Dear fellow members, I am curious and grateful to know your views on the following question:
Should the katanas be used ( iaido, kata, tameshigiri, etc etc) or not?
It’s an open question and there’s no absolute right or wrong. Rather I am interested in your views.
For starters I am new to nihonto and Iaido and I am leaning more on the use side, because, among other reasons, there’s an Asian concept that a nice weapon will need to be used to keep its spirit, which in its most basic form means it needs to cut through bodies and savour the blood. There’s also this saying about your enemy when he’s cut, it does not matter whether it’s by a jumyo or a showa. And lastly some shinshinto master smith said something like a nice sword should have the blade fashioned like a sickle or an axe because it needs to cut through armour in field.
On the other hand, the not use arguments would be those are antiques, and it’s more a piece of history and culture than a piece of weaponry; and because of all the polishing and so on, it might not even be good to use them.
I am interesting to hear more views and reasons for both sides.
Best
TY