Samurai weapons expert Carl E. Long explains how the arm becomes an extension of the sword when demonstrating the fundamentals of the long sword.He and swordmaster Masayuki Shimabukuro demonstrate cutting a single rolled tatami in a video.
Long shows the difference between a long sword (30 inches of blade) and a short sword (20 inches). He explains that using the sword as an extension of the arm requires using the entire arm and not just from the elbow.
The length of the sword will affect the cut motion. It is necessary to adjust for the difference. Failure to adjust could lead to a failed cut.
Read the full article and watch the video here:
Samurai Weapons Training: Masayuki Shimabukuro Demonstrates Mat Cutting With the Short Sword
