Histoire
Kenjutsu is the classical Japanese art of the sword, taught in old schools (koryu) founded by samurai. Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, traditionally dated to the 15th century, is among the oldest; Kashima Shinto-ryu and Yagyu Shinkage-ryu are other famous lines.
Unlike kendo, kenjutsu is practised mostly in paired kata with wooden swords (bokken), preserving the techniques of the battlefield and of duels.
Le saviez-vous ?
- Yagyu Munenori was sword teacher to the Tokugawa shoguns.
- Miyamoto Musashi's Niten Ichi-ryu teaches fighting with two swords at once.
- Some koryu still pass on scrolls of transmission (densho) from master to student.
Glossaire des techniques
- Kesagiri
- diagonal cut
- Shomen-uchi
- vertical cut to the head
- Kiriotoshi
- cutting down the opponent's sword
- Seme
- pressure that takes the initiative
Armes et équipement
- Bokken
- wooden sword
- Katana
- long sword
- Wakizashi
- short sword
⚔ In the Arsenal
KatanaWakizashiBokkenYari
☯ Philosophy and quotes
“From one thing, know ten thousand things.”— Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings (1645)
“See distant things as if they were close, and close things as if they were distant.”— Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Water scroll (1645)
“Your everyday stance should be your fighting stance, and your fighting stance your everyday stance.”— Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, Water scroll (1645)
“If your mind stops on your opponent's sword, you will be cut.”— Takuan Soho, The Unfettered Mind (letter to Yagyu Munenori) (c. 1632)
“Matters of great concern should be treated lightly; matters of small concern, seriously.”— Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure (c. 1716)
Musashi's nine rulesDokkodo: the way of walking alone (selection)The virtues of bushidoSenKatsujinkenSee all →
Figures clés
- Iizasa Ienao (c. 1387–1488) — traditional founder of Katori Shinto-ryu
- Yagyu Munenori (1571–1646) — teacher of the shoguns
- Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584–1645) — founder of Niten Ichi-ryu
Sources: Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Martial Arts Association) · Encyclopaedia Britannica