In modern times, the most well-known type of Japanese sword is the Katana, a single-edged and typically curved long sword that was traditionally worn by samurai from the 15th century onwards. Western historians have stated that Japanese katana were some of the finest cutting weapons in the military history of the world for their intended use.

The fundamental concept behind Japanese Sword Fighting, or Kendo, as well as most Japanese martial arts, is the principle of "one strike - one kill." This implies no wasted movement, complete focus, and perfect timing to deliver a single, fight-ending blow.

Unlike in Hollywood, where sword-on-sword clashes are endless (think Star Wars), real Japanese sword fighting entails a lot of stalking the opponent, sudden movement, advanced footwork and body angling, and very little blade-on-blade action. The fight scene from the acclaimed movie 'Twilight Samurai' is regarded by many as a very realistic example of what actual Japanese Sword Fighting would have looked like.

Most students who learn the way of the sword begin training with a hard wooden Bokken. The wooden Bokken sword has been a reliable training tool for centuries in the practice of Japanese swordsmanship. Bokken is very similar to clubs and other battering weapons, but they are shaped to resemble the katana or other swords. It is not a sparring weapon, but rather intended to be used in basic training of kata or form and to acclimate the student to the feel of a real sword, utilizing basic sword movement and footwork.

After some time with a bokken, the student usually graduates to practicing with an iaito - or non-sharpened bladed Katana, though some students skip the bokken entirely and go straight to the iaito. For sparring and competition, the students use the lighter and softer bamboo shinai and appropriate safety gear for fencing.

While bokken are safer for practice than katana, they are still lethal weapons in the hands of trained users. Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest samurai warrior, was known to fight fully armed foes with only one or two bokken. According to history, he agreed to a duel with the equally famous samurai named Sasaki Kojiro.

The duel was to start at dawn on a tiny sandbar. However, Musashi overslept the morning of the match and made his way to the duel late. While traveling on a boat to the fight, he carved a bokken from one of the boat's oars with his knife. At the duel, Sasaki, who was now angered by the insult of having to wait for Musashi, rushed him as he disembarked. Sasaki was armed with his large nodachi, an extra-long battle sword, yet Musashi met him, sun at his back, and in the ensuing duel, crushed Sasaki's skull with a single blow from his bokken, killing him on the beach.

Thus ended one of the greatest sword matches in history. Musashi retired from fighting soon after, claiming to have fought in more than 60 individual sword fights, many of which were to the death and all of which he won.