Weapons of Jiu Jitsu: Swords - Basics

Wearing The Sword

The sword used primarily in Jiu Jitsu is the katana though occasionally the shorter bladed wakizashi is also used. Both of these weapons have slightly curved blades, and when they are worn, are worn on the opposite hip to the sword hand with the slicing edge of the blade lying uppermost.

The tsuba is positioned so that it lies next to the knot of the obi. The saya is held firmly between the two bands of the obi. The sageo may be used to ensure a firm attachment of the saya to the obi, but the pactice of the Samurai was to move the saya during the drawing of the sword the sageo being used to tie his kimono sleeves out of the way. If you are using a bokken, this will not typically have a scabbard, but if the overlap of the obi at the small of the back is brought around to the side where the scabbard would be (this is easily done with a couple of fingers), the bokken can be slid into the cross as shown in the diagram. Up inside the outer band over the inner band, then under the inner band, and over the outer band.

Finally you should always try and keep your off hand on the scabbard of the sword. Place the hand on the upper end and place the thumb over the tsuba. This means that when bowing to someone, the sword will not slide out onto the floor leaving you unarmed.

Drawing The Sword

The art of drawing a sword is Iai Do, and is an entire martial art in itself. In the very basics of sword work, it is enough to focus on drawing the sword smoothly and quickly into the first strike or into a ready position. With a long sword it often helps if you turn your hips away from the direction you are drawing the sword as you are doing it. This will help you get enough distance in your draw to get the tip of the blade out of the scabbard.

In drawing the sword, you should try to follow the curvature of the blade. For a straight bladed sword draw in a straight line. For a curved blade sword draw in an arc the same shape as the curve of the blade. It will also help if you slowly breathe out in a smooth continuous breath as you draw the sword. This will stop you tensing and jamming or jerking the sword in the scabbard.

Traditionally if the sword is in its saya, then the saya is first slid forwards in front of the obi knot in preparation, and then for the drawing of the weapon it is slid back into position in the obi.

Holding a Katana

A katana is typically held in both hands with the right most hand nearest the blade. There should be about a finger's distance between the index finger of the right hand and the tsuba. The left hand should grasp the lower part of the hilt away from the blade. The left hand's little finger should lie just beneath the hilt of the sword as though supporting the entire sword.

When preparing to strike, the hand is open, the katana being gripped only by the left hand's little finger and the thumbs & palms of both hands. As the strike is made, both hands grasp the sword fingers curling into place as the strike is made - like wringing a wet cloth.

This gripping strategy may at first feel uncomfortable, but like a proper randori judo grip where only a few fingers are used until the attack is made, this allows you to move the sword in a more relaxed and free manner and put the necessary force into the strike at the end when it is needed. This also means that your hands will be able to hold the sword comfortably for a much greater length of time.

For more information about swords in Jiu Jitsu take a look at the swords page.

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