Developing Basic Japanese Sword Techniques

While beginning Kendo students focus a lot of their energies on developing basic techniques, footwork, and partnered Kata with the Shinai (bamboo sword) – the aim of their training is to develop the skills required for free sparring and serious competition.

On the downside, Kendo is much more of a sport than a martial art per se, and the wrist flicking strikes employed can create bad habits for Japanese sword training with a shinken (live blade) or iaito – though one the other side, it does indeed cultivate a strong warrior spirit and is most certainly a test of skill (for more information on Kendo, visit KendoKorner.com). As such, I have heard it said that to be a well balanced swordsman, cross training between the various styles is strongly encouraged.

Indeed, one style that seeks to re-integrate the various somewhat fragmented Japanese sword schools together is Toshishiro Obata’s Shinkendo School.

With a syllabus of Japanese sword training methods more akin to those practiced by the Samurai – it emphasises:

• Suburi (cutting exercises)

• Battoho (drawing techniques)

• Kata (Forms)

• Tachiuchi (Sparring)

• And Tameshigiri (test cutting)

As such, it could be argued that this modern day swordmaster (who is a personal hero of mine since boyhood) is contributing to the evolution and reconstruction of the ancient Japanese sword training techniques.