⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔ Sign Up HERE (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei Interested in taking lessons directly from the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with 400 years of history with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo (th-cam.com/users/LetsaskShogoYourJapanesefriendinKyoto). ❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime ❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime ❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history ❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style ❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future) 🛍Purchase the Equipment You Need for Training: tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo🛍 🗡Iaitō (training katana): tozandoshop.com/collections/habahiro-heavy-weight-iaito/products/byakko-tenryu-semi-custom-iaito?variant=34479502164101 *🗡Bokutō (wooden katana) with plastic Saya (scabbard): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-bokuto/products/the-nyumon-iaido-beginners-set 🥋Dōgi and Hakama: tozandoshop.com/collections/kendo-uniform-sets/products/basic-synthetic-kendo-uniform-set-1?variant=39417538216069 🥋Inner Obi (any color): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-obi/products/cotton-kaku-obi?variant=34282096230533 🥋Outer Obi (must be WHITE): tozandoshop.com/collections/aikido-obi/products/white-aikido-obi?variant=34120442413189 🦯Short Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/4-21-shaku-jo?variant=39604823195781 🦯Long Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/5-shaku-bo?variant=34073586106501 🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons: Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up? A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons. Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully give you instructions on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons, so you can watch what every other student has learned in the past. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback. Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use? A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō that is at least two blocks longer than the standard length. The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training. Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style? A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all. The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing. 🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡 Sign Up Here (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/sekisenseiiaidotraining Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo. ❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime ❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime ❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history ❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style 💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻 sekisensei.com/ 🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵 Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi) Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta ❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓ th-cam.com/video/2aBKmWmJpJw/w-d-xo.html 📱Instagram📱 instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here ♪Music♪ elements.envato.com/audio otowabi.com/category/material/japan #katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu
Just like elder said “Not all chillin guy actually chill...some of them totally dangerous if their killer instinct is triggered" And yeah I guess Seki sensei is one of em💀🔥 But I love him❤️
That last move, ike-dori, is identical to a move I learned in an Aikido class many years ago! We were of course not taught the version using a wakizashi but I now see that a lot of that training can be adapted. Shogo, thank you so much for bringing this content to us, and thank you Seki Sensei for sharing tidbits of your art. Again I want to mention that I am unable to financially support your efforts, and to publicly thank those who can via Patreon or however, and to urge those who can afford it but have not yet contributed, to consider doing so.
I am glad to hear from Seki sensei that commoners in the Edo period were allowed a short sword, as it confirms with some of the information I have read in books about feudal Japan. I understand that the maximum legal blade length was 2 shaku, about 60cm. Another piece of trivia is that some commoners wore their short swords in a full length katana saya (scabbard). Only the blades were restricted in size, but not the saya, so this may have been done to deter a would be assailant by fooling them into thinking you are carrying a katana, or as a legal way of showing contempt for the law.
Furthering the idea of fooling someone into thinking you are carrying a katana, I'd also heard before that sometimes people would carry wakizashi in a katana sized saya because the wakizashi would be drawn faster than an opponent would expect and thus be caught by surprise.
@@enforcer0175That's actually a really simple, yet clever tactic. The only problem I could see from that is to get into that killing distance fast enough.
I have trained for well over 20 years in a Japanese Jujutsu system. We do a lot of work with katana and have three main kata that we use for them. However, I have always wanted to do more with the wakizashi. I really appreciate you making this video and Seki Sensei showing this. Thank you very much!
Wonderful! I love to see the techniques of daily situations...when attacked outside walking, in a corridor of a building, etc...that show the depth of a ryuha's system, that knowledge for dealing with situations outside of the stereotypical media representation of the battlefield or dueling situation. That knee trick was really sweet. Thanks for the video to everyone!
Absolutely fascinating 👍We love all this history and culture especially discovering how Samurai actually used and applied these wonderful weapons. Thank you Master and thank you Shogo for making it easier for us to understand and learn more of this wonderful knowledge. And it seems like serendipity or is it synchronicity that we started off watching you, then Masters channel and now you also are here once again helping us understand. And all of us with a hunger to learn from him 🤔 Thank you all. Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate. P.S. Can't wait for the next parts 😊👍
Great video. I can't believe such a recent video is available when searching about Wakizashi. This topic is really under-represented on youtube. Well done and thanks.
That empty-hand version reminds me of a tachi-dori waza from Aikido - an irimi entrance followed by a tenkan follow-up - the disarm can either be done standing or kneeling after sinking to the floor.
please make as many wakazashi videos you can it is a very special ken to me !thank for these amazing teachings.may the wind always be on your back and may the road rise with you both.
Thank you for the free lesson. A wakizashi is practical in tight and confine spaces, not to mention as it's shorter, it's also more nimble compared to a longer weapon like the katana. It is when you can't see it, that's the danger.
Again, BRILLIANT content from two very passionate people! I like how they "surrendered" the long sword when indoors and KEEP the short one when the long one was nearly useless indoors anyway. I don't think that's coincidence since a LONG blade in the narrow and short halls of a Japanese house or castle would be barely useful at all if you could even draw it properly in the first place in some of the tighter corners. I know more than a few Iaido practitioners who have marks in their ceilings and walls from trying to practice under an 8 shaku ceiling...it just doesn't work well. I am six feet, four inches tall so my shomenuchi swing can reach as high as 10 to 12 shaku (feet) depending on the blade. This is why many sword-based martial art dojo's MUST have high ceilings. A wakizashi, on the other hand, is ideal for indoor spaces, especially considering the architecture of the time with mostly shorter ceilings, narrower halls and doorways, and lots of exposed wooden beams to lodge a blade into on swinging it. It really just makes sense if you know how much room it takes to draw and wield a katana properly and how small "indoors" feels when you're doing that.
Thank you so much for these fantastic videos. I became a subscriber after watching about 30 seconds of the first video. My last visit to Japan was 2017. I've been waiting for all the travel restrictions to lift. So now I'm planning a return soon. Thanks again.
I absolutely love these films. I appreciate the knowledge you both have and the amazing ability to explain it all so well. The multiple angles done on each method helps so much! Subscribing!
This is just down right AWESOME! I love the structure of the video, the different angles really make it easier to see how the kata works in the situations explained! 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿😇 Fantastic work everyone!!!!! Also, Shogo… SO PROUD OF YOUR HARD WORK!!!! 😇
Thanks for the video. I think the reason so many people want to learn about the wakizashi is that at least in the US the katana is so popular that it is easy to find books and videos on how to use it but there is almost nothing available on the wakizashi or tanto.
Thank you so much for such great content! So authentic and well explained. Great format! Keep up the good work, helping us all to better understand the samurai ways and traditions. I feel it helps to better understand the culture.
Shogo, I used to train with Asayama Ichiden Ryu style bo shuriken as throwing weapons and as a hand weapon (point sticks out beyond thumb). Could you ask Seki Sensei to demonstrate any taijutsu or shurikenjutsu one of these days? Also very curious about Asayama Ichiden Ryu bojutsu and hanbojutsu. Thanks, great video too.
Very interesting. I like the Wakizashi more than the Katana (which feels sluggish compared to some other larger blades). What makes it technically interesting is the size. I don't know how much it aligns with Samurai warfare, but a blade like the Wakizashi can be used in ways many other blades can't: 1) it can be used more like a dagger to stab into the gaps of armour. 2) since you're closer to the enemy, you can use your offhand more (look at Messer techniques from HEMA) 3) It has an interesting length for being used as a grappling aid, and it has a blunt back. Thus you can grab the back of the blade use the blade for various modified grappling moves. Moreover, you can use the blade like a prybar, for instance trapping it between an arm and the neck, when the opponent tries to grapple you.
Thank you for the videos truly enjoying the content. Baiting the opponent into drawing first, similar to a gunfighter in the Old West. Admittedly that almost never happened over here like it did in the movies, but it's still something we think about.
As a Goju-ryu practitioner, I want to stress that there is no way Ukete would be fast enough to meet Semete with a fast Katana draw for a quick block/grab of the wrist and use the sweep to take Semete down, unless Ukete trained in empty hand techniques for a while. Seki Sensei is a master of Kobudo, so he absolutely can, and so can his Katana opponent in the video. However, those that are untrained should not attempt this technique. Arigatou Gozaimashita!
It took and still takes a very long time to become proficient in any martial art, you’ll see in this video the techniques are very slow, in reality they would be lightning fast.. Training for samurai would begin at an early age..
This is my main problem with the moves as they are shown. It may be that Seki Sensei doesn't want to show things on camera but here I find several things unrealistic. First, the opponent makes it really obvious he is about to attack by slowly putting his hand onto his hilt which gives the defender a lot of time to react. Second, the opponent draws very slowly which I realise is partly because it's a demo but given how fast I have seen some people draw I feel it's unrealistic to react with the blocks and catches in time. Third, the opponent only ever uses one hand whereas Seki Sensei uses both. Now maybe Seki Sensei can still pull all this off against an untrained or undertrained opponent but if this was two well trained samurais then I can't imagine these techniques allowing the defender to actually pull off the moves. He would be cut or almost cut before he could react.
@@ruan13o There's still room for human error in the drawing. Besides, there must be other forms of parrying he didn't show us. Seki sensei is good with feints, he could use some in a real situation.
Great video! I love the wakizashi but was always lead to believe (urban legend?) it was carried for hari-kiri. Excited to see practical application and the fact that it was likely more commonly carried than the katana was news to me.
Thank you for the great content, I really enjoy the education you bring! If I may ask, what swords are they using? You've cautioned before to avoid contact with iaito because of their weak alloy, are these different? Or is gentle contact ok?
They are using non-edged alloys like the iaito we use. If they repeated that kata on camera with force several hundred times, there could be some nasty scratching on the blades, and amateurs might damage or break them. Real, edged weapons would be of course absurdly dangerous to practice with here as they are pressing blades against necks. That's a small price that the A.I.R school under Seki-sensei undertakes so that they can realistically show these to the camera and practice them. Gentle contact is sort of OK. You will scratch them (or worse) making harsh contact whilst you are still learning. It's important to note the other talented gentleman demonstrating the kata with Seki-sensei likely learned some balance in forcing the blades of the katana and wakizashi together for the demonstration, and has undoubtably practiced this kata a serious amount.
It’s a typical Iaito (training katana) that is made from zinc alloy! Hitting them very strongly would be a bad idea, but some contact would be endurable! tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo
I am truly enamored with your videos and I wish for nothing more than one day be part of the culture and teachings of great masters in the art of swordplay. So thank you for bringing this knowledge to one such as myself. I may live in the US BUT!! My heart and My soul belong in the Land of the rising sun! Huugghh how I long to go home I miss the red sun's blue skies and the mountains
This is excellent information about my newly purchased wakizashi, I have a difficult story of getting to a home yesterday afternoon, so this blade will always remind me of that! I would've been able to get the daisho for $700 which would've included a display stand & maintenance kit, however my friend didn't purchase my wares so I have only my short sword. Regardless this is a beautiful contemporary weapon for my arsenal & I'll get the rest of my swords in August. 🦓💚
@@manikyum Well right now It lies on my softest pillow on my bed as I am lacking a display stand, in addition to that, it waits for its familiar katana which I shall bring home with me in August as I may have already described above. 🦓💜
Thank you for sharing! The historical lessons about guilt being determined by who drew their sword first was especially informative. I have a question: do you know of any wakizashi kata from this school that focus on being in a cramped space, such as a corner? If so, is there a chance you will explore them in a future video?
I am remembering that last fight in Twilight Samurai (Twilight Seibei, I think it was called in Japan?): our protagonist is sent into a building to defuse a hostage situation, turns into a sword fight... and the opponent goes for an overhead strike and gets his blade stuck in the rafter directly above him. Ever since then, I've been acutely aware of the usefulness of short blades! Which kinda sucks for me, since I've been studying the yari and naginata lately... complete opposite. Seki-sensei, Shogo-san: Arigatou gozaimashita! This channel is now appointment viewing for me, much like the JP Asayamaichidenkai channel.
I'm noticing from a lot of these videos that most encounters with bladed weapons are a LOT shorter than most people believe. If one person is sufficiently prepared, 2-3 swings is pretty much all that's needed.
Thank you for sharing so much of Japanese culture and history. Are there many disabled people that practice the Japanese martial arts? My foot is amputated so was wondering if a person like me could participate in that. Especially the various bladed weapons.
I love it when you go to the old masters. And keeping those traditions alive. Ko ryu will survive. Thanks again for your show. Domo arigato ! Is it “ gozaimsu” or “”gozaimashte”? Ultra polite tense. I meant it either way. Thanks 🙏
Hello my friend Your Sensei seems to be one really laid back guy with no hang ups and a lovely way with people . I love watching and learning here . Amor Tim ❤️
The point about the first combatant to "show steel" being the aggressor is very similar to cowboy rules. With Western cowboy duels, the first man to "touch leather" (or "slap leather") is said to have initiated the duel. You can hold your hand over your pistol holster, you can wiggle your fingers over it, but the deciding point is who actually touches it first. Thus there is a lot of psychological warfare between rivals in a guarded town to try and goad somebody into drawing first (and thus becoming a justifiable homicide). I am sure it was the same in the Sengoku Period.
One thing I would like to see is the katas you explain executed at real life speed after they have been demonstrated slowly. I know I'm somewhat strange in that respect, but to me, seeing a fighting situation performed, for want of a better word, disassembled into its component moves, feels very strange. Being able to see it executed as it would look in a real-world situation would resolve things for me.
(To preface my issue here is with the combat shown right at the start of the video at 00:00! And I'm in no way an expert like the sensei I just have some qualms with what's being shown.) No disrespect to the sensei, as I recognise his accomplishments and respect him for it, but there's no way an attacker would just let you grab their wrist with no resistance. Like the attacker makes his first cut from the Saya then just kind of sits there staring at the sensei while he does his thing to eventually take him down. Like if your first strike misses you'll surely make another strike or reposition, not stay still watching in disbelief at the fact you missed as your opponent goes to disarm you. I get that the whole kata is slowed down most likely to demonstrate the movements but even still the movement seems flawed when it expects the attacker to not resist being countered. I also understand that kata usually are done to demonstrate form not necessarily to imitate a real fight, so maybe thats what is happening, but I still think its not great especially when all the comments are saying the demonstrations are amazing, practical or 'real' history. If this is done more as a demonstration of form like iaido then cool, its impressive for sure, but if this is meant to be a real example of samurai combat then I'm not sure. Both combatants would be trained swordsmen most likely, both combatants wouldn't freeze up after missing one strike. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I'm more than willing to try to understand what I'm missing here. Thank you!
In the Wakizashi II section starting at 6:50, I noticed that Seki-sensei is blocking with the edge of the blade, rather than on the side where the blade should be more ductile and spread the impact of the blow more evenly, which is what I was taught. Is there a reason for this edge block?
Thank you once again for the educational video. This question might be a little off-topic, but is there is a particular reason why the second person places his foot on his thigh/knee when he falls down, rather than on the floor?
am interested in how high usual ceilings are in houses? in my apartment the ceiling is about 2.5 m high and when I swing my katana while standing I usually hit the ceiling and the wall, shoot the plaster and break the chandelier at the same time. with shorter wakizashi this never happens . I imagine someone with a shorter weapon would have a deciding advantage over a katana in such a situation. ;)
Wakizashi has a lot in common with the European Langesmesser (long knife). It was pretty ubiquitous, carried by everyone from nobles to peasants, and had a very in depth fighting style combining standard longsword fencing (which arguably developed from the messer), grappling, and disarms just to name a few topics. I really love this type of widely carried short sword style of weapon, it tends to be fill a fascinating role in whichever culture you see it in.
@@jaketheasianguy3307 That is largely incorrect, Mesers are more about who made them and how they are made (according to guild laws) rather than claiming it's a knife to exploit a loophole. It is simliar to the wakizashi in that everyone was allowed to carry one in areas where carrying weapons was allowed (mostly weapons were restricted in cities, but it depends on which city), whereas something like a longsword was restricted to nobility.
Hi, samurai, can I ask why is part 2 private? Maybe just to keep us waiting in excitement... :) By the way I think the Sensei is very chill guy, but someone who I never want to have problems with. XD
From style and history's perspective it is really similar to the Takagi Yoshin Ryū. I am training the Shoden level of that Ryū at the moment. The manipulation of the balance with the leg is quite similar to Do Gaeshi Kata. Is there some historical influence from this Ryū, my knowledge is not up to date with the evolution and influence in a historical perspective. Greetings from Germany
⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔
Sign Up HERE (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei
Interested in taking lessons directly from the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with 400 years of history with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo (th-cam.com/users/LetsaskShogoYourJapanesefriendinKyoto).
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future)
🛍Purchase the Equipment You Need for Training: tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo🛍
🗡Iaitō (training katana): tozandoshop.com/collections/habahiro-heavy-weight-iaito/products/byakko-tenryu-semi-custom-iaito?variant=34479502164101
*🗡Bokutō (wooden katana) with plastic Saya (scabbard): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-bokuto/products/the-nyumon-iaido-beginners-set
🥋Dōgi and Hakama: tozandoshop.com/collections/kendo-uniform-sets/products/basic-synthetic-kendo-uniform-set-1?variant=39417538216069
🥋Inner Obi (any color): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-obi/products/cotton-kaku-obi?variant=34282096230533
🥋Outer Obi (must be WHITE): tozandoshop.com/collections/aikido-obi/products/white-aikido-obi?variant=34120442413189
🦯Short Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/4-21-shaku-jo?variant=39604823195781
🦯Long Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/5-shaku-bo?variant=34073586106501
🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons:
Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up?
A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.
Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully give you instructions on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons, so you can watch what every other student has learned in the past. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.
Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō that is at least two blocks longer than the standard length.
The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.
Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.
The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.
🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡
Sign Up Here (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/sekisenseiiaidotraining
Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo.
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻
sekisensei.com/
🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵
Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi)
Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko
Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta
❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓
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This second video is set to private... 🤔 Can't wait to see it! Love this content on the more obscure weapons!
thank you so much for sharing knoweldge of amazing martial arts
Seki Sensei seems like a really chill and patient guy but I wouldn't want to get on his bad side. Thank you for sharing these little bits of history.
Just like elder said
“Not all chillin guy actually chill...some of them totally dangerous if their killer instinct is triggered"
And yeah I guess Seki sensei is one of em💀🔥
But I love him❤️
That last move, ike-dori, is identical to a move I learned in an Aikido class many years ago! We were of course not taught the version using a wakizashi but I now see that a lot of that training can be adapted.
Shogo, thank you so much for bringing this content to us, and thank you Seki Sensei for sharing tidbits of your art. Again I want to mention that I am unable to financially support your efforts, and to publicly thank those who can via Patreon or however, and to urge those who can afford it but have not yet contributed, to consider doing so.
Yes, it's just like uchi-kome dori in Aiki-jujutsu
Aikido was deprived from many sword moves as well as judo type moves. So the similarities is obvious.
I love how you put the moves into historical context so I learn while being entertained!
True honor to learn about Wakizashi from you two❣️
関先生と塚田先生の動き方が良くわかるカメラアングルで、とても勉強になります。
ありがとうございます。
I am glad to hear from Seki sensei that commoners in the Edo period were allowed a short sword, as it confirms with some of the information I have read in books about feudal Japan. I understand that the maximum legal blade length was 2 shaku, about 60cm. Another piece of trivia is that some commoners wore their short swords in a full length katana saya (scabbard). Only the blades were restricted in size, but not the saya, so this may have been done to deter a would be assailant by fooling them into thinking you are carrying a katana, or as a legal way of showing contempt for the law.
Furthering the idea of fooling someone into thinking you are carrying a katana, I'd also heard before that sometimes people would carry wakizashi in a katana sized saya because the wakizashi would be drawn faster than an opponent would expect and thus be caught by surprise.
@@enforcer0175That's actually a really simple, yet clever tactic. The only problem I could see from that is to get into that killing distance fast enough.
I have trained for well over 20 years in a Japanese Jujutsu system. We do a lot of work with katana and have three main kata that we use for them. However, I have always wanted to do more with the wakizashi. I really appreciate you making this video and Seki Sensei showing this. Thank you very much!
Thank you, Master. Don't have the opportunity to have proper training, but now I can learn from someone like you, that makes me happy.
I only seen The Twilight Samurai last week, so this is very well timed, because the film made me curious about wakizashi and the styles of it
Wonderful! I love to see the techniques of daily situations...when attacked outside walking, in a corridor of a building, etc...that show the depth of a ryuha's system, that knowledge for dealing with situations outside of the stereotypical media representation of the battlefield or dueling situation. That knee trick was really sweet. Thanks for the video to everyone!
Absolutely fascinating 👍We love all this history and culture especially discovering how Samurai actually used and applied these wonderful weapons. Thank you Master and thank you Shogo for making it easier for us to understand and learn more of this wonderful knowledge. And it seems like serendipity or is it synchronicity that we started off watching you, then Masters channel and now you also are here once again helping us understand. And all of us with a hunger to learn from him 🤔 Thank you all. Take care. Stay safe 🙏
John and Kate. P.S. Can't wait for the next parts 😊👍
Great video. I can't believe such a recent video is available when searching about Wakizashi. This topic is really under-represented on youtube. Well done and thanks.
I absolutely loved this. Thank you for sharing.
That empty-hand version reminds me of a tachi-dori waza from Aikido - an irimi entrance followed by a tenkan follow-up - the disarm can either be done standing or kneeling after sinking to the floor.
Please extend our thanks to Seki Sensei for being willing to educate us about the use of weapons and Japanese ancient fighting culture.
Amazing channel. I absolutely adore those who help to preserve history. Massive respect
I love the small historical details - amazing video!
Comme pratiquant d'Aïkido, je trouve vos vidéos très instructives. Merci
Thank you. It's very interesting to see historical reasons why things and movements are like they are
After four years of gumdo, I have started kenjutsu and so these videos are just fascinating!
This is great, i loved learning about the history as well.
Seki Sensei is a National Treasure!
please make as many wakazashi videos you can it is a very special ken to me !thank for these amazing teachings.may the wind always be on your back and may the road rise with you both.
Love these videos brothers ❤
Thank you for the free lesson. A wakizashi is practical in tight and confine spaces, not to mention as it's shorter, it's also more nimble compared to a longer weapon like the katana. It is when you can't see it, that's the danger.
Fantastic. I will definitely add this to my exercises 💕👍
It's a really great video, I'm glad I watched! Good to see y'all again!
Thanks for the information
It's very interesting to learn
I liked seeing the unarmed original version. Thank 👍
I stumbled upon this channel today, and I now have a new fixation.
Thank you for sharing your videos!!!
Again, BRILLIANT content from two very passionate people! I like how they "surrendered" the long sword when indoors and KEEP the short one when the long one was nearly useless indoors anyway. I don't think that's coincidence since a LONG blade in the narrow and short halls of a Japanese house or castle would be barely useful at all if you could even draw it properly in the first place in some of the tighter corners. I know more than a few Iaido practitioners who have marks in their ceilings and walls from trying to practice under an 8 shaku ceiling...it just doesn't work well. I am six feet, four inches tall so my shomenuchi swing can reach as high as 10 to 12 shaku (feet) depending on the blade. This is why many sword-based martial art dojo's MUST have high ceilings. A wakizashi, on the other hand, is ideal for indoor spaces, especially considering the architecture of the time with mostly shorter ceilings, narrower halls and doorways, and lots of exposed wooden beams to lodge a blade into on swinging it. It really just makes sense if you know how much room it takes to draw and wield a katana properly and how small "indoors" feels when you're doing that.
Thank you so much for these fantastic videos. I became a subscriber after watching about 30 seconds of the first video. My last visit to Japan was 2017. I've been waiting for all the travel restrictions to lift. So now I'm planning a return soon. Thanks again.
Every video holds new treasures. Amazing.
Amazing technique, I am a student of history also, so I greatly appreciate these lessons.❤
I absolutely love these films. I appreciate the knowledge you both have and the amazing ability to explain it all so well. The multiple angles done on each method helps so much! Subscribing!
This is so interesting and so well explained, thank you so much for sharing the culture !
Thanks for the for the video! Hearing about the history as well as the technique is very interesting
thank you so much this channel is all ive been looking for
This is just down right AWESOME! I love the structure of the video, the different angles really make it easier to see how the kata works in the situations explained! 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿😇 Fantastic work everyone!!!!!
Also, Shogo… SO PROUD OF YOUR HARD WORK!!!! 😇
Buongiorno Maestro
Grazie per la condivisione🙇♂️
That was so interesting, thank you. There’s not much out there on the walizashi
thank you Shogo
Thanks for the video.
I think the reason so many people want to learn about the wakizashi is that at least in the US the katana is so popular that it is easy to find books and videos on how to use it but there is almost nothing available on the wakizashi or tanto.
Thank you so much for such great content! So authentic and well explained. Great format! Keep up the good work, helping us all to better understand the samurai ways and traditions. I feel it helps to better understand the culture.
Subbed . This is magnificent content.
Enjoyed this very much
Thank you for sharing 🙏
Great vid as always!💚
Really cool channel✨
Of i could wish, which I can, I would love to see a video on Battle With Two Wakizashis (!) 💫
All your videos are fantastic. Great subjects, great filming and editing. I really enjoy watching Seki Senseis movement
Seki Sensei should be in a samurai movie. cool and talented.
All these techniques are really pleasant and interesting to watch, specially when they include more taijutsu like techniques like arm locks.
Thank you for this video! There is very little about using the wakizashi available
Shogo, I used to train with Asayama Ichiden Ryu style bo shuriken as throwing weapons and as a hand weapon (point sticks out beyond thumb). Could you ask Seki Sensei to demonstrate any taijutsu or shurikenjutsu one of these days? Also very curious about Asayama Ichiden Ryu bojutsu and hanbojutsu. Thanks, great video too.
Thank you so much! Super interesting!!!
When I come over to Japan this year, is it possible to train one day at Seki-Sensei Dojo. I would love to learn something from him.
Very interesting. I like the Wakizashi more than the Katana (which feels sluggish compared to some other larger blades). What makes it technically interesting is the size. I don't know how much it aligns with Samurai warfare, but a blade like the Wakizashi can be used in ways many other blades can't:
1) it can be used more like a dagger to stab into the gaps of armour.
2) since you're closer to the enemy, you can use your offhand more (look at Messer techniques from HEMA)
3) It has an interesting length for being used as a grappling aid, and it has a blunt back. Thus you can grab the back of the blade use the blade for various modified grappling moves. Moreover, you can use the blade like a prybar, for instance trapping it between an arm and the neck, when the opponent tries to grapple you.
Thank you for the videos truly enjoying the content.
Baiting the opponent into drawing first, similar to a gunfighter in the Old West.
Admittedly that almost never happened over here like it did in the movies, but it's still something we think about.
Awesome video. Thank you.
I like to see more videos about the wakizashi or the Japanese short-sword, excellent video, thank you very much
As a Goju-ryu practitioner, I want to stress that there is no way Ukete would be fast enough to meet Semete with a fast Katana draw for a quick block/grab of the wrist and use the sweep to take Semete down, unless Ukete trained in empty hand techniques for a while. Seki Sensei is a master of Kobudo, so he absolutely can, and so can his Katana opponent in the video. However, those that are untrained should not attempt this technique. Arigatou Gozaimashita!
It took and still takes a very long time to become proficient in any martial art, you’ll see in this video the techniques are very slow, in reality they would be lightning fast..
Training for samurai would begin at an early age..
True
This is my main problem with the moves as they are shown. It may be that Seki Sensei doesn't want to show things on camera but here I find several things unrealistic. First, the opponent makes it really obvious he is about to attack by slowly putting his hand onto his hilt which gives the defender a lot of time to react. Second, the opponent draws very slowly which I realise is partly because it's a demo but given how fast I have seen some people draw I feel it's unrealistic to react with the blocks and catches in time. Third, the opponent only ever uses one hand whereas Seki Sensei uses both. Now maybe Seki Sensei can still pull all this off against an untrained or undertrained opponent but if this was two well trained samurais then I can't imagine these techniques allowing the defender to actually pull off the moves. He would be cut or almost cut before he could react.
@@ruan13o There's still room for human error in the drawing. Besides, there must be other forms of parrying he didn't show us. Seki sensei is good with feints, he could use some in a real situation.
Great video! I love the wakizashi but was always lead to believe (urban legend?) it was carried for hari-kiri. Excited to see practical application and the fact that it was likely more commonly carried than the katana was news to me.
Thank you for the great content, I really enjoy the education you bring!
If I may ask, what swords are they using? You've cautioned before to avoid contact with iaito because of their weak alloy, are these different? Or is gentle contact ok?
They are using non-edged alloys like the iaito we use. If they repeated that kata on camera with force several hundred times, there could be some nasty scratching on the blades, and amateurs might damage or break them. Real, edged weapons would be of course absurdly dangerous to practice with here as they are pressing blades against necks.
That's a small price that the A.I.R school under Seki-sensei undertakes so that they can realistically show these to the camera and practice them. Gentle contact is sort of OK.
You will scratch them (or worse) making harsh contact whilst you are still learning. It's important to note the other talented gentleman demonstrating the kata with Seki-sensei likely learned some balance in forcing the blades of the katana and wakizashi together for the demonstration, and has undoubtably practiced this kata a serious amount.
It’s a typical Iaito (training katana) that is made from zinc alloy! Hitting them very strongly would be a bad idea, but some contact would be endurable! tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo
I am truly enamored with your videos and I wish for nothing more than one day be part of the culture and teachings of great masters in the art of swordplay. So thank you for bringing this knowledge to one such as myself. I may live in the US BUT!! My heart and My soul belong in the Land of the rising sun! Huugghh how I long to go home I miss the red sun's blue skies and the mountains
This is excellent information about my newly purchased wakizashi, I have a difficult story of getting to a home yesterday afternoon, so this blade will always remind me of that! I would've been able to get the daisho for $700 which would've included a display stand & maintenance kit, however my friend didn't purchase my wares so I have only my short sword. Regardless this is a beautiful contemporary weapon for my arsenal & I'll get the rest of my swords in August.
🦓💚
What will you do with it
@@manikyum Well right now It lies on my softest pillow on my bed as I am lacking a display stand, in addition to that, it waits for its familiar katana which I shall bring home with me in August as I may have already described above.
🦓💜
@@CREEPINGIRON so you are just keeping it for it collective value, no real purpose
Subscribed and liked I am learning and absorbing everything I can from these videos I hope one day to become a student
Thank you for the heart to have recognition from a legend is a great honor
Thank you for sharing! The historical lessons about guilt being determined by who drew their sword first was especially informative.
I have a question: do you know of any wakizashi kata from this school that focus on being in a cramped space, such as a corner? If so, is there a chance you will explore them in a future video?
Thank you for leaving a comment! We will try to explore that in a future video✨
Nice 👍🏾
I am remembering that last fight in Twilight Samurai (Twilight Seibei, I think it was called in Japan?): our protagonist is sent into a building to defuse a hostage situation, turns into a sword fight... and the opponent goes for an overhead strike and gets his blade stuck in the rafter directly above him. Ever since then, I've been acutely aware of the usefulness of short blades! Which kinda sucks for me, since I've been studying the yari and naginata lately... complete opposite.
Seki-sensei, Shogo-san: Arigatou gozaimashita! This channel is now appointment viewing for me, much like the JP Asayamaichidenkai channel.
I'm noticing from a lot of these videos that most encounters with bladed weapons are a LOT shorter than most people believe. If one person is sufficiently prepared, 2-3 swings is pretty much all that's needed.
Thank you for sharing so much of Japanese culture and history. Are there many disabled people that practice the Japanese martial arts? My foot is amputated so was wondering if a person like me could participate in that. Especially the various bladed weapons.
It would definitely make some things harder and some things less feasible. But you could definitely make great progress if you have the will to try.
I love it when you go to the old masters. And keeping those traditions alive. Ko ryu will survive. Thanks again for your show. Domo arigato ! Is it “ gozaimsu” or “”gozaimashte”? Ultra polite tense. I meant it either way. Thanks 🙏
Hello my friend
Your Sensei seems to be one really laid back guy with no hang ups and a lovely way with people . I love watching and learning here .
Amor Tim ❤️
thanks
The point about the first combatant to "show steel" being the aggressor is very similar to cowboy rules. With Western cowboy duels, the first man to "touch leather" (or "slap leather") is said to have initiated the duel. You can hold your hand over your pistol holster, you can wiggle your fingers over it, but the deciding point is who actually touches it first. Thus there is a lot of psychological warfare between rivals in a guarded town to try and goad somebody into drawing first (and thus becoming a justifiable homicide). I am sure it was the same in the Sengoku Period.
One thing I would like to see is the katas you explain executed at real life speed after they have been demonstrated slowly. I know I'm somewhat strange in that respect, but to me, seeing a fighting situation performed, for want of a better word, disassembled into its component moves, feels very strange. Being able to see it executed as it would look in a real-world situation would resolve things for me.
(To preface my issue here is with the combat shown right at the start of the video at 00:00! And I'm in no way an expert like the sensei I just have some qualms with what's being shown.) No disrespect to the sensei, as I recognise his accomplishments and respect him for it, but there's no way an attacker would just let you grab their wrist with no resistance. Like the attacker makes his first cut from the Saya then just kind of sits there staring at the sensei while he does his thing to eventually take him down. Like if your first strike misses you'll surely make another strike or reposition, not stay still watching in disbelief at the fact you missed as your opponent goes to disarm you. I get that the whole kata is slowed down most likely to demonstrate the movements but even still the movement seems flawed when it expects the attacker to not resist being countered. I also understand that kata usually are done to demonstrate form not necessarily to imitate a real fight, so maybe thats what is happening, but I still think its not great especially when all the comments are saying the demonstrations are amazing, practical or 'real' history. If this is done more as a demonstration of form like iaido then cool, its impressive for sure, but if this is meant to be a real example of samurai combat then I'm not sure. Both combatants would be trained swordsmen most likely, both combatants wouldn't freeze up after missing one strike. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I'm more than willing to try to understand what I'm missing here. Thank you!
Great video, I could understand and follow the technique. But also the kazushi.
Are these techniques from Asayama Ichiden Ryu or another Ryu?
These are all the skills of Asayama Ichiden Ryu! If we ever introduce a different ryuha, we will let you know!
In the Wakizashi II section starting at 6:50, I noticed that Seki-sensei is blocking with the edge of the blade, rather than on the side where the blade should be more ductile and spread the impact of the blow more evenly, which is what I was taught. Is there a reason for this edge block?
Thank you once again for the educational video.
This question might be a little off-topic, but is there is a particular reason why the second person places his foot on his thigh/knee when he falls down, rather than on the floor?
Are there any techniques that look good but are less than helpful?
I often thought Wakizashi is for cutting throat or heads after defeating them in the battlefield and they are still squirming
Does Seki Sensei have any examples of how a Samurai would handle being attacked indoors by someone that is also using a wakazashi?
The only paired kata of wak vs. wak I have seen (and done) comes from Mugai Ryu. Would love to see any from AIR if there are any!
I want to learn!
am interested in how high usual ceilings are in houses? in my apartment the ceiling is about 2.5 m high and when I swing my katana while standing I usually hit the ceiling and the wall, shoot the plaster and break the chandelier at the same time. with shorter wakizashi this never happens . I imagine someone with a shorter weapon would have a deciding advantage over a katana in such a situation. ;)
Wakizashi has a lot in common with the European Langesmesser (long knife). It was pretty ubiquitous, carried by everyone from nobles to peasants, and had a very in depth fighting style combining standard longsword fencing (which arguably developed from the messer), grappling, and disarms just to name a few topics. I really love this type of widely carried short sword style of weapon, it tends to be fill a fascinating role in whichever culture you see it in.
@@jaketheasianguy3307 That is largely incorrect, Mesers are more about who made them and how they are made (according to guild laws) rather than claiming it's a knife to exploit a loophole. It is simliar to the wakizashi in that everyone was allowed to carry one in areas where carrying weapons was allowed (mostly weapons were restricted in cities, but it depends on which city), whereas something like a longsword was restricted to nobility.
didn't realize the wakizashi also had so much use in combat as well.
similar to a knife in size, so it makes sense, i suppose.
It's a bit bigger than a knife.
@@TheSilence1 sort-of like a machete in size.
Great video! I want to ask one thing: does the metal swords used are sort of iaïtos? Zinc or steel?
Yes, they are Iaito! tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo
@@letsasksekisensei Thank you for your rapid answer ! There is no problems with shocking non tempered zinc blades ? I am always afraid to broke mine 😅
Hi, samurai, can I ask why is part 2 private? Maybe just to keep us waiting in excitement... :)
By the way I think the Sensei is very chill guy, but someone who I never want to have problems with. XD
the unarmed version is practiced in Aikido as well
So did Samurai never learn any dual-sword kata or techniques?
Like strike with the Uchi, then follow through with the wakazashi/seal the killing blow?
Amazing demonstration. Are those live blades? How did they avoid cutting one another during the demo?
No they are training full katana made from zinc alloy!
@@letsasksekisensei thanks for the swift reply!
i always wondered about using the wakasashi...
As probably was said by many others. Ippon dori and kuruma daoshi of Daito Ryu are identical.
Do these kata have specific names? I'm asking for my personal training notes. Or are they simply "kata one" and "kata two" or something similar?
Most of the Kata have names, but sometimes we introduce techniques that are orally brought down!
From style and history's perspective it is really similar to the Takagi Yoshin Ryū. I am training the Shoden level of that Ryū at the moment. The manipulation of the balance with the leg is quite similar to Do Gaeshi Kata. Is there some historical influence from this Ryū, my knowledge is not up to date with the evolution and influence in a historical perspective. Greetings from Germany
What a honor.
My bujutsu teacher showed the same exercises about year ago to me even when he doesn't even have a school, but teaches me privately
Love the wakasahi. Keep one in the back seat of my car. “Cold steel machete” Things are getting rough in Bay Area.