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.

Three Monkey Katana

Weight

Everyone seems to have a different opinion on the benefits of heavy and light katana. Heavy katana can have more hitting power, but are harder to reverse and re-direct. Light katana can feel unsubstantial. Light katana can make long practice sessions easier, but heavy katana can help build up strength. Weight should be considered with the balance. A katana will feel heavier if it has a forward balance. Weight and balance can be adjusted by changing out the tsuba. A heavy tsuba will make the katana heavier, and improve the balance.

Shinken Katana Selection	Weight	Balance	Price	Blade Length	Recommended Height	Handle Length	Cutting	Comments
Three Monkey Katana	2.0	4.8	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*	Light blade with bo-hi
Practical Classic Katana	2.1	5.0	$233	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*	light blade with no bo-hi
Golden Oriole Katana	2.2	2.8	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	14.2	*	Light blade with long handle
Practical Plus Classic Katana	2.2	4.4	$339	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	12.2	*
Practical Light Katana	2.2	5.2	$233	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.0	*
Meijin Folded Steel Iaito	2.3	4.3	$1,070	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	10.6	*	Light blade great balance
Practical Elite Katana	2.3	4.5	$237	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.2	***
Momo no Saru Katana	2.3	4.7	$786	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.6	*
47 Ronin Katana	2.3	4.9	$1,274	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	**
Shinto Elite Katana	2.4	4.4	$738	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***
Practical Plus XL Light Katana	2.4	4.5	$381	28.6	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Musashi XL Light Katana	2.4	4.5	$764	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Warrior Series Katana	2.4	6.1	$399	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	10.9	**
Bushido Katana	2.5	4.2	$1,070	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.5	*
Warrior Series Chisa Katana	2.5	4.3	$399	24.5	5' 2" to 5' 11"	11.5	**
Shinto XL Light Katana	2.5	4.4	$738	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Tea Culture Katana	2.5	4.5	$760	29.5	5' 7" to 6' 4"	12.1	*
Practical XL Light Katana	2.5	4.7	$254	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Tori Elite Katana	2.6	4.4	$1,146	27.9	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***
Tori XL Light Katana	2.6	4.5	$1,189	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Practical Plus Elite Katana	2.6	4.8	$356	28.1	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	***
Practical Plus XL Katana	2.6	4.8	$373	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	****
Musashi Elite Katana	2.6	4.8	$738	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Musashi XL Katana	2.6	4.9	$755	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	****
Tsunami Katana	2.6	5.2	$713	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.7	**
Tiger Classic Katana	2.7	3.9	$1,359	29.8	5' 7" to 6' 4"	13.9	**
Shinto XL Katana	2.7	4.5	$738	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	****
Tiger Elite Katana	2.7	4.7	$1,444	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Practical XL Katana	2.7	4.9	$245	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.1	****
Tori XL Katana	2.8	4.5	$1,172	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.1	****	Heavy but good balance
Praying Mantis Katana	2.8	5.8	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	Awesome fittings / L6 blade
Practical Pro Elite Katana	2.9	3.8	$509	29.1	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.1	***	Long handle / long blade
Oni Katana	3.1	3.9	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.2	***	Long handle / long L6 blade
Wind and Thunder Katana	3.2	6.2	$803	29.9	5' 7" to 6' 4"	11.5	**	Heavy solid blade
Warrior Series O Katana	3.3	8.5	$449	34.8	6' 0" to 6' 9"	13.0	**	Super long blade with bohi

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