The word daito refers to Japanese long swords. Rather than a specific weapon, this is actually a class of blades under which both the katana and tachi fall. This term is often used interchangeably with either of the other sword names, and can be used to describe unspecific fake and practice Japanese-style swords. To qualify as a daito the sword must have a blade longer than 2 shaku (24 inches) in a straight line. On top of being made typically of longer straight-edged measure, the tachi also had a deeper curvature than the katana thus making the absolute length even more dissimilar. While there is a well defined lower-limit to the length of a daito, the upper limit is not well enforced; as such swords that are longer "than normal daito" are called odachi. Daito is often used when explaining the similar terms shoto (short sword) and daisho (the set of both large and small sword). The SWORDS system allows soldiers to fire small arms weapons by remote control from as far as 1,000 meters away SWORDS or the Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, is a weaponized mobile robot currently under development by Foster-Miller for the US Army. ... The katana (å) is the Japanese backsword or longsword (大å daitÅ), although many Japanese use this word generically as a catch-all word for sword. ... The tachi (太刀) is a Japanese sword, often said to be more curved and slightly longer than the katana. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Shoto is a length designation for Japanese swords. ... A Edo-era daisho on its stand The daishÅ (大å°, lit. ...
Daito ryu is also the primary source and inspiration for another derivative art, one that has become known the world over as aikido.
Daito ryu's existence also indicates that not all early jujutsu systems existed merely as an adjunct to weapon arts.
It was around 1922 that Takeda first began referring to his teachings as "Daito ryu Aikijujutsu." Prior to this time, he merely referred to Daito ryu as a system of jujutsu, as evidenced by his early ledgers which contain such notations as "Daitoryu Jujutsu Hombu cho" (Daito ryu Jujutsu Director of headquarters).