I was on the fencing team in high school and in the kendo club in college. One thing that I didn't like about fencing is that a tiny little flick to the shoulder could still score a point as long as the electric sensor buzzer went off. I really liked the fact that no point was awarded in kendo unless the strike was judged to be full, clean and strong. As the sensei put it, the strike had to look like a killing blow. No little flicks or baby taps. That really appealed to me.
That's why I hate the sword fights in the live-action, Rurouni Kenshin. Kenshin is just flicking his enemies. I doubt he can even cut a half inch branch with those swings.
@@chris_ackroyd . Personally, if you got into an actually fight with a sword (doubt it). Iaido will be more effective just with the fact that you use an actual sword fight But I don’t do any Japanese sword martial arts so I wouldn’t know. Iaido vs kendo I would say iaido makes more sense to take up as your main martial art and kendo for sparing.
@@IcejjfishTbone I don’t know... the reaction time on some of these kendo practitioners is quick enough where I think it could be useful in real life. For example, take a 5th dan kendo practitioner armed with a sturdy stick (doesn’t need to be a bokken) or cane, vs a perpetrator armed with a knife. In that scenario, I think that as soon as that perpetrator makes the slightest move, he’s getting hit, the strike is going to be hard, and it’s going to land before the perpetrator can close the distance. I say this because that kind of attack anticipation and rapid response is one of the things kendo practitioners do constantly.
In Ancient Rome, you're given a wooden sword as sign of a great gladiator In Ancient Japan, you're given a wooden sword because you're a tiny grasshopper
Gee, next time someone tells me about Musashi, after Sekigahara, finding a wooden sword in the house of the two Moxa women, what'd he kill, 3 -4 armed bandits with that one and the several other duels he fought with the Yagyū (柳生氏), what was it that time, one broken skull and one fractured arm, I'll be sure to bring that up that someone said he's a grasshopper...Musashi would probably laugh and likely understand... I doubt many others would.
We speaks that in Japanese ” ひとつ”. My friend says that Karate comes from Katana movements and some Chinese material art comes from spear movement,so we can see the difference in the punch.
Well, as a kendoka I say, no, because there are a lot of things which make difference between kendo and iaido, starting from objective of these two budo. So, no, that's not true
Niccolò Cammilli, I think the point of the saying is that they came from the same origin but have differed from each other greatly. They’re of the same coin, but each side is either a head or a tail, they cannot be both
Sir I aspire to be like you! You're a master in European History and Japanese History, you know many languages. You practice HEMA (I think?) and Kendo and you've lived in Japan, plus you're a gamer. You've pretty much achieved what I want to achieve!
davidy98 ahaha Thank you so much Davidy for your kind comment. I am indeed a gamer but I don't consider myself a master in history. European history is a passion I have and I consider myself an amateur more than a historian. Also I have practiced both kendo and sport fencing but there is no Hema club so all my experience in hema is organising a group of people and practice together from the treaties also watching schola gradiatoria's channel. I will get into hema eventually when I will move to another city. Only in the language and oriental culture part I feel I am a professional, because that's my job and I teach it for living (a part from youtube which is my hobby) all my academic studies where orientalism and languages in general ;) Thank you again for watching and commenting mate ^^
Metatron Thank you for replying! You still know more History than I do! XD Ever since I was a kid I've been in love with History, pretty much any kind of History, but mostly Ancient, Medieval and Japanese History. I'm still in high school, and I'm hoping to start college next year and major either in Military History or Medieval History (I'm not sure which one yet). Right now I practice Kendo, and I've just recently found out that there's a HEMA club in my region. I'd like to start practicing HEMA too, but I'm planing on building PC soon, so it will have to wait! Another thing is that I'm learning Japanese, I currently have classes, and you've inspired me to not give up on it! I'm also interest in dead languages such as Old Norse, Latin, Old and Middle English. Although It's very hard to find classes where I live, again thank you for replying and have a great day!
This was an amazing introduction! For some reason I have developed a deep interest in Samurai and Japanese Sword culture (I have no idea where it came from) but I am eager to explore. Thank you for this great video!
I''ve been doing kendo now for 7 years and I have been a 3rd Kyu for 4 years, and wether Kendo is a Sport or a Martial art ? I say it's both, I say the Definition of Kendo is up to you and to the people that Practice it, Kendo is what you make of it, plus Each Sensei Worldwide will have there own Definition what Kendo is, so really it's a Mixed Opinion on what Kendo is in the Kendo World !
Interesting stuff, I love how all over the world they had similar styles. Japanese had Jiu jitsu along with Ken Jutsu (grappling/sword), and in Europe they had wrestling and sword. It must have been a crazy experience watching these warriors in action.
Wrestling is a super important part of freeform melee fighting of any sort, I've seen several longsword sparring rounds end when one of the fighters gets a bit too comfortable, lets the other guy get close and is thrown to the floor. Hell, even in modern militaries they teach everyone some unarmed combat, because wrestling situations happen frequently even with an effective weapon range of hundreds of metres
Yes. Hence that's why kendo came about. In the Edo period, because there were no major wars to be fought anymore, samurai started experimenting with bamboo swords and armour and engaged in inter ryu sparring matches to see if their techniques could work or be improved upon. The sparring eventually evolved into the modern sport of kendo where only certain areas could be hit and techniques with the bamboo sword became very very modified from its original purpose. Today's kendo has very little in common with the classical ryu but the fighting spirit and culture nevertheless is still there.
Of course they did. Many duels (with and without sharp blades) were fought as training and teaching matches. What do you think we do in dojo aside from form and 2-5 (randori above 3) person practice? We do live sparring with safety equipment (at the lower to mid-grades). At the high grades, we often practice kenjutsu more slowly with bokken (bokuto) and minimal, if any, armour. But that is ONLY at the higher grades due to better control and ability to manage risk at higher speeds with one's training partners. Kendo is a good place (as is SCA or HEMA halls, etc) to practice your footwork, timing and distance, and entering with minimal risk for injury. It's where I practiced my skills at a good speed with people who meant to defeat me outright by fighting with the idea of life/death. It's also a fun community.
@Metatron Battojutsu ("the craft of drawing out the sword") is an old term for Iaijutsu ("sitting or still to deal with to fight skill"). Battojutsu is often used interchangeably with the terms Iaijutsu and Batto. Generally, Battojutsu is practiced as a part of a classical ryu and is closely integrated with the tradition of Kenjutsu and is practiced with the live-blade, Katana, often as simply the sole Kata. The training is for combative effectiveness, through factors such as distancing, timing and targeting. As such, Battojutsu is not intended for sport-like or "spiritual" purposes as are modern budo like Iaido and Kendo. So if you want to learn to wield/draw/combat/fight etc. with a Katana then Battojutsu, Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu are the 3 proper disciplines to take.
Thank you! Great lesson! Short, conscise, and to the point! (Pun intended). I have dabbled in Iaido for the last 25 years and the last 4 years me and a friend practice kenjutsu, sparring with shinai but without the confinment of the kendo-rules. It seems like our definition of kenjutsu is slightly off, but we are still learning and having both fun and bruises. :) Take care!
Thanks!! you really helped me decide. i was choosing between kendo and kenjutsu and i think kenjutsu is what im looking for. Excellent video, Saludos desde México!!
Wow, I went to a weird Dojo then. We basically did a mix of Iaido as the primary style, but we also went over the Kenjuitsu stances techniques and Kata. But about once a month we also spared with Shinai, although with other stances, I made liberal usage of hasso-no-kamea. It was kid of weird though, because one guy also did hema, and he would occasionally go into a Hangetort, and surprise everyone.
@@Takezoo sadly no it was years ago even by the time I made that post. I do SCA fencing now, but I haven’t authorized to do cut and thrust fencing yet and finding an uchigatana with enough flex for safety standards is tough.
Sounds like gekiken or gekken. It’s more of a practical application of Japanese swordsmanship that encompasses kenjustu techniques and Iaido practices like paired waza and such.
I was taught iajutsu was the art of drawing and cutting a man- more like a duel or surprise attack. Once each person was at a distance it became kenjutsu. Its been a TON of years since I studied. Great explanation of the respective arts:)!
Correct. Iaijutsu is the art of drawing and cutting from positions that hinder you. If your opponent draws and attacks during a discussion. You need to be able to draw while sitting and cut quickly.
Go Kendo just like me, It open youself up to the most exausting moments when you run out of breath, and with your "Last" shout you keep moving, keep attacking, and not giving up. And when you put the Bogu on (Armor) with the Kote and the Men Oh my.. you get red and breath heavily and it's a challange to give your best shot in it, but that's what makes you STRONGER! The Way of the Sword, Kendo
I've built up my swordfighting skills using LARP weapons, since the local LARP group we used to have around here weren't just focusing on only writing decent plots and storyline, but also teaching and training every player how to use their weapons proficiently and properly, including sparring sessions, sometimes light, sometimes really intense. During these sessions, it became clear i leaned more towards a Samurai's way of fighting with a sword by default and that's the road i went down and specialized in. I never have worn the full heavy armor nor do i ever intend to. Shield? No thanks, absolurely not my thing. either. Despite the group falling apart a few years ago and having no real similar way to train like the group used to, i'm still practicing my skills every now and then. And i'm considering to try and pick up on Niito-Ryu training as well.
I remember growing up watching Rurouni Kenshin and the scene where Yahiko first draws Kenshin' s sword for practice and couldn't believe how much weight it had. I once went to a festival and respectfully held a sword and scabbard in hand and began to appreciate the weight of the handle and blade. Truly: strength, speed, accuracy and finesse are the biggest points in executing a quick strike with your blade from scabbard to target. In much respect as our gunslingers of the American West.
Wow, excellent timing! Today I saw a live Kenjutsu performance and my friends were asking me what was the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu! Well, now I know it thanks to you ^.^
Thank you very much, i am training Kendo but i am also interested in Kenjuntsu, your videos show me that all thes martial arts are brothers. Thank you again for these 17 minuts of japan history and martial arts.
fevermoon Keep on doing it. Dont think too much about it. Its just like in every art, like riding or fencing. At the beginning you think too much what to do and how to act that your mind gets clouded and youre stressing yourself. Thats normal. Its experience that gets rid of that. And this has to be earned ^^ At least that would be my take on it.
Kendo is Sport Fencing. Kenjutsu is Combat training. Iaido is an art form. I already knew that, but I wanted to just watch your video because you're actually a good content creator.
My understanding is that iaido techniques replaced the normal draw your sword then fight tradition.. I’m pretty sure iaido is from the peaceful period in Japan where samurai went from being soldiers to being more akin to police officers.. you couldn’t just walk around with your sword drawn so proper draw techniques were made, studied, changed, and taught.. that way a samurai could still be able to react if need be to an opponent
I've done all 3 for years and I am not a fan of Kendo. I think Hema is better for sparring and learning how to fight. The Westerner in me doesn't like yelling or screaming when I fight. You are so right about Iaido teachers being very technical about every tiny detail.
This is a decent rundown of the modern arts. Do arts are generally offshoots of the older combat or Justus arts. Weather the "way" is astetical, sport or energy harmonization studies, they are still martial arts. There are really not to many schools that train as the actually samurai used to. Even most koryu schools today study the forms and techniques but have lost the science of the arts. There are still a few systems left that study kenjutsu, iaijutsu and aikijujutsu in their authentic lessons of sensitivity training, free movement, application of strategy and intuition drills. In Japan and a few isolated schools in America there are the bujutsu arts of the Kuroda Han under Kuroda Tetsuzan sensei. In America there is the Nami Ryu (led by James Williams sensei under current instruction of Tetsuzan sensei) and they have kept the old teachings alive through much more than just kata. Hope this helps for anyone looking for instruction in the old ways. Metatron sir, please do not slam the shinken into the saya, you will certainly destroy the saya! ;-)
Thanks for the nice video Metatron. As a kendoka, I can't help myself but have to comment. We avoid resting a shinai across the shoulder and try to wear kendo gi tighter and cover as much chest skin as possible (for etiquette but also a safety reason as an accidental tsuki can land on your chest). And we usually cut off the red strings on the shinai before we use.
Jitsu is an Eastern term that reflects both art and science as a complete philosophic approach. Do implies that the curricula conforms to Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism. Kendo is line fencing but Iaido properly studied is the theoretical study of Fuseki & Joseki! Iaido practitioners do have controlled sparing for advanced practitioners. Drawing is not Batto which is more related to tameshigiri. The draw in Iaido is call Nuki! Iaido is profound theory, it teaches postures from, sitting, to standing, or kneeling, and teaches one to be "without equal".
Thank you sir. I am currently in the process of creating my own form of ken-jutsu and your information has helped me decide if it was a kendo or ken-jutsu.
+Israel Wright One cannot create a koryu kenjutsu system unless you have a linage to attach too and of course a license in which to open a school under said name. Example i practice yagyu shinkage-ryu bujutsu (which encampasses all of the arts the yagyu taught samurai such as iaijutsu, kenjutsu, sojutsu, jujutsu, and of course good old hojutsu) as such as i cannot open another kenjutsu school of the yagyu shinkage-ryu without a direct scroll given to me via its current headmaster. Now that is just paperwork and formalties the difference between kendo and kenjutsu is so vast that ill try to simplify it as best i can. In kenjutsu you are are only training your technique for one purpose and that is to kill your enemy and suffer no injury in the process this is called "Bujutsu" or literally "warrior technique" and iaijutsu, jujutsu, and of course so-jutsu all fall under "bujutsu" Kendo, iaido, aikido, kyudo, judo these are all "Gendai budo" their purpose is to train spiritually via technique through competition but under controlled enviorments to preserve sprituality in the art while older kenjutsu schools this notion is none existant and will get you killed if you try to practice it in combat or training. example in kendo you have limited targets, limited strikes, very little understanding of how to actually cut and of course terrible kamae (stances). In comparison kenjutsu i have no rules on where i am to strike (such as the thighs of which kendo is not allowed to do) as such if i see your throat is open i will bury the bottom of my katana handle via tsuka-ate (handle strike) into the windpipe of my oppenet if said technique is required to gain victory. If you want to know whether to call it kendo or kenjutsu is simple, if you strike with the intent of compeition via sparring you are falling under kendo and gendai budo. If your entire system from the waza to how it presents itself is that of a killing variety ( a school that trains in the "Jutsu" only) then you fall under kenjutsu. an iaido practioner for example cares about perfect position and harmony which holds no place in combat that changes every second. when i make use of iaijutsu my only concern in that moment is freeing my sword from its saya striking you and backing away before you even had a chance to grasp the tsuka or your sword.
Thank you for the knowledge sir. My lineage can be traced back to both the Yagyū Shingan-ryū and Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū styles. As for the paper work, I will not be claiming to teach a classical style but rather a modernized style which be first be judged and accepted (or not) by a sword master. This style will not only incorporate the traditional aspects of kenjutsu and iaiijutsu but can be translated into more common weapons such as batons, bats, machetes, and the like.
This was quite an intriguing video, especially the summary at the end was really clear and easy to understand, thank you Metatron. Assuming you could find teachers competent enough in all three disciplines (or, if you're REALLY lucky, one teacher), how much of a time investment would it be to become proficient in Iaido, Kendo AND Kenjutsu? I know it's said of many martial arts that it can take years or decades to attain proficiency, much less true mastery, and that's if you're only studying one at a time! I can't imagine trying to study three completely different (yet overlapping) arts at the same time.
It is not too late to watch this video, glad to know many people like and support all these Kendo , Kenjutsu and Iaido. I had experienced with Kendo Fans and they refused to have "physical communication" with Kenjutsu after few rounds. Kenjutsu was based on battle field, you have to learn not only 1 vs 1, and also fight with different kind of weapons. Unfortunately most of the people like to learn Kendo and Iaido, I have gave up to teach for some reasons, let my school disappear when the day comes.
Maybe it might even be good to start with iaido to first get to know how it feels to handle your sword. Getting precision spacial awareness of your sword can help a person to get your blade to be exactly where they want it to be and keep it exactly away from where they don't want it to be. This will prevent accidents better, and improve mastery of any techniques and sparring.
The grip on your Shinai doesn’t just increase your range it also helps you have a more relaxed centre and means you can have more control over you and your opponents centre. I also have a sort of mixed view on Kendo being a sport or a martial art; I think it’s a sport in the sense that several aspects are cut because it’s not useful in sparring and competitions but at the same time it’s all about control and respect for the opponent and less about how impressive your technique can be. Overall very in-depth and useful and well balanced video.
This is good basic info.I'm actually learning the Korean version of Kendo and in my masters school he teaches the three style bambo wood'n sword practice and real sword .
I have been practicing Kumdo for 7 yrs. I have done the sparring, the forms and the step sparring parts. My preference is the forms because of art of drawing the blade and the movements required. Except #9 not sure of purpose with cartwheel in middle. Good luck and enjoy Kumdo. It has a nice blend of all 3 sword arts that Metatron mentioned combined .
Matthew Crandall Haedong kumdo? I heard it's a rip off of the chinese version, which was prior to Kumdo. I was pretty dissapointed when i heard this, i really wanted to get into it
haha such a noob he forgot to mention Santoryu!! Just kidding.. ;) thanks for the video!! helped me alot to choose kendo! great knowledge! keep it up :)
you inspired me to learn kendo I now own a paul chen practical plus katana I can't wait for a new video from THE METATRON much love from a fellow italian
Oddly, I was considering adding Kendo to my repertoire as I've been kind of noticing how it may assist in things like reaction time and actually sparring off with an opponent, versus waza and kata... which are great, but kind of like you'd said, I sort of want an all encompassed practice.
I would add that there are pre-Musashi kenjutusu styles that have two-sword fighting, the most well-known being TSKSR. Most of their training is two-handed, but the upper level training includes ryotojutsu, which are techniques using the katana plus wakazashi (and conversely, how to fight using one sword against an opponent who is dual-wielding).
This actually help me a lot my father had started me in training when I was really young. But I could not remember the name of the style so for years I had thought it was Kendo but you helped me realize and remember that it was kenjutsu
Great video mate, I practise kenjutsu and in almost training session we spar, but sparring becomes more frequent when you start graduating. And we also don't use the hammer grip, we use the "hand grip". So maybe try a dojo/style where you don't have that problem
Sorry. :-D I was also under the impression that Kendo was a sport and in a previous video I made a very uneducated comment. Here, around 8:30 you made it very clear. So thank you!
I would recommend you check out Classical Budo, Classical Bujutsu, and Modern Bujutsu & Budo by Donn F. Draeger. (These should be available on Amazon, Modern specifically covers Kendo). These are much more comprehensive than what is presented here, and cover the whole range of Japanese history. The question was: how do I use a Katana? That depends for what. Kendo is a path to enlightenment, i.e. a practice of Zen. It is not a combat science (jutsu). It has been made safe and ritualized. The Shinai does not retain the curvature of the Katana, thus can't be used the same way. The sparring done in Kendo is highly stylized (only three allowed targets), and is difficult to compare with any other 'free' sparring I've seen or done. None of this is to say that Kendo isn't interesting, challenging or fun, just don't expect to go up against a HEMA guy with Kendo in your back pocket because nobody is going to wait for you to scream 'kote' and have the right zanshin when you try to hit the forearms. (But hey I could be wrong). On my own list of things to learn at this point, exactly in this area is jo jutusu also know as jodo. As a result of the fact that stick vs sword is taught, some proficiency with a sword is learned. Also when I was studying aiki-jujutsu many years ago the upper belts would practice with boken, as aiki was used in part to control an opponent before the sword was drawn and he was run through.
Being that we are in 2017, and the western world (especially U.S.), I would say Kendo is a good base for learning how to wield the katana, especially since traditional schools are extremely rare outside of Japan. I can't speak from experience, never participating in a Japanese martial art, but I am a JO-level epee fencer so I know a bit about this area in general. Learning footwork, distance, timing, and getting a feel for basic stances, technique, and the cuts that are IN kendo is a GREAT way to get started. You can always learn traditional cuts, stances, and parries and add them to your toolbox. :D
Ho appena trovato il tuo canale tramite questo video e solo leggendo i commenti ho capito che sei italiano, wow! Mi sono da poco trasferito in Giappone e mi piacerebbe molto praticare kendo, ma ancora il mio giapponese è troppo basilare. In Italia non ho trovato posti vicino a me che lo facevano, quindi prima o poi mi piacerebbe togliermi questa curiosità. Ho praticato Karate per 12 anni in compenso, magari potrei riprendere quello :) Iscritto naturalmente!
This hypes me so much! the japanese embassy in my country has kendo & iaido classes (togheter, one hour and a half of one, and then the same of the another) 8 classes a month, for just 17 bucks a month! TwT
The explanation was perfect. Just forgot to mention the blood-shaking after proceeding the iaido kata and before putting back the sword. But yeah this video is perfect to understand the differences between these martial arts.
The Japanese may consider kendo budo but it's neutered it's functionally a sport. You score by tapping specific places, you use the sword that does nothing to prepare you for the weight of a real sword. About the only thing it maintains for it's warrior roots are the etiquette and formality - the part that doesn't really help you win a fight - it only survives to lend credibility for the whole thing ie marketing purposes.
+梅キョア Have to admit I find there is some degree of snobbery surrounding Martial Arts in general, there are not always the kind of club/style you want to learn nearby, so ppl make do with whatever they can good or bad, lot of ppl slagging Jon alexander, met and trained with him, gave me a letter of introduction to train with a guy in japan. Sparred with Jon I thought he was very good, but that just me, everyone might not share this opinion depending on whether they have sparred with him or not. Whatever the case may be. I think he has done very well to promote kenjutsu/kendo indirectly, Im sure many ppl who visit him have gone on to train in these clubs around UK, all the name dropping about who trained with who is relevant to a point, but the end result is "how good are you" was the training effective, only way to find out is sparring with others. Dont matter what grade you are, if you cant fight, your fucked.
+Satsaru bullshit... if you dont hit properly then you will not be awarded the point... touching does nothing for you ... you know as much about kendo as a sack of rice...
+梅キョア bullshit... kendo teaches body and sword control... you are supposed to perform a full force strike using tenouchi and holding the cutting line in order to perform a proper strike... also using ki ken tai ichi you most likely dont know these concepts which are by the way cross skills between kendo and iado ... meaning they are as important in kendo using a shinai as they are important in iado using a iato or shin ken --> you dont know jack shit about anything
Do you know why they stopped sparring with bokuto to begin with? Originally in kendo they did use wooden swords. Guess what it killed people. Thus shinai were invented to be more safe when the technology at the time was unable to make more effective training armor.
Well meaning , but factual wrong, iaido / do is not necessary modern for example muso jikiden eishin ryu iaido DO is actually KOBUDO (developed before endo before the end of the civil war in 1600/1613.. Ko ryu refers to edo period arts, .. All others are past Meiji and "modern" Thaks for your effort
It's just the term that came to be more common at the turn of the century as the country was becoming modernized along with the philosophy of Iaijutsu becoming more of a martial arts practice. Modern Iaidoka practice Seitei Iaido because it is standardized set of kata and is used by Kendo Federations around the world for testing, but those kata come from various schools such as Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, which is a school that was founded just before the Edo period (1600ish).
www.kenjutsusweden.com Here is a splurge of info for whoever may be interested: The school of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu that I study is founded pre-Edo as is Katori Shinto Ryu and a variety of other sword schools are, as is Hayashizaki Ryu (which I was lucky to get to train as well when living in Japan) that Eishin Ryu is derived from and from what I have read in diaries from the Edo period, the words "iai/jutsu", "battou/jutsu", "ken" etc. appear, and the usage of "no michi" (essentially meaning the same as "dou"). Iaidou is a very late term, as the Iaidou federation wasn't formed before the mid 1950's. Up until the 1930's, the term "iaidou" was, looking at kendou records, not used by practitioners of the martial arts - they called i "iaijutsu" apparently. As the Kendou federation (formed in the 1920's) can't decide whether to let iaidou be a part or not, the iaijutsu schools that are part of the current Iaidou federation form their own federation in 1954, but fights over what schools are allowed into the Kendou federation continues - some go for Iaidou, some for Kendou. Nevertheless, those that most often call themselves Koryu today are those that do not accept the rules and dogma of the Iaidou or Kendou federations AND were formed either pre-Edo or during the Edo period. The generalizations that our dear friend Metatron are making are just very modern (but nowadays very proliferated especially amongst those training kendou and iaidou) and lack the context of the history of all Japanese martial schools, -that it isn't necessarily a question of what equipment you use or if you call it "dou" or "jutsu", but rather that some have decided to conform into modern sport rules (like kendou and iaidou (seitei iaidou)). One excellent example is Yagyu Shinkage Ryu: It uses shinai (hikihada-shinai), bokutou (Yagyu bokutou) and shinken swords as well. Like a range of other koryu schools, they also use bougu (protective gear) to a certain degree. And well, as for kendou and iaidou - they are not necessarily completely cut off from their historical roots just because of the sport rules - they were founded by people doing what we call koryu today, a lot of their practitioners do koryu like Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo points out above... ...and although it might come off as a very snarky remark, please just consider objectively that none of the different styles that Metatron mentions lack precision or possibilities for practical application: If your sensei isn't skilled enough, your precision will suffer (good kendou practitioners have awesome precision that becomes very apparent when you do koryu with them; likewise, even some iaidou considered "good" can lack in precision because they have all too seldom used a shinken sword or tried techniques on targets (be it a sparring partner or a tatami roll etc.). Also as for sparring - there are a lot of koryu practitioners who are reinventing and implementing gekiken nowadays, but they do not allow sparring before a student has proved that they have "formed their body/mind" to the traditional techniques of the school. www.kenjutsusweden.com
Very impressed with your knowledge, you answered some questions I didn't know I had. With all respect though, in my humble opinion kendo is a martial art sport, like Western karate. I have studied fuedal Japan and samurai in specific for years, that said, Yes in Japan kendo is not viewed as a sport (in modern times) but anything that trains to make points instead of defeating their opponent will lose to someone who is focused on inflicting actual damage. My sensei used to say to strike six inches past your target, the reason is to inflict damage and stop/win the fight. If you train muscle memory to just make contact with the opponent to make a point and then pull back your attack, in a real fight you have a major disadvantage. This is only my opinion though, I have no degree, this is just from my own personal research and from some traditional Japanese friends I've made along the way. 🙏
Forgot to say one if my areas of study is Kenjutsu based on manuscripts from some of the old sword schools, and the manuscripts all seem to say that training almost always involved sparring. For my own curiosity, do you think the lack of sparring in Kenjutsu now is a modern development? (Post 18th century-ish?)
The Metatron, I had this same question and watching this video made me really want to hear you talk more about martial arts. specifically I would be very interested in a video of explaining the names of the martial arts and how they relate to their practice. I think it is fascinating that you take such interest in all manners of history. anyways to come to a point, I believe that since you do understand and study language you could make an excellent video on the meanings of martial arts. just something to consider, I really do love your channel.
greetings！.I very like the content of this video. And I am trying to add chinese subtitles for it. But I can't catch the actual sentence from 6:54 to 7:04. Would you please give me the detailed draft of it？
"of course the technique needs to be exectued very well there is also etiquette there is also artistic form you also need to scream where you want to hit" Explanation: "you can't just hit anywhere you want, if you don't hit properly but you hit poorely your attack will not score a point, and to make sure you hit a certain area on purpose (i.e. the mask or the hand) you have to scream "Men! Kote!" which mean mask and hand protection to prove that your attack was not accidental and you actually ment it. Thank you for your work ;)
Nice! Thanks for your detailed explanation. Besides, my friend who have studied Kendo and now Yagyū Shinkage-ryū in Japan seems to hold different views on "whether Kendo is a sport". His Japanese teacher believes that Kendo should be considered a kind of sport. It seems that even Japanese people didn't on the same page in this matter. ^ ^
Lico Deng Seiza正座 is the correct posture for the Japanese, in that part I first said in Iaido you also have seiza, but then I corrected myself with "from" because I ment to say that many of their techniques start from seiza and then they stand up etc.
This was very helpful, and has opened my eyes to many things. I've always felt like the western world assume a lot about the inner details of the various types of the arts and the weaponry. Very illuminating👍👍👍
I enjoyed this a lot. You also do a pretty good job of not coming off too pretentious as a foreigner about it, I get the feeling you really do understand and value it. I will be visiting Tokyo next week, would you be able to recommend anywhere to go see some masters at work, particularly in Iaido?
+Matt Belbin Thank you Matt I appreciate your comment. I wouldn't really know where to find a Iaijutsu dojo in Tokyo unfortunatly but I am sure there is a dojo somewhere there because it's such a huge city. You might want to look for it on google and get the address before going as I doubt most Japanese on the street will even know what Iaijutsu is.
Bujinkan ninjutsu dabbles in them, however specific schools are few and far between. You may not fimd any unless you are in Japan. Sword schools don't usually teach forms with either, to my knowledge.
Hello Metatron, I would like to add a little note to what you said about gripping the katana vs gripping the shinai. For example in my Dojo (where I practice iaido) we hold the katana/iaito similar to how you say you grab the shinai. The Kashira (bottom metal piece of the Tsuka) rests on our pinky finger, and it actually feels like a firm grip.
3 things first, you should always remove the red string on your sword second, your cloths shouldnt be that"deep v", thats very impolite third, never hold your sword like that, that's very impolite and most likely not allowed by any sensei
3 things first he said he just bought it, his original one is still in japan second, he is in his house doing a youtube video not in a dojo. third, he is in his house doing a youtube video not in a dojo.
And in kamai you aim at the neck, as if you manage to perfect this, you will always win because before the opponent strikes you can just hit their tsuki
A sugestion Metatron, is not to fastly jam the sword fastly all the way to the tsuba hitting the koiguchi (making a slamming noise at the end of noto) this shortens the lifespan of your saya since the habaki will damage the wood/horn of the koiguchi ( i know everyone does this in movies because it sounds cool) In advanced iaijutsu kata we do noto 2/3 of the way fast, the last 1/3 is sone slowly and just far enough to catch the habaki in the koiguchi, the tsuba will get very close but should not touch the koiguchi. I am almost certain you have already damaged the wood of your saya. You can test it by flipping it down, if the sword does not hold to the saya (without your thumb on the tsuba) its too lose and needs repair.
YES! You did this one quite well. The way it had been explained to me was that Kendo keeps the spirit of combat while Iai keeps the techniques, and that a study of both plus a lot of research would get you quite close to what was as you can. I don't know anything about Kenjutsu though. On side note, if you want to use gaidan practically, see if you can get an Ishu'jiai (practice match) against a Naginata practitioner. The Naginata is a Japanese pole arm similar to a halberd, but closer in appearance to a stick with part of a Katana blade at the end. It is traditionally a woman's martial art. However that stigma disappears the second you get out of Japan. Modern Naginata uses a lot of the same armour as Kendo but they also have tsune'ate (shin guards). It's a lot of fun. I practiced Naginata for about 2 years and had the privilege of practicing with the Kendo Club from time to time. I really hope to get back to it.
"kendo is not a sport, because after scoring a point, and you are happy, the point will be deducted" well, you're not making a good case for kendo not being a sport with this statement. because 'scoring a point' exists in sports. (even if it's deducted after being happy about it, that is just a strict sports rule.) respecting your opponent is not a unique thing either, you can find it in tennis for example (just think about it, what would happen, if one tennis player refused to shake hands with the other after the match.) for the record, i'm not saying that kendo is a sport and not a martial, i'm only saying that based on your video i'm not convinced.
I agree with your final statement, I got 2 out of three right now but my kenjutsu and iaijutsu sensei says practicing kendo at this stage would be detrimental to my studies, he said it is easier to go from kenjutsu to kendo than it is from kendo to kenjutsu though.
Actually it is a weapon. and as such should be treated with more respect. he has a point. on the other hand its someones right to be nonchalant with a weapon if they chose to.
Thank you for this video, it 's very interesting. I practice Iaido for only two years but it's very nice, you lean to control yourself, and actually, even if you learn differents Kata, the aim of Iaido is not to drow your sword. It's being impressive enough for your opponent to refuse the fight, without drowing your sword, and if you really have to fight, then you go, but without strenght. You lean to be powerfull without strenght. And yes, you and practice with a real sword, even if dosen't cut.
Nice video and break down. I would call Kendo a martial art and a sport. It is a sport because that is what all Japanese MA had to become after WWII. But also because of the structure of what it is. I have described Kendo as Japanese fencing. There are strict rules, targets, scoring, etc. For another, fourth option to study using the katana, there is also Shinkendo. A little more easier to find than a Kenjutsu school, and very comprehensive in what it covers. (kata, suburi, tachiuch, battaho, tamashigir)
Thank you so much! I. Starting to pick interest in Kendo. I tough of it as a sport but your explanations made me change my understanding. Ty. ! Good channel good contents
Great video to understand a bit more about this arts. I'm currently practising Kendo in my city and I really like it. Then I want to practise Iaido if I can!
@Metatron: regarding your statement about the missing of sparring in kenjutsu .... have you ever tried Gekiken? If not, the ryuha that I'm studying is given the opportunity to use the taught kenjutsu kata / waza directly in sparring. We even organize a Gekikenkai (private sparring event) every year in Munich and Tokyo. Please text me if you're interested. BTW here is something good to read: uk.hokushinittoryu.com/taryu-jiai/
An art I studied for about 6 months in Alliance, NE might interest you if you haven't heard of it. Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu It has Iaido techniques as well as kata with bokken. It includes other jutsu including bo, naginata, and a couple others, but I didn't get to learn much of it.
An interesting point to consider, I hear many people making the assumption that you have to chose between either studying iaido, iaijutsu, kenjutsu, battojutsu. I my school of MJER iaijutsu iaiheiho we have sets of iaido kata, iaijutsu applications (bunkai and variants, joju/if this happens you do this.., keep this so you can do that instead...), kenjutsu 2 men kata, and battodo kata, and suemongiri, you learn all simultaneously not as separate entities. A few of my classmates also train kendo. A few of the Setei kata of kendo come from MJER, SMR and Hokki ryu.
I would LOVE to learn Iaido. Partially because I love the idea of being able to use a metal sword and not a wood or bamboo one. The other reason I that I personally don't care about sparring. I got a chance to practice Iaido once a few years ago, but the school was about 150 miles from where I live, so weekly practice there was impossible, and I'm not even sure if that place is still active. But if an Iaido school ever opens up closer to me, I'll be there.
loved the video, I practiced kendo years ago and loved it, left for various reasons (big part was a friend quit and social anxiety made me follow D: ) and have wanted to get back into it. been trying to get past a few insecurities to begin practicing again. :)
I know it's 3 years but still saying. Learning martial art (or sport in general) online is a bad idea. Should go to a center and practice for real. You can't tell when you do something wrong, need someone to point it out for you.
Nice video. I think the difference between "iaido" and "iaijutsu" is a bit overblown by a lot of people. Everyone I know who does iaido practices some kind of koryu kata in addition to the ZNKR seitei kata. If there is a difference, then the difference is much less than, say, the difference between kendo and kenjutsu.
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.920 | 3 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KwiW2M_kAg4/mqdefault.jpg)
I was on the fencing team in high school and in the kendo club in college. One thing that I didn't like about fencing is that a tiny little flick to the shoulder could still score a point as long as the electric sensor buzzer went off. I really liked the fact that no point was awarded in kendo unless the strike was judged to be full, clean and strong. As the sensei put it, the strike had to look like a killing blow. No little flicks or baby taps. That really appealed to me.
That's why I hate the sword fights in the live-action, Rurouni Kenshin. Kenshin is just flicking his enemies. I doubt he can even cut a half inch branch with those swings.
@@poloshirtsamuraithat’s the point of kenshins power
If you're hitting someone with a bamboo stick it will always be a "tap" or "flick". Kendo is stupid.
@MeliorIlle that sounds like something someone who had never taken a real hit would say. Go try a caning in Singapore and see how you feel.
@@conradseeto7506 LOL, yah I was never poked on the head by a stick, you got me.
"You don't need to kill your opponent, you just need to touch him"
Haha. I can imagine every sensei saying this a lot to new students.
*o h m y*
That’s the difference between a sport and a fight for your life.
(...and I studied Iaido for a while)
@@chris_ackroyd . Personally, if you got into an actually fight with a sword (doubt it). Iaido will be more effective just with the fact that you use an actual sword fight
But I don’t do any Japanese sword martial arts so I wouldn’t know. Iaido vs kendo I would say iaido makes more sense to take up as your main martial art and kendo for sparing.
@@IcejjfishTbone I don’t know... the reaction time on some of these kendo practitioners is quick enough where I think it could be useful in real life.
For example, take a 5th dan kendo practitioner armed with a sturdy stick (doesn’t need to be a bokken) or cane, vs a perpetrator armed with a knife. In that scenario, I think that as soon as that perpetrator makes the slightest move, he’s getting hit, the strike is going to be hard, and it’s going to land before the perpetrator can close the distance.
I say this because that kind of attack anticipation and rapid response is one of the things kendo practitioners do constantly.
@@RoyalFizzbin - thank you - you said it better than I could!
Kendo: beating up people with a bamboo stick
Kenjutsu: may or may not be military training
Iaido: golf but quick
wrong guess
In Ancient Rome, you're given a wooden sword as sign of a great gladiator
In Ancient Japan, you're given a wooden sword because you're a tiny grasshopper
So Gladiators from Rome are just grasshoppers in Japan?
Uh oh
Miyamoto Musashi, often carried “only” a Bokken.
They are deadly. Don’t kid yourself.
Musashi is not grasshopper.
That’s Kwai Chang Caine.
🙇
This post was made by samurai gang
Gee, next time someone tells me about Musashi, after Sekigahara, finding a wooden sword in the house of the two Moxa women, what'd he kill, 3 -4 armed bandits with that one and the several other duels he fought with the Yagyū (柳生氏), what was it that time, one broken skull and one fractured arm, I'll be sure to bring that up that someone said he's a grasshopper...Musashi would probably laugh and likely understand... I doubt many others would.
My sensei told me once: "kendo and iaido are two sides of the same coin"
Daniel Avendaño Your teacher sounds cool :D
We speaks that in Japanese ” ひとつ”.
My friend says that Karate comes from Katana movements and some Chinese material art comes from spear movement,so we can see the difference in the punch.
@darkwing dook hence kamae in aikido specifically yoshinkan
Well, as a kendoka I say, no, because there are a lot of things which make difference between kendo and iaido, starting from objective of these two budo.
So, no, that's not true
Niccolò Cammilli, I think the point of the saying is that they came from the same origin but have differed from each other greatly. They’re of the same coin, but each side is either a head or a tail, they cannot be both
Sir I aspire to be like you! You're a master in European History and Japanese History, you know many languages. You practice HEMA (I think?) and Kendo and you've lived in Japan, plus you're a gamer. You've pretty much achieved what I want to achieve!
davidy98 ahaha Thank you so much Davidy for your kind comment. I am indeed a gamer but I don't consider myself a master in history. European history is a passion I have and I consider myself an amateur more than a historian.
Also I have practiced both kendo and sport fencing but there is no Hema club so all my experience in hema is organising a group of people and practice together from the treaties also watching schola gradiatoria's channel. I will get into hema eventually when I will move to another city.
Only in the language and oriental culture part I feel I am a professional, because that's my job and I teach it for living (a part from youtube which is my hobby) all my academic studies where orientalism and languages in general ;)
Thank you again for watching and commenting mate ^^
Metatron Thank you for replying! You still know more History than I do! XD Ever since I was a kid I've been in love with History, pretty much any kind of History, but mostly Ancient, Medieval and Japanese History. I'm still in high school, and I'm hoping to start college next year and major either in Military History or Medieval History (I'm not sure which one yet). Right now I practice Kendo, and I've just recently found out that there's a HEMA club in my region. I'd like to start practicing HEMA too, but I'm planing on building PC soon, so it will have to wait! Another thing is that I'm learning Japanese, I currently have classes, and you've inspired me to not give up on it! I'm also interest in dead languages such as Old Norse, Latin, Old and Middle English. Although It's very hard to find classes where I live, again thank you for replying and have a great day!
Egg same
you should aim much higher.
this guy is an idiot
Not to mention all the geisha sex, and hentai jerk off sessions.
Iaido is basically about executing your opponent in the same fashion you'd play a game of golf. Precisely, with as few attempts as possible.
"It's not a stick"
Got me really good.
It is in fact, 4 sticks. But that doesnt mean you shouldn't take care of your equipment
Didn't see that coming 😂
This was an amazing introduction! For some reason I have developed a deep interest in Samurai and Japanese Sword culture (I have no idea where it came from) but I am eager to explore. Thank you for this great video!
I''ve been doing kendo now for 7 years and I have been a 3rd Kyu for 4 years, and wether Kendo is a Sport or a Martial art ? I say it's both, I say the Definition of Kendo is up to you and to the people that Practice it, Kendo is what you make of it, plus Each Sensei Worldwide will have there own Definition what Kendo is, so really it's a Mixed Opinion on what Kendo is in the Kendo World !
agreed
how have u been 3rd kyu for 4 years? kyu just covers the basics of kendo
Interesting stuff, I love how all over the world they had similar styles. Japanese had Jiu jitsu along with Ken Jutsu (grappling/sword), and in Europe they had wrestling and sword. It must have been a crazy experience watching these warriors in action.
Wrestling is a super important part of freeform melee fighting of any sort, I've seen several longsword sparring rounds end when one of the fighters gets a bit too comfortable, lets the other guy get close and is thrown to the floor. Hell, even in modern militaries they teach everyone some unarmed combat, because wrestling situations happen frequently even with an effective weapon range of hundreds of metres
You should do a video on Musashi. Also, did samurai spar historically when training kenjutsu?
Yes. Hence that's why kendo came about. In the Edo period, because there were no major wars to be fought anymore, samurai started experimenting with bamboo swords and armour and engaged in inter ryu sparring matches to see if their techniques could work or be improved upon. The sparring eventually evolved into the modern sport of kendo where only certain areas could be hit and techniques with the bamboo sword became very very modified from its original purpose. Today's kendo has very little in common with the classical ryu but the fighting spirit and culture nevertheless is still there.
Of course they did. Many duels (with and without sharp blades) were fought as training and teaching matches. What do you think we do in dojo aside from form and 2-5 (randori above 3) person practice? We do live sparring with safety equipment (at the lower to mid-grades). At the high grades, we often practice kenjutsu more slowly with bokken (bokuto) and minimal, if any, armour. But that is ONLY at the higher grades due to better control and ability to manage risk at higher speeds with one's training partners. Kendo is a good place (as is SCA or HEMA halls, etc) to practice your footwork, timing and distance, and entering with minimal risk for injury. It's where I practiced my skills at a good speed with people who meant to defeat me outright by fighting with the idea of life/death. It's also a fun community.
Have you read the book of 5 Ring's
(I will teach you how to defeat 10 men as easily as you can defeat 1)
@@howarddavis165 well at my school, we try to cut a piece of newspaper in mid air with boken after practice
@@nhatnguyenminh9369 Interesting... bokken cannot cut anything. They're wooden.
Kinda sucks...As you don't have a pommel to throw :(.
DREXIAN yea, you cant end him rightly..
DREXIAN Remove the tsuba with a hammer and throw it
Good ol' Daley Thank you
+davidy98 wouldn't it be easier to just untie the fuchi.
Neither do sabers, which is the only good European sword.
@Metatron Battojutsu ("the craft of drawing out the sword") is an old term for Iaijutsu ("sitting or still to deal with to fight skill"). Battojutsu is often used interchangeably with the terms Iaijutsu and Batto. Generally, Battojutsu is practiced as a part of a classical ryu and is closely integrated with the tradition of Kenjutsu and is practiced with the live-blade, Katana, often as simply the sole Kata. The training is for combative effectiveness, through factors such as distancing, timing and targeting. As such, Battojutsu is not intended for sport-like or "spiritual" purposes as are modern budo like Iaido and Kendo. So if you want to learn to wield/draw/combat/fight etc. with a Katana then Battojutsu, Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu are the 3 proper disciplines to take.
What is the difference between Battojutsu and Iaijutsu
Thank you! Great lesson! Short, conscise, and to the point! (Pun intended).
I have dabbled in Iaido for the last 25 years and the last 4 years me and a friend practice kenjutsu, sparring with shinai but without the confinment of the kendo-rules.
It seems like our definition of kenjutsu is slightly off, but we are still learning and having both fun and bruises. :)
Take care!
gawd! i wish i can find a sparring partner, they just dont last
Thanks!! you really helped me decide. i was choosing between kendo and kenjutsu and i think kenjutsu is what im looking for. Excellent video, Saludos desde México!!
Wow, I went to a weird Dojo then. We basically did a mix of Iaido as the primary style, but we also went over the Kenjuitsu stances techniques and Kata. But about once a month we also spared with Shinai, although with other stances, I made liberal usage of hasso-no-kamea. It was kid of weird though, because one guy also did hema, and he would occasionally go into a Hangetort, and surprise everyone.
U really did. any updates?
@@Takezoo sadly no it was years ago even by the time I made that post. I do SCA fencing now, but I haven’t authorized to do cut and thrust fencing yet and finding an uchigatana with enough flex for safety standards is tough.
yea that's definitely a weird dojo
Sounds like gekiken or gekken. It’s more of a practical application of Japanese swordsmanship that encompasses kenjustu techniques and Iaido practices like paired waza and such.
I was taught iajutsu was the art of drawing and cutting a man- more like a duel or surprise attack. Once each person was at a distance it became kenjutsu. Its been a TON of years since I studied. Great explanation of the respective arts:)!
Correct. Iaijutsu is the art of drawing and cutting from positions that hinder you. If your opponent draws and attacks during a discussion. You need to be able to draw while sitting and cut quickly.
Go Kendo just like me, It open youself up to the most exausting moments when you run out of breath, and with your "Last" shout you keep moving, keep attacking, and not giving up.
And when you put the Bogu on (Armor) with the Kote and the Men Oh my.. you get red and breath heavily and it's a challange to give your best shot in it, but that's what makes you STRONGER!
The Way of the Sword, Kendo
I've built up my swordfighting skills using LARP weapons, since the local LARP group we used to have around here weren't just focusing on only writing decent plots and storyline, but also teaching and training every player how to use their weapons proficiently and properly, including sparring sessions, sometimes light, sometimes really intense. During these sessions, it became clear i leaned more towards a Samurai's way of fighting with a sword by default and that's the road i went down and specialized in. I never have worn the full heavy armor nor do i ever intend to. Shield? No thanks, absolurely not my thing. either.
Despite the group falling apart a few years ago and having no real similar way to train like the group used to, i'm still practicing my skills every now and then. And i'm considering to try and pick up on Niito-Ryu training as well.
Loved it. Practiced it for 8 years. I went back to visit my sensei as well and you'll find a bond that goes beyond mere techniques or competitions.
just shot the dock op
First time put my Men on, i can see my health bar go down.
I remember growing up watching Rurouni Kenshin and the scene where Yahiko first draws Kenshin' s sword for practice and couldn't believe how much weight it had.
I once went to a festival and respectfully held a sword and scabbard in hand and began to appreciate the weight of the handle and blade.
Truly: strength, speed, accuracy and finesse are the biggest points in executing a quick strike with your blade from scabbard to target.
In much respect as our gunslingers of the American West.
Wow, excellent timing! Today I saw a live Kenjutsu performance and my friends were asking me what was the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu! Well, now I know it thanks to you ^.^
Thank you very much, i am training Kendo but i am also interested in Kenjuntsu, your videos show me that all thes martial arts are brothers. Thank you again for these 17 minuts of japan history and martial arts.
Iaido is also very calming :)
Blank- blade Very true :3
I can't wait to get to that point! I'm new and I get so frustrated still :(
fevermoon Keep on doing it. Dont think too much about it. Its just like in every art, like riding or fencing. At the beginning you think too much what to do and how to act that your mind gets clouded and youre stressing yourself. Thats normal. Its experience that gets rid of that. And this has to be earned ^^
At least that would be my take on it.
Thank you!!! I have a serious problem with over thinking... I do the same thing with aikido... I'm gonna keep at it.
fevermoon Its the same with european fencing and riding i can tell as an example ^^
Do so :) !
I wish the best of luck! And success.
Had IADO come to our JJ school. They did a large demo on defence while kneeling for tea. Tea drinking was a dangerous thing. 😂
Same as wedding in western. :))
Iaido is essentially how to survive in the Japanese hood lol.
Kendo is Sport Fencing. Kenjutsu is Combat training. Iaido is an art form. I already knew that, but I wanted to just watch your video because you're actually a good content creator.
Well said and agree
The polish on your videos is amazing!!!!! People need to use you for an example on WHAT to do!
My understanding is that iaido techniques replaced the normal draw your sword then fight tradition.. I’m pretty sure iaido is from the peaceful period in Japan where samurai went from being soldiers to being more akin to police officers.. you couldn’t just walk around with your sword drawn so proper draw techniques were made, studied, changed, and taught.. that way a samurai could still be able to react if need be to an opponent
I've done all 3 for years and I am not a fan of Kendo. I think Hema is better for sparring and learning how to fight. The Westerner in me doesn't like yelling or screaming when I fight. You are so right about Iaido teachers being very technical about every tiny detail.
This is a decent rundown of the modern arts. Do arts are generally offshoots of the older combat or Justus arts. Weather the "way" is astetical, sport or energy harmonization studies, they are still martial arts. There are really not to many schools that train as the actually samurai used to. Even most koryu schools today study the forms and techniques but have lost the science of the arts. There are still a few systems left that study kenjutsu, iaijutsu and aikijujutsu in their authentic lessons of sensitivity training, free movement, application of strategy and intuition drills. In Japan and a few isolated schools in America there are the bujutsu arts of the Kuroda Han under Kuroda Tetsuzan sensei. In America there is the Nami Ryu (led by James Williams sensei under current instruction of Tetsuzan sensei) and they have kept the old teachings alive through much more than just kata. Hope this helps for anyone looking for instruction in the old ways. Metatron sir, please do not slam the shinken into the saya, you will certainly destroy the saya! ;-)
Just began my tutelage at a Kenjutsu and Iaijutsu school in New York, I love your channel Metatron!
Your Japanese and English pronunciation are pretty darn good! Did you learn English in the UK? Best wishes from the USA to Italia!
+Nate Wynd (ThatNateGuy) Hi, thank you very much. Yes I have learnt English in England, and Japanese in Japan :D
+Metatron Learnt* Sorry I just had to :(
Super Noob Typing mistake ;)
+Metatron why are you so awesome?
Agreed. He's actually starting to approach the outskirts of my level of greatness.
Thanks for the nice video Metatron. As a kendoka, I can't help myself but have to comment. We avoid resting a shinai across the shoulder and try to wear kendo gi tighter and cover as much chest skin as possible (for etiquette but also a safety reason as an accidental tsuki can land on your chest). And we usually cut off the red strings on the shinai before we use.
Jitsu is an Eastern term that reflects both art and science as a complete philosophic approach. Do implies that the curricula conforms to Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism.
Kendo is line fencing but Iaido properly studied is the theoretical study of Fuseki & Joseki!
Iaido practitioners do have controlled sparing for advanced practitioners. Drawing is not Batto which is more related to tameshigiri. The draw in Iaido is call Nuki! Iaido is profound theory, it teaches postures from, sitting, to standing, or kneeling, and teaches one to be "without equal".
Thank you sir. I am currently in the process of creating my own form of ken-jutsu and your information has helped me decide if it was a kendo or ken-jutsu.
+Israel Wright I am glad my video was helpful ^^ and good luck on your enterprises ^^
+Israel Wright
One cannot create a koryu kenjutsu system unless you have a linage to attach too and of course a license in which to open a school under said name.
Example i practice yagyu shinkage-ryu bujutsu (which encampasses all of the arts the yagyu taught samurai such as iaijutsu, kenjutsu, sojutsu, jujutsu, and of course good old hojutsu) as such as i cannot open another kenjutsu school of the yagyu shinkage-ryu without a direct scroll given to me via its current headmaster.
Now that is just paperwork and formalties the difference between kendo and kenjutsu is so vast that ill try to simplify it as best i can. In kenjutsu you are are only training your technique for one purpose and that is to kill your enemy and suffer no injury in the process this is called "Bujutsu" or literally "warrior technique" and iaijutsu, jujutsu, and of course so-jutsu all fall under "bujutsu"
Kendo, iaido, aikido, kyudo, judo these are all "Gendai budo" their purpose is to train spiritually via technique through competition but under controlled enviorments to preserve sprituality in the art while older kenjutsu schools this notion is none existant and will get you killed if you try to practice it in combat or training.
example in kendo you have limited targets, limited strikes, very little understanding of how to actually cut and of course terrible kamae (stances). In comparison kenjutsu i have no rules on where i am to strike (such as the thighs of which kendo is not allowed to do) as such if i see your throat is open i will bury the bottom of my katana handle via tsuka-ate (handle strike) into the windpipe of my oppenet if said technique is required to gain victory.
If you want to know whether to call it kendo or kenjutsu is simple, if you strike with the intent of compeition via sparring you are falling under kendo and gendai budo. If your entire system from the waza to how it presents itself is that of a killing variety ( a school that trains in the "Jutsu" only) then you fall under kenjutsu.
an iaido practioner for example cares about perfect position and harmony which holds no place in combat that changes every second. when i make use of iaijutsu my only concern in that moment is freeing my sword from its saya striking you and backing away before you even had a chance to grasp the tsuka or your sword.
Thank you for the knowledge sir. My lineage can be traced back to both the Yagyū Shingan-ryū and Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū styles. As for the paper work, I will not be claiming to teach a classical style but rather a modernized style which be first be judged and accepted (or not) by a sword master. This style will not only incorporate the traditional aspects of kenjutsu and iaiijutsu but can be translated into more common weapons such as batons, bats, machetes, and the like.
This was quite an intriguing video, especially the summary at the end was really clear and easy to understand, thank you Metatron. Assuming you could find teachers competent enough in all three disciplines (or, if you're REALLY lucky, one teacher), how much of a time investment would it be to become proficient in Iaido, Kendo AND Kenjutsu? I know it's said of many martial arts that it can take years or decades to attain proficiency, much less true mastery, and that's if you're only studying one at a time! I can't imagine trying to study three completely different (yet overlapping) arts at the same time.
It is not too late to watch this video, glad to know many people like and support all these Kendo , Kenjutsu and Iaido.
I had experienced with Kendo Fans and they refused to have "physical communication" with Kenjutsu after few rounds.
Kenjutsu was based on battle field, you have to learn not only 1 vs 1, and also fight with different kind of weapons.
Unfortunately most of the people like to learn Kendo and Iaido, I have gave up to teach for some reasons, let my school disappear when the day comes.
Maybe it might even be good to start with iaido to first get to know how it feels to handle your sword. Getting precision spacial awareness of your sword can help a person to get your blade to be exactly where they want it to be and keep it exactly away from where they don't want it to be. This will prevent accidents better, and improve mastery of any techniques and sparring.
The grip on your Shinai doesn’t just increase your range it also helps you have a more relaxed centre and means you can have more control over you and your opponents centre. I also have a sort of mixed view on Kendo being a sport or a martial art; I think it’s a sport in the sense that several aspects are cut because it’s not useful in sparring and competitions but at the same time it’s all about control and respect for the opponent and less about how impressive your technique can be.
Overall very in-depth and useful and well balanced video.
This is good basic info.I'm actually learning the Korean version of Kendo and in my masters school he teaches the three style bambo wood'n sword practice and real sword .
Matthew Crandall That sounds very interesting ^^
I have been practicing Kumdo for 7 yrs. I have done the sparring, the forms and the step sparring parts. My preference is the forms because of art of drawing the blade and the movements required. Except #9 not sure of purpose with cartwheel in middle. Good luck and enjoy Kumdo. It has a nice blend of all 3 sword arts that Metatron mentioned combined .
Matthew Crandall Haedong kumdo? I heard it's a rip off of the chinese version, which was prior to Kumdo. I was pretty dissapointed when i heard this, i really wanted to get into it
Interesting video! I am beginning my martial art journey and enjoy learning about the various styles. Well done sir.
haha such a noob he forgot to mention Santoryu!! Just kidding.. ;) thanks for the video!! helped me alot to choose kendo! great knowledge! keep it up :)
Thanks for watching and glad to help :)
What about Shi-to-ryu? Hold the 4th blade between your buttcheeks...
Bathtub Barracuda This comment made me laugh out loud
you inspired me to learn kendo I now own a paul chen practical plus katana I can't wait for a new video from THE METATRON much love from a fellow italian
Grazie mille!
Oddly, I was considering adding Kendo to my repertoire as I've been kind of noticing how it may assist in things like reaction time and actually sparring off with an opponent, versus waza and kata... which are great, but kind of like you'd said, I sort of want an all encompassed practice.
I would add that there are pre-Musashi kenjutusu styles that have two-sword fighting, the most well-known being TSKSR. Most of their training is two-handed, but the upper level training includes ryotojutsu, which are techniques using the katana plus wakazashi (and conversely, how to fight using one sword against an opponent who is dual-wielding).
i have a feeling you were referencing vergil from dmc 3 and 4 when you started to talk about laido in games XD good video :)
This actually help me a lot my father had started me in training when I was really young. But I could not remember the name of the style so for years I had thought it was Kendo but you helped me realize and remember that it was kenjutsu
Iaido seems like what I want to do. But no where near me teaches it. Oh well
Damn, in my area all you find is kendo, iaido and iaijutsu when I want to do kenjutsu
I take up iaido.
Great video mate, I practise kenjutsu and in almost training session we spar, but sparring becomes more frequent when you start graduating. And we also don't use the hammer grip, we use the "hand grip". So maybe try a dojo/style where you don't have that problem
OK!
You have answered my question!
I'm glad I have!
Sorry. :-D
I was also under the impression that Kendo was a sport and in a previous video I made a very uneducated comment.
Here, around 8:30 you made it very clear.
So thank you!
I would recommend you check out Classical Budo, Classical Bujutsu, and Modern Bujutsu & Budo by Donn F. Draeger. (These should be available on Amazon, Modern specifically covers Kendo). These are much more comprehensive than what is presented here, and cover the whole range of Japanese history.
The question was: how do I use a Katana?
That depends for what. Kendo is a path to enlightenment, i.e. a practice of Zen. It is not a combat science (jutsu). It has been made safe and ritualized. The Shinai does not retain the curvature of the Katana, thus can't be used the same way. The sparring done in Kendo is highly stylized (only three allowed targets), and is difficult to compare with any other 'free' sparring I've seen or done. None of this is to say that Kendo isn't interesting, challenging or fun, just don't expect to go up against a HEMA guy with Kendo in your back pocket because nobody is going to wait for you to scream 'kote' and have the right zanshin when you try to hit the forearms. (But hey I could be wrong).
On my own list of things to learn at this point, exactly in this area is jo jutusu also know as jodo. As a result of the fact that stick vs sword is taught, some proficiency with a sword is learned. Also when I was studying aiki-jujutsu many years ago the upper belts would practice with boken, as aiki was used in part to control an opponent before the sword was drawn and he was run through.
Being that we are in 2017, and the western world (especially U.S.), I would say Kendo is a good base for learning how to wield the katana, especially since traditional schools are extremely rare outside of Japan. I can't speak from experience, never participating in a Japanese martial art, but I am a JO-level epee fencer so I know a bit about this area in general. Learning footwork, distance, timing, and getting a feel for basic stances, technique, and the cuts that are IN kendo is a GREAT way to get started. You can always learn traditional cuts, stances, and parries and add them to your toolbox. :D
Ho appena trovato il tuo canale tramite questo video e solo leggendo i commenti ho capito che sei italiano, wow! Mi sono da poco trasferito in Giappone e mi piacerebbe molto praticare kendo, ma ancora il mio giapponese è troppo basilare. In Italia non ho trovato posti vicino a me che lo facevano, quindi prima o poi mi piacerebbe togliermi questa curiosità. Ho praticato Karate per 12 anni in compenso, magari potrei riprendere quello :) Iscritto naturalmente!
It depends on your sensei if you spar with Iaido or not, my sensei always made us spar with eachother. WIth bokto ofcourse, not with our katana's.
This hypes me so much! the japanese embassy in my country has kendo & iaido classes (togheter, one hour and a half of one, and then the same of the another) 8 classes a month, for just 17 bucks a month! TwT
please talk about Katori Shinto Ryu. Thanks!
The explanation was perfect. Just forgot to mention the blood-shaking after proceeding the iaido kata and before putting back the sword. But yeah this video is perfect to understand the differences between these martial arts.
The Japanese may consider kendo budo but it's neutered it's functionally a sport. You score by tapping specific places, you use the sword that does nothing to prepare you for the weight of a real sword. About the only thing it maintains for it's warrior roots are the etiquette and formality - the part that doesn't really help you win a fight - it only survives to lend credibility for the whole thing ie marketing purposes.
+梅キョア Exactly, Kendo is as much an outright martial art in the same way olympic fencing is.
+梅キョア Have to admit I find there is some degree of snobbery surrounding Martial Arts in general, there are not always the kind of club/style you want to learn nearby, so ppl make do with whatever they can good or bad, lot of ppl slagging Jon alexander, met and trained with him, gave me a letter of introduction to train with a guy in japan. Sparred with Jon I thought he was very good, but that just me, everyone might not share this opinion depending on whether they have sparred with him or not. Whatever the case may be. I think he has done very well to promote kenjutsu/kendo indirectly, Im sure many ppl who visit him have gone on to train in these clubs around UK, all the name dropping about who trained with who is relevant to a point, but the end result is "how good are you" was the training effective, only way to find out is sparring with others. Dont matter what grade you are, if you cant fight, your fucked.
+Satsaru bullshit... if you dont hit properly then you will not be awarded the point... touching does nothing for you ...
you know as much about kendo as a sack of rice...
+梅キョア bullshit... kendo teaches body and sword control... you are supposed to perform a full force strike using tenouchi and holding the cutting line in order to perform a proper strike... also using ki ken tai ichi
you most likely dont know these concepts which are by the way cross skills between kendo and iado ... meaning they are as important in kendo using a shinai as they are important in iado using a iato or shin ken
--> you dont know jack shit about anything
Do you know why they stopped sparring with bokuto to begin with? Originally in kendo they did use wooden swords. Guess what it killed people. Thus shinai were invented to be more safe when the technology at the time was unable to make more effective training armor.
Great Explanation. Thanks a lot. I was really confused about which one style to choose. I probably gonna try to practice Kendo and Iaido.
Well meaning , but factual wrong, iaido / do is not necessary modern for example muso jikiden eishin ryu iaido DO is actually KOBUDO (developed before endo before the end of the civil war in 1600/1613.. Ko ryu refers to edo period arts, .. All others are past Meiji and "modern"
Thaks for your effort
+Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo I'm curious, if thats the case why do they not class themselves iaijutsu?
It's just the term that came to be more common at the turn of the century as the country was becoming modernized along with the philosophy of Iaijutsu becoming more of a martial arts practice. Modern Iaidoka practice Seitei Iaido because it is standardized set of kata and is used by Kendo Federations around the world for testing, but those kata come from various schools such as Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, which is a school that was founded just before the Edo period (1600ish).
Thank you for pointing this out. Also studied mjer :D
www.kenjutsusweden.com
Here is a splurge of info for whoever may be interested: The school of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu that I study is founded pre-Edo as is Katori Shinto Ryu and a variety of other sword schools are, as is Hayashizaki Ryu (which I was lucky to get to train as well when living in Japan) that Eishin Ryu is derived from and from what I have read in diaries from the Edo period, the words "iai/jutsu", "battou/jutsu", "ken" etc. appear, and the usage of "no michi" (essentially meaning the same as "dou"). Iaidou is a very late term, as the Iaidou federation wasn't formed before the mid 1950's. Up until the 1930's, the term "iaidou" was, looking at kendou records, not used by practitioners of the martial arts - they called i "iaijutsu" apparently.
As the Kendou federation (formed in the 1920's) can't decide whether to let iaidou be a part or not, the iaijutsu schools that are part of the current Iaidou federation form their own federation in 1954, but fights over what schools are allowed into the Kendou federation continues - some go for Iaidou, some for Kendou.
Nevertheless, those that most often call themselves Koryu today are those that do not accept the rules and dogma of the Iaidou or Kendou federations AND were formed either pre-Edo or during the Edo period.
The generalizations that our dear friend Metatron are making are just very modern (but nowadays very proliferated especially amongst those training kendou and iaidou) and lack the context of the history of all Japanese martial schools, -that it isn't necessarily a question of what equipment you use or if you call it "dou" or "jutsu", but rather that some have decided to conform into modern sport rules (like kendou and iaidou (seitei iaidou)).
One excellent example is Yagyu Shinkage Ryu: It uses shinai (hikihada-shinai), bokutou (Yagyu bokutou) and shinken swords as well. Like a range of other koryu schools, they also use bougu (protective gear) to a certain degree.
And well, as for kendou and iaidou - they are not necessarily completely cut off from their historical roots just because of the sport rules - they were founded by people doing what we call koryu today, a lot of their practitioners do koryu like Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo points out above...
...and although it might come off as a very snarky remark, please just consider objectively that none of the different styles that Metatron mentions lack precision or possibilities for practical application:
If your sensei isn't skilled enough, your precision will suffer (good kendou practitioners have awesome precision that becomes very apparent when you do koryu with them; likewise, even some iaidou considered "good" can lack in precision because they have all too seldom used a shinken sword or tried techniques on targets (be it a sparring partner or a tatami roll etc.).
Also as for sparring - there are a lot of koryu practitioners who are reinventing and implementing gekiken nowadays, but they do not allow sparring before a student has proved that they have "formed their body/mind" to the traditional techniques of the school.
www.kenjutsusweden.com
Very impressed with your knowledge, you answered some questions I didn't know I had.
With all respect though, in my humble opinion kendo is a martial art sport, like Western karate. I have studied fuedal Japan and samurai in specific for years, that said, Yes in Japan kendo is not viewed as a sport (in modern times) but anything that trains to make points instead of defeating their opponent will lose to someone who is focused on inflicting actual damage.
My sensei used to say to strike six inches past your target, the reason is to inflict damage and stop/win the fight. If you train muscle memory to just make contact with the opponent to make a point and then pull back your attack, in a real fight you have a major disadvantage.
This is only my opinion though, I have no degree, this is just from my own personal research and from some traditional Japanese friends I've made along the way. 🙏
Forgot to say one if my areas of study is Kenjutsu based on manuscripts from some of the old sword schools, and the manuscripts all seem to say that training almost always involved sparring. For my own curiosity, do you think the lack of sparring in Kenjutsu now is a modern development? (Post 18th century-ish?)
How old are you? It must've taken a long time to learn all this!
The Metatron, I had this same question and watching this video made me really want to hear you talk more about martial arts. specifically I would be very interested in a video of explaining the names of the martial arts and how they relate to their practice. I think it is fascinating that you take such interest in all manners of history. anyways to come to a point, I believe that since you do understand and study language you could make an excellent video on the meanings of martial arts. just something to consider, I really do love your channel.
greetings！.I very like the content of this video. And I am trying to add chinese subtitles for it. But I can't catch the actual sentence from 6:54 to 7:04. Would you please give me the detailed draft of it？
"of course the technique needs to be exectued very well there is also etiquette there is also artistic form you also need to scream where you want to hit"
Explanation: "you can't just hit anywhere you want, if you don't hit properly but you hit poorely your attack will not score a point, and to make sure you hit a certain area on purpose (i.e. the mask or the hand) you have to scream "Men! Kote!" which mean mask and hand protection to prove that your attack was not accidental and you actually ment it.
Thank you for your work ;)
Nice! Thanks for your detailed explanation.
Besides, my friend who have studied Kendo and now Yagyū Shinkage-ryū in Japan seems to hold different views on "whether Kendo is a sport". His Japanese teacher believes that Kendo should be considered a kind of sport. It seems that even Japanese people didn't on the same page in this matter. ^ ^
by the way，I would like to know from 12:44~12:46: “In Iaido you also have Seiza from Seiza", what is that mean?
”
Lico Deng Seiza正座 is the correct posture for the Japanese, in that part I first said in Iaido you also have seiza, but then I corrected myself with "from" because I ment to say that many of their techniques start from seiza and then they stand up etc.
Good to know that. How should I give my subtitles to you?
This was very helpful, and has opened my eyes to many things. I've always felt like the western world assume a lot about the inner details of the various types of the arts and the weaponry. Very illuminating👍👍👍
You missed a very important stage. Bokto- CHIBURI- noto.
BATTO, Chibrui, Noto. Bokuto is a wooden sword. Chiburi isn't always used in every form, some forms skip it, for uncertain reasons.
Great video Sir...... Very informative 👍
You might want to remove the red packing strings on your shinai. You'll hurt someone if you strike like that.
Brian Wright I know I have just got it xD My original shinai is still in Japan
+Brian Wright lol
I enjoyed this a lot. You also do a pretty good job of not coming off too pretentious as a foreigner about it, I get the feeling you really do understand and value it. I will be visiting Tokyo next week, would you be able to recommend anywhere to go see some masters at work, particularly in Iaido?
+Matt Belbin Thank you Matt I appreciate your comment. I wouldn't really know where to find a Iaijutsu dojo in Tokyo unfortunatly but I am sure there is a dojo somewhere there because it's such a huge city. You might want to look for it on google and get the address before going as I doubt most Japanese on the street will even know what Iaijutsu is.
What if I wanted to learn about yari and naginata?
Bujinkan ninjutsu dabbles in them, however specific schools are few and far between. You may not fimd any unless you are in Japan. Sword schools don't usually teach forms with either, to my knowledge.
There is a naginatado dojo in Berkeley, California.
Kendo it is. Thank you! I hope our local school has a free spot for me to see if it fits me.
How did the check out of that school go? Did you stay? What did you experience? Was it fun?
To quote Bad Lip Reading: “You’re gonna feel the wrath of my stick!”
My stick is better than bacon hmm-HMMM!
mAhaha-Hmmm you can't touch my stick
Hello Metatron, I would like to add a little note to what you said about gripping the katana vs gripping the shinai. For example in my Dojo (where I practice iaido) we hold the katana/iaito similar to how you say you grab the shinai. The Kashira (bottom metal piece of the Tsuka) rests on our pinky finger, and it actually feels like a firm grip.
Wintermoon tsuba
3 things
first, you should always remove the red string on your sword
second, your cloths shouldnt be that"deep v", thats very impolite
third, never hold your sword like that, that's very impolite and most likely not allowed by any sensei
I was about to write the same thing XD
3 things
first he said he just bought it, his original one is still in japan
second, he is in his house doing a youtube video not in a dojo.
third, he is in his house doing a youtube video not in a dojo.
3 things
first, pedantry
second, pedantry
third, pedantry
And in kamai you aim at the neck, as if you manage to perfect this, you will always win because before the opponent strikes you can just hit their tsuki
A sugestion Metatron, is not to fastly jam the sword fastly all the way to the tsuba hitting the koiguchi (making a slamming noise at the end of noto) this shortens the lifespan of your saya since the habaki will damage the wood/horn of the koiguchi ( i know everyone does this in movies because it sounds cool) In advanced iaijutsu kata we do noto 2/3 of the way fast, the last 1/3 is sone slowly and just far enough to catch the habaki in the koiguchi, the tsuba will get very close but should not touch the koiguchi. I am almost certain you have already damaged the wood of your saya. You can test it by flipping it down, if the sword does not hold to the saya (without your thumb on the tsuba) its too lose and needs repair.
Interesting, shinai is spelled 竹刀 (bamboo sword), but the pronunciation sounds like 死無い (no death). I wonder if that's the actual origins of the word
shinai 撓い means flexible.
YES! You did this one quite well. The way it had been explained to me was that Kendo keeps the spirit of combat while Iai keeps the techniques, and that a study of both plus a lot of research would get you quite close to what was as you can. I don't know anything about Kenjutsu though.
On side note, if you want to use gaidan practically, see if you can get an Ishu'jiai (practice match) against a Naginata practitioner. The Naginata is a Japanese pole arm similar to a halberd, but closer in appearance to a stick with part of a Katana blade at the end. It is traditionally a woman's martial art. However that stigma disappears the second you get out of Japan. Modern Naginata uses a lot of the same armour as Kendo but they also have tsune'ate (shin guards). It's a lot of fun.
I practiced Naginata for about 2 years and had the privilege of practicing with the Kendo Club from time to time. I really hope to get back to it.
"kendo is not a sport, because after scoring a point, and you are happy, the point will be deducted"
well, you're not making a good case for kendo not being a sport with this statement. because 'scoring a point' exists in sports. (even if it's deducted after being happy about it, that is just a strict sports rule.) respecting your opponent is not a unique thing either, you can find it in tennis for example (just think about it, what would happen, if one tennis player refused to shake hands with the other after the match.)
for the record, i'm not saying that kendo is a sport and not a martial, i'm only saying that based on your video i'm not convinced.
I agree with your final statement, I got 2 out of three right now but my kenjutsu and iaijutsu sensei says practicing kendo at this stage would be detrimental to my studies, he said it is easier to go from kenjutsu to kendo than it is from kendo to kenjutsu though.
If you wanted to practice all the 3. Which one you should be practicing probably accordingly?
If you really respect your Shinai as katana, you wouldn't had it put on your shoulder...
'cough, cough' (katana has a blunt side) 'cough cough'
just saving ;)
Tim Van Roey if I put my katana on my shoulder, my sensei will definitely kick my ass
+Chengbo Li you probably know it better then me
Oh stop it, it's a piece of wood. Stop glorifying a piece of bamboo lol
Actually it is a weapon. and as such should be treated with more respect. he has a point. on the other hand its someones right to be nonchalant with a weapon if they chose to.
Thank you very much for this video, it was very helpful. I will try and look for schools that teach Kenjutsu, Kendo and Iaido.
Thank you for this video, it 's very interesting. I practice Iaido for only two years but it's very nice, you lean to control yourself, and actually, even if you learn differents Kata, the aim of Iaido is not to drow your sword. It's being impressive enough for your opponent to refuse the fight, without drowing your sword, and if you really have to fight, then you go, but without strenght. You lean to be powerfull without strenght. And yes, you and practice with a real sword, even if dosen't cut.
Nice video and break down. I would call Kendo a martial art and a sport. It is a sport because that is what all Japanese MA had to become after WWII. But also because of the structure of what it is. I have described Kendo as Japanese fencing. There are strict rules, targets, scoring, etc.
For another, fourth option to study using the katana, there is also Shinkendo. A little more easier to find than a Kenjutsu school, and very comprehensive in what it covers. (kata, suburi, tachiuch, battaho, tamashigir)
Gracias desde Argentina!
Thank you from Argentina!
Thank you so much! I. Starting to pick interest in Kendo. I tough of it as a sport but your explanations made me change my understanding.
Ty. ! Good channel good contents
Thank you so much for this video explanation! Arigato!
Great video to understand a bit more about this arts. I'm currently practising Kendo in my city and I really like it. Then I want to practise Iaido if I can!
Amazing video. I was looking for something like this for quite some time. Thank you!
I have always been a fan of Musashi's style of sword wielding. It was a very unique style, so I'm told, and it was Musashi-san's signature.
Are there any videos personating his techniques?
@Metatron: regarding your statement about the missing of sparring in kenjutsu .... have you ever tried Gekiken? If not, the ryuha that I'm studying is given the opportunity to use the taught kenjutsu kata / waza directly in sparring. We even organize a Gekikenkai (private sparring event) every year in Munich and Tokyo. Please text me if you're interested. BTW here is something good to read: uk.hokushinittoryu.com/taryu-jiai/
Thank you, it was very enlightening.
Hi awersome video first of all, but I was wondering, what do you think about batto do ?
Very helpful, excellent work.
An art I studied for about 6 months in Alliance, NE might interest you if you haven't heard of it.
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu
It has Iaido techniques as well as kata with bokken. It includes other jutsu including bo, naginata, and a couple others, but I didn't get to learn much of it.
+Trevor Larson Katori Shinto Rye is the official art of the samurai it dates back to the 1400's.
Kendo, Iaito are recently new compared to Katori.
An interesting point to consider, I hear many people making the assumption that you have to chose between either studying iaido, iaijutsu, kenjutsu, battojutsu. I my school of MJER iaijutsu iaiheiho we have sets of iaido kata, iaijutsu applications (bunkai and variants, joju/if this happens you do this.., keep this so you can do that instead...), kenjutsu 2 men kata, and battodo kata, and suemongiri, you learn all simultaneously not as separate entities. A few of my classmates also train kendo. A few of the Setei kata of kendo come from MJER, SMR and Hokki ryu.
Thank you for this! It would be a pleasure to meet you and practice with you one day, my friend!
thanks man! i start kendo tomorrow :) im going to look for some kenjutsu in town as well.
I would LOVE to learn Iaido. Partially because I love the idea of being able to use a metal sword and not a wood or bamboo one. The other reason I that I personally don't care about sparring.
I got a chance to practice Iaido once a few years ago, but the school was about 150 miles from where I live, so weekly practice there was impossible, and I'm not even sure if that place is still active.
But if an Iaido school ever opens up closer to me, I'll be there.
The lower hand (left hand) using a katana is used for control. The right for the strike.
loved the video, I practiced kendo years ago and loved it, left for various reasons (big part was a friend quit and social anxiety made me follow D: ) and have wanted to get back into it. been trying to get past a few insecurities to begin practicing again. :)
Kenjutsu is the one I'd like to learn more about! Any videos you could recommend?
You could check my channel for authentic Japanese sword arts.
I know it's 3 years but still saying.
Learning martial art (or sport in general) online is a bad idea. Should go to a center and practice for real.
You can't tell when you do something wrong, need someone to point it out for you.
Nice video. I think the difference between "iaido" and "iaijutsu" is a bit overblown by a lot of people. Everyone I know who does iaido practices some kind of koryu kata in addition to the ZNKR seitei kata. If there is a difference, then the difference is much less than, say, the difference between kendo and kenjutsu.
Great video 👏🏾, I kinda figured what you were explaining while watching Kendo videos.