The tsuba (鍔) is usually a roun or occasionally squarish guard at the end of the grip of bladed Japanese weapons, like the katana and its various declinations (tachi, wakizashi etc.), tanto, or naginata. They contribute to the control of the arm (the right index of the fighter typically touches the tsuba), and to the protection of the hand. The chudan no kamae guard is determined by the tsuba and the curvature of the blade.