Ninja sword the primary ninja weapon

Ninja swords come in all shapes and sizes, but usually the blade is curved and has a single edge. The purpose of these two design factors is to allow for flawless execution of some very specific techniques. How does that work? Well, let's start with the curve in the blade.

A Ninja blade may be better known as a ninjato or shinobigatana to ninjas themselves, but they are also known by other names depending on their shape. Regardless of what they are called, they have been a favored weapon among assassins for centuries due to their stealthy nature.

The Ninjato is a single-edged curved sword with a very short handle. The name "Ninjato" means "treasured sword", and though not all ninjas used the same type of sharpened blade, most did favor their curved blades. 

The most famous of these swords were designed for two-handed fighting, with one hand on the hilt and one on the blade. These weapons were mostly used in pairs and were favored by the ninja assassins who usually fought from concealment. (Ninjutsu is another way to describe ninja combat skills.

Ninjas in History 

Ninjas are a type of warrior who have a lot of history. They come from Japan where they have been known as ninjas for centuries. The word ninja can be broken down into two parts, nin meaning to steal, and ja which means person. Ninjas would steal information or objects from their opponents and then go unseen themselves. 

The history of the ninja is long, but interesting to know about if you're interested in learning more about them. They first originated back in the Heian period in the year 718 C.E., but they didn't really become popular until the 17th century. The ninja used a lot of weapons, a few of the most important include swords, ninja stars, kunai and many more. 

Ninja weapons

Ninjas were trained spies that worked for their daimyo (feudal lord). They were also known as shinobi, which means "to sneak or to hide" and "to subdue"; the idea was to take information from these people without anyone knowing they were there. 

They did this by disguising themselves in various ways so that they wouldn't be recognized, using weapons like swords and stars and poisons on their victims, and using stealth techniques such as walking on top of water when crossing a lake.

Difference Between Ninja and Samurai Swords

Readers might think that ninjas use different swords than samurais and are therefore separate fighting schools. In reality, the difference in the blades historically had to do with the difference in fighting styles. 

Samurais were more powerful fighters and had heavier blades, while ninjas were more agile fighters and used lighter blades. The sword of ninja was called a "ninjato" (giving them their name), and was traditionally shorter than a samurai's sword ("katana"). 

Both typically sported a single-edged blade, but when Japan's cutting edge changed from single-edged to double-edged around 1600 CE, so did the "ninjato". Samurai swords had a long and curved blade while the swords of the ninja had a dead straight blade. 

Ninjato: The Ninja Sword

Ninjato is an obscure weapon of Japanese origin, with a long history in just one of the many martial arts styles born there. It was originally used as a practical tool for stealth and concealment, much like its sister art the ninja-tanto. 

The main grip is on the ninjato's blade, while one hand holds onto the wrist guard pictured below. This allows for both speed and dexterity when fighting or performing other tasks requiring fine motor skills such as rope use or fire-starting. 

  • These ninja swords are quite rare in modern Japan; they are usually three foot long (1m) bamboo blades with metal tsuba (guard) mounted on either side which form a grip similar to that of a sword (hilt).
  • Ninjato are otherwise very similar in design to the tanto, also called a ninja-to or ninjato. The two main differences are its length and the addition of a circular hole in the blade (tsuba). The hole is meant for decoration, somewhat like a bronze age sword with rings on it.
  • Although it actually serves a purpose; it acts as a weight at the end of the blade to increase cutting power. The historical version was typically thin, straight and had no tsuba or handguard, as this made it easier to hide from sight. Ninjato were used primarily by samurai and sometimes ninjas as their sword of choice.


Ninja Swords: Variations

Ninja swords are some of the deadliest weapons on Earth. They’ve been around for thousands of years and have been used across every continent in the world. 

There are many types and uses for ninjato, but regardless of their shape, all have one thing in common: they deliver a far more powerful kick than their appearance would seem to suggest. 

Here’s a guide to the most popular types of these swords that you can find anywhere today, from Japan to the United States.

Ninjato Types: Short Swords

The shortest type is also one of the most common and preferred by many ninjas because it has tremendous range and piercing power at close-range combat. This sword is a type of short sword or possibly a type of polearm weapon. Its length is approximately 1 meter to 2 meters and it was used in the 16th century by the ninjas of Japan. 

These swords were often hidden under their long coats, until they needed to be pulled out for close-quarters combat. Other than its length, its design varied from one style to another and it could even have more than one blade attached to the hilt with string in order to increase its versatility as a weapon.

Long Swords (Katana)

The Katana is a Japanese sword, with a curved blade mounted on a wooden or metal hilt. The term katana does not refer to one particular style of the sword but to all swords of that type that are. It is a long sword that is used by ninjas during their missions.

The katana has 2 tsuba (handguards) and is also called "Daisho"; it has an inch-thick blade with 9 inches in width and weighs over 6 pounds. The blade was made of polished steel and the hilt was wrapped in gold threading and covered by mother-of-pearl laminations, which provide protection against chafing.

Ninja swords were also made with bamboo tubes but these were constructed as weapons only, not as tools. The tubes were supposed to be filled with gunpowder and attached to the end of the blade to increase its striking power.

These swords are a unique piece of ninja weaponry, but it is not necessarily the most powerful. Depending on how it was worn (mounted on the waist or strapped horizontally over a shoulder), a long ninja sword could be very well balanced.

Value of Ninja Swords in Martial Arts


Ninja sword

Ninjas are so cool and they use these crazy sharp weapons too! Plus it's always fun learning new skills like this. Martial arts practice with ninja swords? You bet! Want to learn how to defend yourself using your hand, foot, samurai sword, or that ultimate weapon of self-defense: the ninjato sword. It's hard work but worth it.

Swords are one of the most important weapons in martial arts. Every style has a different sword or variety, for example, iaido practitioners favor the katana, while taijiquan practitioners favor the whip-like jian. These martial arts incorporate the use of a specific type of sword into their art.

There are several possible reasons for the use of ninja swords in martial arts: various sword styles were associated with different beliefs, such as Chinese swords were used for Taoism and Japanese swords were used for Shinto. It could also be that the weapon was chosen because it suited the movement or body type of a particular style. 

The most common reason why a particular style uses a specific form of sword is that weapons like these are said to have special qualities, one example is the use by iaidoka to call upon god while they strike their opponent. As we mentioned before, every style uses its own specific form of sword or variety.

Swords of Ninjas: Significance

The word "ninja" is a Japanese word meaning, appropriately enough, "person without a home." These rogues were most often associated with being spies. Between the end of the 16th century and WWII, they were trained in martial arts and espionage tactics. They were also responsible for assassinating leaders of rival clans or countries.

Today, ninja weapons, especially their swords, are an important part of the culture and heritage associated with these remarkable fighters. Interested parties can purchase ninja weapons for themselves to play an active role in understanding this legacy. Monks who study ninjutsu often have their own sets as well - these weapons are considered sacred objects empowering them on their path to enlightenment.