Weapons

Kenjutsu (剣術) is the Japanese art of the sword. It is one of the four central martial arts (bujutsu) of pre-modern Japan. The two primary skills concerning the sword are kenjutsu and battōjutsu (抜刀術). Kenjutsu is a compound of ken (剣) the sword and jutsu (術) art or technique. Originally kenjutsu was simply the arts of the sword. Over time, however, battojutsu, saya no uchi (鞘の内), or iaijutsu (居合術) was later developed as an adjunct to the general techniques of sword combat. Commonly kenjutsu refers to the art of the sword with the sword already deployed outside of the saya (sheath), and iaijutsu relates to techniques where the sword starts from in the saya. Kenjutsu can be found in the older koryū and modern martial arts of Japan.

The sword has always been important in Japanese culture and to the fighting men of Japan. It is after all one of the three sacred treasures (Mikusa no Kamudakara) of Japan. The three imperial regalias are the mirror, representing wisdom, the jewel for compassion, and the sword for valor. The sword saw its use in a limited function from the 900s through to the 1300s in the warrior's career on the battlefields. The arts of the sword early on were slightly overshadowed by the skills of horsemanship and the bow and arrow.

Later in the 1500s and on the sword saw a significant proliferation in its use in castled towns, villages and duels. The ease of carrying the sword made it also something to expand on since it was always at the warrior's side even indoors.

Kenjutsu is mostly a one on one endeavor. Two people with swords facing off against each other. There are a lot of techniques for the use of the sword against an array of other weapons such as the yari, naginata, jō etc.etc. From spears to arrows, there are kenjutsu techniques to help the one holding the sword prevail.