The Best Martial Arts for Learning Katana Techniques

There are different martial arts practiced worldwide, and each is characterized by its unique body movements, fighting styles, and choice of weapons. You can turn any tool or equipment into a weapon, depending on the fighting style. Common weapons used are dragons, Katanas, and spears. 

Katanas are long curved swords with long braced handles incorporated as a martial arts weapon. Traditionally, Japanese samurais used katanas during combat. There are different martial arts in which Katana techniques were initially taught, where stealth and swift movements are the main characteristics.

Recently, martial arts have been showcased as a sport, and trained individuals have joined to display their prowess wielding the katana. To date, the Japanese culture has specific martial arts that teach katana techniques. Studies have shown that the Katanas used in modern days are forged using the same traditional method and elements. This knowledge has been passed down to generations through apprenticeship. Here are the best martial arts for learning katana techniques.

Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu refers to the Japanese art of handling the sword. Contrary to other techniques, Kenjutsu uses bamboo swords and body armor, and the main essence is to practice and display battlefield experience. Kenjutsu is more of a sport than it is a fighting competition. Usually, there are no rivals in Kenjutsu, although contact striking is allowed on the other person. Different schools use different unique fighting styles, weapons, and movement techniques. The instructor usually directs and guides the two fighters, where the attacker is given execution space and movement instructions. The bamboo swords are blunted out on the edges to prevent injury infliction to your opponent.

Kendo 

Kendo is the sword’s way in Japanese. Kendo originated from samurai rivalries and feuds in ancient Japan. Bamboo swords and protective clothing used during training and sparring consist of bracelets, helmets, and gauntlets. Kendo is not competitive. Thus, there are no winners and losers. Discipline, technique, and spiritual awareness are important aspects of a sparring session. Kendo is being adopted as a sport with no fighter classifications, unlike other fighting sports like boxing. The players have specific skills and tactics, where a point is scored by striking the opponent’s body.

Laido

Unlike kendo and kenjutsu, a person trains and practices alone with a katana sword and a target object. Laido, as a martial art, emphasizes utilizing momentum, where one draws the sword very fast and cuts using the drawing momentum without losing sight of the target object or opponent. Laido is mainly used for self-defense rather than on the battlefield.

Training is done alone because, unlike kendo, where you are competing with an opponent to showcase your skills. Laido is practiced to get your brain and body movement to synchronize, improving speed and accuracy.

Battojutsu

Battojutsu is similar to laido, in that, it emphasizes drawing speed and power and utilizing momentum to cut the target object. Battojutsu focuses on the cutting itself. Locking your eyes on the target while drawing requires harmony and hand-eye coordination. Battojutsu aims at improving the accuracy and precision of the cut. As done in laido, practice in Battojutsu is exercised alone. You must know the blade size, sharpness, and weight to perfect a strike. Battojutsu practice is done using actual Katanas rather than bamboo swords. To strike with accuracy and precision, you need to ‘feel’ the sword. 

Tenshin Shoden

Tenshin Shoden is among the oldest forms of Japanese martial arts that incorporate the use of katana blades. Much of its existence is said to have been directly influenced by the gods. Tenshin Shoden focuses on the broader aspect of martial arts. Blades in Tenshin Shoden are used for competition, combat, and practicing harmony in body movement and the spirit. Tenshin Shoden is passed down to generations through books and teachings, practical applications, and apprenticeship.

Ninjutsu

The ‘ninja’ is a spiritual embodiment that is believed to be mythical. Ninjutsu is a martial art that adopts lots of weaponry, especially cutting weapons. Ninjutsu is practiced as a competitive form of sport and a method of spiritual grooming and physical fitness. Like other martial arts, discipline is an important characteristic instilled in the practice of Ninjutsu.

Ninjas fighting in ancient Japan hid in plain sight, forming their own art of guerilla warfare. Warriors practicing Ninjutsu need to understand human anatomy and emotions because attacks are supposed to be made with stealth and precision on vital and vulnerable parts of the human body. The katana is cloaked in ninjutsu. Thus, speed and accuracy are required to draw and execute the target subject without exposing your katana. Ninjas live in closely packed communities united by ninjutsu. Effective communication is required for proper coordination of attacks and movements in combat. Ninjutsu is a well-rounded martial art that not only trains the art of the sword but also unarmed physical combat and fighting techniques.

Aikido

Aikido is oriented towards physical combat, just like judo and jujitsu. In Japanese, aikido is the harmony of nature with one’s spirit. Its training aims to achieve spiritual awareness through martial arts. Intense training focuses on physical combat and the use of spears and blades. During training, wooden swords are used to learn movement and styles of wielding the actual sword. As you advance, the actual sword is used to allow you to become one with the sword, not just as a cutting tool. 

Similar to laido, utilizing momentum is practiced. Your opponent's momentum is the most effective weapon. Redirection is adopted from the Chinese martial art Tai-Chi, where you turn your opponent’s fighting energy against themselves. Therefore, aikido is simply defined as a mix of physical combat and weaponry tactics. 

Conclusion

Martial arts fuse different disciplines with your body and transform you into a formidable tool. Katanas are still a great part of the martial arts world, and learning how to use a katana as a martial artist is crucial. Practicing martial arts should not only be done for self-defense but also as a method of instilling discipline and connecting with nature on a spiritual level.