Wearing Katanas Edge Up to Stay Sharp?

#katana #tachi #samurai #sword #martialarts

[@EASY4V1]

You do what's necessary in battle, then go to your blacksmith to get yelled at.

[@goosyloose4115]

😂

[@Drebolaskan]

You'd think he'd be happier to see more repeat customers

[@grizzlyowlbear3538]

Ah, yes. The Tanjiro approach. Survive by breaking your sword in half and get chased by your blacksmith with a knife.

[@theduke7539]

​@Drebolaskan As a gunsmith fulfilling the same role a bladesmith would have. We do not appreciate seeing people ruin our hard work.

[@magma_man750]

The good old Guts tactic.

[@gantar11]

This sharpness argument is more of a modern - Edo period and later - notion. In earlier periods (namely Sengoku), the main reason why uchigatana started to be worn edge-up and fixed into the obi (sash) was that it is anatomically easier to unsheathe it with one hand (and as a plus, you can do a downwards cut in the same motion). Due to this, uchigatana was also commonly shorter than tachi. The same wearing method was done earlier with daggers, for the same reason. On the battlefield, polearm users seemed to prefer this method of drawing as it allowed them to quickly get out their sidearm if their polearm or reach was compromised. This was the foundation for the technique of drawing - battojutsu - that later in the Edo period evolved into a whole art of intricate unsheathing techniques - iaido/iaijutsu. In addition to the above, edge-up and edge-down largely depended on the individual's combat role. Edge-up was more common for warriors on foot, while edge-down on horseback (again due to body-mechanical reasons of unsheathing).

[@dumbleking5172]

BOOST!

[@FalconWindblader]

When it comes to ease of unsheathing the blade, wearing it edge up actually makes it HARDER to draw, not easier, & that's precisely the point. During the periods when the katana, or still known as tachi at those times, was still very much a cavalry weapon, they were worn blade down & properly secured, as that was not only the way that made it easier for riders to ride, as the blade won't constantly knock against their legs, it also actually allowed the riders to draw their blades with one hand & at a moment's notice. The tachi was after all, a battlefield weapon & not a status symbol for the most part. The uchigatana, however, was for the most part, a status symbol worn almost everywhere daily instead of a battlefield weapon, & you don't want the samurai being able to draw their weapons easily outside of combat. Anyone who had even dabbled with battojutsu or iaido knows that it's incredibly awkward to draw the blade with the edge up, without first using the other hand to adjust the position of the scabbard, almost flipping it upside down, & pull it in the opposite direction as the blade is drawn. It's even considered bad form to do a batto cut with just one hand, regardless if the blade is tucked in the obi.

[@austinjeffries5741]

Neither. You push the scabbard back and draw after it's semiclear. Watch Let's Go Shogo. He is a Japanese man who gives tips and knowledge about living in Japan. He is a Iaido practitioner so he knows what he is talking about.

[@robinswords]

I'm trying to isolate specifically to the interaction of blade to scabbard. Pushing the scabbard back still means there's blade travel. The question is where it contacts during the drawing process - whichever method may be used.

[@austinjeffries5741]

@@robinswords You would have to ask Shogo specifically. I want to say spine but I stopped practicing long LONG ago. Shogo is pretty nice. He will likely answer if he hasn't in a video already. Especially to another YTer

[@davidwooden3878]

Shogo is pretty cool 😎

[@johnevergreen8019]

I love Shogo so helpful

[@austinjeffries5741]

@@robinswords I got his YT name wrong sorry. It's Let's Ask Shogo. Brain slow go brrrrr sometimes

[@arseniygpotapov]

Training Iaido and we keep it upwards, as it is easier to make a cut across the top of the head. Saya (scabbard) is also placed loosely across your waist, so you can twist the position and draw it from any angle. Actually one of the first moves you learn are a side draw. I believe the cut on the head (the reason to keep the edge up) is prioritised due to it’s definite deadliness

[@itskarl7575]

Nuki tsuke is typically not done as a finishing move, but to get the blade out as quickly as possible and force your opponent back. It's a setup for kiri oroshi. The reason the sword is worn edge up is first and foremost because this is the only way to wear it comfortably in your obi. Tachi, worn edge down, is not worn _in_ the obi, but suspended from it - so it hangs further down. But also, as far as Iai is concerned, edge up is by far the easiest position to perform nuki tsuke from - especially the horizontal version. Unless nuki tsuke cuts upwards (in which you sometimes turn the saya before starting the draw), the first part of it lets the spine rest against the saya - because you wear it edge up. And up to this point, there is no chance of cutting into the saya, since you were wearing the sword edge up. Only once your right arm is at full extension do you align the saya to whatever direction the cut is going to be. When nuki tsuke is cutting downwards, you have to move the saya up anyway (because you can't do it with the tsuka pointing straight forward), so it wouldn't really matter if the edge was initially up or down.

[@bcharms10000]

Came here to say this lol

[@Bomx17]

There is a channel dedicated to japanese swordmanship called "let's ask shogo" which answers a lot of those questions

[@isumkitchens5329]

Unfortunately ya boi Shogo said he was gonna go go and stopped uploading things consistently. I hope they're doing well over there and hope they pick back up on the video making, and Shogo did upload a video explaining why but even still its unfortunate for us content nerds

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

I think it’s more about it rattling around as you walk. The tachi was worn edge down, but wasn’t carried every day, but the katana was worn every day and you walked around with it, so it would receive more wear and tear if carried edge down, afaik.

[@reddie1705]

My headcanon is avoiding blade damage at all costs; just like not putting a gun barrel-down on the ground, as you pull the blade if it's downwards you can possibly nick something and ruin it's integrity whereas pulling it with the blade up avoids possible damage.

[@exander3636]

Hello Robin, excellent question! In most schools that do Iaijutsu cuts, The cut does not actually begin until after the sword has left the scabbard. The scabbard is withdrawn rapidly while the sword largely remains in place. Once the scabbard is clear of the blade, the cut will begin by using the already begun motion of the hips and body. When drawing a tachi, you use the same technique employed for drawing sabers before the Sam Brown belt was invented; one hand braces the scabbard the other draws the sword. So in both cases the spine of the blade is what contacts the saya.

[@Parapsychotic89]

I had heard it's so you can smoothly draw upwards and into a downward slash. I might be wrong, been wrong once before. Just the one time, though.

[@redwolf9455]

The ash of war on the Moonveil in Elden Ring does this

[@DeathssynProductions]

From my knowledge of iaido. Most draw cut techniques are pull not push cuts, the damage comes from the speed the blade travels not the power you push through it. Also, there are techniques that draw cut edge up or edge down. Hell, one technique requires you to secretly flip from edge up or down to surprise your opponent

[@wewatchmovies4446]

I think the most pertinent question is in two parts: what is the shape of the inside of the scabbard, why isn't the inside of the scabbard shaped so that the blade is not dulled regardless - via a wedge shape that prevents edge contact with wood?

[@taiyoqun]

I was thinking the same thing. My guess is any pinching on the blade that could restrict it's movement could also wedge it stuck. Maybe more of a stepped shape would avoid that (like, when you carve the sheath in two pieces, carve a deeper groove on the spine side and a thinner one on the edge side), that way only a thin corner would ride against the blade instead of a slope with more friction. But it would still probably wedge itself. After all, the sword is literally made to embed itself into things when you do that movement, and blades with such a low angle tend to get stuck in things. I think the real answer is that material hardness exists, and if your scabbard is harder than your blade and dulls it that easily, you might as well either give up on your sword or get a scabbard that isn't made out of sharpening stones. I'm a woodworker, I understand exactly how easily blades get dulled against wood (we sharpen almost daily), but I would still leave my chisels is a wooden box because I understand the box will give in faster, and it still protects them a lot from things that will actually dull them. Basically, if your scabbard dulls your katana so easily you're worrying about it as much as people on the internet do, you might as well fight with the scabbard, since it'll apparently dull your opponent's katana when you clash

[@peterslaby9782]

Tachi were worn with the edge down because they were generally used on horeseback as a last ditch weapon and it didn’t interfere with shooting a bow (archery was traditionally the highest martial art, especially during the Genpei wars). Out of armor swords were being worn thrust through the obi with the edge up. This facilitated the fastest possible draw stroke and an entire martial art unto itself (iai-jutsu). By the Edo period lots of Tachi were being cut down into Katana as dueling styles prevailed in the peace following the Jidai-geki. It has nothing to do with sharpness. In fact, most Samurai of any means had multiple blades with at least one being at the sharpener more often than not. When drawn the saya is pulled along the back of the blade while the right hand draws. It’s important to remember that the Tachi and Katana are as distant form each other as the medieval broadsword and a rapier.

[@Hachizukatenzo]

Exactly.

[@tealeaf9260]

Thanks for these clarifications! I had wondered about why tachi were worn edge down for a while, but never dug into it. Very, very minor, but, for those with little familiarity with Japanese history that might want to look up terms, I believe Jidai-geki ("period dramas") was accidentally typed when I am guessing Sengoku Jidai was intended.

[@theridonculesknights]

Last thing I heard was it allows you to sheath it more safely without looking, being able to feel for the spine without worrying so much for the edge?

[@Theorof]

The scabbard (saya) is controlled by the left hand. It's a technique called "sayabiki" where you pull the saya back as you push the sword forward. The exact details depend on the cut you are going to perform.

[@TheAngryAsianAnimations]

I've heard that it was partly to preserve the edge and that even Europeans and Americans would sometimes adopt a similar style with their sabers. But the primary reason is how they are worn. The predecessor to the katana is the tachi. It was much longer, worn much lower, and had its blade facing down making it easy to draw even on horseback. The katana was a much shorter sword and one that would be worn on a day to day basis as a show of stature. Note that Japanese would sit kneeling down. So they wore their blade REALLY high on their hip and so they adopted a style that allowed them to draw from there simply by extending their arms forward. I will add to this. I have also heard that it also depended on the circumstance. The katana was only worn blade up when out of armor. Basically as a symbol of stature as mentioned above. But when in armor, the katana would be worn blade down. Sure enough, there are many images of samurai and it seems that the ones clad in armor had their katana worn blade facing down. Adding one more layer, I have heard the 'blade up' approach was only a later addition during the Edo period, IE the time of peace, IE when wearing the katana to show off your wealth and stature become popular. And all three of these do coincide with one another. The katana was worn straight up when out of armor on the day to day because in civilian dress the sword was worn really high on the hip but worn blade down when in armor. But in the Edo period the idea of 'katana must be blade up' exploded along with its romanticization and 'soul of the warrior' schtick.

[@theirontitan]

As well as to show off the maker's mark which is on the outside face of the tang when worn blade up. It was supposed to be shameful to the maker and the samurai to hide the name of thier sword maker.

[@n3al.8]

L

[@n3al.8]

P p9

[@n3al.8]

P

[@n3al.8]

P

[@plentyofpaper]

I don't think it has anything to do with preservation of the edge. It's about the type of cut you may want to make while drawing the sword. Of the 33 Iaido kata and 10 kendo kata I've learned, there is a single uppercut (the first cut of kesa giri, 5th kata in seitei Iaido.) Uppercuts are not even allowed in modern kendo matches. For that one, specific kata, you flip the saya to be edge down just before drawing. That aligns the blade with the trajectory of the cut. Uppercuts are more difficult. You have to reach further than if you draw the blade upwards, and you're fighting gravity. That's why they aren't used much. As far as whether the edge is contacting the saya while drawing... it happens, especially with kesa giri and vertical draws. So I guess there's some merit to keeping the edge away from the saya, but this is because nobody has perfect technique. Ideally, you draw the sword with the spine against the saya, then just as the sword is leaving the saya, you pull the sword and saya apart, almost like snapping a stick, to get a counterbalance and maybe add a little momentum to the cut.

[@gavinhogberg]

I like hearing Clark Kent talk about Katanas

[@foderator8277]

as someone who practice "quick drawing" katana with actual sharp blade (not iaito) the main goal is to avoid any contact between the Edge & Scabbard u could Cut the scabbard in half if you're doing it wrong when drawing the sword, especially if the edge is facing-down since it's naturally make the edge sliding and cutting the scabbard from inside only let the "spine" sliding in the scabbard

[@dermotshaw5722]

The sword being used here is a tachi used for horseback and worn edge down so as not to contact the horse and makes it easier to draw, and are also displayed edge down

[@neoram87]

I think it is worn edge up to prevent the edge scraping across the scabbard during travel or everyday movements. As the drawing motion I am curious too.

[@apairofsteeltoedboots4729]

With drawing motion, you can angle the saya for different quick draw angles in iaido, a style using quick draw attacks.

[@wea69420]

I believe the sword is held pretty tight in the scabbard by that brass collet right past the guard (I forget the proper name at the moment). There shouldn't be much movement, like in any other well fitted scabbard.

[@misadate8688]

Now it's defo just traditions and all that bullshit, but originally it may very well just been the ease of carry, it's easier and more intuitive to put the katana through th belt blade up, and with the curvature the tip will lean towards the ground, as oppose to balls

[@skylarsobczak8040]

I imagine this was just the more comfortable way of wearing kitanas since tachis, conversely, are worn blade down.

[@thebteamgamingchannel5701]

I heard it was so you didn't accidentally slice your fingers off when drawing the sword or re-sheathing it.

[@Rynewulf]

but then how come the earlier tachi style swords are the opposite way round? and what about all those double edged swords?

[@thebteamgamingchannel5701]

@@Rynewulf no idea. I'm no sword expert, just relaying what I've heard because I was always curious about it myself.

[@Rynewulf]

@@thebteamgamingchannel5701 fair enough, I guess its like when people ask if blood grooves are real

[@dominicballinger6536]

I've been trained somewhat in using katana. I think the more important reason for going edge up would be sheathing the blade. When you put the blade back in, you run it along your hand while you hold the scabbard. Then, you drop the tip in and sheath. Can't do that edge down, or you'd cut your hand.

[@juanpardo9547]

The idea is to kind of draw and have the sword “float” while the scabbard is pulled back, minimal blade contact.

[@tg0390]

you cannot float it when under stress, it is not 100% proof

[@casualcamsh]

As I understood it, the reason it was worn edge up was that it could be drawn and immediately swung in one fluid motion whereas it would require an extra motion from drawing if it were worn edge down like a tachi.

[@Felix-lf9ng]

Solution, have a dual angled sharpening stone at the opening of the scabbard so that as you draw and make contact with the blade it runs it along a sharpening stone and sharpens it while it drags.

[@Ds117]

My dude do you work in a museum or are you from the 1600s

[@crazydudeofcrazyness]

It's about wrist geometry. The proper draw technique for Iai cutting or attacking begins specifically by having the scabbard projected forward slightly, with one hand on it to withdraw it at the same time as drawing the blade. This way you move the scabbard and blade apart at the same time reducing draw time amd speeding the draw. The wrist position from this form helps to protect the hand as the form changes how your entire arm holds the sword.

[@frstyby9886]

There's something so cool about a man in a suit wielding a katana.

[@lavieestlenfer]

Made up nonsense. The wear from the scabbard is nothing compared to the wear from actually cutting into armor or bone or bamboo.

[@danser_theplayer01]

I think it's actually something battle related instead of just symbolism or wear. They also had a second mini catana so maybe the curves would interfere if you wear it edge down.

[@toastthemost2473]

The reason a katana is worn edge up is because thats how it naturally hangs due to the curve of the blade. It's also safer to resheathe and easier to draw edge up. When I cut on the draw, I typically turn the edge depending on if Im going for an upwards, sidewards, or downward slash. Turn the edge opposite of the direction youre swinging, pull the katana straight out, and then arc when the last few inches are about to come out.

[@melopuss375]

Oh thank god someone mentioned it. Every single time someone mentions it my brain is just screaming BASIC PHYSICS

[@uchihaavenger2482]

No the katana doesn’t naturally hang edge up, if you hold a katana edge up over your bed and drop it it will try to roll edge down and if you hold it kashira and kissaki and let it roll, it will roll to edge down, the reason its worn edge up is because it makes it easier to draw and sheath the sword

[@toastthemost2473]

@@uchihaavenger2482 You're wrong. Try holding it by the sageo (the strings you secure the katana with). It will 100% rest edge up. Put two fingers anywhere along the middle third (where the sword is tied off and rests on the belt, and it will rest edge up. Why even make such an uninformed comment? Also, your name makes me think youre probably a mall ninja. Js. Also, I've been swinging swords of all types for about 20 years now. You absolutely will not convince me a katana doesnt naturally hang from a sword belt edge up.

[@uchihaavenger2482]

@@toastthemost2473 thats why its edge up, if you hold it from the edges and see what happens

[@uchihaavenger2482]

@@toastthemost2473 also dont be so quick to resort to insults its not a good look for you

[@maxima3572]

The actual reasons, other than tradition, are often to do with the draw itself. The drawing cut is a surprisingly effective and fast attack and can either be horizontal or vertical, because the katana has play on the belt and can be tilted a bit more sideways Edit: often when doing a drawing cut, you push against the spine as it begins the tilting motion in an art. Pushing extends your arm and extends the time it takes to attack

[@The_Wookiee]

Never push the edge till clear. Knock out the wood shavings after a lot of practice and you quickly figure it out.

[@tg0390]

and got injured

[@The_Wookiee]

@@tg0390 Exactly, once the wood is gone, the hand is next.

[@davidwooden3878]

Thanks Robin, for asking the REAL questions

[@00RV00]

Hi @robinswords, most iaido schools teach to wear it facing up but the actual draw is with the saya rotated 90' so the blade faces outwards. Also they teach to not move the sword to the front but rather to move the saya back. First cut is usually sideways with the tip of the blade in the middle of the throat, this is only iaido kata of course. Love the channel!

[@fitemeirlm8069]

Regarding all the people talking about sayabiki - please remember that some people/schools do use saguri, so sayabiki is not always a major feature of battō. Anyway, re: preserving the edge, the point is to keep the edge from the crap that accumulates in the saya over time to try to avoid edge oxidation. This is especially a problem with folks who still insist on using vegetable oils or who use too much oil, don't clean the blade properly, clean it too often/not enough, etc. Either way, though, stuff like regular use and things used in manufacturing the fittings, like urushi, that aren't kind to blades are going to have a negative effect. Regardless of what you do, the koshirae will start to cloud the polish over time. Wearing the edge up is just one way to help keep things good and functional over a long period of time. Another thing is proper storage. This is why shirasaya are so useful - they're not finished with any harsh varnishes, and they're glued together with sokui, or rice glue. This gives the blade a safer environment, and the glue allows the shirasaya to be relatively easily broken apart and cleaned if you’re familiar with how to do that properly. Also the reason you *really* don't want to try to use shirasaya to fight - purely for storage. As for the last question, in the school I practice, the part of the sword that touches the saya in the draw is either the spine or the flat of the blade, never the edge. Edge damage over time is going to likely end with you splitting the saya and slicing yourself open, so you have to keep it in mind during training to definitely not let that edge dig in to the sheath.

[@danielmacgregor6245]

I just did a few test iais while thinking about this, and while I definitely feel like the spine is pressing against the mouth of the scabbard, it's possible that the edge near the tip is also dragging against the top while I draw.

[@moist139]

Bro's ready for an interview 😂

[@brennanhuffman4108]

When I was taking taekwondo and was training with the katana, they taught to have the edge down and when you drew the weapon you would twist the scabbard to about a 45° to 90° with the edge point out away from you and as you draw it out you're Appling presser on the scabbard away from your body and the blade is being pulled out along its spine. The tip might scrape at the end of the full draw though. When you go to put it back in place the spine of the blade on the webbing between your pointer finger and thumb so you can guide the tip of the blade back to the entrance of the scabbard.

[@Dangerwiggles]

Same twist is applied if blade is worn facing up.

[@brennanhuffman4108]

True, just saying how I was taught but in the end you're drawing out the blade with the edge pointing out away from you.

[@TheAvidian]

When the handle side is against the scabbard on the draw, the point edge could still be pressed against the scabbard inside, so the main cutting point is what’s being damaged (if the scabbard is damaging it) so drawing with the handle side of the blade against the scabbard so your cutting side spine is pressed against the scabbard

[@viciousclam2417]

They wear it edge up because that’s the most comfortable way to wear a sword in traditional Japanese clothing. Wearing it edge down makes the draw more awkward because the katana was worn much higher on the waist relative to western swords. In terms of edge retention on the draw, I don’t think there’s a significant difference. The advantage to edge retention from wearing a sword edge up is that the spine will be in contact with the scabbard more often than the edge when you’re just doing your day to day activities. Not all samurai trained every day or used their swords everyday, and those who did train often were aware that they weren’t very likely to use their sword in most situations. We know this because katana became popular during times of peace, and they were made shorter than swords in the past more for convenience than effectiveness in battle. That’s also why all these draw techniques were popping up, the samurai assumed they’d be attacked while they were going about some other business. We actually don’t have a lot of records about different draw techniques before this period because in the past they would just have their weapons out preemptively, and it likely wasn’t necessary to practice fast draw techniques for a battlefield setting.

[@ShiningDarknes]

The answer is the scabbard actually rests better in the sarashi blade-up. Blade-down causes the scabbard to be more prone to resting such that the scabbard ends up vertical if you take your hand off it. It literally doesn’t matter for the draw which way the blade faces due to a small wrist movement flipping the blade the right way. You clean and hone the blade later any time you draw it anyway so the very minor dulling that happens drawing the blade into the edge of the scabbard doesn’t matter.

[@Soulssl4yer]

On foot Katana is worn with the edge up for comfort and you just rotate a little bit the blade when you have to cut. Instead, it is worn with the edge down when you are onto the horse

[@Noldrak0]

For a iai cut, the sword edge facing up allows your hands to be quicker to be in place. Coming under the handle gives you the ability, to grab from a safer position, while edge down your hand has to come all the way over the sword to the other side of the body. May seem like a nonsensical issue but if we’re talking fractions of a second between who draws and cuts first it matters. However, this only applies to drawing and cutting in one motion, for just drawing the sword it doesn’t matter.

[@richskov5040]

In proper form you do not begin the cut until the scabbard is almost entirely removed. The holding arm draws the scabbard back around 65-100% depending on arm length, flexibility, etc. If necessary you remove the blad forward and begin the cut only after you've lost scabbard contact. Can be difficult to pull off effectively yet that's the traditional form of iado and kendo

[@jacobpowers352]

The tachi, the precursor to katana, were worn edge down and on a belt held by suspension rather than tucked due to their length and the ease of drawing from horse back. Katana come from around the 1500s during the onset of the Sengoku Jidai when mounted combat was losing favor and thus the way it was drawn and worn had to change for ease of fighting on foot.

[@DrozGodhammer]

also, seeing a man in a suit with a sword gives me that Kingsman vibes... so cool!!!

[@kemposnake7592]

I was told that the twisting wrist action on a draw strike with the blade facing up makes the cut more extreme at the apex of the swing.

[@ryancampbell8860]

Okay, I absolutely love your videos but I am also nominating and voting you to be cast as the next Superman.

[@thatluckyclover793]

Just preservation of the scabbard by making the edge not grind against the scabbard when not in use

[@jacobgordon]

Drawing the blade facing up also allows your arm to be less of a target/more protected. (When done right)

[@aristosachaion_]

I'm not an expert, but I have practiced drawing with a katana before, and based on that anecdotal evidence, my opinion is that it's based largely on how it's worn and the drawing process itself. Most probably don't know this, but properly and efficiently drawing a katana also includes pulling the scabbard from the blade. I find that following the curvature of the blade comes naturally in the drawing process, and when combined with your left hand pulling the scabbard back as you draw, means that the edge rarely touches in the scabbard.

[@tg0390]

that is very true, for one that is not an expert in practicing iado or budo

[@justinsimpson7657]

They’d wear them blade up because if they’d go into a place of business or someone’s home with the blade facing down, it was a sign they intended to have to use it or that they had bad intentions. Blade facing up is basically a samurais way of showing respect and peace

[@someguywithablueshirt4373]

Incorrect, the orientation of the sword, blade on the left or the blade on the right, determined whether it was a sign of battle.

[@rehwr]

Nah, man. I believe it had more to do with where you were wearing it. Directly in the Obi, it's easier to draw edge up. If it's worn lower, it's easier to draw edge down.

[@justdoinmything]

The reason why has some to do with ceremony I believe. however ( and it's been a while since I used to learn this martial art) when drawing out and up (blade down) it's easy to telegraph what you're doing where with minimal experience I can go into a cut better from any angle other than out and up. It also helps in sheathing.

[@ryanpowell266]

It would dull the edge if you're drawing and storing it edge down but I would say the biggest reason for carrying edge up is to avoid cutting your scabbard, it's light wood that can and will eventually be cut through if you draw edge down. The last thing you want is to be holding your scabbard while drawing your sword only to realize the edge cut through the scabbard and you just ran the entirety of your blade through your closed fist. The edge may still have slight contact with the scabbard but the edge facing up minimizes that compared to drawing edge down.

[@supervegito8340]

So the way we did it was we would turn the scabbard so the spine faces us and then push the scabbard away after being about a quarter out. It creates a swift cut in a second. A technique we took from iaido to kendo and in some cases we used with German longsword for getting a longsword into a quick blocking position

[@marshallrobinson1019]

Thumb flick to draw as the waist turns away from the blade. This assists forward momentum as you step

[@rehwr]

From the artwork I've seen, if they are wearing directly in the Obi belt, its edge up, but, in the Japanese equivalent of a frog or scabbard holder while wearing armor its edge down. And there's usually a dagger or short sword worn in front of the torso when the sword is carried edge down.

[@chocolatedumdum2]

So it depends on your school. In our school, muso jikiden we apply no pressure to the first 2/3 of the sword on the draw. Then on the last 1/3 we apply pressure to the spine, which would run the edge into the scabbard. We do this to create a springing effect and add power to any cuts of the draw. It’s the same principle in all three draws… the direction comes during the last third when you turn your left wrist. This minimizes exposure of a tell.

[@abhmmh8892]

Wrapping your edge in cotton to preserve it when cutting

[@MrZigzter]

Albeit an observation but a well fitting scabbard will contact the arch of the bevel and not the edge. Also, regardless of the resting position, the blade will pivot in the scabbard when drawn and push the edge towards the scabbard, either at the top or bottom of the edge, hence the necessity of a well fitting scabbard with sufficient clearance from the blades edge.

[@ethanbrandt8617]

From what i learned about draw cuts, you're supposed to draw along the spine until the sword is out of the sheath and then push into the cut

[@tg0390]

very clear concept!

[@philswaim392]

Id be happy to talk more about it with ya and show you in a zoom session what im talking about. Edge down was more so when swords were worn suspended from the hip "sageto" style. Up until the 1600s samurai trained eith the edge down. Then armor and warfar changed and they began wearing them edge up. You can still draw the sword edge down but it is called a reverse draw. Also when drawing, depending on which school you are in, you push the saya forward to meet your hand. Then once you have gripped the tuska of the sword you pull the saya back and the action on your wrist pulls the kisaki the rest of the way out and also begins the cutting action. The blade up allows for versatility and subtlety in the draw. Will it be horizontal? Diagnoal up? Diagonal down? Target the head? The belly, chest? Wrists? Or just be drawn to command distance? When it edge down theres few options available without telegraphinh your intentions.

[@AeolethNionian]

When drawing a katana you're actually pulling the scabbard off of the blade. The cut comes once it's free. This is easier with edge up. It's also easier to wear edge up. If you want to cut at a different angle you can twist the scabbard but as I understand it it's easier to hit wrist and head in the standard way.

[@wepunchdragons3733]

When you draw, the saya should follow the hand out until it makes a "stop" gesture. Your arm is extended fully. Then as you pull the saya back off of the blade as your grip closes to naturally turn the sword into whatever cut you are doing. Your hips should turn at the very end to help the tip clear the koiguchi.

[@kennantjessavi7648]

Tachi(s) are more pleasing visually than katana(s). That's is one lovely tachi

[@rubyblooddemonking]

Tachi were worn blade down, uchigatana blade up, katana also blade up. Horseback combat with the tachi meant it often needed to be drawn with one hand, and it was easier to do blade down in armor which restricted upwards arm movement, uchigatanas and katanas were often carried blade up to prevent wear on the edge as well as being worn with either lighter armor or no armor as personal defense weapons, so they carried them blade up. An armor clad samurai would wear an uchigatana and a katana blade down as well. However unarmored patrol and generally walking around, would wear down the blade, as it was worn every minute of every day just being a samurai as an instantly identifiable badge of your station. Its a case of "this is fine because we are in the middle of a battle" v.s. "we need to take better care of our equipment when not in a battle". Wearing it blade up was kind of their version of cleaning and polishing your millitary boots - not neccissary but indicates discipline and cleanliness. Samurai wearing the blade facing down on occasion would cause worry over people who thought conflict would immiedately occur where the man was going. However, a tachi like the one in your hands worn in a normal kimono would still be worn blade down by design, cause if the leather and rope system hooking the sheath to the belt instead of a cord tie.

[@AabluedragonAH]

I answered this question by drawing it myself: edge up allows you to make a cut in a much smaller space, which is precisely the point of an uchigatana (indoor blade)

[@OSleeperTactical]

My understanding is its more about storage and carry than the draw and the weapon can be rotated prior to draeing to facilitate whicever directions cut you want to draw into

[@therightknee3269]

Another benefit of edge up in the scabbard is that you don’t cut through the wooden scabbard when drawing multiple times.

[@ronin8344]

Well as an iaido trainee i can say that we are not drawing only with our right hand and most of the unsheating is usualy done by the left hand. So the left hand is pulling the scaberd down so only the back of the blade is touching the scaberd. Dame thing when i am unsheathing with edge down. I think the uchi katanas are held edge up because they were caried around more and the cinstant contact between the edge and saya can damage both. The tachi was caried mostly in batle, while the uchi katana, being a symbol, was caried around all of the time and not only in battle

[@twograves693]

I love how he wears suits in all of these

[@kongeethegod]

So usually with the katana you have the scabbard a little bit forward. You rest the blade. Pull your hip back and glide it out. Then you move your arm and pull the rest of the blade out and that motion together helps with the edge making minimal contact with the scabbard so it's more of pulling the scabbard off of the sword instead of pulling the sword out Hope that helps

[@xxdemisucksxx]

Proper technique is where the edge does not rub against the scabbard. The change in wearing came from a change in the general techniques during the period. also some techniques in iai dictate that you pull the scabbard back while you draw. All in all, the edge isn't supposed to make contact

[@naturalgas1180]

Something so intimidating about a guy in a suit professionally handling a sword.

[@jordanstevens787]

In my experience, typically you move the way the scabbard is held based on where you’re going to cut. If you’re cutting upward the blade faces down, if you’re cutting to the side you turn it to the side. In my personal opinion, the main reason why you hold the katana with the blade facing upward is because it’s traditional and almost nothing more.

[@PhantoRoyce]

Between the suits,the way he speaks,his extensive collection of authentic weapons and armor,I can only assume this guy is actually a rich noble showing off his families armory

[@zipper125snowputty]

The edge is always going to hit the inside of the scabbard due to simple physics. If you push the spine into the scabbard the edge will touch inside of the scabbard further down the blade en vice versa

[@Driftingsiax]

also because of leverage, thespine contacting the front of the scabbard would press the tip of the blade into the scabbard.

[@josephjohnson3097]

The edge position has more to do with mounted vs unmounted warriors. Even the uchikatana was worn edge down at times. As for cutting on the draws, it is the last bit that would risk drawing against the saya. For example, in some kata, you rotate your left hand last second to change the direction of your drawing cut. Ideally, you want to practice so the cutting-edge doesn't contact anything on the way out. Such is the minutiae of iaido.

[@LMF1716]

To my knowledge the idea is that when traveling you'll be bouncing up and down a lot and there's a bit of wiggle room in the scabbard. So placing it spine down reduced the amount of times the edge hits the scabbard, making it less likely to blunt over time. It could also be purely aesthetic or tradition since I'm sure we all know how that particular culture feels about tradition

[@vexusxenos4188]

It's because of draw speed into a readied stance for fighting. If you had the katana blade down, when you draw it you must then flip the sword sideways to set yourself up in a readied stance for fighting. While if the sword sits on its spine in the scabbard you may draw up and down readying the blade at nearly double the speed, it's just basic sword at rest to combat ready position timing. A lot of Japanese fighting was about speed and nothing else, so there was a large emphasis on getting your blade out to be able to counter some ones oncoming blade, or to quickly get your self into a combat ready stance as fast as possible.

[@EinsamPibroch278]

The most Dapper Katana Wielder. 🌚🌝

[@ElectricNox]

When it comes to old japan things, a lot of reasons for doing things certain ways are tradition. Especially since katana are godly objects, handling them very specifically to respect them are is simply a must to anyone who takes those things seriously

[@illitero]

Thanks to leverage and a curved blade, unless you're somehow PERFECTLY EVEN on the draw, you're always going to be dragging a portion of the blade edge as you move the sword through the scabbard; and that changes based on the angle at which you pull (upward or downward). So if you orient it blade-edge upward and draw downward against the spine, you're leveraging the blade-edge further down to drag on the way out.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

I'm definitely not a trained Japanese swordsman but many saya (scabbards) do have reinforcements, often of horn, at the koiguchi (opening of scabbard) which I have read is to help prevent the tachi or katana from cutting through the saya. Because no matter how you practice in real combat things can & will sometimes go wrong if for no other reason than stress. So while one may ideally try to not cut into the saya clearly the potential is there & the saya had protection built in as a fail-safe.

[@DrozGodhammer]

the sword was worn edge up because its natural curve would have helped it staying on their sash. worn with its curve down (edge downward), it will try to shift to a more stable curve up position. think about a curved wire. it is easier to let it rest on your finger curve up. try resting it with its curve down, and it falls to a more stable position (curve up) also, it is easier to draw the sword in an upward arc, than a downward one. though sometimes they shift the sword sideways to draw with a horizontal cutting motion.

[@GaMeRfReAkLIVE]

You wear and store the katana "edge up" so that the thinner metal isnt in constant contact with the wood of the saya, the can build moisture, and will generally cause your sword to dull faster. With proper maintenance in the modern day its really of little issue though

[@V2ULTRAKill]

Thats the poor modern explanation When looking at historical texts the reasons for the blade facing up are very different

[@GaMeRfReAkLIVE]

@@V2ULTRAKill then enlighten us. Go on and share

[@V2ULTRAKill]

@@GaMeRfReAkLIVE alright Reason one It kept the saya straight while walking so you didnt need to constantly exert force to keep it in line It was easier to kneel to eat properly It allowed a samurai to carry a second sword with less issue The blade was drawn faster in a smoother stroke

[@GaMeRfReAkLIVE]

@@V2ULTRAKill ok and so all of that negates the way that moisture reacts with with wood and metal? So because those things can be true it means that the health of blade was just disregarded?

[@GaMeRfReAkLIVE]

@@V2ULTRAKill samurai removed the katana while eating and only kept the wakazashi on them at all times leaving the katana as a status symbol to be carried around and rarely used during the Edo.

[@kyosukeplays]

If my weapon is not intended to be used its blade is faced up. But for my strike on draw: You pull the blade out of sheathe a slight bit to break the seal. Keep the scabbard behind you so they aren’t aware of your actions though you are in a ready stance. Then in my case the blade is faced down scabbard hugging the spine of the sword. Then at the time of strike do I draw back the scabbard then move the katana. Probably not what is taught but it’s what I have trained.

[@Geaxuce]

But when doing a draw cut there's a lever effect whereby the spine towards the hilt will be against the sheath and the cutting edge would glide against the wood. It's because the draw is in an arch. Holding the cutting edge upward while drawing straight outward wont have this effect or will have it to a minimal degree.

[@orenmontgomery8250]

I think comfort and maneuverability is the reason it is worn blade up. It takes up a little less space pointing towards the ground then outwards.

[@wraithship]

I mean, simple lever principles mean that when you draw the blade the edge is still impacting the scabbard, just deep inside the scabbard where you can't see it. Upsidedown the edge would be preserved more between draws by resting on the spine though.

[@seanewing204]

Thank you, Mr. Kent, but you can't fool me with a meager pair of glasses.

[@DRUBZTheBlazeOfArt]

Spine along the scabbard. As the tip is curved the way it is, pulling along the spine will clear the tip from the scabbard quicker. Drawing cut from my perspective is about clearing the scabbard from the blade asap, not the other way around. From draw you can either use the motion and momentum into doing a cut, or even better is to be able to clear the blade then maneuver the blade in many of several ways after draw. Rather than a draw cut, the concern is getting the blade ready and into action asap.

[@tessarnold7597]

Ok, I've scanned some of the comments and not seen this point yet, so, if you've pointed it out further down, good on you. All of the comments regarding Iaido may be correct, but there is a simpler explanation: Outside of a battle, Samurai tucked their katanas into the sash of their kimono. A curved blade sits more securely and more comfortably with the concave side down in that arrangement.

[@justinvankoughnett4168]

It’s more comfortable to pull it out edge up like that because of the curve. It’s lower when on on your belt. So it doesn’t matter. But above your head the curve would pose a problem

[@benadrylcumbersplatch6448]

It's a walkability thing, meaning with the edge upwards the curve of the sword slopes downwards, which while still not entirely unobtrusive is easier to angle down and sort of "conceal" with your leg which is better than the sword perking upwards and hitting every doorframe, table, and innocent pedestrian who happens to walk by as you're making a turn. Also because the curve is sloping downward the weight sits a little more comfortably on the obi and you can chill in that cool ronin pose with your hand resting on the handle lol

[@sanke00001]

You push down against the spine to prevent it from touching the edge, but the focus is on pulling the scabbard off the sword *then* cutting, not cutting while still inside.