Selecting a Shinken Katana for Japanese Swordsmanship

These guides are based on the key things a student of the Japanese Sword need to worry about. It only includes standard katana used for iaito or battodo. It is based on the specific physical aspects of various swords. Remember that this is only a guide and we recommend that you ask your Sensei’s advice.

Price - Select you katana based on price.
Blade Length - Select your katana based on blade length.
Handle Length - Select your katana based on handle length.
Cutting - Select your katana based on cutting ability.
Weight - Select your katana based on overall weight.
Balance - Select your katana based on balance.

Tea Culture Katana

Blade Length

Katana blade length is largely based on the requirements of your style and your size. Longer blades have more reach, but can take longer to draw. Shorter blades are better balanced, but longer blades have more cutting power. There are serious trade-offs to be considered when selecting a blade length. We recommend trying different length blades in the shop to see what you are most comfortable with. Odds are that your preferred blade length will vary with time and practice, but you need to start somewhere.

Shinken Katana Selection	Blade Length	Recommended Height	Price	Handle Length	Cutting	Weight	Balance	Comments
Warrior Series Chisa Katana	24.5	5' 2" to 5' 11"	$399	11.5	**	2.5	4.3	Shortest Blade
Practical Elite Katana	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$237	11.2	***	2.3	4.5	Shortest Performance
Bushido Katana	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$1,070	11.5	*	2.5	4.2	Shortest Folded
Golden Oriole Katana	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$760	14.2	*	2.2	2.8	Shortest with long handle
Three Monkey Katana	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$760	11.1	*	2.0	4.8
Momo no Saru Katana	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$786	11.6	*	2.3	4.7
Practical Light Katana	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$233	11.0	*	2.2	5.2
Practical Classic Katana	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$233	11.1	*	2.1	5.0
Practical Plus Classic Katana	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	$339	12.2	*	2.2	4.4
Tori Elite Katana	27.9	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$1,146	11.2	***	2.6	4.4
Tsunami Katana	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$713	11.7	**	2.6	5.2
Shinto Elite Katana	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$738	11.2	***	2.4	4.4
Meijin Folded Steel Iaito	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$1,070	10.6	*	2.3	4.3
Practical Plus Elite Katana	28.1	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$356	11.3	***	2.6	4.8
Shinto XL Katana	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$738	11.3	****	2.7	4.5	XL and XL Light (all ~28.5)
Tori XL Katana	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	$1,172	11.1	****	2.8	4.5
Practical XL Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$245	11.1	****	2.7	4.9
Practical XL Light Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$254	11.2	***	2.5	4.7
Practical Plus XL Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$373	11.3	****	2.6	4.8
Warrior Series Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$399	10.9	**	2.4	6.1
Shinto XL Light Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$738	11.3	***	2.5	4.4
Musashi XL Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$755	11.2	****	2.6	4.9
Musashi XL Light Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$764	11.2	***	2.4	4.5
Tori XL Light Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$1,189	11.2	***	2.6	4.5
47 Ronin Katana	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$1,274	11.2	**	2.3	4.9
Practical Plus XL Light Katana	28.6	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$381	11.3	***	2.4	4.5
Musashi Elite Katana	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$738	11.3	***	2.6	4.8
Tiger Elite Katana	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$1,444	11.3	***	2.7	4.7
Praying Mantis Katana	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$1,529	11.2	***	2.8	5.8
Oni Katana	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$1,529	14.2	***	3.1	3.9
Practical Pro Elite Katana	29.1	5' 6" to 6' 3"	$509	14.1	***	2.9	3.8
Tea Culture Katana	29.5	5' 7" to 6' 4"	$760	12.1	*	2.5	4.5
Tiger Classic Katana	29.8	5' 7" to 6' 4"	$1,359	13.9	**	2.7	3.9
Wind and Thunder Katana	29.9	5' 7" to 6' 4"	$803	11.5	**	3.2	6.2	Big heavy katana
Warrior Series O Katana	34.8	6' 0" to 6' 9"	$449	13.0	**	3.3	8.5	Even bigger katana

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