International Shinkendo Federation
 

 Kokusai

Toyama Ryu

Renmei Honbu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The House of the Samurai Dojo offers instruction in Japanese martial arts. Students are taught in the traditional spirit of the samurai emphasizing safety, courtesy and honor. Instruction is given for the purposes of self-betterment and mental and physical self control.

"Jinsei Shinkendo" life is Shinkendo - Shinkendo is Life

Shinkendo is the Japanese art of swordsmanship.  The founder and chief instructor is Toshishiro Obata, world renowned swordsman of the highest caliber. Shinkendo is a practical, combative style of swordsmanship.  Shin in Japanese means real, serious, or earnestly, Ken means sword and Do means the way of.  Shinkendo therefore, means the way of the real sword.  Shinkendo is comprised of four main areas of study: Kata (forms), Suburi (solo exercises), Kumi-Tachi (partner practice), Tameshigiri (test cutting).  Other areas of study include; swords safety, sword etiquette, the history of the Japanese sword another sort related subjects.

 Shinkendo teaches a person to be able to use a sword safely and effectively.  Test cutting enables a student to learn the correct hand grip, proper cutting angles, proper stances and combative distance engagement.  Normally, straw-matting type material and bamboo are used as targets.  The practice of test cutting distinguishes practical styles of swordsmanship such as Shinkendo from the philosophical and sporting styles.  Since a real sort is used, Shinkendo must be studied and practiced carefully and seriously at first, Bokken (wooden swords) are used, later an Iaito (sword without an edge ) is utilized and after that a student moves on to a Shinken (real sword).  No Shinkendo practitioner has ever been injured while using a live blade.  This is because Shinkendo is taught as a step by step, safety oriented method of handling a real sword.  In Shinkendo, the spirit of Bushido (way of the warrior) has been preserved its techniques, power and effectiveness.

 Obata Soke Teaches: "Open up the friendship ring through the practice of Shinkendo, and through this training, learn to care for others and respect your elders.  Patience and the feeling of continuity should also extend to everyday activities - not just saved for dojo practice".

Shinkendo, Japanese Swordsmanship, 1999

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Sensei Lionel Jones

Chief instructor and Owner