[TpDoctorOneTp]

I hope someone here can help me out with this: What is the best way to find the ideal blade-length for an individual? many internet sites give a chart related to height... but only for the katana-length blade. What about for a wakazashi? Or ratios for a naginata?

Thank you for your time.

[swwatch]

Do you practice iaido, kendo, naginata-do or kenjutsu? If I look at your question, the awnser is no. You don't need to know the awnser to your question. Find a dojo, then come back in a couple of weeks. Or ask the sensei.

The use of weapons by untrained people like you is dangerous. You might hurt yourself or one of your fellow backyard samurai buddies. Don't buy one, not even a wallhanger.

[corolaelwis]

Actually, since you asked, I have no formal training in the use of any Eastern weapons. I have, however, spent the better part of the past seven years learning European martial arts tequniques.

I asked about proper blade lengths because I make boffer swords. The only thing close to formalized european training in my area is the local Society for Creative Anacronisim. I have tried their armored combat before, but I have decided that, for now, I prefer unarmored. I have done my best over the years to be as historically accurate as possible with pvc and foam insulation in order to better understand what it was like for those who used the real thing. I reasently had a commission to make a client a naginata. I wanted to make him one as realisticly as I could.

I am sad that there are so many people out there who play untrained with live steel. Believe me, I've known my share. I've also done my share of telling them how stupid they are for it. Maybe I'll find a nicer way to do it from now on.

Again, thank you for your time.

[gerturiotf]

If you are doing boffer weapons, then I think the comparative chart found at any iaito store should be good enough. It's not like a cm or two matters when you can't use the sword as intended anyway. Good luck, boffer battle is fun sometimes!

[largonioulurI]

A standard rule of thumb is that when standing with the blade in your right hand (this hand is the forward one, gripping just behind the blade guard (tsuba), and the arm hanging freely, the arm and wrist relaxed, the blade will not hang straight down, but will angle with the tip winding up in front of the swordsman (maybe just past his big toe), the tip should be one or two centimeters from the ground.

Having said that, the style of swordsmanship will influence length dramatically. Some styles are meant to be used indoors, so the swords are necessarily shorter. Some iaijutsu styles use very long swords. The main limitation, outside of strength, is arm length, which limits what you can do drawing and re-sheating the blade.

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/measure.htm has a good explanation of how sword length is measured.

I am 5' 11" and have a 2-6-5 sword (31.6 inches, according to the calculator at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/8187/Script.htm ) I feel like it's the most sword I can handle, but I have seen iaijutsu practitioners my size or smaller use longer swords. I also have a 2-5-0 iaito
(29.8 inches) that is much easier to manage.

[Rffkwfct]

....I asked about proper blade lengths because I make boffer swords...

Sorry for the angry response. I just got a little pissed off by the idea that I might have to help another self-taught ninja. Didn't know it was just to make an imitation weapon (if that's what you meant with boffer sword).

[AntonioMQ]

Firstly, thanks alot for the info and the links. I spent quite a lot of time actually exploring the rest of "The Japanese Sword Guide" beyond that imediate link. I was thoroughly fascinated.

Secondly, I'd also like to apologize for loosing my temper.. I probably should have been clearer in the beginning, and I'm willing to bet that as many times as you've had to "help self-taught ninjas", I've heard "If you don't belong to a dojo (and you're not a boy) then you're not worth my time." I can understand your frustration.