Carrying a Katana on your back?
Hello. As outrageous of a question this is, does anyone have any good solutions on how to carry a Japanese Katana on one’s back? I’ve seen these but none of them work.
http://www.trueswords.com/final-fantasy-kadaj-sword-leather-back-strap-p-2557.html
http://www.valleymartialarts.com/images/OL1038B.jpg
Thanks.
I know it is not a traditional way to carry a Katana. And I no that only Nodachi were carried this way due to there extreme size. However it’s quite hard to carry a Katana on a motorcycle when it slung at your side.
If you wear it like Kadaj, then its on the lower back. To make it easier to draw from that position, have the blade facing downwards, tachi style.
To draw cut, use a reverse hand grip. Depending on how long your arms are and how long the katana is, this should work with practice.
Though, you may want to try using a kodachi instead of a katana. And in the case you don’t know what a kodachi is, its basically a katana with the length somewhere between a normal sized katana and a wakizashi/companion sword.
Two kodachi over other shoulders would work perfectly…..depending if you are big enough that is. If you are of a smaller nature, and hell bent on wearing it on your back, you might want to consider dual wakizashi.
As for riding a motorcycle with a katana….do you WANT to be stopped by the cops? Well, you could always rig your bike like they did in Kill Bill.
Anyone who really needed to have a katana on his back would have a shell.
Uhhh katanas are never meant to be carried on one’s back. You can’t even draw with one on your back. The only time katanas were ever carried on someone’s back were some varieties of VERY long o-katana which are virtually useless in real swordsmanship. Katanas are worn on the left with the edge facing up.
You can draw a sword on your back by putting it into a frog (like an o-ring) instead of a sheath, or by leathering the sheath only at the top, so when you grip the hilt, the whole sword can tilt so you may draw it straight out. This still doesn’t work very good. Back-carry was mostly for traveling, or for shorter blades. It is definitely not the traditional, respectful way to carry a katana.
try using a few long belts to try and get it into a comfortable position.
Also, when choosing a position, make sue that you can actually draw the katana easily.
Do you want to slice your butt cheek or the back of your head off? hehe
You could wear it horizontally off the small of your back with the blade pointing upwards. Sheath it by extending your arm all the way out in a downward motion.
In the past, only ninjas carried the katana in such a way.
They carry it that way so it’s easier to sneak around.
The correct way to carry your sword is right beside your hip.
That’s how samurai carries the sword.
It’s not the best way to carry it if you’re going to fight someone.
There is a horseman’s riding position for placement of a Katana, believe it or not. The sword is tied so that is horizontal with the belt placed on the lower back with the handle out to the right for a right handed draw. The blade position faces down for a first cut draw.
I have seen cutting demonstrations from Master Barry Harmon using this cutting motion and carrying position. It just takes practice and a sword that stays secure in it’s scabbard. You may consider tying some type of lanyard to the Tsuba of the sword.
Good luck!
I just have to respond to Reaper. It was a ninja-to that was strapped to the back, but most of the swords used in budo taijutsu and any of the x-kans are katanas.
It’s very simple, you buy a sword bag and carry it in the bag. I did that for years when I rode my motorcycle to the dojo.
http://www.e-bogu.com/Iai_s/63.htm
Do not do it unless your licensed to use one. they should be in a hard case and never taken out of the home . unless Aido to use in a club. or locked in a case and transported to the Do jo where you will use it.