KAGESHUJIN DOJO

Kenjutsu (剣術) is a universal term that encompasses many skills used by a swordsman or swordswoman. To practice Kenjutsu (fencing skills), one must first become masterful at exhibiting proper etiquette with the weapon, understand its anatomy, and how to care for it. One is taught to hold the weapon, combative postures, basic attacks, conditioning, movement drills, body dynamics, combination attacks, and precision training. The sword practitioner then begins partner practice to learn advanced cuts, parries, blocks, clashing, striking, and controlling techniques before learning the prearranged fighting sets that test their overall knowledge along with the classical strategies used by the Samurai of Feudal Japan.   

Ninjutsu (忍術) is a comprehensive system comprised of many sub-systems. A Ninja must turn their body into a weapon, thus the term for their unarmed fighting skills is Taijutsu (body art). Taijutsu involves striking, joint manipulation, throws, pressure attacks, finger locks, chokes, and reversals. Beyond unarmed skills, the Ninja must become skilled with Nin-Buki (weaponry). Nin-Buki is comprised of dozens of specialized weapons, including throwing blades, staves, halberds, chains, sickles, spears, cords, short bow, and blowgun. The Ninja is also exposed to the famed skills of their ancient predecessors involving wilderness survival, climbing techniques, silent movement, and escape and concealment.   

The first Chambara film titled “The Fight at Honno Temple” was released in 1908 and its director, Makino Shozo, became known as the father of Japanese cinema.  Because of the films popularity, many renowned sword masters became the primary source of inspiration for developing the techniques that would be used many decades later to create the Samurai and Ninja epics of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. 

Having the wisdom and skill of classically trained swordsmen brought a new sense of “Realism” to these films because the characters actually used historically proven fighting techniques that had been adapted to film. The significance of the Chambara film genre in world cinema is enormous. Stoic heroes fighting against unbeatable odds, honor and loyalty tested, and betrayal at every turn. 

Director Akira Kurosawa made many powerful Chambara films that inspired the Westerns of Hollywood. Kurosawa's film “Seven Samurai” (1954) was later remade in America and titled “The Magnificent Seven.” The Hidden Fortress (1957) is acknowledged as an inspiration for “Star Wars,” and “Yojimbo” (1961) was remade as “Fistful Of Dollars.” 

  Chambara was also popular in a variety of film series including; “Zatoichi”(1962-72), “Shinobi No Mono”(1962-66), “Hanzo The Blade” (1972-74), “Lady Snowblood” (1973-74), and based on the epic Manga comics by Kazuo Koike and Goseke Kojima the amazing “Lone Wolf And Cub” series (1972-74).