmith [Miike-ju Kunitada] in Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a good investment that will surely appreciate in value in the future.

  • @leequesada439
    @leequesada439 Рік тому +4

    Beautiful Katana friend.

  • @mattnobrega6621
    @mattnobrega6621 Рік тому +10

    That's a really beautiful sword especially for handmade and such a recent time and not an ancient time. I would love to own a Hand Forged real katana but they're too expensive maybe one day I'll be able to.

    • @tonyhoodlass1846
      @tonyhoodlass1846 8 місяців тому

      I have 3 katana their coming down in price

  • @RainyDayForge
    @RainyDayForge 9 місяців тому +5

    Oh! The hammer marks on the tsuba are likely there because of a loose fit around the nakago. It’s a way of spreading the material to make it tighter instead of restarting the guard.

  • @cooldaddyfunk
    @cooldaddyfunk Рік тому +6

    I have a very similar Kunitada! Mine is from 6/2000. Different koshirae, but very similar blade and Hamon, can visually tell they are sisters. I'm in contact with a dude in Japan with a Kunitada from 2008, very similar as well. Imagine 4gen consistency!!

  • @oltatersalad4744
    @oltatersalad4744 2 роки тому +6

    Another great video of in-depth explanation. Thank you so much for making these!

  • @jaketheasianguy3307
    @jaketheasianguy3307 3 роки тому +2

    Very beautiful piece of artwork, mr. Norcross

  • @georgiamade892
    @georgiamade892 Рік тому

    Such an underrated channel you've started me on my journey for self betterment through martial arts....I wish your channel could get the recognition it deserves bc it's truly warranted...just wanna say thank you and I know in the beginning having a UA-cam channel is a challenge but I hope and pray opportunities and avenues open up for you so it doesn't become a struggle in anyway....I truly am thankful for ppl like yourself and the knowledge transfer thank you again

  • @ldpp5697
    @ldpp5697 3 роки тому +3

    This was awesome Sensei. Please do more of these

  • @RainyDayForge
    @RainyDayForge 9 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for making this video! I appreciated learning the vocabulary of all the pieces and the dimension. I’m about to start my first katana build and this has helped me a lot.

  • @SenseiEmmett
    @SenseiEmmett 3 роки тому +8

    Amazing Todd, Thank you for sharing this, as you know I'm fascinated by the katana, this was an awesome explanation of an incredible weapon.

  • @franklinrodriguez4267
    @franklinrodriguez4267 2 роки тому +1

    Beautiful peace of art.

  • @guloguloguy
    @guloguloguy 2 роки тому +4

    ....WOW!!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT EXPLANATION, AND DEMONSTRATION!!!
    FYI: THOSE STRONG HAMMER MARKS, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TSUBA, ARE DONE, TO HELP TO ADJUST THE CONSTRICTION AS NEEDED, TO FIT IT MORE TIGHTLY AGAINST THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE BLADE, WHERE THEY MEET.

  • @knightingalesaid
    @knightingalesaid Рік тому +1

    Thanks for sharing! It’s beautiful!!

  • @Paul-rc1pk
    @Paul-rc1pk 2 роки тому

    Nicely done. like the history lesson behind it!

  • @direstknight6697
    @direstknight6697 2 роки тому

    Simply beautiful 🙏🏻

  • @Katana-Karl
    @Katana-Karl Рік тому +1

    The hammer marks on the tsuba is where they deformed the iron so it would fit tight to the blade.

  • @thedarquibus
    @thedarquibus 3 роки тому +7

    Awesome, lucky to own such a treasure.

  • @sniper001353
    @sniper001353 2 роки тому +1

    Love your videos also,very informative 👍

  • @hakanushinito2489
    @hakanushinito2489 3 роки тому +2

    Quite the beautiful video

  • @youen1821
    @youen1821 4 місяці тому +1

    Amazing. Really like your story telling style. Just starting to learn about these pieces.

  • @ninjamonkeyfpv8855
    @ninjamonkeyfpv8855 3 роки тому +2

    Absolutely beautiful..

  • @MartialArtsLifeStyle
    @MartialArtsLifeStyle 2 роки тому

    FANTASTIC VIDEO !

  • @jmbstudio6873
    @jmbstudio6873 Місяць тому +1

    Great vid. I have recently started forging Japanese style edge weapons. Love the style and precision. Working on a Tanto now which I actually made like a mini Wakizashi since the Tanto has a guard. I have twin Wakizashi's forged to shape and ready to go. I made the Tanto as a practice run before I started on the larger short swords. Again, thx for the info. I notice the spine side of the tang is straight and the other side has the taper, I tapered both sides of the tang on all 3 weapons. I think I will forge the spine side straight from now on as this will help when carving and fitting the scabbard and handle as this will make keeping everything inline easier.
    Forge On!!!

  • @supinewarrior2133
    @supinewarrior2133 3 роки тому +2

    I love how you have so much knowledge about swords

  • @alisha75006
    @alisha75006 2 роки тому +1

    Dear sensei,
    Thank you for this information. I happen to have similar characteristic effects on my sword, that wooden dowel ,and diamond pattern woven and guard has round dragon plus at very end of the sword as well. Again I really appreciate your content and wish you the very best. ⚔
    Thank you for putting out this info, I happen to have same characteristic of sword that you just showed specially that handle area where woolen like clothes wrapped as they were weaving the diamond shaped flower I believe as you've described in this clip

  • @blakmajk3512
    @blakmajk3512 2 роки тому +2

    Excellent content! 👍🏼👍🏼

  • @ChanChan-gq6hq
    @ChanChan-gq6hq 2 роки тому

    Sir,you said not historian,but you explain very well like a samurai maker expert.

  • @nejqa3834
    @nejqa3834 Рік тому +1

    The music at the back is Anatolian NEY sound so perfect. Thank you

  • @dkhooeh
    @dkhooeh 3 роки тому +18

    Thank you, that's sure an interesting and educational talk through for the katana.
    I was a bit nervous seeing you pointing and dragging the metallic pen / object on the blade.

  • @musicalevangelist5907
    @musicalevangelist5907 Рік тому

    Love your videos

  • @mymartialartacademy2343
    @mymartialartacademy2343 3 роки тому +2

    Amazing Sir!!
    Oss!!!
    Respect from Pakistan Peshawar

  • @soniadeguzman790
    @soniadeguzman790 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you sir 😊 from Pozorrubio pangasinan Philippines

  • @tommygun6028
    @tommygun6028 2 роки тому +1

    Excellent review 🤝👍😎

  • @edikiswanto1822
    @edikiswanto1822 2 роки тому +1

    Very beautyful..I like katana.from japan

  • @mattnobrega6621
    @mattnobrega6621 Рік тому +5

    "Akuma o taiji suru mono" should be the name of your sword. That's what I looks like to me😎👍

  • @jeffroggy2083
    @jeffroggy2083 3 роки тому

    Strength, danger and beauty. Three combinations in one sword.

  • @mauigio
    @mauigio 3 роки тому

    Love this lesson

  • @hopebroken6986
    @hopebroken6986 2 роки тому +1

    such a beauty

  • @Full_Otto_Bismarck
    @Full_Otto_Bismarck 3 роки тому +2

    Thanks for showing us your nihonto, I aspire to someday own such a work of art myself.

  • @miftahabidin2504
    @miftahabidin2504 2 роки тому +1

    beautiful

  • @hectormariocarrizo9405
    @hectormariocarrizo9405 2 роки тому +3

    definitivamente las KATANAS son las armas mas bellas del MUNDO, forma, detalles y terminaciones delicadamente diseñadas, en verdad hermosas

  • @hachimanjiro
    @hachimanjiro 2 роки тому +1

    Sir that is truly a piece of art,thank you for this beautiful video, ( remember don't clean the nakago - tang! Let it turn black)shinogi zukuri (you can see the yokote it has a chu kissaki, it's probably a kobuse, that will be a very fast sword! 🏯🇯🇵

  • @danielvargas3850
    @danielvargas3850 2 роки тому +3

    Not bad for demonstration video you did a find job there was a couple mistakes but not to many people can talk about sword quite like you did I applaud you well done 👍 I belong to San Francisco sword Society . Like I said not too many people have the knowledge of the sword you seem like a nice and decent person stay safe Like to see more videos

  • @jamescarr1467
    @jamescarr1467 3 роки тому +6

    I too was a collector and I never handled a sword without wearing gloves. I only collected old swords but I did have a Suisinshi Masahide which came from the Imperial Palace. About 1900, so fairly recent.

    • @thedojomartialarts
      @thedojomartialarts  3 роки тому +6

      Aluminum pen cannot hurt the steel. It is 2.5 times less dense. Harmless to it.

    • @wilfriedvomacka1783
      @wilfriedvomacka1783 2 роки тому

      You mean you didn't cut bottles and tree branches in forest and slicing sausages with THAT sword and then sharpening it on good old arkansas? Never? 😂 I am just kidding. I want to start collecting swords too, but I am in studying phase now, need to learn many things. I really admire beauty of japanesse swords and no way i would touch authentic ancient sword without gloves.

    • @craigthescott5074
      @craigthescott5074 Рік тому +1

      This sword would not be considered ancient. Even swords from WW2 are not considered ancient.

  • @bladerstorm
    @bladerstorm Рік тому

    Soo beautiful

  • @carsemonkey1
    @carsemonkey1 2 роки тому +1

    I have a katana that I bought some years back. After watching this video I decided to take a look at the tang. I was surprised to see it only had writing on one side.

    • @wilfriedvomacka1783
      @wilfriedvomacka1783 2 роки тому

      I think that is common. It is even common to have completely unsigned tang.

  • @nonsononessunooko4066
    @nonsononessunooko4066 3 роки тому +3

    beatiful

  • @Endivero
    @Endivero 3 роки тому +1

    Incredible

  • @rotherthies
    @rotherthies 2 роки тому +1

    The hammer marks on the handle side serve a simular function of a gem setting in jewelry. However it is to center the guard on the blade. Or the channel was filed to far and an adjustment was needed.

  • @arlenburgin2392
    @arlenburgin2392 2 роки тому +1

    Phenomenal blade! Any truly forged japanese sword is of high value these days..

  • @dominik1023
    @dominik1023 2 роки тому +1

    One small point, and this is so that we remain respectful to the Japanese culture and language, when we say Tsuba, the "t" is not silent.

  • @bchan3333
    @bchan3333 9 місяців тому +1

    So cool🥺

  • @vladimirkovacevic1656
    @vladimirkovacevic1656 3 роки тому +1

    Awesome hamon and koshirae

  • @denwest339
    @denwest339 2 роки тому +1

    Your nihonto is a beautiful sword.

  • @Zatracenec
    @Zatracenec 3 роки тому +10

    Very relaxing video. It's great to see some more detailed video about particular sword. I self-study japanese blades (very amateur) and it's difficult to find similar video especially with real nihonto. One question,....what is that different part of steel on ura side. It's perpendicular to ha and it appears on 10:19 . Is it a steel flaw or the blade just wasn't wiped yet? It almost has the color of hamon, but going from ha up to bo hi. Thank You. Subscribed. :)

  • @christosmilonas7986
    @christosmilonas7986 2 роки тому

    Great videos! Thank You for sharing so much knowledge! Would You dare to use this sword to cut something like tamati mats or will it scratch?

  • @gauchoronin
    @gauchoronin 3 роки тому

    Excelent!!!! 🥋🙇🏻‍♂️

  • @simonkormendy849
    @simonkormendy849 2 роки тому +1

    I read/heard somewhere that the Habaki was also supposed to reinforce the blade where it went through the Tsuba (hand guard).

    • @1down4upworkshop61
      @1down4upworkshop61 2 роки тому

      I read that it was sort of a wear item on the sword. It was designed to take the shock of being used. The weakest part being that point where the blade and tang meet. Look up Ilya Alekseyev and watch him forge a few katana from tamahagane, or Japanese bloom steel.

  • @commendatori1
    @commendatori1 2 роки тому

    Beautiful sword, the blade looks very similar to my Hanwei practical plus XL light..

  • @kygent508
    @kygent508 2 роки тому +1

    Wish there was sword experts in my area so I could go to as I have many questions.

  • @gf2390
    @gf2390 10 місяців тому +1

    Nice video

  • @herohamza1196
    @herohamza1196 8 місяців тому +1

    Good video

  • @lrforgelaguna8918
    @lrforgelaguna8918 2 роки тому +3

    Mostly the 作-tsukuri is read when there is katakana or hiragana on the on the first next of it here is the readibg for the signature
    三池住國忠作之-Miike jū Kunitada Kore o Saku(This was made by Kunitada resident of Miike)
    平成四年九月吉日-Heisei yon nen kyū gatsu kichi jitsu(Lucky day of September 1992)

    • @tigerimschlamm3670
      @tigerimschlamm3670 2 роки тому +1

      三池住乃姓,国忠乃名,作之,古汉语文雅用法。

  • @Toriajachannel
    @Toriajachannel 2 роки тому

    Stunning, keren...👍👍👍

  • @neilcastro836
    @neilcastro836 2 роки тому +1

    Have you tried to collect a sword from Yoshihara Yoshindo?? He's a world class master swordsmith and his famous sword is will known and on the museum. What a beautiful blade work, man it's so mesmerizing to see the Hamon, ok also recommend you to watch Ford Hallam's Tsuba metal works.

  • @tonyhoodlass1846
    @tonyhoodlass1846 2 роки тому +1

    I collect swords mostly samurai my favourite but do own some wilkinsons dress swords as a Black belt in Shotokan karate that was involved in a motor accident i cant train so this is my interest this video is Great

  • @Leman.Russ.6thLegion
    @Leman.Russ.6thLegion 2 роки тому

    The guard is dented around the blade hole to fit it tighter to the blade. It's like a staking that prevents rattles. They used a punch to peen it.

  • @leungtakkai
    @leungtakkai 2 роки тому +1

    Art work

  • @imarock.7662
    @imarock.7662 6 місяців тому +2

    I know im 2 years late but, I recommend the name "Jinran Maru" for the sword, if you haven't already picked a name for it.
    It is a name from a game, but I feel like its appropriate for this sword considering its speed.

  • @alunrogers464
    @alunrogers464 3 роки тому +1

    Great.

  • @adam5words688
    @adam5words688 3 роки тому +7

    Love it when you "nerd out", us nerds can watch for hours! I don't know how to translate into Japanese, not sure if that's how you name your swords, but how about "Petite Elegence" ? Love your collection and love the comment "I don't keep it at the dojo so you can't come break in and steal it" Haa!

  • @SuperHyee
    @SuperHyee 2 роки тому

    Thanks !

  • @fsamejim
    @fsamejim 2 роки тому

    Great show!!! Could you possibly let us know how can we buy such real sword made in Japan?

  • @manuelchavez3431
    @manuelchavez3431 2 роки тому +1

    I've got a sword like this,don't know much about it,I've translated 1906 is when it was made,two signatures on it with a date and place,made in the beginning of the showa period

    • @user-qy7td3mv2s
      @user-qy7td3mv2s 2 роки тому

      素晴らしい。その刀はおよそ90年前に作られた日本刀です

  • @JS-ed2hg
    @JS-ed2hg 4 місяці тому

    The samurai never used that cleaning kit it actually came out way after the cleaning kit it's kind of a gimmick in a way except for the The Uchiko Ball which is used to strip oil off the blade. May I ask where you got that sword from? Very beautiful

  • @deschan2246
    @deschan2246 3 роки тому +1

    Pretty new blade

  • @micahcampa
    @micahcampa 3 роки тому +3

    very nice showa period katana allthough i own a kanbun era wakizashi that was ranked as a wazamono also like yours and i own a boshin war sword also i dont own any modern ones though the bo-hi was used to take weight out of the blade the hammer marks on the tsuba were to tighten it against the blade it Smashes out the metal so it fits better not a flaw a lot of them have that and the Blade that goes saya the kogatana was used like a utility knife never used for fighting and the blade you have in a shinogi zukuri not a hira zukuri like you said all your fittings are made from brass silver the only iron i see is the tsuba very nice katana thanks for sharing.Micah

  • @piti89100
    @piti89100 3 роки тому +1

    thatss awesomeee

  • @slaughterlord13
    @slaughterlord13 Рік тому

    I have two antique katana one is in full matching koshirae made during Kanbun Era early Edo (1660s) made by the bungo Takada school and the other one is in shirasaya made during Oei era early muromachi period by the Uda school

  • @WAFFENAMT1
    @WAFFENAMT1 2 роки тому

    You named it yourself...Swings Like There is No Tomorrow.

  • @holyorthodoxchurch7935
    @holyorthodoxchurch7935 3 роки тому +1

    ❤️👍ENJOYED THE VIDEO, VERY NICE KATANA AND HISTORY. “SABATHIEL”

  • @KageNoTora74
    @KageNoTora74 2 роки тому +1

    O-Yoroi Doshi are a specific class of nihonto made to pierce O-Yoroi, or great armor. Size can range from tanto or aikuchi length to large wakizashi and have exceptionally wide blades along the unsharpened spine, giving sufficient stiffness and durability for their task. The head of the Japanese Communist Party was assassinated with an O-Yoroi Doshi in the sixties by a Nationalist aligned student who rushed the podium, managing to stab the politician once in the abdomen and was tackled as he attempted a follow-up stab.

  • @rogueart9100
    @rogueart9100 3 роки тому +1

    I used to just keep my japanese blades as a colletion but recently i decided to use one and test out these legendary swords true abilties . I cut some cucumber and through a few oranges into the air and sliced em in half . It was really fun . The sword is always stained afterward and I did oil it but at the kissaki there is a tiny tiny bit of rust so I am going to do my best to remove it and stop cutting fruit . I do not have access to any tameshigiri mats so what do you reccomend I cut . I beleve the blade is 1045 so harder targets might make it bend but never the less that sword is trully epic you showed today .
    I tried taking apart my sword as well but I got both mekugi's out and was scared to hammer the tsuba off lol so I just put the pins back in . Do i need to take apart my sword ?

    • @micahcampa
      @micahcampa 3 роки тому

      it is not Necessary to take apart a sword unless you cut something and it gets in the handle

    • @jaketheasianguy3307
      @jaketheasianguy3307 3 роки тому

      Old newspaper soaked in water is a very good cutting target but they are not for beginner tho since they are harder to cut through than traditional tatami mats. You could always start at water bottles, they didn't represent anything on human body and very easy to cut through even with bad technique but at least you could practice your edge alignement on them (good cut, the bottle stay on the holder. Bad cut, the bottle will fly 4 5 meters across the yard)
      Leaving the sword inside the koshirae is actually bad for it, that's why samurai when they didn't need to use their sword in a long period of time took it apart and put on a plain wooden handle and scabbard called Shirasaya for maintenance purpose

    • @windigo1592
      @windigo1592 3 роки тому

      You used sword the right way don't feel bad it's a weapon not some peace of glass

  • @williammitchell1864
    @williammitchell1864 3 роки тому +3

    Knowing 50 konji is pretty damn good! Knowing that many phrases is quite a lot!👍

  • @sandman17100
    @sandman17100 2 роки тому +1

    Nice Nihonto

  • @HomeIoT-vn9dh
    @HomeIoT-vn9dh Рік тому

    Where did you get the nice sword racks on the wall?

  • @PaulC086
    @PaulC086 Рік тому +1

    Mine is a 400yr old kunihiro fujiwara Edo forged katana. Rated tokubetsu hozon. My other is a very short wakizashi made by kagehira fujiwara which is around 300 years old, rated hozon.

  • @Peekingduck
    @Peekingduck 2 роки тому +2

    Nice sword.
    The Nakago (tang) of the sword you are holding says it was made on a "lucky day" in kugatsu (September), Heisei 4 (1992).
    The present era is known as Reiwa.
    Might be good to make a difference between "blade " and the edge. when you are talking about how the sword sits on the hip.
    The edge is what cuts, the blade the steel that goes in your says (scabbard)

    • @joevaughn7919
      @joevaughn7919 Рік тому

      Can I send you a picture of mine. I have no idea what it reads

  • @way2dumb
    @way2dumb 2 роки тому

    What is that huuge mark half way down the sword? is that a snap repair?

  • @ritz5102
    @ritz5102 6 місяців тому +1

    吉日 reads as kichijitsu or kichinichi meaning one of good/fortunate days define in the calendar. You do anything you think important like marriage on a ‘lucky’ day if you care about 縁起, an ancient concept from India that has been Incorporated in Japanese lifestyle.

  • @gregf8167
    @gregf8167 3 роки тому

    Its a very nice sword to own but looks like its been used instead of preserved so will need a polish which removes metal and cost a lot when done properly by a traditionally trained togishi which is what this sword deserves.
    Choji hamon is clove leaf.
    I like the tsuba too. The hammer marks on the tsuba are to reduce the size of the hole so it fits the blade better.

  • @owenahmu
    @owenahmu 3 роки тому +1

    AMEN BROTHER 🙏🙏🙏

  • @stevenluther4880
    @stevenluther4880 2 роки тому +1

    i noticed when you flashed the blade over the bandana it seemed to dissapear at the right angle, which is another quality to the blade done on purpose...

  • @michaelelbert5798
    @michaelelbert5798 3 роки тому +1

    I just realized why those dents on the guard. Most likely put there to tighten any fitting.

  • @vumo2422
    @vumo2422 9 місяців тому +1

    Blade name: Tamashī no heddā (meaning soul be-header)

  • @JoeSteel1
    @JoeSteel1 3 роки тому

    That's a beautiful piece...so is that a modern genuine Nihonto? What does this smith charge for his work ball park?

    • @thedojomartialarts
      @thedojomartialarts  3 роки тому

      Hello. Not sure of rates nowadays? Might have to find and inquire with a smith online, somehow? This one was in the thousands.