The Physics of the Sword

When talking about swords, people tend to focus on the metallurgy behind the construction of the blade. What types of steel are used, how are they forged, what kind of damascened pattern will be produced, what quenching method is used, and so on. Metallurgy – although it may be important – is not the only scientific element behind the construction of a good sword. Another important component is physics. 

An important issue in sword making is how to make the sword as effective as possible without sacrificing other elements such as practicality and aesthetics. Making a sword requires the balance of all of these factors. But a beautiful blade may not be practical; and a practical blade may not be as pleasing to the eyes as one would like. The master bladesmith plays a role as a maestro who conducts their orchestra to play a most wonderful and breath-taking symphony.

F=ma is a very important equation in the construction of a good sword. This formula plays an important part in determining the effectiveness and functionality of a sword. Force is determined by mass and acceleration. A heavy blade with lower acceleration would produce the same force as a lighter blade with higher acceleration. Higher acceleration means more speed and agility for the sword. Nonetheless, a heavier, more sluggish blade has its own niche. A fast and agile sword is ideal as a sidearm or personal weapon, whereas a heavier blade could be used for executions and ceremonial purposes.

A sword is basically a lever. Malay swords fall into two categories, one-handed and two-handed weapons. The single-handed swords fall under the third class lever category, while two-handed swords fall under the first class lever category. The effectiveness of a sword relies on this lever action, coupled with a push- or pull-cut to deliver a deadly blow.  A survey of antique Malay swords shows that some of these weapons were used mainly for cutting and slashing. Others have sharp tips that can be used for thrusting. But none have thick, heavy blades that would have made them sluggish and slow in battle.

The Healing Sword

The sword has been with mankind for thousands of years. Although it is better known as a weapon of war, the sword plays other significant roles in human civilization as well. A sword is a status symbol held in high esteem by many cultures around the world. In some cultures, the sword is a religious icon, a sacred relic that is cherished and even worshipped. However, in this article I would like to look at the sword as a tool for healing the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the human self.

To wield a sword is not simply swinging around a bar of sharpened steel. As the saying goes, a sword requires years of training and conditioning to master. Perhaps this is why the sword is in a class of its own in the armouries of many civilizations. But other than to save one's life in battle, and to "stick the pointy end into the other guy", what does swordsmanship offer in terms of healing?

To quote from experience, my spouse had numbness in her fingers and discomfort in her arms and shoulders before she picked up the sword. Now, according to her, her fingers are no longer numb and her arms and shoulders are better from practicing sword exercises and routines. A student of mine used to have severe back ache and could hardly walk before joining our swordsmanship class. Miraculously, he was able to walk just after attending the first class! Swordsmanship has a lot to offer in terms of physical fitness. We found out that the movements in the art of the sword actually helps the body to realign itself and gets the blood running properly.

Mentally, a swordsman needs to be sharp, stable and aware of their opponents and surroundings. The sword provides mental conditioning to those who practice it on a regular basis. Concentration is of the utmost importance in swordsmanship. If you get distracted for one moment, you will get into trouble. One also needs a sharp mind to handle such a sharp blade. A sword is practically a two and a half feet long razor blade. Someone with a dull mind will definitely cut themselves with it. Swordsmanship also trains your brain to make split-second decisions and "flex the grey muscle". 

The third element in the art of the sword is the spiritual component. Musashi wrote his treatise, The Book of Five Rings, based on five elements: fire, water, wind, earth and void. To him, the void is the nothingness in which nothing exists. A state of emptiness in the mind when the swordsman thinks of nothing but to make the perfect cut. In my interpretation, the void represents the state of denial. A state of affirming there is no God but Allah. In sufi traditions, this means to deny the existence of everything else but God. Everything is just an illusion, and that we need to see past this. Possessions, money, wealth, cars, power, partners are all illusions in that they are not eternal. One needs to get past all these to be in the presence of God.

It is this spiritual healing that is the cornerstone of swordsmanship. The ultimate aim of the swordsman. For when the spirit is healed, the mind and body follows. The sword teaches one to focus on balance and understand the interconnection between all things. That everything is energy, frequency, just quantum particles that exist in the endless wisdom of The One. This is the Way.

Anak Buaya: The Malay Katzbalger

The shape of edged weapons may vary from civilization to civilization, depending on their cultural inclinations and needs. However, there is bound to be similarities between civilizations. In the context of weaponry, we would be talking about the martial culture of a particular civilization. Even though the civilizations were halfway across the world from each other and perhaps even hundreds of years apart. This was how it was, and how it always will be.

Weapons were developed for a reason, usually to counter the other guy’s armaments and armour. As such, they are tailored to the requirements and techniques of the user. One such weapon is the katzbalger, a “short” sword that became the signature weapon of the Landsknechts during Renaissance Europe. The Landsknechts were mercenaries and were highly regarded soldiers of their time. This sword had a double-edged, straight blade averaging 24 inches in length. Weighing in at 0.8 to 1.5kg, this weapon had a broad blade optimised for cutting and slashing. It was often used as a secondary weapon, with the primary one being a polearm or even a montante (greatsword).

Armour was still extant during this time even though firearms were becoming more familiar. The katzbalger had to be short enough to be wielded in one hand during close-quarters combat, when the polearm or montante was impractical to use. Since most of the enemy would have been unarmoured, there was no need for a stiff, pointy tip. This sword was designed for cut and slash action, particularly towards unprotected areas of the body. In case of armoured opponents, it would have been logical to cut below their waist.

In the Malay World, there exists a parallel to the katzbalger. It is a short sword known as the “anak buaya” or little crocodile for the yelman or false edge that makes the sword look like a crocodile’s head. This was a relatively recent weapon, the first examples came into existence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It obviously evolved from its longer-bladed cousin known as the pedang buaya berenang or “swimming crocodile” sword.

This weapon was adapted for close quarters “hit-and-run” attacks against the enemy. Therefore, even though these swords were short and sturdy, they had the cutting and thrusting ability of a full-length sword. What they lacked in reach, they made up in speed and agility. Their blades were 21”-23” in length, and they had knucklebows to protect the hand of the wielder. Because of their size, these weapons can be easily concealed for clandestine missions. Scabbards were usually made using cheap, lightweight wood and seemed disposable. The scabbards were probably disposed of once the weapon was drawn, as there is a saying among the practitioners, “once drawn, they will draw blood.” These “little crocodiles” lived up to their name and fearsome reputation and are continued to be made to this day.

The Malay Sword

In my past articles I've touched briefly about silat and the keris. However, there is another Malay weapon that has not been thoroughly discussed before. This weapon has been mentioned in various Malay manuscripts and proses in the past, and is considered one of three ancestral Malay weapons. This weapon is also frequently misunderstood and some even question its existence in the Malay cosmos. This weapon is the pedang - the sword.

It is believed that the sword existed long before the keris came into its current form. Malay legends and folklores mentioned a number of swords that belonged to kings and members of the royal family. The sword is mentioned in Hikayat Malim Deman, Hikayat Hang Tuah, Sejarah Melayu and also Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina. Nonetheless, it did not enjoy as much publicity as the keris did. 

The typical Malay sword is a single-edged weapon with a slightly curved blade and may be wielded by using one or two hands. Some were also straight, double-edged weapons. Swords were placed in the "selengan" or "arms' length" category and normally have blades between 23 to 29 inches in length. In some cases, the swords were shorter, with blades of about 18 to 21 inches in length. These short swords were sometimes knows as the sundang (not to be confused with the keris sundang). Swords were known by a multitude of names in the Malay civilization: jenawi, chenangkas, chunderik, sikin, podang and klewang are amongst the more familiar ones.

The most famous sword in the Malay civilization would probably be the Cura Si Manjakini, now in the possession of the Sultan of Perak. This blade is reputedly inherited from the Melaka Sultanate, which in turn had its origins in the tale of Sang Sapurba. Sang Sapurba is said to be the progenitor of the Malay Kings. Cura Si Manjakini can be likened to King Arthur's Excalibur of the Malay world. 

Interesting enough, this sword is in the form of a jenawi, a two-handed sword with a long, single-edged blade. The same type of sword is the official weapon of Seni Sukma Kencana, a Malay swordfighting system that has been in my family for generations.

May Peace be with us all. This is the Way.