The fighting moves shown by the blind samurai Zatoichi in the 2003 film are simply cool to watch. This naturally raises the question of whether there is a separate school for this style.
Let's get one thing out of the way first: There is no sword fighting style called Zatoichi Ryu. This term was coined for some time by an American who appears on the internet under the name "Sensei Robin". However, there is now nothing more to be found apart from a few mocking forum entries about his dojo.
The inverted sword handle - Zatoichi style
The inverted sword grip means that a katana or wakizashi is held with the blade pointing downwards. In other words, exactly the other way round than is normally done. Of course, this is a deliberate modification for the film.
In the film, Zatoichi uses this style to strike down his opponents with ease and draws his sword with unparalleled speed. It therefore seems as if this extravagant style is invincible. At least the opponents in the film don't stand a chance.
This clip from the Zatoichi film "The Tale of Zatoichi" from 1962 shows his fighting style perfectly:
Conclusion
Even though Zatoichi's fighting technique has not become an official fighting style, the technique is still beautiful to look at and fulfils the purpose of entertaining the audience in the film. In reality, however, it would be disadvantageous in most situations to wield the sword in Zatoichi style.
If you would like to find out more about the special sword used by Zatoichi, you can read our article on the Zatoichi sword further information.
You can also find the Zatoichi sword in our shop:
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1045 carbon steel, Film swords
89.90 €incl. VAT.
Plus. Shipping costs
Delivery time: 2-3 working days
