Katana and Bokken
In modern times, the most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the Katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved long sword traditionally worn by samurai from the 15th century onwards. Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history, for their intended use.
The basic concept behind Japanese Sword Fighting or Kendo, and indeed most Japanese martial arts in general, is the principle of one strike - one kill. That is to say, no wasted movement, total focus, and perfect timing to deliver a single, fight ending blow.
Unlike in Hollywood, where there are endless clashes of sword on sword (think Star Wars), in real Japanese sword fighting, there is a lot of 'stalking' the opponent, sudden movement, advanced footwork and body angling, and very little blade on blade action. The fighting scene from the acclaimed movie 'Twilight Samurai' is considered to be, by many, a very realistic example of what real Japanese Sword Fighting would have actually looked like.
Most students that learn the way of the sword begin training with a hard wooden Bokken. The wooden Bokken sword has been used for centuries as a reliable training tool in the practice of Japanese swordsmanship. Bokken are very similar to clubs and similar battering weapons, but are shaped to resemble the katana or other swords. It is not a sparring weapon, but is intended to be used in basic training of kata or form and to acclimate the student to the feel of a real sword, utilizing basic sword movement and footwork. After some time with a bokken, the student typically graduates to practicing with an iaito - or non sharpened bladed Katana, though some students skip the bokken entirely and go straight to the iaito. For sparring and competition the students use the lighter and softer bamboo shinai and the appropriate safety gear for fencing..
While bokken are safer for practice than katana, they are still lethal weapons in the hands of trained users. Miyamoto Musashi, Japans greatest samurai warrior was known to fight fully armed foes with only one or two bokken. According to history, he agreed to a duel with the equally famous samurai named Sasaki Kojiro. The duel was to start at dawn on a tiny sandbar. Musashi overslept the morning of the match however, and made his way to the duel late. While traveling on a boat to the fight he carved a bokken from one of the boats oars with his knife. At the duel, Sasaki who was now angered for the insult of having to wait for Musashi, rushed him as he disembarked. Sasaki was armed with his large nodachi, an extra long battle sword, yet Musashi met him, sun at his back, and in the ensuing duel, crushed Sasaki's skull with a single blow from his bokken, killing him on the beach. Thus ended one of the greatest sword matched in history. Musashi retired from fighting soon after. He claimed to have fought in more than 60 individual sword fights, many of which were to the death and all of which he won.
