If you have a battle-ready ninja sword, that is, one that is forged from a good steel alloy, is properly tempered to withstand live use, and which has a full tang, you can use it for live cutting practice.

The question then becomes, what can you cut with a battle-ready ninja sword? Some targets are suitable and others are not. 

Here are 5 of the best. 

Fruits and Vegetables

All things being equal, fruits and vegetables make excellent targets for live cutting practice, and not just with a ninja sword.

They are soft but firm enough to slice through cleanly, they won’t damage the edge, and you can compost them when you’re done.

Just make sure that you thoroughly clean the blade when you’re done or the acids from the juices will stain or etch the blade.

Rolled Mats

Rolled mats also make excellent targets for live cutting practice with a ninja sword. Just make sure you set them up with a good stand that will support them or else they will unravel as you cut them.

One of the things that make rolled mats suitable for use as cutting targets is that, being dry, they will not leave any moisture or other residue on your sword’s blade.

Cardboard and Paper 

Cardboard boxes, cutouts, and other paper targets also make excellent options for live cutting practice with a battle ready sword. 

They will not damage the sword because they are usually fairly low in mass, but be aware that a paper target will actually dull the edge relatively quickly. 

Water Bottles

Water bottles are also really great targets for live cutting practice. Most water bottles are suitable, but some of the best are milk jugs.

The plastic from which milk jugs are made is naturally fairly soft and usually slices very cleanly, too. 

The one note here is that if you do use water bottles for live cutting practice, you should make sure to dry and oil the blade after every use, as residual moisture on the blade will cause rust. 

Hanging Ropes

If you have some thick ropes made from natural fibers, like hemp or jute, these can be suspended and cut with a ninja sword. 

Ropes are actually fairly hard to slice, too, and require a very sharp edge and good technique; generally you will want to approach these with a downward slash at an angle, which helps shear the fibers. 

Plus, the good thing about ropes (like paper targets) is that they will not leave any acid or moisture, or other residue, for that matter, on the blade.

What Should You Not Cut with a Ninja Sword?

While these are some really great targets for live cutting practice with a ninja sword, there are also things you should not cut. 

In general, you should avoid striking: 

• Woods
• Stone
• Masonry
• Hard plastic 
• Anything abrasive

These materials (and other hard objects) won’t just potentially damage your sword’s edge, but they can damage the blade as well. 

You should also not stick the blade of your ninja sword in the ground, because sand and other abrasive particles will damage the blade’s finish as well as the edge. 

Here for a Ninja Sword for Your Collection?

Looking for a ninja sword for your collection? Check out True Swords first. True to their name, True Swords carries a wide variety of historically significant and replica sword patterns, including traditional Japanese swords. 

Check out their online catalog and get in touch with them if you have any questions before you buy anything. 

For more information about Aragorn Sword and Realistic Katana Please visit: True Swords.