semi-OT: katana fighting stance

[Khaunshar]

Hey there,

What I wanted to ask is if the katana fighting stance, namely the use of the swords being reversed with the blade pointing down, is actually pure imagination, or has been used/seen/developed in history at any time.

For a "realistic" use of that style, there is a movie called "Equilibrium" in which a katana, full-sized, is used that way...
I haven't been able to find anything, nor has my sensei ever heard of something like it, he added it would mean a somewhat awkward application of force if you used it like that, but I'm still curious perhaps someone here knows?

[vudoodoodoo]

I believe the short katana are weilded upside down that way. I think they are called Tanto? The ones w/o the round hand/finger guard between blade and handle. Holding the other 1H katana in the game upside down is wrong though. People hold them normally w/ one or two hands.
From what I've read, Ninja don't normally use Katana or Wakizashi. They use Tanto usually because they can't afford to have blacksmith made them nice katana. If they defeat a samurai or whoever that carries a katana, they would take the person's katana and use it.

Elvaan have the coolest looking stance BTW. I'm jealous. :sweat:

[vudoodoodoo]

Upside-down
http://www.weaponmasters.com/images/...M/WM-1738L.jpg

Right-side up
http://www.weaponmasters.com/images/...M/WM-1705L.jpg

I'm no expert though. Ask your sensei. :sweat:
What are you studying BTW?

[vudoodoodoo]

You should hold this upside-down though.
http://www.weaponmasters.com/images/...M/SHI001L1.jpg