The Katana
April 29, 1994
Mark J. Norton
I got a katana for my birthday, last Februrary. Its an inexpensive, china-made blade
forged from 440 stainless steel, but it is sharp. It has the balance and weight
of a real sword, but the the refinement of a shinto blade. The length is a pretting
good match for me and I have no trouble drawing it. I have noticed that many Americans
prefer long swords (tachi-no-katana), perhaps because they tend to have longer arms
than the Japanese and can therefore handle them easier. Still, I think a medium
length blade has its benefits, certainly they are more common.
After working with the boken for 14 years, cutting with a live blade is a new sensation
for me. This sword feels very light and lively to me, though in fact it is heavier
than a boken. The sound produced during the cut is different, higher pitched, and
much softer. The song is more subtle and whispers of death. It will (I think) be
easier to experience the void with a katana than with a wooden stick.
I am very much aware of the edge of the sword, especially during the draw and sheathing.
A wrong move on my part may result in bloodshed (my own!). This awareness heightens
the sensations present during technique and cut. There is danger here, this is real. It has a way of clearing the mind, freeing it of distractions.