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arc-ician — The Odachi
Published: 2007-01-25 00:49:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 617; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 2
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This is an Odachi (or Great Katana). As you can see, it's rather long. 68" to be precise. It has been used, but very lightly against my friend's blade (the "sister" to this one...) at his house while I was living there; however, it has tasted the bark of a trees, and the "skin" of some bushes around his house. If memory serves right, it weighs about 5 pounds. Maybe as high as 7.Related content
Comments: 21
Thanks. Unfortunately, due to an apartment fire, this blade no longer exists in my collection.
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I love Japanese swords, especially their version of the long-swords. Odachi, nodachi, and zanbatou (fictional) and other swords used for taking down cavalry are I think the best challenge for a swordsman to handle. Despite it being heavy and hard to swing quickly due to it's length, no fool would come near it once it's drawn. I'd have one forged (not the traditional way though) once I get some cash. For now, I have to be content with a Schiavona. ^_^
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Looks a lot like the Odachi I just got form Musashi. And you're right, they're rather unwieldy. However, they weren't really meant for hand-to-hand combat. Though some advanced troops used them they were meant to be used by mounted troops as well as against mounted troops.
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I believe I said the same thing to another user who was speaking about dual-wielding these things.
Yep, as soon as they would go into close combat, they'd simply drop the Odachi and draw (usually) their katana. For those on horses, I believe it was used somewhat like a lance or and axe/polearm (large sweeping motions). Still, it's a fun weapon to mess around with.
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Indeed it is. Sadly the weather hasn't allowed me to take mine outside. It'll freak my neighbors out when they see it.
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truthfully, i prefer 2 odachis or 2 knives, i aint to good with pratical lenght weapons, yet than again im built for power and speed. nice odachi though
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Im buying an odachi when I get the money, Seems like the weapon for me, (All my weapon styles even with short weapons consist of long heavy swipes, when I found the Odachi, I knew It was my special weapon)
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You may actually want to look into a spear, at that point. Perhaps an axe or halberd. Not that any of these are particularly fast, but then again, neither is the Odachi. However, the Odachi was mainly used for de-horsing men. Not for actual combat. They still switched to a Katana when it came to the man vs. man fighting.
The Odachi isn't particularly well balanced. It's long, heavy and can be a real pain in the ass to control. Blocking is almost a joke. Especially when the attack comes in low. The only thing you can do is hope you're fast enough to tilt the blade down enough to stop the other person's attack. Swinging an Odachi is a slow thing, as well. You're left "open" far longer than you'd want to be in any real fight and you're left "open" again when the swing is done (more so if you fall unbalanced, yourself, which is entirely likely). Now, I may be fair with mine (using other long weapons similar to it and practicing with it for about a year), but I am by no means using it as my main weapon.
As I said before, the spear is another weapon you might find to your liking. Granted, it's generally not all made of metal, so blocking might get tricky and attacking gets... interesting in close quarters. If you can keep your opponent at bay, the spear is better than the Odachi. It's lighter, which makes it a bit faster, though it's length can give it some momentum, which can be advantageous with enough speed.
An axe is another good choice. Same type of swinging as you're suggesting, sturdy handle (good for blocking), a bit shorter, though. Still, this isn't as big a con as you might think. It can reach just as long as a regular sword (which is mostly what you'd find on the battlefield) and it hurts like hell when you get hit with one. Momentum is key with this weapon. With an axes weight, once it's up to speed, one hit is all it takes. Doesn't much matter where. As long as you hit them, they're going down. An axe with momentum behind it is like a giant bladed hammer.
The halberd is very similar to the axe. The main difference is that it's on a pole that can be between 4 and 7 feet long, almost making it a spear in of itself. It's not too heavy (wooden pole and a metal head), but the fact that the weight is all on one end of the weapon, it is rather unbalanced. It takes a wide grip to utilize it and can, again, leave you "open" before and after a swing. I do believe the halberd served roughly the same purpose as the Odachi in England and other European countries in "Medieval times."
All this said, length is not always the best thing. It can easily be more of a negative aspect than a positive one. Yes, the Odachi is fun to play with, but it's not a very practical weapon (hence why a Katana was always worn by anyone wielding an Odachi, as well... the Katana is more practical. Easier to handle, lighter, quicker and can kill just as easily). I don't mean to try to dissuade you from buying one, just take into account it's practicality and the practicality of other weapons used with similar style.
To quote a favorite TV show, "You don't need strength, as much as speed. We're fragile creatures. It takes less than a pound of pressure to cut skin." - Inara Serra, Firefly - Episode 4, Shindig.
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well, ok heres why all those things ARENT for me...lol
well I naturally hate axes, for their short length, im not into short weapondry at ALL...
Halberds are long, yes...but going from swiping to piercing is a pain in the ass...
Spears, hes good but constantly piercing isnt my thing, im into the downbringing...not piercing...
the katana isnt for me because, well too many of my attacks are quick and not strong enough, and that leads me to blocking, my blocking skill with the katana is quite low, not to mention the art of the sheathing.
Well, add everything together, the Odachi is a long, heavy strong weapon, you can pierce somewhat, and its the heaviness Ive adapted too...blocking ISNT a joke, ive tried nearly all types of weapons, and I greatly lean into heavy swords. I train daily to be able to wield even 10 pound blades...and well, you dont have to believe this, but I perfer to wield these heavy blades one handed.
In my martial arts style, for it too work good, you need to land the first blow, usually to the heart, head or stomach, and there are the few preasure points on your shoulders that imobile your arms and make them hard to lift...Ive done more than enough research...
Oh, and ive trained myself in this special style of one handed great sword wielding, and yes its my BEST style, not very effective, but i can beat others using it. I can even wield the sword to use its long hilt to diarm the opponent if we get too close (i havent mastered it because its used rarely) and i haunch up on the hilt all the way up to the guard, i can use it like you would in bojitsu (staff) fighting where you use the parts near your hands to block incoming attacks (only blunt weapondry like staffs and jo sticks, even nunchuks at low speeds)
I am VERY very unique in my martial arts...no1 ever can match my uniquness XD (well...)
my own style made up of over 5 different other styles, I have a completely seperate style for fighting humans, training and wild animals, just incase 
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Oh man! That is some long sword! How do you even wield it?
Hehe, that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw it... Will probably have more to ask/say later though. Right now, my mind is a bit jumbled... got up at 4:30 from coughing and a fever, lol. Should really get back to bed, but I have to be at work in 2 hours, so it's pointless now.
Let me jump over to the other 2 shots now.
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"Oh man! That is some long sword! How do you even wield it?"
VERY carefully. 
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I bet! better not be standing near anyone or anything when you do either... I picture lamps being knocked down, body parts being poked, ... lol.
Seriously, it must be awkward to use.
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Not really... then again, when I was younger, my brother and I made swords out of scrap wood... and the one made for me that lasted the longest was about this length. Slightly lighter, and slightly shorter, too... but, I was a little shorter when that one was made, too. So, I'm pretty much used to the size. Lots of vertical movement with the arms... not so much with the horizontal.
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Neat, you actually made wooden swords? That's pretty cool. Yeah, you're probably used to using it too, so it's more natural for you. I'd be breaking everything in sight just trying to hold it, lol.
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Sword! I want it! Thing is huge, though...
Still want it.
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you have excellent wording for say, story telling or writing books.
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Thanks... I do like to write stories and such, but often lose motivation part way through. Many stories end up as unfinished "short stories." Sometimes, I pick them back up, other times, I don't. Feel free to have a look at what I've posted here. Comments are always welcome (even negative ones).
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Hmph... I guess I'll have to be a patient little Druid and wait some more, eh?
Oh, erm... I'll let you guess which one that is, it'll be more fun.
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Yeah, I often lose motivation too.. its hard to stay focused.
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