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Does this pose of raising your sword with your right hand have any
significance? For example, is this a famous pose used by a real life legendary
swordsman? Both Zoro of One Piece and Erza of Fairy Tail have used this pose.

![Zoro's pose](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rlLUE.png) ![Erza's
pose](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RBJB4.jpg)


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2013-02-03T06:25:44.250
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2013-02-04T18:46:52.637
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one-piece symbolism fairy-tail
Does this swordsman pose have any significance?


I don't think there is a hidden meaning behind this. In my opinion, it is just
a pose that shows determination. It could be also used a salute. For example,
a "classical" sword salute looks like this:

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mZkCJ.jpg)

The Olympic Flame is also carried this way:

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UcQvi.jpg)

So I would say that this pose means just that, no special hidden meaning
involved. And yeah, it also looks cool.


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2013-02-03T07:51:05.303
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2013-02-03T17:08:27.670
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I don't think it is reference to anything specific since it's overly common
whenever swords are (and sometimes when they aren't) involved in media.

In general:

  * it looks cool 
  * it's usually a show of triumph by combining display of:

    * dominance (as other poses that make body "unwrap") 
    * combat impracticality (no one is doing this in the middle of it)

tvtropes call it
[StabTheSky](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StabTheSky).


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2013-02-03T12:25:42.470
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To add on to Rarst's answer, the pyramid-shaped stance naturally channels the
viewer's gaze to the sword, especially to its tip. This places focus on the
"warrior spirit", typical of a declaration of victory. The "warrior spirit" is
raised to a high position by the stance, which further befits the idea of
"dominance".


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2013-02-04T12:30:34.663
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