The Katana, or Samurai sword, traditionally holds great fascination for those who study the Japanese Budo arts, but practice of the sword 'ways' is fragmented. Kendo being a competitive combat sport using bamboo 'swords' (shinai), Iaido concentrating on drawing the sword, Battojutsu promoting tameshigiri (cutting), and so on. However, with a background in Obata Toshishiro's unifying sword art of Shinkendo, Kenshindoryu Battojutsu practices the full range of sword techniques.

Based around the comparatively young sword arts of Toyama Ryu Iaido, taught to the Japanese Army and Nakamura Ryu Battojutsu, both catalogues utilise the 'simplified battle method' which means that all techniques are taught from a standing position, with no kneeling stances.

Sword training is of particular benefit to practitioners of Wadoryu Karate and Jujutsu, encompassing the strategy, movement and evasion techniques in      both of these arts.

We incorporate the following Kenjutsu skills in our practice, as well as knife and sword-defence techniques derived from Wadoryu and Shindo Yoshinryu Jujitsu: 

Kihon Suburi – Basic Sword Swinging Drills

Iai Batto – Combative drawing & cutting methods

Kata – Solo Forms

Kumitachi – Prearranged 'Sparring'

Tameshigiri – Cutting straw or bamboo targets

"Iai to wa, hito ni kirarezu, hito kirazu Jiko no renma ni, shugi no michi."

("Iai: not killing others; not being killed by others. Self training and polishing, the road to discipline and cultivation." )

We conduct training sessions every Tuesday at 8pm, immediately following our Wadoryu Karate session, with the first lesson free.