Swords & knives
Shōtō
小刀
A term for short swords.
Form and name
Shōtō is used for short swords. Bujinkan practitioners’ overviews associate the term with kodachi and wakizashi.
Read more: terms and context
Jutsu · technique and art
Jutsu (術) can mean technique, skill or method. In weapon terminology, we distinguish the implement from the art practised with it.
Source for the word jutsu: Kanjipedia
Tradition and context
Usage overlaps. Shōtō is therefore presented as a term, rather than an extra step between two fixed blade lengths.
Sources and further reading
Practitioner sources describe the tradition’s practice and terminology. They are not used alone as evidence for early historical claims.