KENJUTSU - ART OF THE JAPANESE SWORD
Just like the European knight and their longsword, the katana is an icon of the Japanese feudal warrior: the Samurai. The katana is one of many Japanese swords and is an evolution from the Tachi (longsword) sword used by samurai of the Sengoku period. They are characterized as curved, single-edged swords that could be used one or two-handed. They had thick, stiff blades and featured large discs to serve as hand guards. Katana blade length can range from 23.62 to 31.5 inches in length. The original term for the katana’s style of fighting is Kenjutsu, meaning “Art of the Japanese sword”.
KENDO, IAIDO, KENJUTSU? WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?
Kenjutsu is a word used for the discipline of the Japanese sword for warriors. It, in it’s most fundamental forms, is designed to be as effective as can be for Samurai to win duels and battles. Grappling, binding, and combination-use with tanto (knives) are commonplace in Kenjutsu schools. There are schools that teach Kenjutsu for armored (yoroi) and unarmored use of the sword.
Kendo is an evolution of Kenjutsu designed for sport. The word means “sword way” or “way of the sword”. Competitors typically don protective armor (bogu) and use bamboo swords called shinai. The sport of Kendo is very important to Japanese culture to which most high schools and colleges have their own clubs and teams. Unlike Kenjutsu, Kendo has strict rules against grappling and targeting certain parts of the body.
Iaido is a sword art that is derived from Kenjutsu but focuses on one’s mindset rather than ability to spar. Practitioners drill in forms that focus on drawing, cutting, de-blooding, and returning a katana to its sheath (saya). Focus is placed on preparedness of mind when facing off with a theoretical opponent. Metal training blades (iaito) and sharp cutting blades (shinken) are typically used in Iaido. Tameshigiri (cutting of targets) is also practices in Iaido.
A DEADLY ART PASSED DOWN
There are many schools of Kenjutsu (ryu) that existed in Japan throughout history. Many that exist today have a lineage that spans over 200 years! Skilled Kenjutsu practitioners have been recorded throughout history winning duels and fighting in battles with their katanas with great effect. Famous swordsmen like Musashi Miyamoto (1584-1645), Okita Souji (1842-1868), and Nagakura Shinpachi (1839-1915) have many documented fights and wins due to their tremendous skills with a katana.
OUR KENJUTSU CLASSES
Our school of Kenjutsu is known as Shin Moretsu Ryu ( 真猛烈流). This system is a modern, reconstructed martial art built-from and inspired-by ancient Samurai systems. While many ancient traditions and customs are left in-tact in our school, our focus is the study on how a samurai would have actually fought in duels and battle. Our methods focus on dueling, skirmishing, and urban combat that may include fighting multiple opponents. Shin Moretsu Ryu follows the spirit of being a “living martial art”, as many ancient Kenjutsu systems of Japan were. This Living Art concept has our school constantly evolving to be a fresh and effective discipline that both observes traditions as well as adapts new techniques that progresses the style forward. We use modern protective gear and weapons (including steel sparring katana) to do this. Please feel free to check out our GEAR GUIDE page to see our equipment recommendations to start your Kenjutsu training.