Traditional Japanese Sword Training, Taught Clearly
This site is the home of a samurai sword instruction series built around the katana and the classical Japanese sword arts that surround it. The material is produced by instructors who have spent years studying kenjutsu, iaijutsu and the etiquette that governs the handling of a live blade, and who wanted a way to pass that knowledge on to students who cannot attend a class every week. Every technique shown on our DVDs is drawn from established ryuha traditions and presented at a pace that beginners can follow and advanced practitioners can revisit. Whether you own a shinken, an iaito or a wooden bokken, the lessons are designed to be practised safely at home.
Our approach treats the sword as a complete discipline rather than a single set of movements. Drawing, cutting, sheathing, footwork, grip, posture and breathing are taught as connected parts of one form, because that is how they function in a real dojo. We also devote considerable time to the less glamorous subjects — how to inspect a blade for flaws, how to oil and store it, how to bow, and how to receive a sword from another person. Students who ignore those details tend to plateau early, and instructors who skip them tend to produce students who are dangerous to themselves and to everyone standing nearby.
Everything published here is intended to complement, not replace, live instruction. A DVD can show you the shape of a cut, the angle of a blade and the rhythm of a form, but it cannot correct your posture or tell you that your left hand has drifted. We therefore encourage viewers to use the discs as a reference between classes, as a way to prepare for grading, or as a structured course of study when no qualified teacher is within reasonable distance of where they live.
What the Katana DVD Series Covers
The series is organised into volumes so that a student can move from fundamentals to more demanding material without gaps. Early volumes concentrate on suburi, basic cutting mechanics and the correct execution of nukitsuke, the draw-and-cut that defines so much of iai. Later volumes introduce paired forms, responses to multiple attackers, and the interpretation of classical kata that has been preserved within specific schools. Each disc includes slow demonstrations, close-up camera angles on the hands and feet, and repeated views from the side and from behind so that the viewer can see what is actually happening.
Because the DVDs are sold both to individuals and to dojo libraries, we keep the production simple and the tuition dense. There are no long introductions, no filler footage and no advertising breaks inside a lesson. Chapters are indexed by technique so that a practitioner can jump straight to the form they are working on that evening. Filming is done in a working training hall rather than a studio, which means the surfaces, the spacing and the lighting all resemble the conditions in which the arts are actually practised.
Beginners often ask which volume to start with, and the honest answer is the first one, even if they have trained before. Sword work rewards patience, and the habits formed in the opening weeks are the ones that stay with a student for decades. Advanced practitioners usually return to the early material as well, since a familiar form performed with greater attention is rarely the same form it was a year earlier. Notes on terminology, on the differences between schools and on the safe handling of a live edge are included throughout.
Training and Resources in Arizona
Alongside the DVD series we maintain contact with samurai sword training groups in Arizona, where students can practise under supervision and test what they have learned from the discs against a living partner. Arizona's climate is kind to steel, since low humidity means less rust, but it is hard on the body, so hydration and thorough warm-ups are emphasised in every session. Group practice also gives students something a disc cannot provide: the pressure of another person's timing, distance and intent.
Visitors looking for a school, a teacher or simply a place to train without damaging the ceiling at home are welcome to get in touch. We are happy to point people toward reputable dojo in their part of the state, and to explain what to look for when evaluating an instructor. For those who prefer to study independently, the DVD series remains the core of what we offer, and it is available for purchase directly through this site.
