Swords may look simple, but there is a surprising amount of science, engineering, and craftsmanship behind every well-designed blade. In this hands-on woodworking class, students will design and build their own wooden katana-inspired swords while exploring the physics that make a sword feel balanced, controlled, and effective. Along the way, students will learn about concepts such as balance, angular inertia, momentum, leverage, and center of percussion. They will also practice safe tool use, shaping, sanding, and finishing techniques as they turn raw materials into a custom wooden creation. The class will focus on katanas as the starting point, but students will have room to add their own creative style. From elegant traditional designs to imaginative fantasy-inspired builds, each project will reflect both engineering principles and personal creativity. Instructor John Golden is a woodworker originally from Somerset KY who moved up to the Lexington area for college. He has been a hobbyist woodworker since 2019, and has been working in restoration carpentry for the past year. He studied art and design in college, which has helped him form a more holistic view of craft. He believes that art, creativity, and craft are inextricably linked; therefore, he is always searching to give students as much creative agency as he can! He is excited to be teaching with Newton’s Attic this summer!