tall tale or historical truth? Samurai Question

ddonovan · Post by **ddonovan** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 15:14 -0700

I can't remember where I heard it, but heard a story about a Samurai who was greatly wounded on the battle field and instead of being cut down by the enemy- cut off his own head- now I know Katanas are sharp and Samurai capable of exerting great will power- but is this story based on any historical fact and if so who was he?

Krogu · Post by **Krogu** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:40 -0700

1. Give the source.

estee · Post by **estee** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:59 -0700

I can see a man getting a couple inches through the neck, but your arm doesn't swing all the way back to finish the cut.

I don't think its physically possible.

Cool story though.

Jet_Jaguar · Post by **Jet_Jaguar** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:45 -0700

Also, seppuku was the standard method of "honorable" suicide for samurai, so I don't know what the point of self-decapitation would be.

Thomas Froehling · Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:51 -0700

Well, the point would be that no enemy would have taken his head (picking up a head that's just lying around does not count and does not bring honour upon the finder); the net result would be the same -> samurai dead without his head.

And I do think it would be possible, if only extremly difficult; people have done similar things accidentally (see Darwinawards.com ).

But how would one practise such a sword strike?!

Krogu · Post by **Krogu** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:17 -0700

I agree with statement, that its impossible to do such a cut...

ddonovan · Post by **ddonovan** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 22:27 -0700

But how would one practise such a sword strike?!

I'm not sure- I've thought about it a bit- if you were of determined will, couldn't you with sword in (right) hand,arm extended out- make a strong Clockwise swing, where your neck would be in the path- it would have to be all in the elbow- ?? dunno, not about to test it

MikeM · Post by **MikeM** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:16 -0700

I tihnk you would need to be incredibly strong, have exact precision, and have a very very sharp sword. It sounds cool, and I think would creep out the opponent. You got to respect an enemy who can cut off his own head.
He should return as a ghost! The Headless Samurai!

MikeM

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:21 -0700

Stan had Groo decapitate himself in his Usagi vs. Groo story.....

estee · Post by **estee** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 14:21 -0700

Of all people, I think only Groo would be capable of that.

Krogu · Post by **Krogu** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 14:30 -0700

estee wrote:Of all people, I think only Groo would be capable of that.

definitely

ShadowSamurai · Post by **ShadowSamurai** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:10 -0700

its fake! a person cant cut off their own head. and samurai only commit suppuku, and they need a hashaku-nin to do it. arigato

SHIZEN · Post by **SHIZEN** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:05 -0700

how can anyone be sure, we have never been on a battlefield, and if the samurai would rather die then to be killed by the enemy, he could take the sword and slash in his own neck as hard as he could, it wouldnt go through but enough to kill