Kenjutsu, traditional Japanese swordsmanship, is physically and mentally demanding. Training with the sword calls for precision, attention, and the ability to be fully present in the moment. What began centuries ago as a martial art now serves a different purpose: developing clarity and focus that carry over well beyond the dojo.
Ancient Knowledge for Modern Times
The practice centers on an intense engagement with what your body can do and how you handle the sword. At the start, you learn the basic cuts, stance, and posture through solo exercises with the bokken, the wooden practice sword.
Once you’ve built basic confidence handling the bokken, partner exercises are added. In kata (Japanese for “forms”), you develop a sense of distance, timing, and the right amount of force. These set sequences of movement, which you practice and deepen again and again, aren’t rigid patterns – they’re rediscovered with every repetition.
The training is marked by a constant shift between tension and release. The sword makes even small inaccuracies in movement immediately visible – it demands your full presence. Over time, you learn to apply what you’ve practiced intuitively.
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More InformationKashima No Tachi – A Rare Tradition
Kenjutsu isn’t a single style – it’s an umbrella term covering all forms of Japanese swordsmanship. Roughly translated, it means “sword” (ken) and “technique” (jutsu). In the classical schools, some of which trace their tradition back several hundred years, there are no sporting competitions.
At Dojo am Gleisdreieck in Berlin-Kreuzberg, we teach Kashima No Tachi in the lineage of Master Minoru Inaba (Shiseikan Dojo, Tokyo). Max Eriksson Ohlwein has traveled to Tokyo regularly since 2006 to study directly with Master Inaba and the teachers he has trained.
Kashima No Tachi is not widely taught in Europe. In Berlin, Max Eriksson Ohlwein is one of the few teachers who can authentically pass on this tradition. We are members of the ISBA (International Shiseikan Budo Association).
Kenjutsu & Aikido
Kenjutsu and Aikido follow the same principles in many respects. Both disciplines complement each other and are taught in parallel at our dojo. You can find more about the training on the Aikido Berlin page.
Practical Information
Training times: Thursday, 7:30–9:00 PM: Kenjutsu Basic (also for beginners with no prior experience). Tuesday, 7:30–9:00 PM: Kenjutsu Kata (for those with basic experience).
What you need: For your first class, comfortable sportswear is enough. We provide the practice sword (bokken).
Getting started: No previous experience or particular physical fitness is required. The skills you need are built through regular practice and are within everyone’s reach.
Trial session: You can arrange a free trial session through the contact form under Registration.
Cost: A Kenjutsu-only membership costs €70/month for working professionals (reduced rate €60). This includes unlimited access to all Kenjutsu classes, cancellable with two months’ notice. Full details under Registration.