[HeyLaughingBoy]

I'm not so sure about that either. Katanas used to be much longer if you go back several hundred years before the Edo period. I believe that the 2-handed method has more to do with providing greater power and control than the weight of the sword (one hand guiding, the other providing force). Also, there was a fair amount of schooling in drawing the sword and cutting your opponent in a single motion, which of course, is only practical with one hand.

Samurai also carried the smaller wakizashi which was used in one hand. Further, some of the lesser known swordsmen used a two-sword technique, holding a katana in either hand.

But my memory may be fuzzy; it's been a good 15+ years since I was really into all this stuff :-)

[zipwitch]

Your memory must be fuzzy. You just referred to Miyamoto Musashi as "lesser known" :-)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyamoto_Musashi

"Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai)."