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Kashima No Tachi

The Sword of the Kashima Shrine

Kashima No Tachi (鹿島の太刀) is the Budo that Master Minoru Inaba developed and taught over many years as a teacher and later director of the Shiseikan (至誠館), the Budo-center of the Meiji Jingu in Tokyo. It is rooted in one of the oldest martial arts schools in Japan, Kashima-Shinryu (鹿島神流), whose origins reach back to the 14th century.

Master Inaba was the last direct student of Master Kunii Zen’ya, the 18th headmaster of this school, from whom he received the inner transmission (Okuden 奥伝) through daily one-on-one training. Through his many years of study of Aikido (合気道), including under Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan, the influence of Aikido also flows into his Budo.

The Teaching System

The curriculum of Kashima No Tachi encompasses combat techniques with and without weapons, as well as strategic and spiritual principles. It includes Taijutsu (体術, unarmed combat), Kenjutsu (剣術, sword combat), Battojutsu (抜刀術, drawing the sword), Naginatajutsu (薙刀術, fighting with the halberd), Yarijutsu (槍術, spear fighting), and Jojutsu (杖術, fighting with the staff).

What at first glance appears to be separate disciplines forms a thoroughly interconnected teaching system. The unifying principle in all techniques is the spiral, continuous movement – it has no beginning, no end, shifts direction effortlessly, and generates the greatest force in the smallest space.

Ichi No Tachi (一の太刀) – The One Sword

“A thousand swords are born from the one sword – ten thousand swords return to the one sword.”

In the Kenjutsu of Kashima No Tachi, Kesa Giri (袈裟斬) – the diagonal cut – is the technique that most purely embodies the spiral principle. Kesa refers to the sash worn diagonally across the body by Buddhist monks; the cut follows this line from the shoulder to the opposite hip. The force arises in a spiral winding motion, from which the cut flows. At the end, the sword appears to come to rest – while the spiral in the Hara (腹) continues to turn, ready to release the next strike. All other techniques of the school can be traced back to Kesa Giri or developed from it.

To achieve the unity of mind, body, and weapon, merely swinging the sword is not enough. Exercises for mobility and physical strength, breathing exercises, meditation, and spiritual and theoretical study are indispensable parts of training. Anyone who faces another person with a weapon – even if only in training – is in a situation of life and death. This state of mind is indispensable; without it, all physical ability and technical refinement are meaningless.

Kuden (口伝) – Oral Transmission

Merely observing and imitating movements – whether in person or from videos – is not sufficient to grasp the meaning of the forms and the deeper content of a Budo. Direct instruction from a qualified teacher gives the exercises life and meaning. Only in this way is it ensured that techniques are performed correctly, their significance is fully understood, and they are embedded in the context of the philosophy and tradition of Kashima No Tachi.

The Four Levels of Initiative

Every technique is grounded in a strategy for seizing the initiative. Kashima No Tachi distinguishes four levels:

  • Go No Sen (後の先) – Initiative from the Following. – One allows the attack to come, counter, evades or redirects it, and concludes the encounter with the subsequent action.
  • Sen No Sen (先の先) – The First before the First. – The initiative is seized before the attacker has fully executed the attack.
  • Sen Sen No Sen (先々の先) – The First before the Very First. – The initiative is seized at the moment of the intent to attack – one responds not to the movement, but to the intention.
  • Tai No Sen (体の先) – Preempting through the Body. – The moment at which the attacking movement begins is sensed intuitively. One’s own action occurs simultaneously and overtakes the attack.

These four strategies form a gradation from reactive control to intuitive, simultaneous action. None is fundamentally better than the others – which one comes into play is decided by the situation.

The Kumi Tachi (組太刀) – Partner Forms of Kenjutsu

Kumi Tachi – literally “meeting of swords” – is the term for the partner forms in Kenjutsu. The curriculum is divided into eight series that increase in difficulty and address different aspects of sword combat. Practice is conducted with heavy wooden swords, Bokuto (木刀), and leather-clad bamboo swords, Fukuru Shinai (袋竹刀), which enable intensive training without serious risk of injury.

In all Kumi Tachi, practitioners take the roles of Uchidachi (打太刀) – the attacking sword and Shidachi (仕太刀) – the executing sword. Uchidachi is the role of the teacher: they lead the kata in such a way that Shidachi can learn and execute the technique correctly. Although Shidachi seemingly “wins”, they always follow the guidance of Uchidachi.

Overview of the Eight Series

  1. Kihon Tachi (基本太刀) – Fundamental Sword
    Five foundational forms with the Bokuto. Shidachi learns to step offensively into the attack, to overcome fear and to develop force in the Hara. The overarching principle: Ken Shin Tai Sanmi Ittai (剣心体三味一体) – sword, mind, and body are one.
  2. Ura Tachi (裏太刀) – Hidden Sword
    Ten forms with the Fukuru Shinai. Uchidachi feigns the first attack to strike with a second. Shidachi proactively seizes the initiative and is not thrown off. Principle: Sen Sen No Sen.
  3. Aishin Kumi Tachi (相心組太刀) – Sword of the United Hearts
    Five forms. Uchidachi and Shidachi simultaneously begin the same attack – a stalemate arises. Shidachi remains energetically connected and counters at the moment of the shift. Principle: Tai No Sen.
  4. Jissen Kumi Tachi (実戦組太刀) – Sword of Real Combat
    Ten forms with high intensity and close distance. Shidachi must sense the intent to attack as it arises. Depending on how this succeeds, Sen No Sen, Sen Sen No Sen, or Tai No Sen come into play.
  5. Kassen Dachi (合戦太刀) – Battle Sword
    Ten forms. A simulation of the encounter on the battlefield in armour. The partners run toward each other from a great distance, Yukiai (行合). The technique must be executed in a fraction of a second. Kassen Dachi is less a practice and more a test.
  6. Tsubazeri (鍔競) – Contest of Strength at the Guard
    The swords interlock at the Tsuba. In the ensuing struggle, the aim is to break the opponent’s balance and bring them to the ground.
  7. Taoshiuchi (倒打) – Felling, smashing Strike
    The focus is on directly overthrowing and felling or crushing the attacking sword, without the struggle at the Tsuba. Both series can also be practised with the live blade at an advanced stage.
  8. Battojutsu (抜刀術) – The Art of Drawing the Sword
    The fluid drawing of the sword from the scabbard, Saya (鞘), with a subsequent cut. Initially as a solo exercise with the blunt Iaito (居合刀), later with the live blade Shinken (真剣), and finally also with a partner.

Training at „Dojo am Gleisdreieck Berlin“

At the Gleisdreieck Dojo, training focuses on Kenjutsu, supplemented by occasional practice with Yari and Naginata. Taijutsu is covered by parallel Aikido training, which is expressly recommended to all Kenjutsu students: the diverse movements of Aikido expand physical potential, while weapon practice develops presence, clarity, and decisiveness – each enriches the other.