Originally posted by Ellis Amdur
Note, of course, that one doesn't find katana without tsuba. Even in the ryu without - it's absolutely necessary to keep your hand from sliding up onto the blade in tsuki (ask O.J. Simpson), and it is a necessary protection of the hands for a lot of moves which, even if not a specialty in one's own ryu definitely will be in others.
Ellis Amdur
www.ellisamdur.com
While not disputing the above at all, I always though that Tsuba were there for Blade balance primarily and self hand protection as a secondary thing. I know my Iai's entire feel change completely when I installed an above average tsuba
Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow...
...that's what makes my thumper go