Shinmyoken Dojo: Why You Need To Study The Japanese Katana Sword

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Why You Need To Study The Japanese Katana Sword

We all study the martial arts for different reasons, and in having those reasons it is important to align with the correct teachings of a school.

Some martial arts teach health and fitness, others self-defense, a few about spirituality, and many a combination of all these factors.

For those focusing on the practical skills of self-defense and the modern movement of martial arts, what use is there in learning a historical training tool such as the sword?

A tool for an era long past, or is something still to be understood from its transmission?

In the Japanese martial arts, the historical sword, the katana was an important part of the samurai culture, the warrior culture of old Japan. Many martial arts lessons, tactics, and strategies were passed through the sword.

Not only in sword fighting but also strategies to use in other areas of movement, as all warriors knew how to use the sword, so it was an excellent tool to teach this.

In there here and now of today these skills and strategies still have value, and can very much be applied to modern and practical movement.

Understanding that it is not about sword fighting, but about transmitting strategies regarding distance, timing, and rhythm, which can be seen through the sword and applied modern.

See you on the mat.

The aim of the Shinmyoken dojo (school of the life giving sword) is to understand nature and the movement of being zero through taijutsu. The school exists to create and transmit this through the experience of isshi soden.

Located in Westchester New York, the Shinmyoken dojo is a martial arts training group founded in 2005 with the aim of coming together as martial arts friends to study the Japanese martial arts of Masaaki Hatsumi through the lessons of the Bujinkan dojo.

As friends (buyu) we come together to grow, learn, and share our individual potential in this wonderful martial art. In our group there is no beginner or advanced classes, as we all have the capacity to learn the martial arts in great stride.

No previous martial arts experience is needed, new members, and out of town or traveling Bujinkan buyu are always welcome.

The focus of the group is to make progress each week in learning the martial arts, developing skill, self-defense ability, and an understanding of how and why people move.

Training is supervised by Fred Feddeck who has been studying the Bujinkan dojo martial arts since 1993.

In 2003 he was honored to take the godan shinsha with the training group later forming as a vehicle to study what he has been taught and experienced in the Bujinkan dojo martial arts.

Joe Maurantonio, dai-shihan, is and continues to be his teacher and mentor.

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Training in budo taijutsu through our dojo is offered in three class formats.

The first is our weekly Saturday morning classes from 9-11 AM at a local park in Yonkers which is accessible by car, bus, and Metro North train.

Second is our regular weekly zoom class as a way to build on the physical practice-paired movements explored in our Saturday classes.

Third is our monthly discussion class exploring martial arts philosophy, history, tactics, and kuden.

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Membership in the dojo is open to those eighteen years of age or older and who can abide by the rules of the Bujinkan.

Those interested in joining the dojo will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire as an introduction and meet with the head instructor before an invitation to watch a class will be extended, general martial arts questions and other training inquiries are also welcome.

Questions, comments, feedback, and inquiries may be emailed here: BujinkanShinmyoken@gmail.com.