Almost everyone wants to buy a sword in their first week. Here is the advice we actually give our own students, including the part where we tell you to wait.
First, don't rush
For your first month or two you do not need to own anything. Most dojos, including ours, keep loaner iaitō for new students. Borrow one. You will learn more about what suits you in eight weeks of training than in eight hours of reading reviews, and a sword bought too early is almost always the wrong length. Spend the money later, on the right blade, once your teacher can size you properly.
Iaitō, not shinken
An iaitō is an unsharpened practice sword, usually made from a light aluminium-zinc alloy. It looks and handles like a real katana but has no cutting edge, which is exactly what you want while you are still learning where your own hands are. A shinken is a live, sharpened blade. Beginners do not train with shinken, and no reputable teacher will let you. You earn your way to a live blade over years, not weeks.
Length is the thing that matters most
Get the length wrong and every kata fights you. The rough guide most instructors use is based on your height, but the real test is done in the dojo with the sword in your hand: you should be able to draw it cleanly and sheath it without contorting your shoulder, and the chiburi and nōtō should feel natural. As a starting reference:
| Your height | Typical blade length (nagasa) |
|---|---|
| Up to ~160 cm | around 2.35 shaku |
| ~160–175 cm | around 2.45 shaku |
| ~175–185 cm | around 2.5 shaku |
| Taller | 2.55 shaku or longer |
Treat that as a conversation starter with your teacher, not a rule. Arm length and how you sit matter as much as raw height.
Weight and balance
A common mistake is buying a heavy, thick-bladed iaitō because it feels more "serious." A blade that is too heavy or too point-heavy will wreck your draw and tire your wrist before you have learned anything. For a first sword, lighter and well-balanced beats impressive every time. You can move to something with more presence once your technique can carry it.
Fittings, and what to ignore
The handle wrap (tsuka-ito), guard (tsuba) and scabbard (saya) come in endless finishes. None of it changes how you train. Buy something plain and sturdy. Save the elaborate fittings for later, if you ever care. The one fitting choice that does matter is a snug, well-fitted habaki and koiguchi, because a loose blade rattles and a tight one fights your nōtō.
Trained for at least a couple of months · sized by your instructor · iaitō not shinken · length checked with the sword in your hands · weight on the lighter side · plain, secure fittings.
Where to buy
Ask your dojo first. Established teachers know which suppliers ship honest blades and which cut corners, and a recommendation will save you from the worst of the online market. When you do order, expect a wait — good iaitō are often made to your measurements.
Once you have one, look after it. We wrote up the basics in Looking After Your Sword and Saya.
Notes from Musokai Dojo. Useful for context, but no article replaces a teacher correcting you in person.