Why Cutting Mats Makes You Worse at Kenjutsu | Home Kenjutsu Training Tutorial 

⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔ Sign Up HERE (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei Interested in taking lessons directly from the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with 400 years of history with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo (ru-vid.com). ❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime ❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime ❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history ❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style ❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future) 🛍Purchase the Equipment You Need for Training: tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo🛍 🗡Iaitō (training katana): tozandoshop.com/collections/habahiro-heavy-weight-iaito/products/byakko-tenryu-semi-custom-iaito?variant=34479502164101 *🗡Bokutō (wooden katana) with plastic Saya (scabbard): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-bokuto/products/the-nyumon-iaido-beginners-set 🥋Dōgi and Hakama: tozandoshop.com/collections/kendo-uniform-sets/products/basic-synthetic-kendo-uniform-set-1?variant=39417538216069 🥋Inner Obi (any color): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-obi/products/cotton-kaku-obi?variant=34282096230533 🥋Outer Obi (must be WHITE): tozandoshop.com/collections/aikido-obi/products/white-aikido-obi?variant=34120442413189 🦯Short Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/4-21-shaku-jo?variant=39604823195781 🦯Long Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/5-shaku-bo?variant=34073586106501 🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons: Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up? A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons. Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully give you instructions on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons, so you can watch what every other student has learned in the past. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback. Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use? A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō that is at least two blocks longer than the standard length. The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training. Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style? A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all. The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing. 🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡 Sign Up Here (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/sekisenseiiaidotraining Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo. ❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime ❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime ❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history ❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style 💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻 sekisensei.com/ 🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵 Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi) Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta ❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2aBKmWmJpJw.html 📱Instagram📱 instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here ♪Music♪ elements.envato.com/audio otowabi.com/category/material/japan #katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

At my old school the only time we did tameshigiri was when somebody got a new sword. Our Sensei would say that test cutting is for testing the sword, not the student.

Seki Sensei's skills as an instructor are amazing. He consistently breaks down very complicated subjects in a way that is easy to understand. This video in particular made me imagine how combat with these techniques and weapons must have been terrifyingly quick and unforgiving.

Japanese swords are curved and centered around cuts, so it is way easier to deliver a proper cut without as much effort as with a double edged blade, and this is why even a bit of force in the correct direction is enough to hurt someone. Edge alignment is quite important, in my opinion, but not as important as keeping yourself safe while neutralizing the threat swiftly.

Sensei Seki is beyond impressive in his knowledge and application.

I know nothing about martial arts and sword fighting but love watching your videos :)

This is always so amazing to me. These movements end up feeling SO much more natural when you settle into them. I love the way this style takes into consideration natural human mechanics. It doesn't ask you to relearn how to move, instead it moves with the body naturally. It's almost like it removes the "static" positioning that holds back a lot of modern styles without actually removing anything important at all. I hope this series goes on for a very long time. I hope to also be able to join some classes sometime. If they are still available when I am able. Thank you again!

Thank you. This was excellent. I love the focus on the martial applications of the techniques rather than what looks cool or is designed for competition. I am loving this series and have great respect for the Ryuha as taught by Seki Sensi.

Thank you for finally making videos about kenjutsu I am a 15 year old and i was always into stuffs like archery and sword fighting i managed to learn archery in an academy but my country has almost no history nor interest in sword fighting so i could never learn them so the only option is to keep learning kenjutsu from online so please keep making videos about kenjutsu this really helps alot

I'm from Turkey. I have a wooden practice katana and love learning from Seki Sensei. Your translation and narrative is deeply appreciated. These teachings are a lost treasure kind of art, and of course, an honorable way of life.

For me in a way I learned to hold the katana “ weightless “ by means of straight razor shaving with a straight razor you’re told to let the weight of the razor fall across your face. Don’t force it, just let the weight fall and cut for you. When I picked up a katana I felt the tip wanted to fall in a direction. Rather than fight it stiffly, I let the blade fall in the direction and use my wrist to re-guide the movements .

JUST efffing Beautiful: Seki-Sensei's taijutsu / kenjutsu movements, a MUST STUDY, for any serious Budo-ka

1 minute In and I’m already having my eyes glued to it. The movements, flows of the body and sword. I just love that.

Thank you for the video. Wow. Seki-sensei is moving so fluidly. 🤩 He musst have spend a lot of time on those basics. I feel like I sometimes stumble over thin air in everyday life. I hope I'll get better with training. 😅

Seki Sensei / Shogo, This video is so helpful to understand the different areas of the martial arts. I am so grateful that you both are taking the time to help us learn correct and practical techniques. Thanks so very much to both of you. I see things so much more clearly now.

Love this explanation. It’s an advanced technique in our rhuya and not talked about much. Cross training into some kasumi Shinto-ryu exposed me to a relaxed grip.

This definitely made me feel better about my technique. Most dojos here in the states don't teach it like this, but the other method, so when I picked up my first katana, I legitimately thought I was doing it wrong, but it didn't make sense why. I have always believed in the mantra of let the weapon do the work. And everytime, the katana "said" for a lack of a better way, "Do it this way or I'm hurting your wrists" and when you have powerful calf and back muscles, that hurts!

I’m glad I got to learn this, I was sparring with bokken and when I was trying to go for a second swing it felt so uncomfortable and unnatural, even before hand when I practiced on my own at home with either my Katana or Bokken.

This is an extremely insightful golden nugget. Such a minor detail, such a big difference.

that loose holding on the second part of the video blew my mind, insanely useful stuff, it is simply mesmerizing how a tiny change in you basic movements can change the resulting performance so drastically!

I love how Seki Sensei shows the proper way to swing your arms and katana, I can't help it but imagine this woulda be much better with a street fighter background song lol

he is a very good teacher. Not just a teacher that's very good.

Beautiful channel Shogo!

It'd be great to see Sensei critique an anime sword fight like in Samurai Champloo. We would all be honored, entertained and informed by such a master. Much love and respect.

Really brilliant, so happy to have a channel like this so people in the west can better learn about eastern weapon arts.

That made sense to how cut down immediately come back up. Thank you Sensei for another great lesson.

Awesome. I love learning about the different styles of sword fighting, and the proper handle hold of this style was like a revelation. Thank you! 🙏

The explanation on the grip made so much sense. I did not realize the benefit before this. Thank you as always for the training video with wonderful details.❤

Huh way kewl. As someone who already loves blades, I would love to learn this.... Where's my sword

The stronger grip may not necessarily be a "worse kenjutsu", but rather a kenjutsu that is suited to a different situation. Delivering the cut with strong force behind it would be helpful against an armored opponent. It's not possible to cut through armor, hence delivering blunt force or unsettling the enemy's posture become more important.

Beautiful, natural movement. It’s an important point to let the sword do its job in cutting.

This is similar to my practice. It makes me very happy watching this.

"Let your Katana swing you" has strong similarities with what we were taught. In initial practice we were instructed to let our bokken fall, just had our hands near it (not holding it), followed its path, and then held it again before it touched the ground. This how suburi should feel, letting the bokken fall, instead of purposely trying to swing it

I know this is just basic movements, but it's REMARKABLY useful.

Thank you. I Will explain never crossing your hands from now on.

So great video tutorials, thanks for sharing!!!

*The teacher is awesome!*

grats! you surpassed your goal by 49k subscribers.

Sugoi !!! Thank you so much for sharing Master Seki Art.

Excellent video!

Interesting tai-sabaki - reminds me of applying T'ai-Chi--Chuan to Aikido (I had a mentor who advocated this - I was doing TCC before and during my Aikido training time, and applied Sensei's recommendation to my training; needless to say, it completely transformed my 'style' to a 'soft' yet effective manifestation with attention to balance as a central them as well as a reliance on skeletal as opposed to muscular strength). Likewise, the circular sword-work reminds me of the Kihon-dachi of Kashima Shin Ryu Kenjutsu (introduced by the previously mentioned Aikido mentor). I am not sure that I buy the 'tameshi-giri is bad for kenjutsu' assertion - it is certainly NOT my experience. However, such a position may happen if tameshi-giri is done as an isolated practice essentially divorced from other aspects of swordsmanship training. It's a situation that I have observed. On the other hand, my Batto-do instructor taught the '3-legged stool' concept with the legs being kihon & solo kata, kumi-tachi & kenjutsu, and tameshigiri - while doing any one, remember the lessons from doing the other two. No one practice is isolated; all three are interlinked.

Great insight! Will try!

maravilloso. Muchas gracias por las aclaraciones y técnicas entregadas, Seki sensei

Love this ryuha. It's got all this practical stuff

Wow! Words cannot adequately express my respect and admiration for Sensei! Brilliant only comes close! And this information is precisely what I needed today in my training. My deep thanks for sharing this with us!

Invaluable!

Fantastic, thank you.

自身の素振りを正しい形に修正出来そうです。 ありがとうございました。

OSU!!I really injoy this one 👊👊🙏🙏

Thank you for showing this. Hopefully, in some way, this knowledge stays alive for other generations.

Your channel is a gift. Thank you 🙏🏻🙇🏻‍♂️

Brilliant! I am enjoying the techniques, explanations and presentation in your videos! I thought the kaesu move is good when swinging really hard with a heavy sword, just so that you don't cut the floor when swinging it to the rear. I guess rather than from tactical considerations, the kaesu move is still good for practice strikes, tameshigiri, floor/blade safety, or to build stamina wth a heavy sword / bokken, because in that case, with a full swing, the kaesu move can happen naturally.

Awesome Seki Sensei 👍🏻👍🏻

Seki Sensei is amazing

You are at 63K subscribers as I view this video. 100K is not far considering this is only March. I don't have a school nearby or anyone to train with. I can't express how much I appreciate these videos. I have tried hard to emulate techniques I see in videos, and know from Western swordsmanship that crossing one's wrists is limiting and therefore dangerous. Practicing with an iaito just feels wrong with crossed wrists no matter what I do. What Seki Sensei shows makes perfect sense. As Shogu has explained in other videos, the left hand provides power, the right hand aims. Being ready to change grip as circumstances dictate, to be loose instead of tight, is very Zen.

Excellent video. Thank you very much.

Great. Thank you Seki Sensei.🙇🙏

I like Filipino knife fighting, but also want learn Japanese kendo, or kenjutsu. Hope this Chanel help me to learn basic moves ;) ... Greetings from Poland

Seki Sensei is awesome.

Wow never thought that grip does matter so much..

You know it's a good video when you bow to your screen instinctively after the lesson

thank you seki sensei!

Thank you I love the way he does his techniques and teaches.😮😊

At 6:48 you could just pull your left hand down, thus raising the blade while cutting, called „O gasumi“.

In ninjutsu we do loose grip as less tyring/faster cuts & movement with strong wringing grip at final cut & put little finger at end of handle to maximise length but i learnt something new today which makes me 😊

I FeeL Grateful & BLessed Because I Can Learn This Technic From The ReaL Master.. Thank You So Much.. 👍👍👍😁1000%💕💕💕

The changing of grip to suit certain scenarios reminds me of concepts in HEMA.

I always felt that crossing the wrists yes gave you more power but i could feel the restriction of movement while doing so, im glad i now know the proper way, ill je sure to practice this

Thank you for making kenjutsu videos. Need em for my illustrations to make sense

I used to train in Karate and we learned some kata for katana where we would turn our hands like this instead of crossing them. Unfortunately, the reason why we did it that way was lost over time and we did not have an opportunity to learn why you should not cross your hands, only that it was not done that way. These days I train and study HEMA, which has a lot of sparring. Lots and lots of sparring, and we target hands frequently at my fencing club. Everything about this video makes sense from my perspective now, and I realize that most of us have figured out not to cross the hands when making a cut like that because putting your hand in front of your sword is usually a bad idea. Also, the concept of letting the sword swing you as demonstrated in this video is identical to our "sword first" approach. The sword cuts first, and the feet follow after as your body turns with the cut. I would love to learn from Sensei first-hand and maybe, if he is willing, do some light sparring. I love watching his movements, it is clear that he has spent many years practicing his art

Thank you for the lesson!

Yeah totally outstanding stuff as always the only problem is now feel inspired to try doing some of my old kenjustu skills they feel quite rusty, very basic and embarrassingly clunky especially compared to you fellas!

Pure excellence

Found my old katana that I won in 2012 in a tae kwan do tournament, and I was wanting to learn how to use it and compare it to the use of the bo staff. This video was helpful, and I think I like the katana a bit more than the bo staff as of now.

Very interesting. It looks quite close of some prinicples teached in Kobayashi Ryu aïkiken. How fast ad flexible is Seki Senseï is VERY impressive. Domo arigato gozaïmashita!

This is brilliant, I learned a lot from this! Great respect and a big thank you to Seki Sensei for sharing those amazing insights with all the people interested in the art of the sword around the world! Greetings from Germany =)

Thank you seki sensei this helps a lot

Fantastic knowledge!

Very nice whole body movements. Your hips are definitely connected to the sword.

謝謝！關於（武）的一切！

Tatami cutting is about practicing edge alignment, kenjutsu is about japanese swordfighting against other japanese swordfighters. Theyre just different things with different purposes.

Perhaps the loose grip tip could be transferred to European longsword and greatsword techniques.

I am an absolute beginner, this video was very informative.

Incredibly interesting information. This is such a great channel! Long like Seki Sensei!

Fantastic. This video is very informative. ❤

Thanks!

I can't participate in classes but I can watch later. Thank you!

Thank you.

i haven't watched the video yet, but it's pretty obvious why it'll be different, in an real fight, an "shallow" cut will end the fight, and leave you less exposed, and be quicker, then if you try to lop the enemy in half

Oh how hard it really is but damn wow, it's been 4 days since the release of this video and it was hard for me to understand but then once I get it wow---not only you can be safer with the loose grip, it's also really flows smoother and faster

These little details are fascinating! :)

Thanks

Hi Shogo, this is an awesome video. I urge you to also eventually expose yourself to other forms of martial arts. There is a method that switches double grip to single grip for an instantaneous burst of reach and speed.. It is similar to Seki sensei's loose grip method, but taught in Chinese and european bladed martial arts. It's great to have iaido as a base, but it's great also to one day transcend it.

Amazing❤

Informative content

very good and interesting video! in ryushin shouchi ryu its totally the opposite, thanks for your time Shogo

🙏🏽

nice

interesting philosophy, thanks shogo and seki sensei.

Very interesting. The man flows like water. It felt a lot like taichi.