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The (鍔) is the round guard at the end of the grip of the arm. They contribute to the control of the sabre (the right index of the fighter typically touches the tsuba), and to the protection of the hand. The Chodan no Kamae guard [1] (http://www.halifaxkendo.org/images/kamae/Chudan.jpg) is determined by the tsuba and the curvature of the blade.
Tsuba are usually finely decorated, and nowadays are collectors' items. In addition to being collectors items, they were often used as heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next. Japanese families with samurai roots often have their family crest crafted onto a tsuba.
See also: katana, saya
(鍔) (鍔) (鍔) naze nane tsuba!
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![[1]](http://www.halifaxkendo.org/images/kamae/Chudan.jpg){kind=link}