Whether you're cutting tatami mats or bamboo stalks, it's easy to bend the blade on a katana. ... Even a well-manufactured mono-steel blade or traditionally folded-steel model will bend or twist if your technique is off. Strangely enough, bending is the good news.

How much should a katana curve?

The curvature of a katana is approximately 1.5cm and called Sori in Japanese. For this reason, katanas don't cut better than straight swords nor can they be drawn quicker from the Saya (scabbard).

Is a katana straight or curved?

The katana is generally defined as the standard sized, moderately curved (as opposed to the older tachi featuring more curvature) Japanese sword with a blade length greater than 60.6 cm (23.86 inches) (Japanese 2 Shaku).