- Joined
- Feb 20, 2014
- Messages
- 2,045
If you want to learn to use that beautiful blade properly as you asked about then you need to consider how you would use it. In Japan there are 4 styles of fighting with the sword.
Japanese Martial arts using Katanas
1. Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu means “the art of the sword” and is often used as a general term for all Japanese sword arts. It teaches combative swordsmanship. Choreographed patterns of defensive and offensive movements (kata) in kenjutsu are said to be the expression of the hidden techniques and attributes of the katana sword.
Basic things to learn:
a. Developing reflexes or quick responses to attacks
b. Becoming aware of the movements of the opponent to develop an intuitive understanding of his next attack
c. Learning the proper way of cutting with a katana sword
d. Making the best use of the practitioner’s personal skills in katana handling
The kenjutsu primarily uses a wooden sword (bokken) in training while some schools make use of bamboo sword (shinai).
2. Iaido
Iaido is the art of smooth, controlled movement of drawing a katana from its sheath, cutting an opponent, removing the blood off the blade, and placing the sword back to the sheath. It teaches the use of real or actual weapons and includes training in Japanese prearranged exercises called kata.
The word iaido means “the way of mental presence and immediate action”. This martial art trains a practitioner (iaidoka) to quickly respond to attacks. It does not perform sparring of any kind but only involves practicing against imaginary opponents.
Practice weapons in iaido include bokken, unsharpened katanas, and the katana replica iaito. More advanced iaido practitioners would also use a real Japanese sword
3. Aikido
Aikido is the art that aims to “control aggression without inflicting injury” as declared by its founder Morihei Ueshiba. To synthesize his philosophy of extending peace, love, and compassion, he intended Aikido to be an art to defend one’s self without harming the opponent.
This martial art is performed by redirecting the attacker’s force rather than opposing it with your own strength. This technique, thus, requires less physical energy. Some martial art schools include firearm disarming techniques in their aikido training.
Weapons used in aikido training are short wooden staff, bokken, and tanto knife while the big rectangular bat (tanren bo) is used to develop strength.
4. Kendo
Kendo is a sword fighting martial art which means “Way of the Sword”.
This sword art aims to discipline the human character by following the principles of the katana including proper stance, distance (from the opponent), and proper cutting. Kendo first developed a strong influence in Zen Buddhism wherein the kendo practitioners (kendoka) observe deep meditation to attain awakening or enlightenment.
Modern kendo techniques would include sparring, strikes, and thrusts targeting the wrist, head, and body which are all protected by the armor bogu. Practitioners use a shout every time they make a strike to express their fighting spirit. The bamboo sword (shinai) is the primary training weapon for this martial art.
Kendo is the one I have chosen as it makes the most sense for someone my size and aggression LOL. If you want to be able to show it off properly. I might recommend learning Iaido, It is very picturesque as you take the sword out of it's sheath and you can stop short of cutting your guests then re-sheath it with a flourish
Glad some old thoughts brought this up as still available so it could go to a good home. Sad I didn't have the funds to adopt it myself.
Japanese Martial arts using Katanas
1. Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu means “the art of the sword” and is often used as a general term for all Japanese sword arts. It teaches combative swordsmanship. Choreographed patterns of defensive and offensive movements (kata) in kenjutsu are said to be the expression of the hidden techniques and attributes of the katana sword.
Basic things to learn:
a. Developing reflexes or quick responses to attacks
b. Becoming aware of the movements of the opponent to develop an intuitive understanding of his next attack
c. Learning the proper way of cutting with a katana sword
d. Making the best use of the practitioner’s personal skills in katana handling
The kenjutsu primarily uses a wooden sword (bokken) in training while some schools make use of bamboo sword (shinai).
2. Iaido
Iaido is the art of smooth, controlled movement of drawing a katana from its sheath, cutting an opponent, removing the blood off the blade, and placing the sword back to the sheath. It teaches the use of real or actual weapons and includes training in Japanese prearranged exercises called kata.
The word iaido means “the way of mental presence and immediate action”. This martial art trains a practitioner (iaidoka) to quickly respond to attacks. It does not perform sparring of any kind but only involves practicing against imaginary opponents.
Practice weapons in iaido include bokken, unsharpened katanas, and the katana replica iaito. More advanced iaido practitioners would also use a real Japanese sword
3. Aikido
Aikido is the art that aims to “control aggression without inflicting injury” as declared by its founder Morihei Ueshiba. To synthesize his philosophy of extending peace, love, and compassion, he intended Aikido to be an art to defend one’s self without harming the opponent.
This martial art is performed by redirecting the attacker’s force rather than opposing it with your own strength. This technique, thus, requires less physical energy. Some martial art schools include firearm disarming techniques in their aikido training.
Weapons used in aikido training are short wooden staff, bokken, and tanto knife while the big rectangular bat (tanren bo) is used to develop strength.
4. Kendo
Kendo is a sword fighting martial art which means “Way of the Sword”.
This sword art aims to discipline the human character by following the principles of the katana including proper stance, distance (from the opponent), and proper cutting. Kendo first developed a strong influence in Zen Buddhism wherein the kendo practitioners (kendoka) observe deep meditation to attain awakening or enlightenment.
Modern kendo techniques would include sparring, strikes, and thrusts targeting the wrist, head, and body which are all protected by the armor bogu. Practitioners use a shout every time they make a strike to express their fighting spirit. The bamboo sword (shinai) is the primary training weapon for this martial art.
Kendo is the one I have chosen as it makes the most sense for someone my size and aggression LOL. If you want to be able to show it off properly. I might recommend learning Iaido, It is very picturesque as you take the sword out of it's sheath and you can stop short of cutting your guests then re-sheath it with a flourish
Glad some old thoughts brought this up as still available so it could go to a good home. Sad I didn't have the funds to adopt it myself.