Shinkendo
Encyclopedia
is a martial art that teaches the way of samurai
swordsmanship. The meaning of the name Shinkendo can be interpreted multiple ways. Literally, "Shin" can be translated as 'real', "ken" as 'sword', and "do" as 'way', thus one English translation of the art's name is "Way of the Real Sword". Another way of interpreting the name is by the parts "Shinken" and "Do". "Shinken" by itself can literally mean 'real sword,' but a more colloquial Japanese meaning is 'seriousness' or 'earnestness', thus the other interpretation of the sword art's name is "Way of Earnesty".
is both founder and head instructor of the . Shinkendo is non-competitive and is learned through the Goho Gorin Gogyo (fivefold way):
Shinkendo also incorporates Toyama Ryu, Gunto Soho, Battojutsu, Battodo, and jokyue.
After many years of study and mastery of many different schools in his native Japan, Obata Kaiso came to America to distill all of the different aspects of Japanese Swordsmanship into one complete and comprehensive art. Obata Kaiso has dedicated over thirty years to teaching and researching the almost lost art of true Japanese Swordsmanship as it was practiced by the Samurai of Japan's feudal era.
While Shinkendo requires rigorous physical training, depth of coordination, and intense focus, one of the most important aspects of Shinkendo is the emphasis on spiritual forging, which inspires "Bushi Damashii" (the samurai/ warrior spirit), a quality that Shinkendo practitioners feel is as relevant now as it was hundreds of years ago. Proper practice of Shinkendo should provide one with not only a strong body and mind, but also a calm, clear and focused spirit.
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
swordsmanship. The meaning of the name Shinkendo can be interpreted multiple ways. Literally, "Shin" can be translated as 'real', "ken" as 'sword', and "do" as 'way', thus one English translation of the art's name is "Way of the Real Sword". Another way of interpreting the name is by the parts "Shinken" and "Do". "Shinken" by itself can literally mean 'real sword,' but a more colloquial Japanese meaning is 'seriousness' or 'earnestness', thus the other interpretation of the sword art's name is "Way of Earnesty".
is both founder and head instructor of the . Shinkendo is non-competitive and is learned through the Goho Gorin Gogyo (fivefold way):
- Suburi (Swinging exercises)
- Battoho (Drawing techniques)
- Tanrengata (Solo forms) also referred to as kataKatais a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
- Tachiuchi (Sparring) also referred to as Kumite
- TameshigiriTameshigiriTameshigiri is the Japanese art of target test cutting. The kanji literally mean "test cut"...
(Test cutting with real swords)
Shinkendo also incorporates Toyama Ryu, Gunto Soho, Battojutsu, Battodo, and jokyue.
After many years of study and mastery of many different schools in his native Japan, Obata Kaiso came to America to distill all of the different aspects of Japanese Swordsmanship into one complete and comprehensive art. Obata Kaiso has dedicated over thirty years to teaching and researching the almost lost art of true Japanese Swordsmanship as it was practiced by the Samurai of Japan's feudal era.
While Shinkendo requires rigorous physical training, depth of coordination, and intense focus, one of the most important aspects of Shinkendo is the emphasis on spiritual forging, which inspires "Bushi Damashii" (the samurai/ warrior spirit), a quality that Shinkendo practitioners feel is as relevant now as it was hundreds of years ago. Proper practice of Shinkendo should provide one with not only a strong body and mind, but also a calm, clear and focused spirit.