You can get a taste of the world of sword fighting without any previous knowledge! You wear the training outfit consisting of dougi and hakama and receive an insight into the techniques of the old samurai from sensei Hiroyuki and Yui. Starting with the correct greeting, through the basics of handling a sword, to more complicated techniques, you can find out here whether you would have had what it takes to become a samurai. The sensei demonstrate their skills in an impressive performance and adapt the lesson to the age and ability of the participants so that the right level can be found for everyone.
Yui and Hiroyuki moved from Tokyo to Kosaka in 2021 to escape the big city. But more than that, they came here to pursue their shared dream of a life based on that of the samurai. Because what many people don’t know: Very few samurai led a life in noble castles.
Many of them farmed, trained in martial arts and only went into battle when necessary. This is also known as “Hannou Hanshi”, which means “half farmer, half warrior”.
Hannou Hanshi, half farmer, half warrior
This is exactly what the two of them practice today: on the one hand, they are involved in organic rice cultivation using the original method, in which ducks are kept in the fields to control pests. On the other hand, they practice various martial arts such as Iai, Kenjutsu, Jojutsu, Jujutsu, Karate, etc., which originate from Kobudo, a traditional Japanese martial art.
different martial arts such as Iai, Kenjutsu, Jojutsu, Jujutsu, Karate, etc.
They also combine Japanese arts such as singing or dancing in special performances.
They call the result Bugeido, a combination of Budo and Geido, which roughly translates as “the way of fighting and art”
In their dojo, located in the same building as the ENJ office, they train students and pass on their knowledge. So if you want to learn how to use a katana or get a taste of the samurai world, this is the place for you! There is always lots of laughter and fun with Yui and Hiroyuki, both are blessed with a lot of patience and are naturally good teachers.
In addition to the regular training sessions, which anyone can join, there is the option of arranging individual or group lessons. In cooperation with the Akita Inaka School a special samurai training camp came to live combining katana lessons and japanese language learning and online lessons are also in preparation.
Discover Tohoku and learn authentic Japanese martial arts!
