samurai swords?

Question

how did they(or Ninjas) pull out there swords from the back even though the sword is clearly longer than there arm?

Answer 1

They usually didn't. Most Katanas were worn inserted on the sash around the waist. A swordsman only wore it strapped over their shoulders if: A.) They need to climb up a wall or clamber up a steep incline, hence making a sword at the waist cumbersome. or B.) The sword they are using is so long that hanging it by the waist impedes movement(this is rare since most sword lengths during the centuries of Tokugawa rule were strictly regulated to one size only to prevent giving any criminal or rebel an extra added reach advantage over government troops, any unauthorised swordsman seen with a longer sword is instantly arrested for non compliance to protocols set by the Shogun). Either way, once they need to use the sword, they either take it off their backs and draw it while slipping the scabbard into their waist sash or simply throw it away. If the sword is regulation length, then they can also draw it while still strapped to their backs by tugging at the bottom end of the sheath in the opposite direction while drawing the sword with the blade facing upwards as far as their arm can reach, the natural curve of the sword helps to ease the sword out at the last moment, this takes practice and is not a practical way to draw, but in an emergency, it'll do.

Answer 2

Hi there

As far as i'm aware this method is unique to schools of ninjutsu but i could be wrong.

The Ninjato or ninja biken was housed in a traditional length saya (scabbard). So to the normal eye it looked just like a normal length katana. However the blade was infact six inch shorter than a conventional katana. This was for many reasons. One was because it was more versatile so that it could be used in confined spaces. The real reason was that by making the blade shorter ment that it could be drawn much quicker when facing a samurai who would have been very skilled at iai. The actual kata that you are referring to is called kage no itto where you draw your sword from over the shoulder. But it also includes switching the scabbard around your back before drawing to confuse your opponent. Remember in Japan there was no such thing as a left handed swordsman. Another trick that shinobi used was to switch hand positions when holding their swords. This was to make it look like they were novices which was not the case at all. Real ninja swords aren't black in colour nor do they have a straight blade. No such sword existed and no historical ones have ever been found. People get lost in the TV image of the ninja that they forget there is some truth behind the myth and legend based on the more practical and realistic.

Biken Jutsu is still practiced today but finding someone who has a good understanding of it outside Noda Japan is difficult

Best wishes

idai

Answer 3

Generally they wouldn't. It's simply a matter of situation.

If a ninja was going to assassinate someone they would usually be using a smaller more discreet weapon such as a tanto (dagger) or a shoto (short sword) which they would usually already have drawn and hidden under the folds of their clothing.

If they were attacked they would often not use their sword but simply use metsubushi (powder blinders thrown into the eyes) disable the attacker by hand and roll into grass.

Answer 4

The sword was never worn on the back, although the saya(sheath) might be to keep it out of the way, they wore it on their hip. to draw a sword from your hip; pull back the saya while simultaneously pulling back your hip.

Answer 5

U TELL ME =D