Swordsmanship (Kenjutsu)

1. Swordsmanship (Kenjutsu)

Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Date

2. The idea and principle of kenjutsu

Kenjutsu is Japanese art of swordsmanship
The main principle is the development of practical
sword techniques (Hillsborough, 2014)
The behavior of the sword is aggressive and tough
Kenjutsu influenced the samurai way of life
Kenjutsu is Japanese art of swordsmanship, where the core is not so much the moral upbringing of the personality as in kendo, but the practical mastering of combat techniques with
the sword. In other words, it is the art of practical exercises, which originated more than a thousand years ago. The fighters repeated these practices so often that they had already
been accepted at the level of reflex, which were often very aggressive and tough. It became as a special combat technique at the end of the 12th century due to the formation of a new
military state – samurai. By the 17th century, kenjutsu was replaced by such weapon as arrows, spears and guns, because swords as weapons of attack were rarely used in battles.
Only with the establishment of the peaceful period of Edo, the sword as well as kenjutsu became the “soul of the samurai”, whereby the government officially forbade to use other
military equipment except the sword.

3. The kenjutsu schools in middle ages

The secrets of kenjutsu techniques
The emergence of katana influenced the need to
establish first schools (Hillsborough, 2014)
The first three schools were were Kage-ryū (Aizu)
(Aisukage ryū), Chūjō-ryū, and Tenshin Shōden Katori
Shintō-ryū
The kenjutsu
schools in
middle ages
They formed both practical and philosophical
foundations for self-improvement
Kenjutsu is considered the classic art of war. The kenjutsu schools always kept their techniques completely secret from outsiders, which is why kata were developed. It is believed that many of the techniques
have not reached our time, but many of them have been preserved. The emergence of katana influenced the need to establish first schools, where the masters trained real warriors. The first three schools were
emerged in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), which is associated with the situation of inter-state warfare. These schools were Kage-ryū (Aizu) (Aisukage ryū), Chūjō-ryū, and Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū.
These schools laid the foundations for the martial arts of the samurai, thus forming both practical and metaphysical foundations for self-improvement. They also influenced other schools that used these
techniques for their own art of swordsmanship.

4. The post-medieval period

The postmedieval period
A large number of fencing schools were emerged from the 17th
to the 19th century
Shinkage-ryū or the New Shadow School was one of the most
popular and influential (De Lange, 2012)
The main practice of the school were duels and strict bodily
practices
Many schools disappeared at the end of the 19th century
because of firearms
There was a large number of fencing schools from the 17th to the 19th century, which is associated with the post-medieval or modern period. Shinkage-ryū or the New Shadow School was one of the most
popular. Founded in the 1560s by Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, a fencer and strategist from the Kōzuke Province. It was based on the techniques of the Shadow Scholl and its leader Aisu Iko. The main practice of the
school were duels, with were defined by the bodily poses and movements. The main philosophical concept was "a sword, which kills once", so the soldier had to learn to inflict a deadly blow. Participating in
numerous battles, Ise-no-Kam proved the effectiveness of the school that he created, which subsequently became very popular in medieval Japan. At the end of the 19th century, many schools disappeared or
were incorporated into kendo. A particular role in the decline of fencing has played a widespread use of firearms.

5. Kenjutsu in the 20th century

The Shinkage-ryū school was on the brink of death and oblivion
Kendo kata integrated many kata from other schools (Budden, 2000,
p. 12)
Then sensei Watanabe Tadashige tried to restore old sword
techniques and skills in his school
Fencing is carried out on wooden swords because of the law
Kendo and kenjutsu today have the same goals and concepts
Kenjutsu in the
20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Shinkage-ryū school was on the brink of death and oblivion, but thanks to Yagiu Gantheu and Vatanabe Tadatoshi it retained its unique traditions and techniques,
continuing its existence. In 1912, kendo kata was created by integrating many kata (forms) from different kenjutsu schools. The purpose of this was to preserve the traditional forms of kenjutsu in kendo.
Hence, kendo kata became a direct reflection of kenjutsu in kendo. In 1969, sensei Watanabe Tadashige formed the Shinkage-ryu Xyho Marobashi Kai, were tried to restore old sword techniques and
skills. Interest in technology and philosophy of syncage-ryu increased markedly. The number of members increased, various affiliates appeared throughout Japan. Due to the fact that the use of real
swords is prohibited by law in modern Japan, fencing is carried out on wooden swords. Modern kendjutsu has not many followers today because the sport kendo replaced the military technique of
holding the sword. Kendo and kenjutsu today have the same goals and concepts, which are to develop and discipline oneself in order to become better.

6. Kenjutsu as a profound part of Japanese culture and society

Kenjutsu reflected the key cultural values of the Japanese
nation
The samurai became the symbol of Japan because they
meant strength, courage and nobility
It has formed a whole ethical and metaphysical tradition
around the martial virtue of humility
The Japanese are equally proud of kenjutsu since it
associated with the national self-consciousness
Kenjutsu is an important part of Japanese culture and society, which influenced not only the formation of a military culture, but also reflected the key values of the Japanese nation. First of
all, it influenced the formation of samurai as a separate social class, which were respected and honored among other classes. The samurai became the symbol of Japan because they meant
strength, courage and nobility. At the same time, kenjutsu is a complex system of rules and techniques, which not only form a strong and enduring body, but also a spirit. Accordingly, it
has formed a whole ethical and metaphysical tradition that is very close to Buddhism and meditation. The main ethical principle is the martial virtue of humility, the core of the Japanese
ethics and manners. Today, this technique of the sword is again restored and associated with the ancient Japanese military tradition, which shows the formation of the Japanese from the
Middle Ages to date. Despite the prohibition of real swords, the Japanese are equally proud of kenjutsu as a specific part of their own culture and mentality.

7.

References
1. Budden, P. (2000). Looking at a far mountain: A study of kendo kata. Boston,
MA: Tuttle Publishing.
2. De Lange, W. (2012). Famous samurai: Kamiizumi Nobutsuna. Warren, CT:
Floating World Editions.
3. Hillsborough, R. (2014). Samurai revolution: The dawn of modern Japan seen
through the eyes of the shogun’s last samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing.