(Approx 2 minute read)

Continued from my recent article in response to reader comments about the idiotic idea of catching a sword, a ‘katana,’ in the palms of the hands. Mostly, the comments were sensible. However… you know what’s coming, right?
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One comment suggested that I was mistaken, claiming it is entirely feasible. He said that even though it may go wrong and a limb might be severed, it is possible to continue the fight.
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I guess he was watching the ‘historical documentary’ provided by Monty Python.
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Putting aside the comedic reference – he was totally serious.
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Some comments suggested I am neglecting historical context, asserting that karate was developed as an empty-hand method for a battlefield answer to samurai with weapons. Um, no. Karate was never developed to fight armed samurai warriors.
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Karate evolved as a system of self-defense in Okinawa to defend against criminals and commoners. Influenced by a mix of indigenous and Chinese martial arts, it was primarily designed for personal protection, not battlefield combat.
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While offering valuable skills, karate has clear limitations against a weapon as lethal as a sword. A ‘katana,’ designed for precise and brutal cuts, would not be stopped by bare hands. Attempting to catch the blade is not only foolish but physically impossible. The razor-sharp edge would inflict catastrophic injury, likely severing fingers or the entire hand.
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The romanticized image of the unstoppable warrior persisting through a fight even after grievous injuries, like a severed limb, is just fiction.
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Forget martial arts experience for a moment. As a recently retired EMT with firsthand experience treating victims of violence, this claim is beyond absurdity.
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Still not convinced? Okay, let’s delve into the body’s response to a severe injury like limb amputation.
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In the aftermath of a severe physiological insult, the body may enter a state of shock.
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This response prioritizes survival by diverting resources away from non-essential functions like digestion and mobility, towards blood clotting and maintaining blood pressure.
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Pain becomes overwhelming, and consciousness can fade. Even if sheer willpower could somehow overcome the initial shock, the body’s blood loss and the excruciating pain would render continued fighting an impossibility.
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The idea that anyone could continue fighting after such a life-threatening injury is simply a myth unsupported by either physiological realities or historical evidence.
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My experience with the military and police, recently as a retired EMT, I have clearly witnessed the debilitating effects of such trauma. While courage and determination are essential qualities for any martial artist, these pale in comparison to the body’s natural response to severe injury.
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Unless, of course, “‘Tis but a scratch.” (Monty Python)
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While there are extraordinary stories and myths, most individuals would not be able to continue fighting after sustaining severe amputation due to the body’s natural response to trauma, including shock, blood loss, and intense pain.
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So come on, please, sword-catching or fighting with a severed limb (“it’s just a flesh wound” – Monty Python)? Remember: a little common sense goes a long way.
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Photo Credit: With thanks to Joe Heller