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Post by matthewmiller on Dec 23, 2012 13:26:20 GMT
My name is Matthew Miller, and I am a 2nd Dan Blackbelt in the Cheezic Tang Soo Do Federation here in Connecticut. I have been doing forms with a katana for about 5 years now and recently decided it was time to learn to cut with katana. I just purchased a cheness Tenchi although I have not opened it, other than to inspect it quickly for shipping damage. I am saving it for Christmas Since our word of the month in our Dojang is PATIENCE. The Reviews say it handles like an actual shinken however it feels very tip heavy to me. The Tenchi I purchased does not have the Bohi in the blade since I wanted the added strength. Where are the balance points of some antique Katanas? Matthew Miller
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Dec 23, 2012 14:02:11 GMT
The Tenchi balance Point is 5" above tsuba (with fuller-Bo-hi) and 6" above tsuba (without fuller Bo-hi), so it will feel somewhat forward and heavier.
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Post by yamakage on Dec 23, 2012 17:38:46 GMT
There is quite a bit of variation in the design of katana/tachi depending on the period in which the sword was made, the smith, the region, etc. However, a significant number of nihonto I've held have a point of balance usually within 4-6" of the tsuba. The Tenchi has a point of balance around 6" from the tsuba, so it is on the higher end of that range.
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Post by matthewmiller on Dec 23, 2012 21:30:42 GMT
Thank you for the information so quickly. Martial arts is a very strong passion for me and even though I study a Korean style, the Samuria have always inspired me with the sword. Matthew Miller
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Post by matthewmiller on Dec 24, 2012 2:47:49 GMT
I was curious about understanding the balance point of a katana. My Tenchi has a balance point of 6". I am told this makes the tip on the heaveir side. I don't understand how by moving the balance point farther away from the stuba, it can make the tip heavier. It seems it should make the tip lighter by placing more weight in your hands. Can someone shed some light on this for me? perhaps my understanding of what the balance point means is wrong. Matthew MIller
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 24, 2012 2:59:03 GMT
I know what you mean. But with the design, moving the point of balance out puts more weight in the blade. The Tenchi is designated for heavy targets, so they put the weight in the blade to help it go through.
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Post by lamebmx on Dec 24, 2012 14:45:12 GMT
The balance point is up the blade from the tsuba. So it is further away from your hands. Even with euro's it is from the guard, along the blade X inches.
While I feel the Tenchi handles very poorly, it is a really good investment to learn on. A handy sword to let friends cut with etc because it is really durable. After you get better at cutting, do yourself a favor and invest in a more lively sword. Keep the Tenchi, I sold mine and had to buy another for other people to enjoy cutting with.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Dec 24, 2012 16:10:24 GMT
It's all about inertia, the longer and heavier the blade the more effort is required to move the blade, try gripping the sword by the very end of the Tuska, you will find it very hard to move, as you get closer to the Tsuba you find it easier to handle the sword.
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Post by matthewmiller on Dec 25, 2012 0:17:32 GMT
Aussie-rabbit, doesn't that mean by moving the balance point closer to the tsuba, say from 6" to 4" make the blade heavier? If I understand correctly I thought that a sword with a balance point of 6" would feel more blade heavy than a sword with a balance point of 4". perhaps the mechanics of this are just above my head. thank you Matthew Miller
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Post by yamakage on Dec 25, 2012 21:54:44 GMT
An easy experiment is holding something like a broom handle in one hand, if you hold it at one end it is very difficult to hold and requires a lot of energy to manipulate. However as you slide your hand closer to the balance point (toward the center), the broom handle seems to get lighter and easier to manipulate. The same is fundamentally true for a sword, the closer your hand is to the balance point, the more easy it will be to manipulate. The trade off is that as weight is distributed closer to the hands, there is less inertia at the tip. Cutting swords (tamishigiri-yo) tend to have balance points a bit further from the hands to facilitate easier cutting.
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Post by matthewmiller on Dec 26, 2012 14:19:47 GMT
Yamakage, Thank you very much. I think that I understand the balance point better when I relate it to my hand position instead of the Tip. Matthew Miller
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