Military Katana

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November 25th, 2008 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Military Katana
Single-edged Sword vs Double-edged Sword? Techniques to Defeat a Stronger Opponent?

I am working on a fantasy novel at the moment and need some input from someone more experienced with swords and fighting techniques.

In that world, the standard issue Military Sword is a double-edged, two-handed longsword. However, one female soldier uses a single-edged blade similar to a katana. My thinking is that she would be able to brace her hand against the back of the blade in order to withstand blows from a physically stronger male opponent.

Is this line of thinking correct and would that be a possible advantage? What other types of techniques can a weaker opponent use to defeat a stronger opponent? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Primarily, cutting/slashing is done with the edge opposite the "V" formed by thumb and index finger so a single edge wouldn't matter with regard to actual combat. It would allow a Double Edged sword to be drawn without having to think about it. A katana would be drawn, and by the balance or direction of the draw, the user would almost have to have the correct grip.

FYI Parrying with a Katana is generally done with the back or side of the blade to protect the edge if at all possible. Against a 2 handed sword swing, a smaller opponent would probably be at a sore disadvantage if she attempted to block--you simply do not want to be in direct opposition to that much steel and kinetic energy. .Blows in sword fighting would probably be parried (deflected or redirected) rather than blocked as parrying an attack sets up an opponent for a counter/riposte.

Katanas are not very good against chain or metal armors. Arm her instead with a rapier or estoc--quick weapons that are highly accurate and can literally go through an eye slit far easier than a slashing weapon and through chainmail. An Estoc vs. Chainmail -- think tent pole and chain link fence. They are lighter, faster, the fighting style focuses on a parry defense, they can be used in conjunction with a secondary weapon (cloak or main gauche or even a chainmail glove) and generally someone swinging a 2 handed weapon gets tired much sooner and slows down...slow=dead. Primary targets for a rapier/estoc are arm (sword arm) so that the opponent can no longer wield. Neck (no armor). Joints. Eye, mouth or any point without armor. Look, if an collegiate fencer can hit a pencil with a typical epee thrust, they sure as heck can nail an eye slit in a helm or impale a wrist so that a sword would be dropped.