Swords In Kenjutsu

There are three swords in kenjutsu, and the sword I wanted the most is the one that is used the least.

When I was handed my first training sword, a shaped piece of wood in the form of a katana it was passed to me with the reverence of a real sword. Months were spent learning how to hold it at my side, how to pass it to my training partner, how to put it away in the travel bag, specifics on trying the strings into a knot on the bag. Done to the point where these movements could be done without thinking, but also as a way to understand the first container of kenjutsu- distance.

When I stood across from my teacher and passed him my wooden sword it was done at a specific distance between us. A perfect posture, always in balance, always ready to react, yet without tension.

Sitting in seiza on the ground across from another student, placing out swords in-front of each other and bowing before returning the sword and standing up, that took the distance in another direction.

Perfection had to be maintained.

After months of this, we moved to the first form, which continued the understanding of distance but now layered timing over it. If the distance was off you would die from the other sword, if the distance was correct, but the timing was off, you would both wind up killing each other.

Both had to be perfect.

Not close enough, good enough, 95%, but perfect.

You also learned how to take care of your wooden sword. How to inspect it before and after class to make sure it was safe from splinters and dents. How to oil from time to time to keep the wood. How to take care of the bag that held it.

After some years, when the teacher thought you were ready you were permitted to start using the mogito swords in the dojo. These were fully furnished katana only the blade was made out of aluminum and did not have an edge or fully formed point.

Now the forms were done using this type of sword which sharpened the distance and timing of what one had before. During this time period of training you learned how to clean the sword, wrap the handle and check the bamboo pegs that held it together, along with way to tie the cords to your sword belt. After some proficiency it was expected in a reasonable amount of time that one would acquire their own mogito with its own bag to accompany your bokken (wooden training sword) to class.

Some time after this and after having been invited to watch one of the sword cutting events you wre permitted to acquire a real sword- a shinken.

The now irony that the very sword you always wanted for the most part sits wrapped in a bag on your sword shelf and only is used once or twice a year at that for cutting practice.

By the time you get it, you no longer need it.