Talk:Kodachi

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This article states that the wakizashi is cereremonial and not used in combat. As the wakizashi is worn with the katana, it will be clearly used in combat if the owner needs it as clearly indicated on the wakizashi article. The relevant line might just need deleting her.

I think that kodachi is the same weapon as wakizashi, except that the term wakizashi is used together with katana when speaking of daisho, and kodachi rhymes with odachi, which is also a synonym to katana in some texts, and synonym to nodachi in others, which is a different type of a weapon. How to sort this mess out? jni 11:40, 22 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Swords described as kodachi have diffrent lenght - some of them are the same size as wakizashi while other have blade lenght of tanto. I think that the main difference between wakizashi and kodachi is that kodachi is used single handed (it has a short tsuka). Kodachi techniques are rather defensiv. Wakizashi can be used with one or two hands. References: Serge Mol, Classical Fighting Arts of Japan (ilustrations of wakizashi and kodachi kata & waza) H. Ozawa, Kendo, The Definitive Guide (kodachi kata) "temed" 19:45, 9 April 2005 (GMT)

No, a kodachi and wakizashi are different. Though sometimes refered to as an o-wakizashi (o meaning long) They are different weapons.

No wakizashi are single handers and have no capability for hand and a half use. Kodachi are typically a wakizashi sized blade on a katana length tsuka with a katana length nakago though size may very from tanto length to wakizashi length and slightly above. They were popular as civilian weapons because they did not exceed Tokugawas length regulations. This also speculatively gave them popular use for shinobi as they would not arouse suspicion. Sometimes shinobi may have even carried them in saya longer than the blade so as to surprise opponents or to carry notes and blinding powder. Because of size in blade length and tsuka length kodach could be used with two handed katana techniques, one handed wakizashi techniques, and were easier to integrate with hand to hand techniques. Its size also facilitated easier use in doors. Kodachi directly translated means short tachi but could be mounted in either katana or tachi koshirae and speculatively in shikomizue koshirae. The term kodachi is sometimes used interchangeably with wakizashi though more commonly is used to refer to the sword type I just described. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.38.190.64 (talk) 16:38, 5 October 2013 (UTC)

Conflict between wakizashi and kodachi
This article states that "Kodachi length is a bit greater than a standard wakizashi," but the wakizashi page says the opposite ("quite longer than a kodachi"). My only "experience" being the game Final Fantasy X (both are used, and the kodachi LOOKS shorter), I can't say for sure.

The kodachi is (was) a set length, depending upon certain variables such as the rank, position, and status of the wielder. Also, it's curvature is greater than that of the wakizashi and thus the measurement of it will vary depending upon the way it is measured. The wakizashi, is (was) built for a specific warrior, and so the length of its blade varied depending on the warrior it was made for. Wakizashis were also sometimes made to specifically pair a katana, and so were a set length shorter than the katana, and the katana was built for a certain warrior. The hilt or grip of a wakizashi as compared to a kodachi however, may or may not be longer. Tassadar237 07:09, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

This seems to be causing a lot of confusion, so I re-phrased much of your above statement and added it to the article. Hope you don't mind. -Toptomcat 03:18, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

i'm not an expert but my understanding is that the BLADE of a wakazashi is between 12 and 24 inches but the OVERALL length of a kodachi is 24 inches. hopefully that helps clear it up, the wakazashi is generally longer than a kodachi. when you consider its overall length is about 2 ft a good chunk of which is handle, the kodachi is just barely longer blade wise than some deer skinners i've seen...it really is the intermediary between sword and knife.--71.145.198.228 01:43, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Disambiguation
I think that the characters should not be on the same page as the blade, that we need a disambiguation.

I agree. Furthermore, the passage in the text about the kodachi being used as a shield sounds like it is qouted from the anime series Rurouni Kenshin. I am training a koryu with some kodachi techniques, and have never seen nor heard of such use of the kodachi. In the techniques I have seen, the kodachi wielder moves quickly to avoid the attackers sword and get close enough to use the kodachi. The actual cut is initiated almost at the same time as the movement, and is aimed at some soft part of the body, like the throat or the stomach.

I would appreciate if an expert could clean up the article, and preferably make a clear distinction between fiction and historical facts.

Speaking of Rurouni Kenshin bullshit: "Two Kodachi were sometimes carried in one scabbard, one with the handle fittings, the second hidden as the bottom of the scabbard. Kodachi sheathed in this style was normally carried on the back with the handles pointing to the sides, thus enabling them to be drawn simultaneously."

This is pure garbage inspired by RuroKen's Shinamori Aoshi. There is no historical evidence that kodachi were EVER used in this mannor, and further more, the practicality is almost non-existent.

I think the misunderstanding is that japanese blades are used both for offensive and defensive techniques, a japanese blade contains within itself a sheilf and a sword by using the back of the blade for deflections and parrys. It's hard to explain without a visual interpretation, The original statement that a kodachi was used as a shield needs a little reworking I think202.20.20.129 (talk) 00:06, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

by:Mark Pierce well yes rurouni kenshin is fake it's just anime it's not going to be real and one thang that is right a kodachi can be used to attack for speed fighters like me but one thing that people don't teach is it's ment to be a blocking weopen for counter attacks couse of the small size the user can move faster that much is true i'm not a pro at this but i love blades i will not touch a gun i leaned all this couse i use twin kodachi but i have two blades in there own sheaths on my back handles pointed up to make a X slash when i draw them and i am skilled at it others wise i wouldn't be saying this but what i said should sum it all up everything else you have to learn by using one your self if u can find a kodachi like me thats real made like the ones in the old days, full tang,heat temperd, and made from high carbon steel not stainless that's only good for kichen knifes not anything longer then 12 inches —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.180.153.198 (talk) 05:21, 13 October 2008 (UTC)

Kodachi in fiction (Trivia)
Moved from main page per WP:TRIV. These facts are arguably not interesting, and definitely not notable within the context of "kodachi". Unless they somehow enhance the reader's understanding of the history or use of the kodachi, they belong on the page for the referenced piece of fiction, not here. Bradford44 18:03, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

Kodachi also serves its anime theme in the game Gunz, a popular fps/rpg game.
 * Taki from Soul Calibur series wields two kodachi named, Rekki-maru and Mekki-maru.
 * The character Shinomori Aoshi fought with a kodachi in the manga Rurouni Kenshin, and later added a second kodachi. These kodachi had a single customized scabbard that caused them to resemble an odachi when sheathed.
 * Impa from The Legend of Zelda series is seen carrying a kodachi in Ocarina of Time.
 * Rumiko Takahashi's anime and manga series Ranma ½ features a supporting character by the name of Kodachi Kuno. Her older brother Tatewaki is referred to as "Tachi" by their father.
 * The online game "GunZ" contains dual kodachi as a usable melee weapon.
 * The main character in Twilight Samurai, Seibei Iguchi, is well-trained in fighting with the kodachi, and used the techniques to their full advantage.
 * Tsukuyomi, a character from Negima, uses a Katana and a Kodachi in combat, which proved useful against Setsuna.
 * Okuru in Samurai Champloo uses a kodachi as a backup weapon against Mugen.
 * Nakoruru from the Samurai Showdown series of video games fights with a kodachi named Chichiushi.
 * Shadow from Final Fantasy VI can equip a kodachi.
 * Kyōya Takamachi and Miyuki Takamachi from the Triangle Heart 3 ~ Sweet Songs Forever are, respectively, "Godly Twin Kodachi Master - Unbreakable Godly Style" and "Godly Twin Kodachi Style Swordswoman".