Kaze Arashi Ryu Ken Jutsu
Kaze Arashi Ryu Ken Jutsu |
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 The student on the right attacks (uke) with kesa kiri, a diagonal cut. As the first stage of his defence tori meets the cut before it is fully focussed and adjusts his body position. |
Ken Jutsu within our system utilises the sword and other smaller bladed weapons for combat . Our system has preserved many of the ancient battlefield techniques . The training is today as it was in the past . But in our modern times it has become the art of improving mind, body and weapon co-ordination through combat training . In Ken Jutsu the senses become finely tuned as well as awareness, concentration and physical or mental co-ordination . Since attacks and defences are often practised with two opponents facing each other, a temporary lack of concentration or miscalculation may result in serious injury . |
In the beginning stages a student will learn body positioning with the sword, parry, cut, thrust, proper drawing and etiquette with the sword, as well as how to disarm or prevent an opponent from drawing his sword and how to draw the sword even though prevented from doing so . In advanced stages the student will learn to use the shorter swords alone or in combination with the longer sword. |
 Tori yields to the cut and guides it safely past. |
 Tori now retaliates with a horizontal cut.Uke drops low to avoid the cut. |
The Japanese Katana, one of the finest blades ever made is usually the focal point and is held in high esteem . Little is ever said about the artists who made them or the artist who wields the sword . In fact in some systems more attention is placed on sword etiquette than anything else . In our system attention is placed on the artist . When we see a work of art we see the finished product there for our eyes and minds to see and absorb . We honour the artist rather than the tools used - they become insignificant . Similarly, the Japanese sword enhances our techniques but it does not perform them . We appreciate it like an artist or workman appreciates a good tool, but we do not idolise it. A practitioner of Ken Jutsu within our system should be able to perform techniques with any type of blade or with a wooden sword as well as the Katana . A true artist can improvise or make do with what is at hand . |
BOKKEN OR BOKUTO Wooden practice sword
SHINAI Bamboo training sword
DAITO Long sword
SHOTO Medium length sword worn besides the Katana.
YOROIDOSHI Slightly shorter than the Shoto, carried at the centre
of the body (Hara) in the belt (Obi ) .
TANTO Small blades in sheath, carried in the belt or sleeves .
Iai Jutsu within the Kaze Arashi Ryu is the art of drawing the sword for combat. The techniques of Ken Jutsu were ideal for for use by a prepared Samurai on the battlefield, if however he was attacked in civilian life with his sword sheathed he was at a great disadvantage. It was for such situations that techniques for drawing the sword in response to a surprise attack were developed.
The majority of Iai schools practice a method were the arc of the draw is used to cut the opponent, that is the draw and cut are performed in a single motion. The Kaze Arashi Ryu method of Iai dose not use this approach, instead the aim is to use taisabaki (body positioning) to achieve a safe position and a stable stance while swiftly drawing the sword. In many cases this still results in the opponent being cut by the draw, but this is not the direct aim of the technique. It is once the sword is drawn and an advantageous position has been established that the Kaze Arashi Ryu practitioner attempts to cut down his opponent.
Kaze Arashi Ryu Iai Jutsu also has an offensive element, if a practitioner felt they were under threat it would be wise to pre-empt any attack with an attack of their own. For this reason techniques of rapidly drawing the sword and delivering a strong attack are also practised.
In a military campaign it was often very important to be able to take prisoners alive, either for interrogation or to be used as hostages, also in civilian life there would be reasons why you might not want to resort to killing an opponent. For these occasions disarming techniques were developed. The Kaze Arashi Ryu practitioner will characteristically close the distance between themselves and their opponent, then disturb their body position to weaken them, and finally used their own sword for leverage in removing the opponents sword.
Kendo is better known than its parent Ken Jutsu nowadays, and even many people who do know of Ken Jutsu seem to think that they are basically the same thing. However they differ greatly in technique, intentions and training!
Kendo evolved from certain schools of Ken Jutsu as a sport using imitation bamboo swords and protective armour at around the turn of the century. However many Ken Jutsu schools had nothing to do with this movement and are still teaching their original Ken Jutsu to this day.
The form of striking with the sword also differs greatly in modern Kendo. Kendo teaches strikes to the most heavily protected parts of the opponent, Men, Do, and Kote; while the student of Ken Jutsu is taught to attack the opponent at the weak points in their armour.
All Text and Pictures (c) Kaze Arashi Ryu and J.Melvin
