Among the most popular of traditional martial arts would be those that teach classical weapons. The Japanese martial art of Shinkendo is one particular art and it serves the noble goal of preserving the apparently lost legacy of ancient sword fighting.
Shinkendo revolves around teaching the traditional sword strategies of the samurai. Though it’s been centuries since the samurai fighters lived in Japan, their art of fighting has been preserved. Even though the practice of sword techniques are not made for self-defense, they do give many other attributes and benefits associated with training in the art. Mostly, practitioners can easily boost their concentration skills and personal discipline as they gain proficiency in this battlefield art.
The founder of this martial art style is Toshishiro Obata and he learned traditional Japanese swordsmanship from many different styles. This is certainly considered interesting as he was mostly an Aikido student. As many Aikido moves can trace their origin to sword strategies, it would seem Obata expanded his knowledge of Aikido through learning the art of the sword. Over time, his study expanded into a number of different sword arts which led to his developing expertise in the art.
As his skill had become rather obvious, he was able to establish his own system. This system is, of course, Shinkendo which is translated as “Way of the Real Sword”. The symbolic meaning of this is open to interpretation. It can be defined as the “real” method of how the art is to be practiced or it can also refer to the “honest effort” of learning swordsmanship and all the benefits that come forth with it.
How this art is trained follows several traditional learning strategies. A number of these methods include one- and two-step sparring, forms training, and sword routines (including movement, drawing, and cutting things). Students use a real sword for the cutting exercises For the other exercises, they work with a wooden sword. This is to promote safety and avoid serious personal injuries while in training.
Working with a sword skillfully demands both precision and coordination. Beginners are recommended to start slow and perfect the moves rather than doing the more advanced moves that require fine motor skills. The basic movements of swinging and drawing the sword can be rather tedious in the beginning. However, mastering them is important because they are the basic moves needed for the more advanced sword exercises. When you are committed and you practice regularly, you’ll master the basic moves and you’ll be able to do them by reflex.
You cannot expect to be a professional swordsman immediately. Shinkendo requires determination, dedication, and continuous practice. Applying yourself to the art will pay off in lots of ways. You can actually take great pride in perfecting a unique style of martial art that traces its origins from hundreds of years ago and from a country that has a rich culture and history. Discover more online tarot reading.