Wearing Katanas Edge Up to Stay Sharp?

#katana #tachi #samurai #sword #martialarts

[EASYV]

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

[gantar]

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).

[austinjeffries]

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.

[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

[exander]

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 The scabbard is withdrawn rapidly while the sword largely remains in place.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.

[wilsusonnect]

I practice Iaido, drawing and shearhing is exactly what I do. The answer is: it rests on the spine as you draw, for about half the draw.
After that, you orient the blade depending on the cut you want to do, and by far the most common technique is a sideways cut from a draw, i.e. the sword rests on its side for the latter half. For reference, look at Mae from the Seitei series.
It's also important to note that you draw the sword directly forwards, no pushing the blade into the scabbard in any way. The cut only happens once you've completely drawn the sword. What you absolutely do not do is push the blade into the cut.

The reason why tachi are carried edge down, like the one you have, is because they were used at a time when samurai were still primarily mounted archers. As such, the tachi is comparable to cavalry Sabres in function. It is longer than the Uchigatana and carried edge down for easier one-handed drawing on horseback.

The uchigatana is a weapon of foot soldiers, but crucially, it also adopted a ceremonial role and the role of a status symbol in the Edo period, which was a 260 year period with no wars.

A very good resource where you can pay attention to the details of a draw is this video:
Showing the aforementioned Mae from the Seitei series.

[henrikaugustsson]

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.

[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

[peterslaby]

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.

[jacobpowers]

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.

[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.

[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.

[Noldrak]

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.

[foderator]

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

[nathan]

Like others have said:
Katana stored edge up is for easier drawing.

They used to be drawn edge down, but that’s when samurai uses tachi on horseback. Think of the tachi as a katana with slightly longer and a bit more curved blade. With a curvier blade, they can be drawn edge down easier.

[Bomx]

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

[StomeAura]

One of the other reasons why is because of its placement on the hip. The Uchigatana was higher on the hip making it easier to draw it edge up, unlike the Tachi, which is longer, and is lower down on the waist, making it easier to draw edge down.

[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.

[ShuajoX]

To be fair, what you're holding seems to be in tachi koshirae, typically worn edge down via hangers anyway.

[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?