Why Samurai Hardly Used the Katana
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2021
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When you imagine a samurai fighting, wouldn’t he be using a katana? However in the past when they actually existed, it was a weapon that they actually hardly used.
During the war eras, the samurai would mainly fight with long range weapons like bows, guns, and spears (including naginata) which were most effective on the battlefield.
In iaido (the katana martial art), we are taught that “a battle with a katana is done within a tatami mat distance (182cm/71in).” So you can understand how close you have to be in order to attack your opponent with a katana, and it would be very strange/unusual to try to use a short range weapon on the battlefield.
Every samurai would carry a katana with them, but it was the last weapon they would use only in extremely close combat or for defensive reasons. In other words, if you are using a sword, it means that you are in a very desperate situation and have no other choice.
During the peaceful Edo period (1603-1868) with no wars, the samurai were always required to always have two katana (one long and one short) by law, as a symbol of their class authority.
However, they would hardly have any occasions to use them either, because if you didn’t have a good reason and an eye witness to prove its legitimacy, even just showing your blade in public could get you thrown in jail or sentenced to death. So the samurai were taught… “If you're not prepared to die, don't pull out your katana."
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#katana #samurai #japanesehistory - Zábava
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How Samurai Trained Physically & Mentally Through Katana Training and Zen Meditation
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*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects
When you imagine a samurai fighting, wouldn’t he be using a katana? However in the past when they actually existed, it was a weapon that they actually hardly used.
During the war eras, the samurai would mainly fight with long range weapons like bows, guns, and spears (including naginata) which were most effective on the battlefield.
In iaido (the katana martial art), we are taught that “a battle with a katana is done within a tatami mat distance (182cm/71in).” So you can understand how close you have to be in order to attack your opponent with a katana, and it would be very strange/unusual to try to use a short range weapon on the battlefield.
Every samurai would carry a katana with them, but it was the last weapon they would use only in extremely close combat or for defensive reasons. In other words, if you are using a sword, it means that you are in a very desperate situation and have no other choice.
During the peaceful Edo period (1603-1868) with no wars, the samurai were always required to always have two katana (one long and one short) by law, as a symbol of their class authority.
However, they would hardly have any occasions to use them either, because if you didn’t have a good reason and an eye witness to prove its legitimacy, even just showing your blade in public could get you thrown in jail or sentenced to death. So the samurai were taught… “If you're not prepared to die, don't pull out your katana."
Hey listen to me is it true that the samurai were always the best warriors in history but what’s the point what makes Japan its greatest value
Why do you write your script in comments? We can see the video y'know?
@@shreddedbagelwabiwabo8342 it's for blind people
@@waterbottlefilms6563
Blind people can hear the video tho (?)
@@shreddedbagelwabiwabo8342 deaf people maybe?
Imagine spending years training in the way of the sword to kill the samurai who killed your father, countless hours of pain and misery to become a demon with the blade, you approach the man and he pulls out a pistol and kills you
demon slayer be like
@@raiden7194 Genya be like: 😈🤝
well… then again… this is real life and not an anime
"skill issue"
Katana is crap. It's a light sword. Bigger, heavier in battle wins the day. Artillery is called the KING of battle for a reason.
Heavier weapons run the battlefield.
Elephants are the true king of the jungle not lions. Lions just look the part.
"If you're not prepared to die don't pull out your katana"
That's have a deep meaning, thank you!
This should be taught to people who buy guns. Seeing as so many people don't get that guns are super deadly.
I Think thats a reference from the five Rings
I got goosebumps
@@evanbeers1644 Well in most places in the world that is a standard law. Just dont see it as a reason against sporting purpose, totally fine imo
@@evanbeers1644 it is taught to people who buy guns, it’s just that only the irresponsible people are the ones you see on the news.
Vast majority of gun owners are safe with their weapon. In fact, the most safe person to have a gun is someone who knows how and when to use it.
Basically the katana is the same as the combat knife for the soldiers in the military, to be reduced to using it means you're neck-deep in trouble.
More likely a pistol, a secondary weapon which is a sword is to samurai & knight.
@Hedonist Heathen remember, switching to your sword is faster than finding a new spear.
@@TriforceOfTheGods80 And even that is not a perfect comparison because situation where your sidearm was more usefull than your main weapon were more common back in the day.
Saying that sword were just secondary weapons often massively undersell their use on the battlefield. I am not expert in Japanese warfare, but I watched quite a bit of documentary about the late middle age and the renaissance era of europe.
And paradoxally when pikemen became the main type of infantry, sword had bit of a renaissance. Pike were great battlefield weapons but were quite unwieldy, and if melee became too close quarter like during a push of pike they were basically useless.
It is for that reasons that every pikemen had a swords and pike formation often also fielded soldier with shorter weapons like the famous spanish rodelero that used sword and buckler, the english billmen, the swiss halberdier or the famous german doppelsnoder which wielded haberd and zweihander.
Shorter weapons were also used to exploit a gap in a pike formation.
Though as time progressed and pike were no longer used offensively and push of pike were rarer those type of troop were graduall fazed out for more pikemen.
Sword were also often used as the main weapon outside of battlefield, when you were not in formation like during a skirmish or during a siege while climbing a wall or fighting inside a building the sword would be often the only weapon used.
I am ready to bet Katana were used similarly by japanese.
@@benjaminparent4115heres a very simple rundown
Your m1 garand (primary) if common use for mid range conflicts on the battlefirled
Your pistol would be if soneone got up on you and your clip was empty
Your knife is when someone has you physically grabbed (most likely choking) OR you have no ammo left at all
Knife is the last resort. Pistol and Rifle would just be so you are prepared for different scenarios. The knife is what you use in desperate times.
Or the longsword for late medieval knights, who used their longswords as ornament or as a sidearm, their main weapon usually being a mace or poleaxe
Police: "Sir, why did you pull out your katana, we need a logical reason"
Me: "Because it looks cool"
Police: "Unchain this man immediately!"
Totally the katana over sword any day.
I think animè is the sole reason I fell love with Japanese culture so much they be hyping us up and is where I wish I was reincarnated in the Samurai era
True
Then they all proceed to break dance!
@@parlor3115
The best ending
@@whiteace_t.k.o8060 Remember that Samurai Era where also a very dark past because any mistakes against the orders of the shogun or the Japanese culture, you are forcefully sentenced to death Or decapitation as punishment to die with Honor.
So... be careful for what you're wishing.
Real Samurai: Jousting archers
Anime Samurai: I can slice planets in half.
+Ground-shaking Sound effect
+color trail
+Epic slowmo effect
+delayed effect of damage
@@loser4182 +character sheathing their katana slowly
Enemy: *Pulls out blade
Samurai: *Pulls out musket
"parry this you filthy casual"
Ah yes. Mordhau.
Truly the greater fighter
SWORD SAINT ISSHIN INTENSIFIES
*misses*
Dude, it's not hard to reflect
*DEATHBLOWS*
Wise man once said
"Those who lived by the sword, get shot by the one who don't"
😂😂😂
"If you're not prepared to die don't pull out your katana."
Not just a katana but basically any weapon.
Yes, but no, yeah any weapon can get you killed, but that depends on the user, in the samurai era, pulling out your katana without any reason could get you killed immediately, nowadays, worst you can get is gettung arrested
Yeah but you weren't carrying other weapons in the Edo period unless you're on one of the very few battlefields of the era.
You destroyed that quote. SMH
@divinegreed8252 my man in England pulling out any weapon will get you shot if you refuse to drop it
"If you're not prepared to die don't pull out your katana" has almost as much energy as lelouch saying
"The only ones who should kill are the ones who are prepared to be killed "
Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.
@@romanshorif2330 where is that from?
@@mihailmilev9909 Code Geass
Protagonist: Lelouch
The quote is from Lelouch
The anime is a masterpiece.
“Live by the sword, die by the sword”
I'm tryna get met friend into anime and we're making our way thru the anime rn
It's funny to see anime protagonists boast about their katana skills now that we know that they actually mean "I could not use a bow or gun to save my life".
Yeah Also
Samurai the second they were introduced to guns: LMG MOUNTED, AND LOADED
Anime protagonists usually don't fight as part of a formation in a large scale battle. As a duelling and personal defence weapon a katana (or swords in general) is excellent due to its versatility. But on the battlefield other weapons are more effective.
@@ishashka spears are much more ubiquitous, as historically shown, so it stands to reason more accurate depictions would have them using said primary weapons before a more defensive and secondary weapon like the katana.
Because anime protagonist is stronger than real human.
@@BeeBait spears are only great for battle formations tho
Step 1: Carry two katana (required by law).
Step 2: Unsheathe.
Step 3: Get arrested.
You'd have a Wakazashi and a Katana or a Tachi and a Wakazashi
It’s nice to see governmental logic hasn’t changed much in 300-400 years.
"Wait, why in Nobunaga Oda's name would I use my brittle saber when I can just Blast my enemies with this cool flintlock rifle or do a drive by with my bow"
-Some Samurai
arquebus reaccs
Or poke them in the face with a spear.
It'd be great if you covered the firearms usage by the samurai. A lot of people see them as only using swords, bows, and horses completely forgetting that they had access to firearms in the later centuries
Yeah especially Oda Nobunaga loved incorporating firearms into his tactics
That was a very brief period in the very long period of samurai history. Thus why people are often unaware of its usage in addition to swords and bows.
I mean Samurais themselves were not necressary against gunpowder if I remember correctly. They were however against "non samurai's" having access on gunpowder weapons.
It would have made whole society class of samurais useless, if normal peasants without any training could be better than warriors with years of training
The samurais loved their guns, way more than katanas
@@jarskil8862 they were against everyone else having any form of weapon, even if it is a kitchen knife. They themselves loved their guns
Historically they were closer to mounted bowmen. They’d prefer spears if they used a melee weapon on horseback.
And the blades also got shorter during the edo period due to becoming more ceremonial / being intended for status purposes => became the Katana we know today. The status of carrying a blade was so high, that some of those not allowed to carry one wore empty sheaths for show IIRC...
Spears and staffs have always been the biggest, most efficient and easiest weapon in ground fights, bows and guns really were game changers. But the bow takes so much power to draw for killing force that not just anybody could pick one up and be deadly. Thus, the crossbow.
@@leonamay8776 lipl1
@@dflaming1371omjjj
@@leonamay8776 what about the long katana when did they use those
“YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE BY POINTING THAT AT ME.” From Shanks has a whole new meaning now. I see why it resonated so deeply with Japanese readers
"If you're prepared to die, don't pull out"
I remember my Ex when i didn't do what she said T_T
Everything reminds me of her....
Why would a girl say that?? It's a man's right to not pull out if he doesn't want to
@@eugeneflores6153 Why would a girl say that?? It's a man's right to not pull out if he doesn't want to
@@Logicalsanewhy would you say that? It's women's right to not have a child before they're prepared for it
This makes Japanese art (mostly samurai) posters even better because you can look at the painting/poster of a samurai holding his katana means that you're witnessing his most desperate time that is captured by the moment
259 likes let me fix that
True its not uncommon to find those with chipped bloodied blades peppered with arrows.
"Swiching to your katana is always faster than reloading"
Edit: guys it's a joke (apperently a COD one?)
That made sense considering the context
Said every weeb
@@cranberrycracker6847 At a certain distance a blade is more usefull then a gun, so it has a point
@@jonaswerner8480 yeah, thats kinda what swords do, theyre sharp n stuff
@@jonaswerner8480 no, a blade is never more useful than a gun.
The only time you could say that is at very close quarters, when you’re rolling around on the ground, and a knife would be more useful then a gun because you can’t aim the gun at him while you’re rolling around.
But you can’t stab someone with a katana while you’re rolling around.
🤣🤣🤣
This is actually pretty true for knights as well. The sword was always more of a last ditch weapon with spears being preferable. They liked not getting so close for obvious reasons
Depends on the period. Early knight in chainmail depended a lot on their horse and lance, since chainmail offers significantly less protection than plate and so distance to the enemy was the way to go. In the later middle ages, knights were basically walking tanks, that used more blunt and piercing weapons like flanged maces and poleaxes
*Greatswords have entered the chat*
However, unarmored dueling and self-defense when not armored up were more common than in Edo-era Japan.
The same applies to most societies in history. The weapon of choice for the battlefield was almost always a spear or a kind of polearm along with ranged weapons. The reason is quite simple: if you can outrange your opponent, you can't be harmed.
Well that’s true of any warrior, spears were the primary weapon everywhere, swords were always just a sidearm.
@alida flus you must really like spears. This is the fourth comment I see you replying hahaha
@alida flus they were use against armored opponents some surviving schools still teach armored combat with swords tho not the katana exactly as people know it today. Japanese swords were even imported to other asian countries use in combat of course they would have also use armor.
The romans being an exception to the rule.
@Loup DeFer even if you could afford a sword it still a poorer weapon overall. People with mony would use halberds, polehammers and so on.
@alida flus Not for show no, but it depends on the era. During the time when armored combat was prevalent in midevil Japan they didn't use the katana, they tended towards the tachi, a much larger curved sword. Katana did not become the main stay until much later.
I feel like swords simply exist as an ideology of battle. They weren’t actually that efficient, nor were they even used very often. It’s just become the thing we associate with a warrior the most. It’s a symbol.
I mean, in a time when you needed to be able to defend yourself from unexpected animals (including humans) and guns were non-existent or werde effectively single shot, a long knife was likely very useful
Pretty true, especially since sword could be made extremely beautiful and ornate, and were often symbols of power like crowns or scepters.
@@wesswise28 And a lance or similar is even better and easier to make... So no.
@@KaiiAyrenNevaeh actual long knives were the most common tbh. A lance and even a sword is too cumbersome to carry if you're gonna use it once every few months if you're really unlucky
@@wesswise28 Fair enough, got caught up in every other comment talking about battlefields. But I'll say a long knive isn't a sword in my book, but I'm not a native English speaker so I might be speaking nonsense over semantics I'm not familiar with.
"Don't pull out your katana if you're not prepared to die"
And I thought this was a savage phrase original in gintama
"if you're not prepared to die don't pull your katana" Is such a raw phrase
Meanwhile salty weebs raging about their misconception of Katanas being the ultimate sword and best weapon ever designed.
'While you were studying the blade, I just shot you with this gun.'
@AdmiralOddSock At least the non-very high quality ones at the time, or at least not the modern reproductions
Yeah the spatha is the best sword
@AdmiralOddSock Katana looks cooler + No one is gonna use a katana or any medieval weapon in this and age
@AdmiralOddSock Just saying once again katanas look at least 100x better than European swords
Spear > sword. You can thrust fast with a spear, you don’t lose balance and you can keep your distance while thrusting. Also in Medieval Europe long range weapons were used on the battlefield. However a spear was less useful against knight armor, thus came the halberds, hammers, etc. Before that axes were used against chainmail.
What about the queelag fury sword
Depends where you take the fight. Spears are useless in close quarters/small spaces. Thus they had both :p
Yes I also try to keep as much distance when I’m trusting someone. If you get too close and trust them they can hurt you badly. However I would think you would need to be a bit closer when thrusting a weapon into someone.
@@GiftBeats Most could not afford a sword. Also, a sword always needed repairs after a fight. People who could afford a sword, wore it as a sidearm. Maybe for within small spaces. But really, what kind of small spaces were there in combat situations? A bedroom? A small house? Those are places you wouldn't take a spear with you. We are talking about battle fields here.
Like most couldn’t afford full armor. Samurai often had them selves covered for all ranges/scenarios tho and were upperclass, compared to low class soldiers only being able to afford a spear. Spears were great weapons especially for the frontline, not so much when lines are broken, and it gets dense (that’s a small space for you right there.) I’m not saying one is better then the other, you clearly are. Which is better, bow or spear? Totally depends on the situation doesn’t it.
It's the same case with almost all warriors in the past, archery was almost like sniping or suppressive weapon, polearms and spears were like a modern rifle while a sword was more like a sidearm/pistol.
I heard the same was true for knights and swords. We associate knights and swords, but knights mainly used other battlefield weapons.
If anyone’s still blurry on it, think about how military personal like marines have knives on them, but it’s a last resort after your other weapons
big knife
During year 3000, they will have our 21st century era soldier using knifes in history drama instead of gun
Now days pistols play a more similar role to the swords. Primary weapon-Spears & bows then, rifle now. Sidearm- swords then pistols now. Daggers then, knifes now.
K-bar does not equal sword.
Oooorah k-bar!
A pistol is a better comparison. The sword on your hip is a sidearm.
Isn't another reason is that the metal they needed for katanas really hard to aquire or refine? I'm not sure as I heard this a long time ago
Japan didn't have a lot of high quality steel while in Europe it was everywhere, so the process took longer to make one.
Yes, but even sword-making cultures with ready access to decent steel rarely employed them as main battlefield weapons. They were usually backup sidearms, personal defence, or for use in duels or similar personal combats.
I don't really know any culture exepct ancient Rome that used sword as a main battelfield weapon.
Probably. Japan is an island so their resources are limited. Thats why their statue making wouldnt use whole blocks of wood like other nations and would use the wood to form an internal skeleton.
@@digitaljanus It depends on what era you're talking about. When we talk about the medieval era, that is certainly true but wouldn't necessarily be true in the classical era or earlier when chainmail and platemail didn't exist, leaving armor that wasn't great against swords.
Huh Miyamoto Musashi clearly ignored that one
he wasn't really an samurai, samurais have masters but ronins are masterless so that is what Musashi was, he was basically just an swordsman a martial artist
@@minecraftkingest4116 I get what you're saying but I have heard ronin referred to as masterless samurai and most people don't know the difference so I just refer to him as a samurai for simplicity sake. But yes you are correct.
@@stuff485 Oh i assumed that you didn't know the difference cause you know most people don't but okay
@@minecraftkingest4116Someone who won 64 duels to the death and followed bushido all his life isnt a samurai? After all Samurai only means warrior or knight. A Ronin isnt necessarily a samurai but being masterless or born in peace times doesnt make someone not a warrior.
@@CornellD.Cavendish no samurai doesn't mean a warrior they are more like knights they follow masters and Musashi was more like just a swordsman than even a ronin cause he never actually followed someone but he did assist some emperors in later of his life
What I’ve learned about a katana is its not only a weapon but a piece of art
This is very similar with Sword for European Knights; swords are basically like the Pistol of the past, You only use it if you're desperate
Depends on what kind of sword tho. Zweihander/Montante are Landsknecht's favorite main weapon beside pole weapons in 15th century. Some units used arming sword and sidesword alot with big shields along side other troops that used pole weapons. Sabre are calvary's main weapon around 1796. The Europeans used their swords in battlefield and daily life way more frequently than the Japanese
Actually medieval europe was the only place in time where they actually used swords as main weapons during battle, not everyone obviously but a decent chunk of medieval warriors, especially rich Noble knights did
@@grzexd Are you mixing heavy two handed sword with one handed sword?
Swords were used, but like said by the other commenter above, it was not preferred weapon.
And to compare to air combat, katanas are our guns and bows are our missiles. Even dogfights are romanticized by the public.
Short/one handed sword specifically.
Don't bring a katana to a bow and arrow fight.
@@manabellum *Sad noises in the back*
Anime Protags: "I beg to differ"
Well someone hasn't played Team Fortress
@@mirzapramudya1580 degroot
Just parry the arrows.
Golden rule of ALL weapons: Don't pull it, lest you gon use it!
The Katana is the minimal armament. You have it on you all the time.
For battles of course, you choose the longest possible range.
Like a pistol and a rifle on modern soldiers. You always carry your pistol, when on low intensity, but the rifle is used for combat situations with the pistol as a reserve
There's a reason why Raiden Shogun's weapon is a polearm instead of a sword.
Well, now that you mentioned ... it make sense
And Sara Kujou sticks with a bow. Those two team up so well together.
Is there also a reason why she pulled it out of her boobs?
@@neverletmego6414 dev need money
True..
I'm reading the book of five rings by Miyamoto Musashi and he makes countless references to katana fighting on an open field, inside buildings, on horseback, against bows/guns, against single and multiple opponents etc.
Both by him and other schools. He actually chastises other schools for focusing so much on the katana.
dude beat sasaki kojiro with Suns
In the book , he usually used hit and run, and ambush tactic to kill a person...so it's not like one of those flashy movie
@@Hanif_Aidil_F He even did unnerve a person before a duel by letting him wait. He was not above dirty tricks. But i guess thats why he is a swordsman,not a samurai ( other than no noble heretage)
@@Hanif_Aidil_F He is an assassin, aint no honorable warrior
He also way famous for duel wielding.
The same in Europe, the sword was just a backup weapon for the spear and polearms.
Naginatas need more love in media. They're awesome
I didn’t know the ninja turtles got in such serious battles on such a regular basis
😂😂😂
They aren’t samurai, they are assassins. As an assassin you will almost always fight close quarter so a spear or a loud gun doesn’t make sense
Well yeah, all the enemies they face either are covered in heavy armour or fight close range
@@oz459 oooh right
@@oz459 we should have given raph guns and had them snipe people. Shredder would be dead in his first appearance if splinter trained them like actual ninjas.
Ninja's used a lot of guns and even made some of there own. Obunaga was almost assassinated by a sniper for Pete sake. The ninja used a lot of diffrent weapons but they loved guns even if they were loud because they were better at killing without being seen. Same reason snipers are used now of days to assinate targets.
This is pretty true for swords in general throughout history. Swords were the pistol of the past, a sidearm. (With the exceptions of things like claymores/greatswords) The draw of swords is that they are easy and relatively comfortable to carry on one's person without needing to hold it making them great self defense weapons and sidearms for when your main battlefield weapon is lost or disabled.
Also a big exception of cavalry swords (both roman cavalry and 18th-19th century)
Remember, switching to your katana is always faster than reloading
Arming swords are generally the Glocks of medieval Europe
The Japanese version of a claymore would be something like an odachi, basically an over sized katana, and was used as a primary weapon.
Yeah swords and handguns fulfill very similar rolls. Scabards and holsters make them relatively easy to carry. They can even weight around the same( for instance my steel frame 1911 weighs around 1.75 lbs, and one handed swords would usually weigh around 1.5-2.5 lbs depending on the style and blade length.
Just imagine a Samurai charging onto battle in horseback with Double pump shotgun 💀
Expectations: "I am the way of the sword"
Reality: "BANG BANG B*TCH"
My first thought: well, maybe because their opponents weren't actually a rolled tatami mats!?
The spear is such a fantastic weapon. So simple yet effective.
It is boring in entertainment industry that is why it is not seen very often
"Katana no waza wo sasae, takumi wo takara wo yosu" 🗿
"If your not prepared to die, don't pull out your Katana."
Add that quote to the book of kicking butt quotes.
Basically pop culture separated use from reality
Well sort of I mean it’s still reality but not the absolute truth like they still were excellent swordsman but it wasn’t their primary weapons
@@thedarklightskin some would have been excellent swordsmen, others would have been incredibly mediocre…
Same problem with Knight's swords in Europe.
They were secondary status symbol weapons but media makes it seem that short sword was some super weapon breaking shields and spears.
@@jarskil8862 I think it really just depends on the swords though in Europe especially
@@jarskil8862 I've literally never heard nor seen something remotely close to what you've just described.
Maybe get better media standards...
In my experience, the sword being disproportionately depicted as a weapon of choice is something most modern cultures are guilty of. Most people would picture a European knight as wielding a sword similar in size to a Katana, with or without a shield, when in reality, since armored knights frequently engaged other armored knights, their main weapon would be a heavy axe or hammer designed to defeat said armor. A knight's arming sword was instead, much like the katana in practice, both a symbol and expression of a noble's privilege, and a last resort on the battlefield.
They even held their longswords at the blade and hit the enemy with the handle because it dealt more damage against armor. Fights between knights weren’t about stabbing or slashing but rather about blunt force
@@oz459 well there was definitely still stabbing and cutting, just not when it would be potentially thwarted because then it would bounce off the armor. The goal was to get into the gaps and joints of the armor, so grappling was a big force they had, so they could pin you, rip off your helmet maybe and then put a dirk straight into you
@@Artameful yes of course. But it wasn’t used to fight. It was used to execute.
Knights wouldve used polearms and spears rather than swords, and even then they wouldve had used the longer two handed swords and not the usual longsword which is a one handed weapon
@@richie_23 “longsword” is a pretty broad category of weapon. It can apply to 1 handed, 1,5 handed and 2 handed blades all the same. Some longswords may as well be considered greatswords; others might be indistinguishable from an arming sword
Even the medieval samurai knew to take advantage of range. Nobody is really that death hungry.
I like this video, as it shows how the Samurai are actual warriors who will use any and all weapon most effective. Unlike in alot of media where its mostly katana and not the more effective weapon. Worst example is The Last Samurai which depict the Samurai to be suicidal idiots who charge at machine guns with swords.
It makes a lot of sense. Why would you attack in close range and put yourself at a disadvantage when bows existed. Think of it as a hunting dagger
@Lasagna and Spaghetti Nation unfortunately, no one has that.
"If you're not prepared to die, don't pull out your katana" has the same vibes as "Now that you've drawn your pistol, are you willing to use it? I'm saying that guns aren't for threats they're for actions" (Shanks). Now I think I know where the inspiration for that line came from
"loaded or not, don't ever point a gun at something you're not about to shoot" is a pretty universal gun rule taught by anyone who respects guns.
This is when i learned about "when you pull out your weapon, you are ready to die"
It's a pretty common rule about deadly weapons across many cultures, all the way from ancient times.
Makes me wonder if it was acceptable to only use a katana if you were badass and took everyone down, heading straight into battle. You were prepared to die but you were too worthy to.
Thats a general fighting rule
"If you're not prepared to die, don't pull out your Katana."
That is *_the most_* Samurai quote I have _ever_ heard!
I remember how it blew my mind that this concept not only applied to samurai, but most ancient warriors. You always wanted to keep your distance.
Before watching, bows & spears/ naginata were primary, swords have pretty much always been a sidearm, even in medieval Europe. Essentially swords were the pistols of the past.
I was looking, whether anyone already mentioned, that it's same as in Europe - mythical weapons, that were merely a sidearm or self-defence tool (of civilians) at best…
european swords were much more useful
Having something short range as your main weapon is a death sentences. It's there for close quarters and as a last resort.
@@mmgg1671 Polearms were the primary melee weapon in pretty much every pre-firearm region that had a medieval era, that I can think of. Including Europe.
@@Chicky_Lumps no, in europe swords and claymores were also a primary weapon
"if you're using a katana, it means you're in a very desperate situation"
Reminds me of something.
Is it weaboos ?
"If you are not prepared to die, don't pull out your [weapon]." Timeless quote that I wish all people would follow today.
Reminds me of a country tune, by the late great Johnny Cash - *don't take your guns to town*
I just got back from a trip to Japan just a few days ago at the samurai museum in Osaka the first thing the guide explained to us was how the samurai sword has been overhyped in movies dramatically and was nowhere near as indestructible as usually portrayed
The katana as a sidearm and backup weapon holds true for medieval knights as well. Weapons like lances and pollaxes were the primary battlefield weapon of the knight, with a sword held as backup
Swords were also cheep, so poorer fighter could only use swords while knights may use things like lances or sickle-esque weapons
@@dandydanthedapperman7797 It depends on when in the middle ages. In the early middle ages swords were rather expensive, but as time goes on they become cheaper and cheaper. What made the lance restrictive wasn't the cost of the lance itself, it's essentially a glorified spear. It's that to use a lance you must have a warhorse, and presumably other costly pieces of equipment. If you aren't incredibly wealthy, you aren't in a position to need a lance. I frankly have no idea what you're referring to with "sickle-esque weapons," but a standard knightly weapon in the late middle ages was the pollaxe, a short polearm (around the height of a person) with a spike on both ends, and 2 of either an axe, a hammerhead, or a hooked spike. It was made to counter heavily armored opponents
Enemy showing up with a sword for the fight:
The samurai that brought a 50 cal: The future is now old man.
*A samurai pulling out a flintlock gun:*
Parry this you f-ing casual
"If you're not prepared to die don't pull out your katana".
Man that's even MORE bad azz!👏🏾
The thought that samurai used guns fucks with my perception of time so hard
Right? Makes you realize both that the Sengoku Jidai wasn't that long ago, and that the samurai continued to exist for a VERY long time
_weeb talking about katanas_
samurai: _pulls out gun_
Weeb: ok, but samurais ride horses
Samurai: *pulls out tank*
“If you’re not prepared to die, don’t pull out.”
My guess was that they would not be very effective against a heavily armored opponent. This video explanation makes much more sense!
It's the same story with swords everywhere. Even tho swords are massive in media, they always were backup weapons.
Primary weapon of the Romans for a long time tho.
And ceremonial and status symbol, why they became so popular in media in the first place.
@@Raakarapu Along with spears and bows. They also had immense crossbows on platforms, while Byzantines - who were Romans - had "Greek" fire. Mind you, we're talking about more than 800 years, so there were different developments at different times.
@@garryferrington811 Yes 100% agree. My point (in my head) was that people tend to take things to the extreme like "swords have never been a primary weapon" which while mostly correct isn't always the case. The cladius would not have worked without the scutum. So context is important. Btw no idea if I'm spelling everything right I pretty much speak only finnish and drunk now too.
@@Raakarapu
Dont forget the pilum. It was Just as Important as scutum and gladius
"Remember, switching to your katana is always faster than reloading"
Meme approved
On a battlefield, ranged weapons are preferable to melee weapons and polearms are preferable to swords. Keeping yourself and your soldiers as far away from the enemy as possible is a great strategy.
So the samurai were thought...
"If you're not prepared to die
Don't pull out you katana"
In my opinion, if you take out or deploy your weapon, it means you're ready for the action where you have nowhere to run and no way to return back after you started.
I always admired Japanese culture in those times I can't imagine what it was like for two actual samurai to face eachother
Drive by with bow and arrow on a horse.
Bow, chit chat, drink tea, say goodbye.
Im sure it was a very big deal and the reason had to be extreme. Dueling in the street was outlawed and the winner was usually ordered to commit suicide unless there was a legitimate reason and witnesses to the entire situation. Sometimes the winner was executed depending on what kind of position his opponent held. For example if a samurai of a lower house killed a noblemam for insulting his lord the samurai would be ordered to suicide and his lord may be disgraced or reprimanded. At one point it was illegal to even draw your sword within the city limits of Edo
@@jbertucci*say goodnight
"If youre not prepared to die dont pull out your katana"
ironically
"If you're not prepared to die, DO pull out your mini-katana"
Wakizashi are rarely used to combat
@@skullcrusade3436 it was mainly used for making sandwiches
@@skullcrusade3436 indoor?
Samurai fighting with guns isn't really something I expected
Finally someone who made a video about this, Thank you so now people won’t believe that katana is the only weapon
I read somewhere about Samurai being an Archer 1st, Spearman 2nd and Swordman 3rd... Basically sword are their last stand against enemies when the other two weapons failed.
I know anime and movies love swords a lot more than other weapons for samurai, but I wonder if theaterical depictions of samurai started the trend. It would be easier for an actor to stage-fight with a sword rather than a spear or bow
There plays definitly in that swords always were status symbols, in the west too. And that plays in myths, stories and what else perception. Because they are status symbols.
Maybe stage fights are easier too but that has to play a role.
Not just for samurai. Medieval knights are also always depicted fighting with swords when they hardly ever did.
It would definitely be easier to move around with a sword in a movie but in an actual melee battlefield, spears are better.
Who knew the Katana
An Iconic Weapon In Game Culture was actually a Sidearm..
as with pistols, sidearms are always cooler
The problem with samurai combat in the Late Sendoku Jidai was that head taking was still prominent. While samurai had no problem with ranged weapons, they still preferred the brutal prestige of head taking.
Meanwhile a bunch of weeks are playing around the katana. Does it mean they're prepared to die slicing a bunch of water bottles?
Yes, yes they are
Na cuz those are weebs, not samurai
Weeks ?
My dad and uncle have katanas, they are pretty cool looking.
@@staygold7027 no it's stans for weaboo which is someone obsessed with Japanese culture
Basically most movies and shows use Katanas because they look very cool and are heavily associated with Samurai. But the most historically accurate movies/shows/animes depict Samurai using Bows, Spears, Polearms or Guns.
Their point is to be entertaining, so yea, they will use the coolest things with the widest appeals usually
The kanabo: everyone forgot about me huh
Guns should be treated the same. Don't pull one unless you're justified and going to use it. No flashing it, no pulling it and cocking it to intimidate anyone, and no pointing them at anyone unless you're prepared to die too. Unfortunately people want their "freedom" but rarely understand the responsibility that comes with weapons. And so every day idiots shoot each other on purpose or accidentally. They lack the training and discipline the samurai had, yet want to be just as dangerous. Few things are more dangerous than ignorant armed people.
I'm all for the right to own weapons. Responsibly.
Very cool, knights had a similar system, using their sword as their last resort and usually using different weapons during battle
Life’s like a box of chocolates, you never know when you’re gonna crack
"What does Naginata mean?"
"It means Japanese Spear."
thanks for this video I've learned why samurai is rarely pulling out their katana in the battle field unless they are official
The form of a Samurai using a bow is really beautiful. Archery is so pretty!
This was pretty much the same in Europe. Bows, Poleweapons and percussion weapons (mace, warhammer etc) were the weapons used on the battlefield. Swords were secondary or tertiary weapons. But, for everyday protection (if it was legal to carry a sword in town) traveling or duels....that's where Swords were used almost exclusively.
Well, that's not true for the entirety of history, it's definitely true more so for the medieval period but when we talk about earlier periods where armor like chainmail and platemail didn't exist, swords would have been a lot more common and more often used as a primary weapon.
@@boredfangerrude spears were always WAY better. Way longer reach, piercing ability, it’s cheaper, actually useful against cavalry and was much easier to train someone to use
Depends on the time you are looking at.
Spears/polearm weapons have always been the primary weapon on the battlefield. But swords were pretty common in the "beginning" of the medival period ("beginning" because a period that lasts for 1000 years like the medival one is not really a great way to look at things)
As armor progressed swords became more and more irrelevant und became secondary or tertiary weapons
@@32gigs96 eh, there are some cultures, most notably the Romans, who did main the sword as their infantryman’s weapon
@@32gigs96 I wasn't commenting on what weapon was better though, just that swords were very popular in certain periods of time as more than just a secondary weapon.
I learned some things that I did not know before concerning the samurai.
Is so crazy to think about time periods and understand that Samurai were essentially knights with rifles. That overlap period is crazy
Thank you for this video💚 Many people dont realise that sword is mostly status symbol or dueling weapon not battlefield weapon
As in most European countries of the time, the sword is a sidearm. Polearms and bows have greater reach and are easier to use in formation, with the exception of swords specifically designed for that purpose such as the gladius. Polearms and blunt force weapons were also much better at defeating the body armor that would have been in use, either by crushing and immobilizing joints, bashing in the helmet, or simply having enough force behind them to penetrate the armor. Bows, meanwhile, were excellent at massed volley fire that could send entire formations running for cover, or find weak spots in armor via the "infinite monkey" method. And I believe Oda Nobunaga's rise to power speaks well enough for the power of firearms.
Yukari akiyama
people mistake samurais for ronins, ronins mostly used katana
Samaria: jumps; katana blade is slightly exposed
Shogun: I see you've chosen death
This question is pretty universal if anyone know anything about the time Era of blades for any country. Spears, halberds, or in this case an example would be a naginata(and bows), were the primary weapons of warfare because it was significantly safer to the wielder to be further away out of danger
Or the yari, “spear”
And much easier to use
You can Teach every Idiot how to use a Spear in a Short amount of time.
This is interesting. I heard the same on a medieval history channel that compared the Samurai bow with the English longbow. At equal draw weights both shot arrows at the same speed but the Samurai arrows were heavier so they delivered a little more power and the recurve design made them smaller and smoother to shoot. They also had the advantage of an offset brace designed to shoot from horseback.
It wasn't a realistically weighted English longbow, the average man cannot fully draw an English longbow and it requires you be standing to fire.
@@nathonbaumann8864 Nor was it a realistically weighed Yumi (or a Daikyu in this case) Japanese bows were certainly able to surpass the 100lbs mark, and would've benefited from a few factors that make it more energy efficent than a straight stave bow.
"If you're not prepared to die don't pull out your katana"
Thats similar to America's "if you don't intend to take a life never point your gun"
That’s the rule on every shooting range anywhere in the world.