Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu is an umbrella term for many schools of classical Japanese sword techniques, usually studied through performing partnered kata with wooden swords (bokuto). Two person kata were the traditional Japanese method of learning sword skills before the invention of safety equipment such as the armour and bamboo shinai used in Kendo.

Kata are the method for training in a particular Kenjutsu ryu in their own right but they can also form part of the syllabus of another martial art such as Iaido or Kendo. Such kata are where these two separate arts find common ground; they teach Kendoka how a real sword handles differently to a shinai, and they help Iaidoka learn about distance, timing and facing a real opponent.

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu
This is the sword style established by the famous Miyamoto Musashi, author of the Book of Five Rings.

Three sets of kata exist in HNIR, longsword - longsword; longsword - shortsword;  longsword - both short and longsword together.

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu falls outside of the BKA's remit but it is a growing and popular additional art. It complements Iaido and Kendo, although it comes from a separate lineage to those arts so practitioners must be careful not to mix the two styles. Ojika members train together and with other practitioners in the HNIR Dosokai from the UK and Europe, practicing what they have learned from Iwami Toshio Soke, the school's head. Further infomation about the UK Dosokai can be found at their website.

If you are interested in Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu at Ojika please email Peter Schuster for information.

Tachi Uchi no Kurai & Tsumiai no Kurai
These forms are part of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido curriculum and as such tend to be practiced by Iaido practitioners, although Kendoka have also experienced these forms at seminars. There is no regular training session for these forms, they are usually practiced a few times a year at seminars and Iaido evenings.

Tachi Uchi no Kurai is the first set of ten kata, performed while standing and incorporating many techniques not used elsewhere in the solo Iai kata. Tsumiai no Kurai is the second set, a mix of seated and standing kata which promote a more subtle understanding of distance, timing and effective technique.


Other Kenjutsu Kata
Although not usually termed 'kenjutsu' the kata that belong to Kendo are just that, modern kenjutsu. For more information on these see the page on Kendo. Misoguchi Ryu is a traditional koryu kenjutsu which has been brought to the UK over recent years by Ozawa Hiroshi sensei, 8th dan Kyoshi Kendo. Some North East Kendoka and Iaidoka have been exposed to these forms and there are plans to increase understanding and broaden their appeal in the future.

There is a set of kenjutsu kata from traditional Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo which are occassionally practiced in the Jodo class. Muso Gonnuske, the 17th Centry founder of the Shinto Muso Ryu school, was highly skilled in both staff and sword techniques and these forms are based on his teachings.