Pictured is a wooden practice katana I made using nothing but hand tools, a 2x4x48 piece of oak, a piece of plate aluminum, a piece of 2” aluminum bar stock, and leather. 33 years ago when I was only 21. Every piece was hand cut, filed, shaped and sanded for days. A jeweller inscribed the butt plate for me with the kanji symbol and engraved the year 1992 and the word “Niten” on the tsuba. Then I painted the kanji symbols along both sides of the “blade”. Prior to assembly, the entire wooden length including the handle was coated with 10 applications of linseed oil. Then 12 coats of Diamond Kote varathane. The handle is the exact length from my inner elbow to my hand. The blade is the exact length of my inseam. This piece still looks exactly the way it did when it was completed. I hope it is here long after I am gone.

At the time I was obsessed with martial arts and Japanese history.

Miyamoto Musashi’s own account in The Book of Five Rings mentions that he fought his first duel at age 13. According to traditional stories, this was against a samurai named Arima Kihei of the Shinto-ryu school.

Musashi used a wooden practice sword (a bokken) in that duel, while Arima wielded a real blade. Musashi struck him down and killed him, marking his first victory, and his first killing, at just 13 years old.