First, I understand that this video is 4 years old. Second, ninjas did and still do draw the sword from the back as you are indicating, and it is quite simple and easy to do. However you are overlooking one very simple action. You pull the scabbard down with the other hand, and fold the scabbard forward so it is then around your hip. In essence you draw your sword and move the scabbard out of the way in the same motion.
a ninja ,had a shorter sword ,and most of the time a longer sheath.. Why?? i tell you.. because creating the ilusion that it wood take more time to grap its sword from the sheath ,then his enemy wood think.. its like puting a bajonet in a samurai sheet,, how fast can you draw that...i know.. sneacky guys. sorry for my lang.. english isnt my tong.. :)
Well,mate, your'e a Brit'...great sense of humor. Love your deliver. I think we are not really suppose to take the movies, Hollywood moveis and stunts, etc. seriously. No, they are all fantasy, just for take our fancy. Most of these comments are much, much too serious, logical for my taste. Please - Lets keep it on the light side, gentlemen...be real!
hahaha considering there is also a fighting style based on landing an attack as you draw the weapon it makes wearing it on your back even more silly.
Although I did read something about wearing a nodashi (the extra big one) on the back. I think your attendant wore it and you drew it from the scabbard. Could be complete bollocks though :p
But what about shurikens? I don't think those are very effective, okay maybe poisoned, but really now. One way you could do it like you usea a assualt rifle, swing the sword and the sheath and take the sword out of the sheath in front. And if you are sneaking around you can do this before engaging in a fight.
@lindybeige Actually I had more trouble drawing across over the shoulder. I did find though that if the katana sat low enough I could draw it with not too much extra effort but definitely not at any speed comparable to it being strapped at the waist. But it is doable, however I'm a rather tall guy with really long arms so I have an advantage at drawing katana's while looking cool I suppose.
The only swords I can think of that were historically drawn from the back are mainland SE Asian dhas. which interestingly were also sometimes worn in pairs. This wearing and draw technique is still taught in SE Asian martial arts (ie. krabi krabong etc.) Very long swords, notably Japanese pike breaking swords were sometimes worn on the back, but unslung rather like a rifle before drawing.
when not in open rebellion, Ninjas (a peasant ethnicity rather than a profession, BTW) Ninjas would carry, as a matter of law, Japanese peasant swords. These were shorter than katana, by law, and also are generally straightish, like a lot of Samurai daggers; straightish, tapered, and with a swedged (ie bevelled but not sharpened) back edge at the tip. They are notably similar to the Chinese jians known as willow leaf sabers in USA, though not as broad.
I once read that Ninja's rarely had Katana as said Katana were rather expensive and generally the tool of the richer Samurai. They would, of course, take the blade if they managed to overcome a Samurai but this wasn't common as they were generally better trained and armed. If the Ninja were to aquire a Katana they would have it ''shortened'' (this sounds rediculous) so it would be easier to draw and fight with, if the time ever came that they would need to. Not sure if what I read holds truth.
Weren't the ninjas like any other proper assassins, just try to avoid a fight in any way necessary? I mean, Even if you do win a fight, that doesn't do you much good anyways, running away sounds a lot better then actually using any of their weapons.
it is possible that the ninjas used that smaller katana. that'd be easy to draw from your back. i know their katana wasn't really a "katana," so theirs could have been rigged to draw like that.
@KIHEITAIBLADE yes Ninjas used a Ninjato for very early in history when they were still revolting against samurai and has no access(except for stealing) of katanas,A Ninjatos is about half a foot shorter than the Katana but this is not very useful for drawing from the back anyway,Carrying from the back is more for long travel rather than immediate use.But yet again it does look cool,But its impractical like double bit axes..
@maxaslagolis Incorrect. There's no evidence to suggest that the Ninjato existed before the 20th century. If you have any proof to refute this, then by all means, show us.
Unless it's teh stereotypical ninja from a secret monastery with lots of fancy toys, the typical (?) ninja would have to train in private/secretly and use whatever farm tools or what not came to mind; a difficult thing to do in Feudal Japanese society, cos people start thinking that secretive people are up to something--in other words, this very Japanese archtype stands out due to his un-Japanese behavior. It'd be a tough job. The monastry-trained ninja has the luxury of secrecy to train.
this is where the wakizashi comes in useful ^^ you see you can draw a wakizashi rather quickly from your back due to it being a mid sized one handed sword.
Katana was impractical for ninja. Good theory is that they actually used shorter, straight blades so they could fight indoors more efficiently. If I were an assasin, I'd take a long knife rather than sword. Its just more handy. And there are ways of drawing sword from back - you actually have to use both hands for that pulling scabbard down and sword up. But again.. the thing that happens is the sword guard hitting your back or neck all the time when you move.
Good points but heavily generalised and based on assumptions. Do you have any source telling us Ninja were 'just' spies. Or that they carried Katana? The Katana is a prestige weapon, a status symbol. Ninja wern't really rich people from the Samurai class.
also, ninjas did not commonly use the katana for any purpose. they were much more prone to using farming equipment such as a sickle.
in the event they used a real sword, it was almost always the ninjato; a blade several inches shorter than a katana and forged in the same method. the katana was the primary weapon of the samari.
The ninjato actually has no historical evidence of being a literal weapon utilized by historic Japanese ninja. They indeed carried a nihonto, aka "katana."
@TheCaptainhat They didn't always have real weapons at all. Being primarily spies, they used whatever weapons they could hide on their person or disguise as farming tools.
They only used swords when posing as someone who would realistically be able to carry a sword without drawing suspicion. When they did carry swords, they were often cut shorter (which is where the modern perception of ninjato came from) so it could be drawn quicker than opponents would assume from the katana-sized scabbard.
@lindybeige: Do you think it would be possible for training to make the transfer of sword from hip to back very fast, and therefore make it relatively useful for ninja to transfer the sword to their back (and back again) for "sneaking" purposes?
SilverterrorII: I have hundreds of years of history which proves you wrong, and personal experience which shows that statement comes from an uninformed person who doesn't know a runnel from a quillon. Not only is it possible with practice and skill, let's just consider scabbard customization -- a common practice. Let's just ignore fascinating and obscure concepts that would twist you brain like a Cheerio, such as reverse draw or strong-side mounting. Putting a neck-to-nape slot is a necessity.
Hey Lloyd - I thought you might like this: there's a trailer for the game Elder Scrolls Skyrim where the hero draws a sword from his back.. it's in CGI.. and I remembered this video.. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. At 45 seconds: /watch?v=znj_r4YNbqE
this guy on youtube called chosun ninja shows how the ninja would draw their sword from their back. He does this fluidly by pulling down the scabbard while drawing the blade thus decreasing the amount of distance needed to draw the blade.
@lindybeige Three things: First, you're having issues drawing a katana from your back when speaking of ninja. Strike one. Ninja used a shorter, modified and highly illegal variant of that blade. Second, you're presenting this like you have some form of blade training. Unfortunately, only an idiot would wear there and risk putting holes in his hip from abrasion. Strike two. Lastly, I use blades myself. I draw a 35" broadsword in .13 seconds from that position using reverse draw. Go back to school
@lindybeige Question for you: I understand your points, but have you been to any museum in, say, Tokyo? They have dozens of period examples there, and other places in Japan. Also, your positioning for the back mount is completely absurd; proper positioning for a back mount is placed with only half the hilt available from it's position just under the point of the shoulder. Finally, if you have blade training, why exactly are you placing your hip mount where you'd put holes in your hip? Puzzling.
What's funny is how many people are nerd raging. Get over it, you cannot, and I repeat CANNOT draw swords from the back. As cool as it looks in the movies and in video games it's impossible.
actually you can pull a "short sword" off your back and yes the do have shorter swords that go horizontally across your back and vertically they are 39'' blades and down not only did ninjas use them samurai would too for reach and action
If you were to fasten the sheath farther down on your back, an inch or two, drawing the blade would be easy. That said, why open up your body to attack when you could just wear it like a normal person
The Katanas used by Ninjas, which were used in extremely low amount as they prefered hidden and easily concealed weapons, were often shorter than the average katana.
If I remember correctly the blade of the average katana would be around four feet. At least I think mine is. But the sword used by the ninjas would often be a whole foot shorter to ease drawing it.
Or they'd just just a Wakizashi, which is generally a short sword. And if rumors are to be trusted they also used straight ones.
@lindybeige I shall bring it up to the man I used to study Ninjutsu under and see if he can find anything and I shall send it your way as soon as possible.
A friend of mine told me that the shortened katana, or "ninjato" as it's being called, was meant to be a surprise weapon. It could be kept in a full sized sheathe to appear as a katana, but having only half the length, could be drawn in close quarters, as well as more quickly than a full sized blade. The extra space in the sheath was (apparently) used to store caltrops or blinding powder. Sounds almost too cool to be true.
@MatteV2 ... Though if the sheath was meant to deceive an opponent about the length of the blade, it would probably be good if the sheath was visible, and not on the ninja's back.
@MatteV2 Ninjas used the same swords as the samurai. Either cuz they WERE samurai, or cuz they killed one and took his sword. the "ninja sword" is a hollywood creation
I love this video. My friends and I discovered this fact in junior high science class, as we took turns attempting to "draw" meter sticks from our backs. The funny thing is, of course none of us could do it no matter how we tried, but we kept thinking there must be some "trick" we were missing because clearly you must be able to draw a sword from your back because all of our favorite fantasy characters carried them there!
another problem about having it on your back is if youre in a room with a low roofor any low object thats over you like a thick tree branch for example you wont be able to draw your sword without ducking, which gives your enemy an opening
I'm trying to track it down but I read a scource a while ago about a feudal lord who was in a fair bit of strife with some bigger names and had actually taken to making everyone but his hand-picked guards wear their swords on their backs when they met him so the katana was impossible to draw and the wakizashi was simply out of reach. That way their swords were there for them to reach for and he could have threats cut down when they made the move.
@Glimmlampe1982 Quite a bit of interpretation required there. Is it a sword? Is it just slung there for the moment while he gets on/off his horse, later to be suspended from the saddle?
didnt found any better picture, its from a discussion where one mentioned also some celtic figurines with short swords on their back.
i guess if it IS a sword it is just put there for the moment (taking care of the horses) or for transportation. but at least it *could* show that its not a entirely unknown way to carry a sword.
I always wondered about this. Thanks for clearing it up. I wonder if legolas' swords where short enough to be drawn. They where on also his back right?
with the right scabbard, drawing a sword from the back would pose little trouble. Look at some scabbard designs for claymores which are too large to carry on the hip. There's support 0,75-1 foot up the blade, then bare and the another support-strap close to the hilt. When the hiltstrap opens you wont have to draw the sword very far to get it out of its scabbard.
I was under the impression that katana (at least the ones made in the past) had a greater degree of curvature than the one you are using. I could be wrong though. Anyway is it easier to draw the katana if its more curved? Since you could pull in an arc instead of pulling straight up.
Also, the average length of the katana changed according to the period, so maybe the real ninja used shorter katanas than yours?
The only time I seen dwaring a sword from ones back portrayed convincingly was in the video game 'the wicher', where the protagonist guy wears a sword on his back which he gets it out by simply throwing the thing up a bit and catching it. He got it back in by holding the blade and just dropping it.
Though I still wondered how he still had all his fingers, and thought it could end realy embarrasingly if there was a ceiling.
@MrNuserame I remember reading something about The Witcher where they had trouble preventing the animation of the sword going through the scabbard. Not sure if that was when drawing the sword, though. As for keeping all his fingers, that's probably because of his freaky mutant healing ability.
Scottish claymores were hung from the back and the scabbard was specially built so you would not have to pull it all the way from the scabbard in order to get it out. So it is not impractical to hung a sword from your back *if* you have a proper sword that is designed for it.
I think it's logical if they used way shorter blades. Even more logical if they used daggers/knives. Easier to carry on yourself without them moving around, and possible to draw, even when carried like that on your back. But then again, if I can strap a dagger to my waist, or on my back, I'd definitely carry it on my waist, where it's easier to draw and actually strike right after the draw.
As for if anyone did carry swords on their backs, I have no idea. Did they? Why, if?
Nooo.They where freaking Ninjajs!!they coudl draws the sword no mater how long it was!!!!They where Ninjas and coudl shoot lazers out of their eyes!!!;-)
@TheSlimLP a thing called 'ninjato' didn't exist... they were using cheap katanas, that's it. Some of them, who were samurai before, used their original weapon, the rest used cheap ones (much like the chinese "katanas" nowadays).
It is true that the sword in this video is very long though.
@TheSlimLP Yes a "ninjato" because ninjas would really attract attention to themselves by having a different looking sword from normal katanas (That was sarcasm btw) :P no, what ninjas would have done is wear either a wakizashi or a kokatana on their back, because lets be honest, there really wouldn't be any point in wearing a full length katana. In fact, worse than pointless, it would just get in the way. And besides, a trained ninja wouldn't need anything more that a tanto.
@Dokph This is the case, more or less. I can't quite recall where I'd heard it for citation, but I can at least provide second backing to the assertion. The 'traditional' ninja garb came from the manner of dress of stagehands during kabuki and noh plays, which were present on stage, but theater-goers were aware that they should normally ignore said black-dressed people. This concept was then applied to characters depicted as ninja, as the audience would ignore them until they acted.
@glavorez ninja uses Ko katana.. a sword must be around 19 - 22 inch to make it possible for a quick draw from the back... i havent see a hollywood ninjato at that length..
What if said ninja needs to draw the weapon? Wouldn't he / she probably be killed by the time said ninja put the sword back into a position where he / she could reach?
The reason you can't draw a sword like that is becuase your arm is not long enough. No one has an arm long enough to do that. That's why you would grab it with your left hand. ninjas used smaller swords becuase using a metre long sword isn't very smart. Not only were their swords small, but they weren't even sharp. This is becuase they would use them to grab onto walls that were too high for them and pull themselves up using the square guard. some of what you said is true though
What about the scottish claymore, the sheath for that was on the back, i cant imagine how they got it out but then again i can't imagine having it on their waist.
I think I know how they drew the claymore from the back,
instead of a sheath its a strap with 2 iron pins/hooks that hold the hand guards and a the tip if a sheath for the tip so you dont stab you ankles. I made one myself, you can draw effortlessly problem is with my version its a little unstable, but the pins were made of bicycle spokes lol
@JoeShowClips A friend of mine brought this up. He claimed they had a specially made scabbards that were more a set of clasps than anything. Unsheating it simply meant pulling it so the clasps unlocked. He also mentioned the claymore is a pretty stupid weapon, unless you fight pikers, which was good because the scottish tended to fight english pikers. He's a historian, but he could be wrong.
@JoeShowClips they wouldve just carried there claymores. the claymores wouldnt be able to be unsheathed if they were on the back. and quick draws werent used. at least know evidence shows that. they wouldve used hand and a halves or longswords which may have been used wiith sheathes but those sheathes were worn on the hip
@glavorez Ninja weapons were often used by samurai. Case in point, the kama/kusarigama. An armor piercing warpick with a flail. Much better against heavy armor than the katana (which in reality isn't any good for defeating heavy armor). I doubt a samurai would pass such a weapon up on the basis it is based on a farm tool, especially if he faced armored opponents regularly.
Likely ninja would use poison to kill enemies. A slit throat is evidence of some foul play.
@demomanchaos The kusari-gama has great practical application for one-on-one fights. The chain can be used to entangle the opponent's blade, giving you greater control to close the gap and strike the kill. The kusari-fundo does the same thing, though it's simply a weighted chain and not necessarily intended to use to kill.
The shinobigatana. is/was a sword which were probably a minimum of 17 inches to a max of 22 inches. most of the time curved. not straight. people who think the ninja sword were straight are fooled by the movies. It has never proven that they were straight. allthough they might look straight. but they aren't. cause the blade has been shorten. the shinobigatana is also known as ko or chisa katana. Both known as small swords. compare it with wakizashi. only a longer handle. (tsuka)
@HaidongGumdo yeah agree with you.. it looks straight but it isnt .. a good example of a curve blade that look straight is wss ko katana from wiwiting supply..
c@lindybeige well the ninja's were secret. that's why there's not much evidence about them. if you watch the series of videos from Conquest :Weapons of a Ninja i think that's the best video for watching on what a ninja used.
The swords were shorter, better for CQC and faster to draw that that long katana you have. You should look in to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi work, instead of watching Ninja movies.
so what about putting the thing on along strap with a tie point near the end, so that you can wear it on your back when you need to, then release the strap from the tie point and pull the scarab down to waist height?
"Ninja" were in fact samurai, and samurai did not deviate from the iai(sword drawing) techniques of their schools of swordsmanship. It is true that all indoor fighting was done with wakizashi or chisa katana(both shorter blades) but the method of carry would deviate only in that the sword, still in the obi, would be shifted around to the small of the back. There, it was out of the way, but could still be twisted around to the side for the correct, conventional draw.
Yes as it was told....man nice video but before saying something...you need to get some knowlege....Shinobi sword was long as their whole arm...it means when you get it in hand...the tip of sword ends at your shoulder... Yes and I am ninja and yes I have this sword..:)
@lindybeige ok yes "I am not ninja" and "I dont have sword like this at home" ^^ and "I dont even know how to wear my sword"....and if I were you....I delete this video...it just says about you that you dont know anything about ninjas....you get there samurai sword and tell stupid things about them...so...
I practice Ninjutsu, though I am not a master I'm just practitioner, I haven't really been told why the common practice is leave the blade on the back, past what your saying for shock in awe in the movie.
However we do not use the full size Katana on the back because it is extremely cumbersome to draw a standard Katana as your clearly demonstrating. We use a Wakazashi to draw from the back because you can draw it that way freely and it doesn't get in the way of free movement compared to waist.
@SilentRaeth1 "Ninjutsu" is also a modern creation, be it American Bujinkan or otherwise. "Ninja" were schooled in jujutsu and kenjutsu, and the combined the techniques when necessary. Ninja = samurai with a mask. Nothing more.
@youmaus No, "ninjato" are a modern creation. Wakizashi were used, but the closest analogue to ninjato in history were chokuto, and they also were not used by "ninja"
Scotts like William Walace were able to do it with 12th century broad swords and 13th century claymores which were at least half again as long as a katana.
@lindybeige I have a friend who is Scottish and a weapons guru, and Ive discovered that back-scabbards for claymores were designed to have slots in them so one could draw the sword out part way, then pull the rest of the way from the side.
@Dragon1813 I have seen modern examples, usually with press-stud fasteners at the top. If the sword can waggle sideways in the scabbard, it is not a convenient load. If the scabbard has a slit in it, it doesn't protect the sword from weather. If the sword is held in place with a tie to stop it flopping around, it prevents a quick draw. I can't imagine many instances when a quick draw was really needed with a claymore, though.
@Dragon1813 1)Despite popular misconception, claymores, historically, were basket hilt swords, not two handers. 2)Highland greatswords (incorrectly termed claymore in modern times) were sometimes worn on the back for transport. Not common. Greatswords were carried by the horse or by a servant. In the rare case that it was shouldered by the wielder, the baldrick and harness would first be unshouldered and thrown aside. lindy is correct, it is a Hollywood thing only.
@willrichtor My understanding has for a long time been that the term 'claymore' was used both to refer to a certain style of hand-and-a-half or two-handed Scottish sword, and then later to the one-handed basket hilted sword which became the standard in the 17th century.
@willrichtor That's not true. Claymore is a coined term for "F*****g big sword" neither sword was actually named a claymore, but both could have and probably would have been referred to as a claymore. All you said about transportation though is spot on.
Thank you, thank you, finally a video that teaches that no, you cannot, infact, draw your sword in any way possible, because you want to do so... Your arm length, your sword length, etc, limits your abilities... If anyone doubts this man, get a sword of your own, if you can, and test this, try any angles you want, it is almost impossible, unless your arms are much longer then your blade... Good luck with more videos.
Somehow I feel like as a Ninja, having a sword at all would probably be a bad idea, hence the (assumed at least) use of basic farm tools. For example, the kunai, was a trowel, and it could be easily hidden under a shirt or something, and be out of the way. A peasant with any form of katana at all (barring a blacksmith) would strike me as conspicuous in feudal Japan. Possibly some form of garrote would be a good choice for an assassin, it could be wrapped around your arm, under a sleeve.
@Hypatia1951 Tanto certainly, but why have a tanto on your back? It isn't in the way at my waist, where it is much more convenient. Wakasashi possible, but a bit awkward.
@lindybeige I'd say that straping the sowrd to your back is certainly a good idea when sneaking. Then ninjas used katanas, however, they often used shorter swords. When sneaking, I'd put my money on the shorter sword as a ninja's choice. When attacking from hiding, you draw your sword or dagger beforehand. I'd say it is most probable that ninjas used this method a lot, though never when going into a fight. They also rarely fought honest.
This may not be totally accurate because the ninja made their own, less expensive Katana. They called it the Ninjato and it was about and inch or so shorter than the sheith they had so it was easy for them to pull out instead of having the same difficulty as you did.
@Zombie0194 See numerous comments below on this idea. If you can provide any evidence at all for the existence of these ninjatos, please do. See also follow-up video.
it IS possible... With a shorter sword. That or mounting the scabbard lower so that the mouth (where the sword goes in) is about even with the bottom of your shoulder blade. It'd be a little slow to reseath, but, well, we're only talking about drawing them, aren't we?
@lindybeige It is possible they used a wakizashi. It wouldn't be considered an odd weapon to carry around. It would also be a lot easier to draw from the back. I am not saying I agree with the movie Shinobi drawing from the back but its possible.
@vasya111 The nija had the Ninja-to, the equivelant of a short sword. It was much like the katana, but it was not curved. the scabbard had the same length as a katana lenght scabbard and the handle also looked like a katana handle. This was to create the illusion that the ninja was using a katana, and the opponent wound assume that it would take the same amount of time to draw the weapon. The extra lenght of tha scabbard was used to store items. Like slim daggers for throwing.
@vasya111 you´re thinking about the Ninjato, its a Straightbladed sword unlike the Katana and Wakizashi and not as long as the Katana but a little longer than a Wakizasji, but then again. There are no historical records of those swords being used ;)
@Slotty There is very little "historical records" kept for ninjas in general. Which is how they would want it I'm sure.
As for a ninjato? Well why use a sword, when a knife could be much more useful? The idea isn't to fight, but to spy, or assassinate. As the goal was more than likely to catch them out of armor. Leave the fighting to the Samurai.
That last part was a bit of a rant, but oh well lol
It's all about technique, I've drawn many swords and I can say, there are many ways to position a sword and they all have a knack to it, not mentioning the stance required. Yes he has a point, who would ware a 5000 ft blade on their back... No one, ok get the right blade for the right stance and position to carry out a skilful and sensible display :)
First, I understand that this video is 4 years old. Second, ninjas did and still do draw the sword from the back as you are indicating, and it is quite simple and easy to do. However you are overlooking one very simple action. You pull the scabbard down with the other hand, and fold the scabbard forward so it is then around your hip. In essence you draw your sword and move the scabbard out of the way in the same motion.
Melthornal 1 week ago
@Melthornal See the follow-up video I did, which has a rather long title.
lindybeige 1 week ago
a ninja ,had a shorter sword ,and most of the time a longer sheath.. Why?? i tell you.. because creating the ilusion that it wood take more time to grap its sword from the sheath ,then his enemy wood think.. its like puting a bajonet in a samurai sheet,, how fast can you draw that...i know.. sneacky guys. sorry for my lang.. english isnt my tong.. :)
zaanninja 1 week ago
great videos. I used to make fun of my ninja friends with swords strapped to the back. Ninja most likely wore swords just like samurai
smirkdancer 3 weeks ago
Well,mate, your'e a Brit'...great sense of humor. Love your deliver. I think we are not really suppose to take the movies, Hollywood moveis and stunts, etc. seriously. No, they are all fantasy, just for take our fancy. Most of these comments are much, much too serious, logical for my taste. Please - Lets keep it on the light side, gentlemen...be real!
UNIDEN2211 3 weeks ago
Where do you think all this obsession with Eastern combat supremacy comes from?
shoopoop21 4 weeks ago
hahaha considering there is also a fighting style based on landing an attack as you draw the weapon it makes wearing it on your back even more silly.
Although I did read something about wearing a nodashi (the extra big one) on the back. I think your attendant wore it and you drew it from the scabbard. Could be complete bollocks though :p
Psy037 1 month ago
But what about shurikens? I don't think those are very effective, okay maybe poisoned, but really now. One way you could do it like you usea a assualt rifle, swing the sword and the sheath and take the sword out of the sheath in front. And if you are sneaking around you can do this before engaging in a fight.
ShitCrap 1 month ago
ninja are called shinobi and there katana is much shorter
fschd1 1 month ago
Thank you for posting these videos. Although I agree with you, I have to ask: Did you try drawing from the opposite shoulder?
EdwinHofstra 1 month ago
@EdwinHofstra That can be done too.
lindybeige 1 month ago
@lindybeige Actually I had more trouble drawing across over the shoulder. I did find though that if the katana sat low enough I could draw it with not too much extra effort but definitely not at any speed comparable to it being strapped at the waist. But it is doable, however I'm a rather tall guy with really long arms so I have an advantage at drawing katana's while looking cool I suppose.
f0r73hh8ers 1 week ago
Great vid, but if I recall, I believe the colour of their clothing for night missions were dark blue, black creates an outline.
dactyif 1 month ago
Ninja is the "Spy". Truth, ninja wear ordinary suit to be seen ordinary people.
In mission of "killer", wear same ordinary suit to be seen not killer. Why do you think ninja wear weird looking suit and sword to be more obtrusive?
elvenisar 1 month ago
The only swords I can think of that were historically drawn from the back are mainland SE Asian dhas. which interestingly were also sometimes worn in pairs. This wearing and draw technique is still taught in SE Asian martial arts (ie. krabi krabong etc.) Very long swords, notably Japanese pike breaking swords were sometimes worn on the back, but unslung rather like a rifle before drawing.
TOMHYLE88 2 months ago
when not in open rebellion, Ninjas (a peasant ethnicity rather than a profession, BTW) Ninjas would carry, as a matter of law, Japanese peasant swords. These were shorter than katana, by law, and also are generally straightish, like a lot of Samurai daggers; straightish, tapered, and with a swedged (ie bevelled but not sharpened) back edge at the tip. They are notably similar to the Chinese jians known as willow leaf sabers in USA, though not as broad.
TOMHYLE88 2 months ago
I agree, with all of this, but tis also true that ninja used shorter(almost by half) swords as well, is it not?
teh50calFerretz 2 months ago 2
@teh50calFerretz I don't know if anything is known about what ninjas generally did.
lindybeige 2 months ago 10
@teh50calFerretz
Ninja is the "Spy". Truth, ninja wear ordinary suit to be seen ordinary people.
In mission of "killer", wear same ordinary suit to be seen not killer. Why do you think ninja wear weird looking suit and sword to be more obtrusive?
elvenisar 1 month ago
I once read that Ninja's rarely had Katana as said Katana were rather expensive and generally the tool of the richer Samurai. They would, of course, take the blade if they managed to overcome a Samurai but this wasn't common as they were generally better trained and armed. If the Ninja were to aquire a Katana they would have it ''shortened'' (this sounds rediculous) so it would be easier to draw and fight with, if the time ever came that they would need to. Not sure if what I read holds truth.
LordJusticar 2 months ago
naruto fan: "well you cant see the ninja in the dark if theyre wearing their black suites"
guard: "i wouldnt be night patrol if i couldnt see in the dark now could i?"
Runningtail 2 months ago
what if the scabbage was split near it's top so that the blade could simplys slip out of there ?
smio33 2 months ago
@smio33 Then I would hate it when it rains.
lindybeige 2 months ago 6
Weren't the ninjas like any other proper assassins, just try to avoid a fight in any way necessary? I mean, Even if you do win a fight, that doesn't do you much good anyways, running away sounds a lot better then actually using any of their weapons.
icecremer 2 months ago
it is possible that the ninjas used that smaller katana. that'd be easy to draw from your back. i know their katana wasn't really a "katana," so theirs could have been rigged to draw like that.
KIHEITAIBLADE 3 months ago
@KIHEITAIBLADE You "know"? See many comments below for more on this.
lindybeige 3 months ago
@KIHEITAIBLADE yes Ninjas used a Ninjato for very early in history when they were still revolting against samurai and has no access(except for stealing) of katanas,A Ninjatos is about half a foot shorter than the Katana but this is not very useful for drawing from the back anyway,Carrying from the back is more for long travel rather than immediate use.But yet again it does look cool,But its impractical like double bit axes..
maxaslagolis 1 month ago
@maxaslagolis Incorrect. There's no evidence to suggest that the Ninjato existed before the 20th century. If you have any proof to refute this, then by all means, show us.
MultiMaxyboy123 1 month ago
Unless it's teh stereotypical ninja from a secret monastery with lots of fancy toys, the typical (?) ninja would have to train in private/secretly and use whatever farm tools or what not came to mind; a difficult thing to do in Feudal Japanese society, cos people start thinking that secretive people are up to something--in other words, this very Japanese archtype stands out due to his un-Japanese behavior. It'd be a tough job. The monastry-trained ninja has the luxury of secrecy to train.
hoosieryank1967 3 months ago
ahh..Hollywood ninjas !!
lixandrocordero 3 months ago
Never mind just watched your clarification video lol
MrSiiKez 3 months ago
Could it be possible if they used one hand to pull the handle and the other hand to pull the sheath?
MrSiiKez 3 months ago
@MrSiiKez Sort of. See other comments and follow-up video.
lindybeige 3 months ago
this is where the wakizashi comes in useful ^^ you see you can draw a wakizashi rather quickly from your back due to it being a mid sized one handed sword.
TheBreakback 3 months ago
You make some good points but I'm going to have to go with the Asian guy
/watch?v=jv_eKksZCrg
TheTexver 3 months ago
Katana was impractical for ninja. Good theory is that they actually used shorter, straight blades so they could fight indoors more efficiently. If I were an assasin, I'd take a long knife rather than sword. Its just more handy. And there are ways of drawing sword from back - you actually have to use both hands for that pulling scabbard down and sword up. But again.. the thing that happens is the sword guard hitting your back or neck all the time when you move.
Beneficiis 3 months ago
Well its not completely impossible it depends on the length of the blade
roxasvamp245 3 months ago
Good points but heavily generalised and based on assumptions. Do you have any source telling us Ninja were 'just' spies. Or that they carried Katana? The Katana is a prestige weapon, a status symbol. Ninja wern't really rich people from the Samurai class.
Tresidentevil 4 months ago
also, ninjas did not commonly use the katana for any purpose. they were much more prone to using farming equipment such as a sickle.
in the event they used a real sword, it was almost always the ninjato; a blade several inches shorter than a katana and forged in the same method. the katana was the primary weapon of the samari.
kankunation13 4 months ago
@kankunation13 If anyone ever comes up with any evidence for this, I shall avidly examine it.
lindybeige 3 months ago
@kankunation13
The ninjato actually has no historical evidence of being a literal weapon utilized by historic Japanese ninja. They indeed carried a nihonto, aka "katana."
TheCaptainhat 3 months ago
@TheCaptainhat They didn't always have real weapons at all. Being primarily spies, they used whatever weapons they could hide on their person or disguise as farming tools.
They only used swords when posing as someone who would realistically be able to carry a sword without drawing suspicion. When they did carry swords, they were often cut shorter (which is where the modern perception of ninjato came from) so it could be drawn quicker than opponents would assume from the katana-sized scabbard.
Rycr 3 months ago
@lindybeige: Do you think it would be possible for training to make the transfer of sword from hip to back very fast, and therefore make it relatively useful for ninja to transfer the sword to their back (and back again) for "sneaking" purposes?
tenthousandsuns 4 months ago
@tenthousandsuns I think it would be far better to make the process unnecessary. Dressing up as a servant and using a knife would be better.
lindybeige 4 months ago
SilverterrorII: I have hundreds of years of history which proves you wrong, and personal experience which shows that statement comes from an uninformed person who doesn't know a runnel from a quillon. Not only is it possible with practice and skill, let's just consider scabbard customization -- a common practice. Let's just ignore fascinating and obscure concepts that would twist you brain like a Cheerio, such as reverse draw or strong-side mounting. Putting a neck-to-nape slot is a necessity.
HaggisMacTavish 4 months ago
Hey Lloyd - I thought you might like this: there's a trailer for the game Elder Scrolls Skyrim where the hero draws a sword from his back.. it's in CGI.. and I remembered this video.. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. At 45 seconds: /watch?v=znj_r4YNbqE
EVEN CGI CAN'T PULL IT OFF! LOL!
CenaxKikia 4 months ago
What about the long-sword types which are considerably shorter than katanas?
Shchetchynianin 4 months ago
LOL ROFL no really me and my friend were watching this and fell on the floor of laughing and we couldn't stop you are really funny man
medievalhistoryrocks 4 months ago
this guy on youtube called chosun ninja shows how the ninja would draw their sword from their back. He does this fluidly by pulling down the scabbard while drawing the blade thus decreasing the amount of distance needed to draw the blade.
phenxue 4 months ago
@phenxue See follow-up vid.
lindybeige 4 months ago
In the opening scene of blade he draws his sword quite clearly, is that because the sword is placed further down his back or what?
AndreiBetlen 4 months ago
@AndreiBetlen Our first example in 34,560 views! I haven't seen this film.
lindybeige 4 months ago
@lindybeige Three things: First, you're having issues drawing a katana from your back when speaking of ninja. Strike one. Ninja used a shorter, modified and highly illegal variant of that blade. Second, you're presenting this like you have some form of blade training. Unfortunately, only an idiot would wear there and risk putting holes in his hip from abrasion. Strike two. Lastly, I use blades myself. I draw a 35" broadsword in .13 seconds from that position using reverse draw. Go back to school
HaggisMacTavish 4 months ago
@HaggisMacTavish 1. Almost certainly not (see other comments), 2. I do, 3. Well done - make that video!
lindybeige 4 months ago
@lindybeige Question for you: I understand your points, but have you been to any museum in, say, Tokyo? They have dozens of period examples there, and other places in Japan. Also, your positioning for the back mount is completely absurd; proper positioning for a back mount is placed with only half the hilt available from it's position just under the point of the shoulder. Finally, if you have blade training, why exactly are you placing your hip mount where you'd put holes in your hip? Puzzling.
HaggisMacTavish 4 months ago
@lindybeige
You should watch it and get back to us about if that's possible or not.
DanteForever20XX 4 months ago
Another POINT about drawing swords?
Badum tsh.
MegaShizer 4 months ago
What's funny is how many people are nerd raging. Get over it, you cannot, and I repeat CANNOT draw swords from the back. As cool as it looks in the movies and in video games it's impossible.
SilverterrorII 4 months ago
actually you can pull a "short sword" off your back and yes the do have shorter swords that go horizontally across your back and vertically they are 39'' blades and down not only did ninjas use them samurai would too for reach and action
iphownage 4 months ago
I've always tried to draw from the back with my toy katana as a little boy... Oh Hollywood, how you have mislead me.
GTFOVevo 4 months ago
If you were to fasten the sheath farther down on your back, an inch or two, drawing the blade would be easy. That said, why open up your body to attack when you could just wear it like a normal person
veshkeat 4 months ago
Yeah, I always thought that the back would be a really crappy place to put a sword for this very reason.
Might be able to pull it off with a gladius, though, or some similar short sword. Even so, it would not be ideal for a quick draw.
Froggy22651 4 months ago
The Katanas used by Ninjas, which were used in extremely low amount as they prefered hidden and easily concealed weapons, were often shorter than the average katana.
If I remember correctly the blade of the average katana would be around four feet. At least I think mine is. But the sword used by the ninjas would often be a whole foot shorter to ease drawing it.
Or they'd just just a Wakizashi, which is generally a short sword. And if rumors are to be trusted they also used straight ones.
MatteV2 5 months ago
@MatteV2 If anyone ever discovers any evidence for this, I shall read it avidly.
lindybeige 5 months ago
@lindybeige I shall bring it up to the man I used to study Ninjutsu under and see if he can find anything and I shall send it your way as soon as possible.
MatteV2 5 months ago
A friend of mine told me that the shortened katana, or "ninjato" as it's being called, was meant to be a surprise weapon. It could be kept in a full sized sheathe to appear as a katana, but having only half the length, could be drawn in close quarters, as well as more quickly than a full sized blade. The extra space in the sheath was (apparently) used to store caltrops or blinding powder. Sounds almost too cool to be true.
I haven't found a credible source yet.
GentlemanBarbarian 4 months ago
@MatteV2 ... Though if the sheath was meant to deceive an opponent about the length of the blade, it would probably be good if the sheath was visible, and not on the ninja's back.
GentlemanBarbarian 4 months ago
@MatteV2 Ninjas used the same swords as the samurai. Either cuz they WERE samurai, or cuz they killed one and took his sword. the "ninja sword" is a hollywood creation
veshkeat 4 months ago
I love this video. My friends and I discovered this fact in junior high science class, as we took turns attempting to "draw" meter sticks from our backs. The funny thing is, of course none of us could do it no matter how we tried, but we kept thinking there must be some "trick" we were missing because clearly you must be able to draw a sword from your back because all of our favorite fantasy characters carried them there!
djp928 5 months ago
Some Ninjas or "Shinobis" used to have a sword on there back. The sword was usually less than 17 inches long.
TheKyuubiChakra 5 months ago
another problem about having it on your back is if youre in a room with a low roofor any low object thats over you like a thick tree branch for example you wont be able to draw your sword without ducking, which gives your enemy an opening
raysetiger285 5 months ago
I'm trying to track it down but I read a scource a while ago about a feudal lord who was in a fair bit of strife with some bigger names and had actually taken to making everyone but his hand-picked guards wear their swords on their backs when they met him so the katana was impossible to draw and the wakizashi was simply out of reach. That way their swords were there for them to reach for and he could have threats cut down when they made the move.
psychedashell 5 months ago
i found a picture on (i think) a vase painting that shows celtic guy wearing their swords on their back!
img117.imageshack.us/img117/3898/rueckqy2.jpg
dont ask me where its from, something like "crater of Philakokkinos" or so... found it postet on a forum for reenactment
Glimmlampe1982 6 months ago
@Glimmlampe1982 Quite a bit of interpretation required there. Is it a sword? Is it just slung there for the moment while he gets on/off his horse, later to be suspended from the saddle?
lindybeige 6 months ago
@lindybeige
didnt found any better picture, its from a discussion where one mentioned also some celtic figurines with short swords on their back.
i guess if it IS a sword it is just put there for the moment (taking care of the horses) or for transportation. but at least it *could* show that its not a entirely unknown way to carry a sword.
Glimmlampe1982 6 months ago
watch this and draw you own conclusions watch?v=jv_eKksZCrg
LedKenji666 6 months ago in playlist Autres vidéos de lindybeige
@LedKenji666 Yup, seen it, and responded to it long ago. See below, and see follow-up video.
lindybeige 6 months ago 2
@lindybeige I can't find your response to that video anywhere. Is it supposed to be in this discussion or in the comments of that video?
mcvos 5 months ago
@mcvos Watch to the end of this video and you'll see a clickable link appear in the picture.
lindybeige 5 months ago
I always wondered about this. Thanks for clearing it up. I wonder if legolas' swords where short enough to be drawn. They where on also his back right?
mmmocto 6 months ago
with the right scabbard, drawing a sword from the back would pose little trouble. Look at some scabbard designs for claymores which are too large to carry on the hip. There's support 0,75-1 foot up the blade, then bare and the another support-strap close to the hilt. When the hiltstrap opens you wont have to draw the sword very far to get it out of its scabbard.
brutsi 6 months ago
Basically the only difference between a katana and a ninjato is that when a ninja puts on a katana, it's a ninjato. :)
Tareltonlives 6 months ago in playlist Archaic Weapons & Armour
I was under the impression that katana (at least the ones made in the past) had a greater degree of curvature than the one you are using. I could be wrong though. Anyway is it easier to draw the katana if its more curved? Since you could pull in an arc instead of pulling straight up.
Also, the average length of the katana changed according to the period, so maybe the real ninja used shorter katanas than yours?
oneforthelord 6 months ago
The only time I seen dwaring a sword from ones back portrayed convincingly was in the video game 'the wicher', where the protagonist guy wears a sword on his back which he gets it out by simply throwing the thing up a bit and catching it. He got it back in by holding the blade and just dropping it.
Though I still wondered how he still had all his fingers, and thought it could end realy embarrasingly if there was a ceiling.
MrNuserame 7 months ago
@MrNuserame I remember reading something about The Witcher where they had trouble preventing the animation of the sword going through the scabbard. Not sure if that was when drawing the sword, though. As for keeping all his fingers, that's probably because of his freaky mutant healing ability.
mcvos 5 months ago
Ninjas do not have belts
smacknrat 7 months ago
Scottish claymores were hung from the back and the scabbard was specially built so you would not have to pull it all the way from the scabbard in order to get it out. So it is not impractical to hung a sword from your back *if* you have a proper sword that is designed for it.
themurmeli88 7 months ago
I think it's logical if they used way shorter blades. Even more logical if they used daggers/knives. Easier to carry on yourself without them moving around, and possible to draw, even when carried like that on your back. But then again, if I can strap a dagger to my waist, or on my back, I'd definitely carry it on my waist, where it's easier to draw and actually strike right after the draw.
As for if anyone did carry swords on their backs, I have no idea. Did they? Why, if?
DiabolusIgnis 7 months ago
Nooo.They where freaking Ninjajs!!they coudl draws the sword no mater how long it was!!!!They where Ninjas and coudl shoot lazers out of their eyes!!!;-)
Kharmazov 7 months ago
fist things fist ninjas had the 'Nnjato' and its more shorter than the katana
TheSlimLP 7 months ago
@TheSlimLP See countless comments below for more on this. Evidence is lacking.
lindybeige 7 months ago
@TheSlimLP a thing called 'ninjato' didn't exist... they were using cheap katanas, that's it. Some of them, who were samurai before, used their original weapon, the rest used cheap ones (much like the chinese "katanas" nowadays).
It is true that the sword in this video is very long though.
Azurel777 5 months ago
@TheSlimLP Yes a "ninjato" because ninjas would really attract attention to themselves by having a different looking sword from normal katanas (That was sarcasm btw) :P no, what ninjas would have done is wear either a wakizashi or a kokatana on their back, because lets be honest, there really wouldn't be any point in wearing a full length katana. In fact, worse than pointless, it would just get in the way. And besides, a trained ninja wouldn't need anything more that a tanto.
Akirayashiki123 5 months ago
I can't cite this but isn't the "traditional" clothes of a ninja the ones used in japanese theatre to signify someone invisible?
Dokph 7 months ago
@Dokph This is the case, more or less. I can't quite recall where I'd heard it for citation, but I can at least provide second backing to the assertion. The 'traditional' ninja garb came from the manner of dress of stagehands during kabuki and noh plays, which were present on stage, but theater-goers were aware that they should normally ignore said black-dressed people. This concept was then applied to characters depicted as ninja, as the audience would ignore them until they acted.
Domura 7 months ago
@glavorez ninja uses Ko katana.. a sword must be around 19 - 22 inch to make it possible for a quick draw from the back... i havent see a hollywood ninjato at that length..
felixchow89 7 months ago
What if said ninja needs to draw the weapon? Wouldn't he / she probably be killed by the time said ninja put the sword back into a position where he / she could reach?
GTFOVevo 7 months ago
U like to brake peapoles dream do U
elfs5559 7 months ago
The reason you can't draw a sword like that is becuase your arm is not long enough. No one has an arm long enough to do that. That's why you would grab it with your left hand. ninjas used smaller swords becuase using a metre long sword isn't very smart. Not only were their swords small, but they weren't even sharp. This is becuase they would use them to grab onto walls that were too high for them and pull themselves up using the square guard. some of what you said is true though
evilhawkins 7 months ago
Here's a an explanation about wearing swords on your back. Check out his channel, lots of enlightening content about Asian Drawing Style.
/watch?v=AvDCJgrQ0RE&fmt=35
EntranceDenied 8 months ago
What about the scottish claymore, the sheath for that was on the back, i cant imagine how they got it out but then again i can't imagine having it on their waist.
JoeShowClips 8 months ago
@JoeShowClips I know of no evidence that it was ever carried for a quick draw. Similarly, rifles are not carried by infantry for a quick draw.
lindybeige 8 months ago
@JoeShowClips
I think I know how they drew the claymore from the back,
instead of a sheath its a strap with 2 iron pins/hooks that hold the hand guards and a the tip if a sheath for the tip so you dont stab you ankles. I made one myself, you can draw effortlessly problem is with my version its a little unstable, but the pins were made of bicycle spokes lol
gothicluke 7 months ago
@JoeShowClips A friend of mine brought this up. He claimed they had a specially made scabbards that were more a set of clasps than anything. Unsheating it simply meant pulling it so the clasps unlocked. He also mentioned the claymore is a pretty stupid weapon, unless you fight pikers, which was good because the scottish tended to fight english pikers. He's a historian, but he could be wrong.
Dokph 7 months ago
@JoeShowClips they wouldve just carried there claymores. the claymores wouldnt be able to be unsheathed if they were on the back. and quick draws werent used. at least know evidence shows that. they wouldve used hand and a halves or longswords which may have been used wiith sheathes but those sheathes were worn on the hip
mouthforwar17 6 months ago
@glavorez Ninja weapons were often used by samurai. Case in point, the kama/kusarigama. An armor piercing warpick with a flail. Much better against heavy armor than the katana (which in reality isn't any good for defeating heavy armor). I doubt a samurai would pass such a weapon up on the basis it is based on a farm tool, especially if he faced armored opponents regularly.
Likely ninja would use poison to kill enemies. A slit throat is evidence of some foul play.
demomanchaos 8 months ago
@demomanchaos The kusari-gama has great practical application for one-on-one fights. The chain can be used to entangle the opponent's blade, giving you greater control to close the gap and strike the kill. The kusari-fundo does the same thing, though it's simply a weighted chain and not necessarily intended to use to kill.
Domura 7 months ago
You have completely destoryed my innocence. No but in all seriousness nice videos.
jaskamakkara 8 months ago
The shinobigatana. is/was a sword which were probably a minimum of 17 inches to a max of 22 inches. most of the time curved. not straight. people who think the ninja sword were straight are fooled by the movies. It has never proven that they were straight. allthough they might look straight. but they aren't. cause the blade has been shorten. the shinobigatana is also known as ko or chisa katana. Both known as small swords. compare it with wakizashi. only a longer handle. (tsuka)
HaidongGumdo 8 months ago
@HaidongGumdo yeah agree with you.. it looks straight but it isnt .. a good example of a curve blade that look straight is wss ko katana from wiwiting supply..
felixchow89 7 months ago
@glavorez See numerous comments below for more on this. So far no one has been able to back this assertion up with one jot of evidence.
lindybeige 8 months ago
c@lindybeige well the ninja's were secret. that's why there's not much evidence about them. if you watch the series of videos from Conquest :Weapons of a Ninja i think that's the best video for watching on what a ninja used.
FinalFreek 6 months ago
i love this guy haha so awesome. ive learnt alot from listening to you :)
StoreslemLilleslem 8 months ago
The swords were shorter, better for CQC and faster to draw that that long katana you have. You should look in to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi work, instead of watching Ninja movies.
edwood777 8 months ago
so what about putting the thing on along strap with a tie point near the end, so that you can wear it on your back when you need to, then release the strap from the tie point and pull the scarab down to waist height?
GoranXII 8 months ago
So, would the ninjas have taken the scabbard off of their back and then drawn it?
Cakevspie94 8 months ago
@Cakevspie94 Probably, if they existed at all.
lindybeige 8 months ago
this is why i prefer shorter swords
pzshi 8 months ago
"Ninja" were in fact samurai, and samurai did not deviate from the iai(sword drawing) techniques of their schools of swordsmanship. It is true that all indoor fighting was done with wakizashi or chisa katana(both shorter blades) but the method of carry would deviate only in that the sword, still in the obi, would be shifted around to the small of the back. There, it was out of the way, but could still be twisted around to the side for the correct, conventional draw.
willrichtor 8 months ago
Yes as it was told....man nice video but before saying something...you need to get some knowlege....Shinobi sword was long as their whole arm...it means when you get it in hand...the tip of sword ends at your shoulder... Yes and I am ninja and yes I have this sword..:)
chemistt 8 months ago
@chemistt I know that you are not a ninja, because a real ninja would not reveal that he is a ninja.
lindybeige 8 months ago 33
@lindybeige ok yes "I am not ninja" and "I dont have sword like this at home" ^^ and "I dont even know how to wear my sword"....and if I were you....I delete this video...it just says about you that you dont know anything about ninjas....you get there samurai sword and tell stupid things about them...so...
chemistt 8 months ago
@lindybeige and not revealing him self was just matter of times....because ninjas were persecuted in japan...so please
chemistt 8 months ago
@lindybeige If anyone knows you are ninja, you are only chunin
DonMeaker 8 months ago
@lindybeige unless youre in Naruto
raysetiger285 6 months ago
@lindybeige Unless he knew you wouldn't believe him so he told you he WAS a ninja to make you think he wasn't a ninja. :P
10dmcghee 6 months ago
I practice Ninjutsu, though I am not a master I'm just practitioner, I haven't really been told why the common practice is leave the blade on the back, past what your saying for shock in awe in the movie.
However we do not use the full size Katana on the back because it is extremely cumbersome to draw a standard Katana as your clearly demonstrating. We use a Wakazashi to draw from the back because you can draw it that way freely and it doesn't get in the way of free movement compared to waist.
SilentRaeth1 8 months ago
@SilentRaeth1 "Ninjutsu" is also a modern creation, be it American Bujinkan or otherwise. "Ninja" were schooled in jujutsu and kenjutsu, and the combined the techniques when necessary. Ninja = samurai with a mask. Nothing more.
willrichtor 8 months ago
Ninja didn't use katana...they either used ninjato or wakisashi which were much shorter.
youmaus 9 months ago
@youmaus No, "ninjato" are a modern creation. Wakizashi were used, but the closest analogue to ninjato in history were chokuto, and they also were not used by "ninja"
willrichtor 8 months ago
Scotts like William Walace were able to do it with 12th century broad swords and 13th century claymores which were at least half again as long as a katana.
Dragon1813 9 months ago
@Dragon1813 You have evidence that they drew them from back-scabbards? What is this evidence?
lindybeige 9 months ago
@lindybeige I have a friend who is Scottish and a weapons guru, and Ive discovered that back-scabbards for claymores were designed to have slots in them so one could draw the sword out part way, then pull the rest of the way from the side.
Dragon1813 9 months ago
@Dragon1813 I have seen modern examples, usually with press-stud fasteners at the top. If the sword can waggle sideways in the scabbard, it is not a convenient load. If the scabbard has a slit in it, it doesn't protect the sword from weather. If the sword is held in place with a tie to stop it flopping around, it prevents a quick draw. I can't imagine many instances when a quick draw was really needed with a claymore, though.
lindybeige 9 months ago
@Dragon1813 1)Despite popular misconception, claymores, historically, were basket hilt swords, not two handers. 2)Highland greatswords (incorrectly termed claymore in modern times) were sometimes worn on the back for transport. Not common. Greatswords were carried by the horse or by a servant. In the rare case that it was shouldered by the wielder, the baldrick and harness would first be unshouldered and thrown aside. lindy is correct, it is a Hollywood thing only.
willrichtor 8 months ago
@willrichtor My understanding has for a long time been that the term 'claymore' was used both to refer to a certain style of hand-and-a-half or two-handed Scottish sword, and then later to the one-handed basket hilted sword which became the standard in the 17th century.
lindybeige 8 months ago
@lindybeige Word origin points to 18th century, in reference to basket hilts, and the reference to greatswords came later.
willrichtor 8 months ago
@willrichtor That's not true. Claymore is a coined term for "F*****g big sword" neither sword was actually named a claymore, but both could have and probably would have been referred to as a claymore. All you said about transportation though is spot on.
psychedashell 6 months ago
Clearly the ninjas just launched the sword from the scabbard into the air forwards as they charged and did a flying somersault to catch it. Duh...
UnknownSquid 9 months ago
choson ninja video #105, he shows you how to do it somewhere in there.
MonolithD6 9 months ago
Could you do this with a sword that has a rounder edge? Or would that make it even more difficult?
anonimystro12345 9 months ago
Thank you, thank you, finally a video that teaches that no, you cannot, infact, draw your sword in any way possible, because you want to do so... Your arm length, your sword length, etc, limits your abilities... If anyone doubts this man, get a sword of your own, if you can, and test this, try any angles you want, it is almost impossible, unless your arms are much longer then your blade... Good luck with more videos.
tomcat2222 9 months ago
These are possibly the most intelligent comments to be posted on any youtube video ever... I'm impressed.
xStizzy 9 months ago
@newjoints23 For argument's sake, could you please name the sword they used, then?
mightymoose101 9 months ago
If you could even get it out how would you get back in with cutting yourself.............ah the smarts of film making
pawakin 9 months ago
Somehow I feel like as a Ninja, having a sword at all would probably be a bad idea, hence the (assumed at least) use of basic farm tools. For example, the kunai, was a trowel, and it could be easily hidden under a shirt or something, and be out of the way. A peasant with any form of katana at all (barring a blacksmith) would strike me as conspicuous in feudal Japan. Possibly some form of garrote would be a good choice for an assassin, it could be wrapped around your arm, under a sleeve.
rebelangelofficial 9 months ago
Could you draw a Tanto or a Wakazashi?
Hypatia1951 11 months ago
@Hypatia1951 Tanto certainly, but why have a tanto on your back? It isn't in the way at my waist, where it is much more convenient. Wakasashi possible, but a bit awkward.
lindybeige 11 months ago
@lindybeige Fair enough about the tanto. But if they did wear a sword on the back, it was probably a Wakasashi.
Hypatia1951 11 months ago
@lindybeige I'd say that straping the sowrd to your back is certainly a good idea when sneaking. Then ninjas used katanas, however, they often used shorter swords. When sneaking, I'd put my money on the shorter sword as a ninja's choice. When attacking from hiding, you draw your sword or dagger beforehand. I'd say it is most probable that ninjas used this method a lot, though never when going into a fight. They also rarely fought honest.
DionysusFTW 9 months ago
@lindybeige Try to get out the sword with the opposite hand, so you add the length of your shoulder width
DionysusFTW 9 months ago
This may not be totally accurate because the ninja made their own, less expensive Katana. They called it the Ninjato and it was about and inch or so shorter than the sheith they had so it was easy for them to pull out instead of having the same difficulty as you did.
Zombie0194 11 months ago
@Zombie0194 See numerous comments below on this idea. If you can provide any evidence at all for the existence of these ninjatos, please do. See also follow-up video.
lindybeige 11 months ago 8
it IS possible... With a shorter sword. That or mounting the scabbard lower so that the mouth (where the sword goes in) is about even with the bottom of your shoulder blade. It'd be a little slow to reseath, but, well, we're only talking about drawing them, aren't we?
ChishioAme 11 months ago
@ChishioAme Possible and feasible/advisable/practical are different things.
lindybeige 11 months ago
thus is why altair has his short sword facing at a 55 degree angle on his back.
miniwars123 11 months ago
Could you, some day, share any thoughts you might have about the penchant of monks in medieval Japan to wear their swords with the edge down?
lebarosky 1 year ago
Didn't ninjas had cooler, shorter swords, they could draw from their back?
vasya111 1 year ago
@vasya111 As you'll see in the many comments below, the answer is probably no. Also, what do you mean by "cooler"?
lindybeige 1 year ago
@lindybeige cooler - is obviously more Ninja like.
vasya111 1 year ago
@lindybeige It is possible they used a wakizashi. It wouldn't be considered an odd weapon to carry around. It would also be a lot easier to draw from the back. I am not saying I agree with the movie Shinobi drawing from the back but its possible.
Gratch2222 1 year ago
@vasya111 The nija had the Ninja-to, the equivelant of a short sword. It was much like the katana, but it was not curved. the scabbard had the same length as a katana lenght scabbard and the handle also looked like a katana handle. This was to create the illusion that the ninja was using a katana, and the opponent wound assume that it would take the same amount of time to draw the weapon. The extra lenght of tha scabbard was used to store items. Like slim daggers for throwing.
psykesdk 1 year ago
@vasya111 you´re thinking about the Ninjato, its a Straightbladed sword unlike the Katana and Wakizashi and not as long as the Katana but a little longer than a Wakizasji, but then again. There are no historical records of those swords being used ;)
Slotty 1 year ago
@Slotty There is very little "historical records" kept for ninjas in general. Which is how they would want it I'm sure.
As for a ninjato? Well why use a sword, when a knife could be much more useful? The idea isn't to fight, but to spy, or assassinate. As the goal was more than likely to catch them out of armor. Leave the fighting to the Samurai.
That last part was a bit of a rant, but oh well lol
sikok93453 9 months ago
is it possible to slit a hole along the length of the scabbard to draw?
wantonmee23 1 year ago
@wantonmee23 Yes, but this largely defeats the purpose of a scabbard.
lindybeige 1 year ago
It's all about technique, I've drawn many swords and I can say, there are many ways to position a sword and they all have a knack to it, not mentioning the stance required. Yes he has a point, who would ware a 5000 ft blade on their back... No one, ok get the right blade for the right stance and position to carry out a skilful and sensible display :)
MikalGreen1 1 year ago