How to Master the Japanese Art of the Sword

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 13:47

Handle a sword with a certain mastery it is not a simple undertaking; it takes years of training to use this weapon correctly and, even in this case, mistakes are inevitable. Set yourself short-term goals, always keeping the ultimate goal of your training in mind to motivate yourself. Know that understanding certain principles of physics and geometry can help a lot. The article in question is particularly technical and intended for highly motivated people.

Steps

Step 1. Find an instructor experienced in iaido, kendo or other traditional Japanese sword techniques and train with him

Step 2. Consider the myths for what they are

For example: the swords used by the ninja were straight and short compared to the curved katanas of the samurai. Although each sword is different, and those of the ninja had peculiar characteristics (as happens for many schools of fighting), the Japanese swords are all Katana (Nihonto), forged according to the canons of the styles Koto (ancient swords), Shinto (new swords) or Shinsakuto (new renewed swords). In recent times it has begun to be believed that ninjas used secret sword techniques and special swords. It is true that they had their own particular way of fighting with the sword, but it must be taken into account that, at the time, keeping the fighting techniques secret was a dogma followed by almost all Japanese sword schools. If you want to learn Ninjutsu, ask a qualified instructor from the Bujinkan school.

• There is a saying: "the sword that saves one man's life kills another man". The sword is an "instrument of death", regardless of who wields it. To master the art of the sword you will have to learn to serenely consider death, both yours and that of another.
• You can't move at the speed of light just because you know how to use a sword. That doesn't make you faster nor does it give you any superpowers. The sword is a simple "piece of metal". The ability achieved after years of training under the guidance of a competent teacher does not imply the awakening of some long dormant energy within your body. No one, not even a samurai, can cross the laws of physics and geometry when wielding a sword.
• You cannot cut a tree trunk with a blow and, most likely, you would only ruin the sword by trying. What you see in the movies is only fiction, or the effect is obtained by cutting the bamboo, which can actually be cut by a sword.

Step 3. Study all eight directions

Exactly, those of the compass!

• Stand up looking forward. You can easily determine the four quadrants (imagine you are facing north, although this is not actually the case): north, south, east, west. Now think of the four sub-quadrants, called octants: northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast. This results in a total of eight directions. You can also do a simple exercise to learn them.
• Put your right foot in front and place your left foot behind it, pointing with the toe to the left. The feet should not be far from each other, but neither should they be attached to each other. Now step forward with your right foot and bring your left foot into the same position it previously occupied. This is the first step: the north.
• Now comes the trick: the rotation. Observe your position and, with as little effort as possible, rotate to the strong side. In fencing, moving on the strong side simply consists in turning towards the side which allows you to act with less effort than what happens for the opposite side. Turning to the other side means moving to the weak side. If you keep your right foot in front, turn to the left and vice versa.
• Now step forward with your front foot and turn back to the starting direction. This technique is called Zango. These are two of the directions of movement; similarly, move to all the other eight. Turn to the strong side and face direction 3 instead of north. Perform a Zango. Positions 5, 6, 7 and 8 are slightly different. From position 4, turn 45 ° on the strong side by turning the back foot (in our case, towards your right) until you are facing direction 5. Perform a Zango and do the same thing from position 7 to 8. Once reached position 8 you should easily be able to bring yourself back to position 1. Do this exercise a thousand more times. If you want to try your hand at something that is a little more interesting, try stepping back instead of moving forward; then combine the two. This is Hachi Kata (the eight directions method), also called Hachi Do (the eight directions).

Step 4. Learn to pronounce the Japanese language

During the training you will often encounter Japanese terms. It is a phonetically simple language. Ask a native speaker to teach you pronunciation or watch some subtitled anime.

Step 5. Join a Dojo

No matter how hard you put in, you will never be able to learn by yourself or by just watching videos. Dedicate to a pre-17th century style. Stay away from Kendo, if possible: it is a sport and you would never perform any real blows (if you find nothing else, Kendo is still fine).

Step 6. Stand and assume a martial stance (a natural stance, keeping your shoulders in line with your hips and your back straight); feet should be kept shoulder-width apart

• Take the sword (still in the scabbard) with your left hand, turning the blade upwards, and hold it by the top of the saya (the scabbard). Press it against your hip as if it were in your Obi (belt).
• Grab (with a firm but composed movement) the Nakago (the hilt) just below the Tsuba (the guard) and draw the weapon as if you were using the Nakagojiri (the end of the hilt) to strike the stomach of a hypothetical opponent.
• STOP NOW. Imagine yourself in samurai armor. What movement would you do to avoid cutting your fingers and / or arm?
• Step back with your left foot as you draw your sword and make it arc. Point the tip of the blade against the chest of a hypothetical opponent of the same height as you.
• Put the scabbard aside and place your left hand on the nakojiri keeping it on the end of the weapon.
• If you want to do things right, turn the blade to the left (Ura) a few degrees. Congratulations, you've just assumed a middle guard position with right foot forward!

Step 7. Learn the Six Ways

1. Stand in the middle guard position with the right foot forward. Now raise the sword so that the blade points at 45 ° behind you (pointing upwards would be at 90 °, pointing directly backwards would be at 0 °). This is the right foot forward high position.
2. Stay in this position and lower the blade until it forms a 45 ° angle pointing downward; you don't have to move your shoulders away from the center of your figure. This is the right foot forward low position.
3. Take a step with your left foot so that the latter becomes the forward foot and the right points to the right. Do not move the sword during the process. This is the left foot forward high position.
4. Move the sword to the side of the head, pointed at about 75 °. Don't hold it too close to your head as you would theoretically wear a helmet in battle. This is the middle position with the left foot forward.

5. Get into a fighting stance, always keeping your right foot behind and your left foot forward; move the sword handle towards the center of the body while the blade is facing backwards. This is the low position with left foot forward.

   

   Step 8. Try not to consider them as immutable positions

   It is simply a starting point for subsequent movements. Practice moving slowly from one position to another. Move slowly but smoothly (speed will come over time). Train with a partner and repeat their movements symmetrically, then asymmetrically. Be "the shadow of the eagle" (later your companion will have to be your shadow).

   

   Step 9. Execute your first swipe

   Start in the middle guard position with the right foot forward. Raise the sword above your head. Lower the sword by bringing the handle towards the center of the body. This technique is called Shomen’uchi (slash to the head). Another technique to try is the Yokomen’uchi, which consists of a downward slash carried to the side of the opponent's head or neck. If you practice Aikido, all these terms should sound familiar to you. The blow you have just made is the basic technique of Japanese Kenjutsu (the art of the sword), regardless of the school.

   

   Step 10. Make more slashes

   Kenjutsu requires some stamina and training is essential to develop it. Perform the slash you just learned thousands of times in sessions of 5, 10 or 50 hits. Constant repetition will get you to perfection, but remember: if you make mistakes, you will carry them around without knowing it, so sign up for a dojo!

   

   Step 11. Perform the slashes starting from the six positions shown above and alternating the front foot

   You can strike by stepping forward (actually taking a step with the front foot and that is why the feet must be close together), a step forward or by simply standing. Try to direct the blow from above the head, which means raising the weapon above the head to respond to a sudden attack from behind (this is the case in the low position with left foot forward). The instinct is to strike in front of you, bringing the blade back, beyond the ear; the ideal is instead to raise the blade above the head, as high as possible, before delivering the blow.

   

   Step 12. Train often

   Do ten sessions of ten slashes each day. Perform all the swipes you know (remember to hit from top to bottom, not from the side or from the front). Over time it will be much easier and you can switch to a heavier bokken (wooden sword), a suburito (bokken weighing almost 3 kg) or an iaito (blunt-bladed katana).

   

   Step 13. Try to assimilate all these notions

   Once this is done, you will be well on your way to becoming a good swordsman. At this point, you will need to find a kenjutsu school nearby; if it is not there and you are motivated enough, move on. There are good schools all over Italy and it is possible to contact the martial arts schools in your area for useful information about it (if they don't know how to direct you directly, they might know someone who can do it).

   Advice

   Practice is key. If you attend a school, repeat the suburi that you are taught, or perform the slashes explained in this article, swapping the advanced foot from time to time.

   Warnings

   • "Studying" a martial art without the appropriate guidance and supervision of an experienced instructor can be more harmful than useful. If it were possible to learn this discipline without the help of a teacher, teachers would not exist.
   • Never make the blades collide with each other. The swords in the movies are blunt and can be up to an inch thick. Clashing the blades of two swords will ruin both. To block a blow use the mune (back) of the sword.
   • Do not start with a weapon with a sharp blade. The bokken is the best choice but, if you really want to train with a steel weapon, opt for an iaito (a katana with a blunt blade); it costs from 75 to 750 euros and you can find some of good quality on ebay. Bugei swords are recommended, which have a better quality both in terms of steel and forging techniques (a simple iaito should cost around 450 euros).
   • Try not to hit yourself.
   • Don't hit random objects with your sword / bokken. You wouldn't learn anything.
   • Learn about local laws regarding owning a katana or being able to train with it in a public place. Try not to disturb other people.
   • Fencing and kendo are great schools to learn how to fight. Visit a gym where these disciplines are taught to receive adequate training.
   • Do not carry around a knife unless you have a permit (or you are not a licensed soldier or bodyguard, etc.).
   • NEVER threaten someone's safety with a weapon!
   • Safety first of all! Always wear protective equipment before holding a sword.