Shinkendo

is a martial art that teaches the way of samurai swordsmanship. The meaning of the name Shinkendo can be interpreted a couple of 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". The primary focus is on use of the katana, although Bojutsu is also studied.

nihongo|Toshishiro Obata|小幡 利城 is both founder and head instructor of the nihongo|International Shinkendo Federation|国際真剣道連盟|Kokusai Shinkendō Renmei. 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 kata
*Tachiuchi (Sparring) also referred to as Kumite
*Tameshigiri (Test cutting with real swords)

Shinkendo also incorporates Toyama Ryu.

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.

Kamai

There are five basic kamai, Chudan, Gedan, Waki, Haso, and Jodan. In Chudan, the sword is held in front of the body, with the tip pointed at your opponent's throat. For Gedan the katana is lowered. In waki, the sword is rotated and held to the side to prepare for a rising cut. The sword is held next to the head for haso, and above the head for jodan.

In addition, there is seigan, where the sword is held like in chudan, but is slightly angled, and seigedan, which is like gedan but angled. Kasumi is a high block.

uburi

Basic cuts

Shomenuchi- straight cutKesa- angled cutKiriage- a rising angled cutYokogiri- side cut.

Battoho

Basic battoho consists of drawing the sword and cutting yokogiri or kiriage, drawing the sword to jodan kamae and cutting, or bringing the sword back in preparation for a tsuki (thrust).

External links

* [http://www.shinkendo.com International Shinkendo Federation]
* [http://shinkendo.com/dojomap.html Licensed Branch Dojos]
* [http://modernsamurai.info/ms/shinkendo/shinkendo.html Shinkendo NY Modern Samurai Dojo]
* [http://www.isf-alga.com International Shinkendo Federation in Alabama and Georgia]
* [http://shinkendo.org.ua Ukrainian Dojo]