Is the katana the ideal close combat weapon?

Answer 1

There is no ideal weapon for all styles, only perfect technique is udefeatable. I would prefer a European longsword over a katana because it is double edged and has a cross gaurd. Also, you cannot "mortschlag" with a katana. Ideally, the shorter the weapon, the more difficult it is to defend against in close quarters. Fiore de Libere believed that the dagger was the most deadly weapon for this reason. Then, nearly 200 years later, George Silver wrote that the quarter staff was the superior weapon.

A weapon is designed by its culture to defeat that culture's armour by working within that culture's martial art. So, as much as I like Western Martial Arts, I cannot say that bushido is inferior or superior to it's European counterpart. It is a matter of personal preference and familiarity.

Answer 2

First of all a katana is NOT a close combat weapon. Close combat is at arm's length and closer, inside the effectiveness of the katana. The most effective portion of the katana blade is the third of the blade from the tip. A knife or your hands are close combat weapons.

Answer 3

A wepon is only good if u know how to use it! However, I come from a country where swords are still used to settle street gang wars, sadly. But this only prooves the efectiveness of such an anchient wepon.And since the katana is powerfull, sharp and easy to manuvre one could say that it is the best wepon to use in close combat.

Answer 4

a lot of people said that a gun is the ideal close combat weapon. i disagree, and i believe that the best close combat weapon is a well hidden (but ready to use) knife. unless you've already drawn your gun, you'd get your @$$ stabbed before you draw your gun.

against a knife, it's best to stay at least 10 feet away from the attacker, unless you want to be dead or severely injured.

ok, i didn't make this up. there was an experiment where a group of officers were tested. a guy went near them, stuck a knife near their stomachs, and said "ima kill you, pig." guess what? fewer than 20% of the officers even saw the weapon, and only one person was able to defend himself against the attacker.

Answer 5

Katana is not a close combat weapon. the close combat weapon of Japanese samurai is tanto knife.

That's why the Japanese samurai usually carry a pair of katana and tanto (the pair of katana and tanto is called daisho). The katana is used against enemy at normal range, while tanto for close combat in a small room.

However in the hand of advanced practitioner, katana still very lethal at close range.

Answer 6

I would say the ideal close combat weapon would be a shotgun.

Answer 7

nope we invented, guns, pepper spray, and tazers. All of them work way better.

The only real use for a katana now days is exercise and ceremony. Well or decoration.

Answer 8

It is sad that you think this way, my name stealing questioner....*sigh* The Katana is a japanesee weapon, as you know they are, as the town minister calls them: "Yellow bastards". So they can't possibly create a perfect weapon. Here's your answer :P
My town minister is a racist, sadly !!!!!!!

Answer 9

It depends on how close. A good knife fighter would kill a swordsman if they were 1 foot away. A staff has more reach if you are 8 feet away. What is "close"?

Answer 10

I prefer a Glock.