What martial art should I take to learn how to use a katana?

What martial art should I take to learn how to use a katana and other Japanese swords? I was thinking Kendo but I know that other martial arts teach it too like Aikido and Ninjutsu. Thanks.|||kendo teaches actual sword fighting by using bamboo swords or shinai


iaido is dedicated to the art of drawing the katana and making the first strike


aikido does indeed encompass weapon techniques since a lot of the art is based upon sword and staff fighting but the main goal is of course the unarmed techniques


there%26#039;s probably a few other schools that teach different traditional sword schools but better to check for that one.|||To add to the already excelent answers:


Kendo will teach you nothing of the katana.


Most ryu in Iaido will teach you how to move and respect a sword, but not how to fight. Some will, but you need to look into specific ryu.


And Kenjutsu should not be confused with Iaido or Iaijutsu. Iaido is a more modern development with artistic and meditative features and focuses on the importance of the draw. The role of Iaijutsu is as a practice performed against an opponent who is visualized most often to be armed with a sword. There is often strong biomechanical symbiosis between the Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu of most schools. Iaijutsu allows the practitioner to perfect the execution of techniques, body position and displacement which he will later employ in his Kenjutsu without the stresses of a partnered kata. Iaijutsu therefore remains a distinct and yet a complementary practice to Kenjutsu in most schools.


Another general distinction between Iaido, Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu is the condition of the sword at the start of the kata. In Iaido and Iaijutsu, the sword starts in the saya position with the emphasis on the draw as well as the few initial cuts. Traditionally, koryu focus on shifting smoothly in the pace of execution within the iaijutsu kata with little focus is given to the speed of draw. This in contrast with Kenjutsu, where the sword begins drawn in general, and the emphasis is on both attack and defense. This distinction is not without exception, however, as some kenjutsu kata start with the sword sheathed.


And then there is Musashi%26#039;s Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu where you learn a variety of weapons (katana, wakizashi, bo, jitte, tanto) and is the only ryu I know of (in America) that teaches nitojutsu (two sword) techniques. Tatsumi-ry奴 Hyoho also teaches nitojutsu and other weapons, but outside of Japan the only true sensai are in Australia, Spain and France.





Edit%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Good call Malcolm... most of my Shinkage ryu studies were done overseas and I haven%26#039;t seen much around me here in the states, but lo and behold, I find a Shinkendo Dojo almost in my backyard. Thanks for the spur. I%26#039;ll be contacting them soon. Thanks again!





Good Luck





Peace on your Path|||Aikido and Ninjutsu do teach it, but most of it is hand to hand combat. There%26#039;s Kendo, Iaido, Shinkendo, in Ninjutsu we use Bikenjutsu, plus many more. There are many martial arts that teach you to use the katana. Our Bikenjutsu uses a lot more than just a normal katana. We use many swords; odachi, kodachi, Ninjato (a.k.a. Ninjaken and Shinobi katana), plus many more. Our sword fighting is unconventional and full of things to trick the opponent.|||I%26#039;d go with kendo or iaido. If you%26#039;re serious about using a real katana go with iaido, but know that it requires a lot of patience. Obviously you can%26#039;t practice forms on other people because you use a %26quot;live%26quot; sword, but it teaches proper form and traditional techniques of samurai. If you feel you need to be more active kendo is also a good bet, and you can whack other people around. ; P|||You will not learn how to use a Japanese sword by taking kendo. Kendo is a sport and uses a shinai. Most of the techniques using a one pound shinai do not transfer to use of a three pound katana.


Whatever direction you choose you will find good information at www.shinkendo.com.





Edit: Blasphemer makes some very good points. Just to elaborate a little though...


Most forms of iaido have developed into studies in form and meditation and to a great extent have gotten away from sword combat. There are a few schools that still emphasize the practical aspects of sword use. Toyama Ryu for example, is derived from the requirement of early twentieth century Japanese Imperial Army officers training to deploy their guntos in actual warfare.


Shinkendo is the reunification of the various aspects of Japanese swordsmanship devised by Obata Toshishiro. Obata Kaiso was multiple times All Japan Battoho champion before emigrating to the United States. His system includes Nitoken (two sword) techniques at the higher levels. Obata-san can be seen performing nitoken tameshigiri on various web sites such as youtube.|||I%26#039;m with the first answer, Kendo or Iaido. I just wanted to add that Aikido is designed to be 100% defensive. There%26#039;s only one attack, and it%26#039;s really just for training. Finally most places that claim to teach ninjitsu are McDojos - totally not worth your time.|||Batt艒jutsu, Iaid艒, Iaijutsu, and Kenjutsu are the sword based arts.





Aikido teaches defence against a sword and some basics.|||iaido or iaijutsu use the katana


kendo uses a shinai


kenjutsu uses a bokken


aikido bokken and jo|||aikido|||iaido. You will probably find a iaido class at any Aikido dojo. Expect to be required to take Aikido to be allowed intot he iaido class. It%26#039;s worth it.