The Katana is a curved, single-edged Japanese sword traditionally used by the samurai.
Components
- Fuchi (縁):The fuchi is a hilt collar between the tsuka and the tsuba.
- Habaki (鎺):The habaki is a wedge shaped metal collar used to keep the sword from falling out of the saya and to support the fittings below; fitted at the ha-machi and mune-machi which precede the nakago.
- Kaeshizuno (返し角) – a hook shaped fitting used to lock the saya to the obi while drawing.
- Kashira (頭):The kashira is a butt cap (or pommel) on the end of the tsuka.
- Kōgai (笄):The kōgai is a spike for hair arranging carried sometimes as part of Katana-Koshirae in another pocket.
- Koiguchi (鯉口):The koiguchi is the mouth of the saya or its fitting; traditionally made of buffalo horn.
- Kojiri (鐺):The kojiri is the end of the saya or the protective fitting at the end of the saya; also traditionally made of buffalo horn.
- Kozuka (小柄):The kozuka is a decorative handle fitting for the kogatana; a small utility knife fit into a pocket on the saya.
- Kurigata (栗形):The kuri-kata is a knob on the side of the saya for attaching the sageo.
- Mekugi (目釘):The mekugi is a small peg for securing the tsuka to the nakago.
- Menuki (目貫):The menuki are ornaments on the tsuka (generally under the tsuka-ito); to fit into the palm for grip and originally meant to hide the mekugi.
- Mekugi-ana (目釘穴):The mekugi-ana are the holes in the tsuka and nakago for the mekugi.
- Sageo (下げ緒):The sageo is the cord used to tie saya to the belt/obi when worn.
- Same-hada (鮫肌) – literally the pattern of the ray skin.
- Same-kawa (samegawa) (鮫皮):same-kawa is the ray or shark skin wrapping of the tsuka(handle/hilt).
- Saya (鞘):The saya is a wooden scabbard for the blade; traditionally done in lacquered wood.
- Seppa (切羽):The seppa are washers above and below the tsuba to tighten the fittings.
- Shitodome (鵐目) – an accent on the kurikata for aesthetic purposes; often done in gold-ish metal in modern reproductions.
- Tsuba (鍔 or 鐔):The tsuba is a hand guard.
- Tsuka (柄):The tsuka is the hilt or handle; made of wood and wrapped in samegawa.
- Tsuka-maki (柄巻) – the art of wrapping the tsuka, including the most common hineri maki and katate maki (battle wrap).
- Tsuka-ito (柄糸):Tsuka-ito the wrap of the tsuka, traditionally silk but today most often in cotton and sometimes leather.
- Wari-bashi (割箸) – metal chop-sticks fit in a pocket on the saya.
In accordance with the ancient Samurai practice, we often wear two swords, the shorter Wakizashi as well as the Katana.
For Kata practice we use Iaito, especially created Dull Blades for practice purposes.
For Tameshigi we use Shinken, or live blades, but this is only applicable at an advanced stage of training.
Bokken, Shinai, Iaito, Shinken, Bogu, Keiko Gi, Obi, Hakama and Tabi may be obtained from these excellent online shops, selling from Japan and the United States.
The Ronin Katsujinken Dojo 
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