Iaito Spotlight: Taisha-ryu Higo Koshirae
I wished for this koshirae to be based on the original style of higo koshirae as well as informed by the records of Taisha-ryu.
Thus spoke Hayashi – Vol. 2
Evaluating budo equipment can be very difficult, especially as a newcomer to martial arts. We thought who better to ask than our resident kyoshi 7-dan Hayashi Sensei: he not only has a great understanding of his chosen art (kendo), but he also actively works in product development. Let’s take a Read More
Ashi de semeru – attack with your feet
Footwork is not just a kihon practice, but a skill that will develop alongside our seme throughout our shugyo.
The Japanese Sword and the Japanese Idioms Part 5
Previously we have shared 4 articles introducing Japanese idioms that derive from the sword, for which we have received positive feedback as well as requests for more idiomatic expressions. Upon further research, we found plenty more. Here are 7 new idioms we would like to add to the list. Kitaeru Read More
The Katana Kizu: A flaw of the Japanese Sword?
Kizu is the evidence of repeated forging The Japanese sword is primarily composed of tamahagane (steel made from iron or black sand). As it is forged repeatedly, there are cases where impurities are not completely removed or small mistakes during the forging and tempering process can cause kizu (flaws) in Read More
Bohi – grooves in Japanese swords
The ‘hi’ is the Japanese name for the groove (also known as a fuller) that runs up the length of the blade. Its original purpose was to make the sword lighter and more resistant to bending. As time went on, decorative factors as well as practical ones were added as Read More
Japan University Iaido League
In America, the College Football league is hugely popular. Michigan University boasted an average of 100,000 spectators per match in 2017. In English, rugby is famous as a university sport. Japanese universities are also known for their sporting achievements, and that is the same with martial arts. When it comes Read More
The Relationship Between Kendo and Iaido
Kendo was born in the mid Edo period as a martial art using the shinai and protective equipment, and continues to this day earning as much popularity as to host international competitions. There is another martial art involving the sword called iaido, and in thi edition I would like to Read More
The Ridges of the Japanese Sword: Making the Blade Stronger and Sharper
As mentioned in the past, the Japanese sword is designed with the purpose of “chopping”. This means that making the blade shaper and giving it more cutting ability becomes the most important thing. To make it cut better, you need to make the blade thin, but if it is too Read More
Japanese Sword Tsukuri-komi: Structure Evolving through Time
Japanese has a word “tsukuri-komi” which refers to the structure and style of the sword blade. In a previous article about the sword’s appearance, I mentioned that the tachi had a strong back-bend whereas the uchigatana had a strong bend at the edge. The angle of the bend, the thickness Read More