Kenjutsu, 剣術, is a Japanese martial art specialized in sword techniques when the sword is drawn from its scabbard (saya). It is considered part of nihon kobudo (traditional Japanese martial arts) and was developed to teach combat with the katana (Japanese sword). Between the 16th and 19th centuries, more than 600 schools and styles of Kenjutsu were created, focusing on combat effectiveness. During times of peace or training, samurais used wooden swords, bokuto, to avoid damaging the katana or causing fatal accidents. At the end of the 19th century, during the Meiji Era, carrying swords was prohibited, causing many schools to disappear or fall into oblivion.
We teach the school founded in the 16th century by the famous warrior Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) and known as the Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu (兵法二天一流) school. This school is known for its focus on combat strategy (Hyoho), especially the use of two swords. The name Niten means “Two Heavens in One,” referring to Musashi's unique technique of using both a katana (long sword) and a wakizashi (short sword) simultaneously.
The Niten Ichi Ryu school not only teaches combat techniques but also emphasizes the strategy and philosophy behind the use of the sword. Musashi's teachings stress adaptability, mental control, and combat efficiency, always seeking to achieve victory with minimal effort and a deep understanding of the nature of conflict.
The use of two swords is one of the distinctive features of this school. Musashi developed this technique to balance both defense and offense simultaneously, optimizing combat and the response to any situation. In addition, students of the Niten Ichi Ryu school learn to use other weapons for combat, including the katana, wakizashi, and the long staff, through kata (pre-established forms) that simulate real combat scenarios.
The Niten Ichi Ryu school follows a traditional hierarchical structure, passed down from master to student. Through generations of Shihan (masters), the art has been preserved and adapted without losing its original essence. The direct relationship between master and student is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the teachings.
Today, Niten Ichi Ryu remains one of the most influential schools in the fields of Kenjutsu and Iaijutsu, practiced worldwide. Students not only learn sword techniques but also delve into the strategy and philosophy that underlie the Japanese sword art. The school continues to be a pillar in the practice of traditional Japanese martial arts, contributing to the development of practitioners who seek to refine their technique and achieve harmony between mind, body, and spirit.
The Niten Ichi Ryu school is more than just a martial art; it is a philosophy of life that continues to influence the modern world. Through its teachings, students learn to apply combat strategies and the warrior's mindset not only in duels but also in their daily lives, always striving for personal perfection and spiritual harmony.
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| Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645). Founder of the Niten Ichi Ryu school. |
Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū (兵法二天一流) is the school founded by the renowned samurai Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵, 1584–1645) and has been transmitted for over 350 years from generation to generation. The techniques of the school have been directly passed down by the eighth Soke, Noriyuki Aoki. Today, twelve generations later, this unbroken lineage, beginning with Miyamoto Musashi and continuing to Yoshimochi Kiyoshi, the 12th Soke, is preserved and taught by the masters (shihan) of this martial tradition.
It is a school rooted in the art of the Japanese sword (Kenjutsu), but above all, it is a Ryū of combat strategy (Hyōhō). Niten Ichi Ryū preserves the techniques, philosophy, and strategies that enabled Miyamoto Musashi to achieve victory in over 60 life-or-death duels, particularly the famous two-sword techniques and strategies (Nito) with which he overcame his adversaries.
The name of the style and school, Niten, means "Two heavens as one," a clear reference to the renowned two-sword techniques of the Ryū. The significance of this school and its founder lies in the profound influence they continue to exert on martial arts in general, particularly in the realms of sword combat strategy, art, and philosophy. Thus, Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū, along with its founder Miyamoto Musashi, is considered a cornerstone of martial tradition. Musashi is widely regarded as the most famous samurai of all time, embodying the unity of knowledge in both war and art through a singular path known as Bunbu Ryōdō (文武両道).
兵法二天一流正統系譜
Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū Seitō Keifu
Legitimate and Orthodox Genealogy of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū
- 流祖 宮本武蔵玄信 - Founder: Miyamoto Musashi Genshin (1584 – 1645).
- 二代 寺尾求馬助信行 - Second Generation: Terao Kyūmasuke Nobuyuki (1621 – 1688).
- 三代 寺尾郷右衛門勝行 - Third Generation: Terao Gōemon Katsuyuki (1673 – 1747).
- 四代 吉田善右衛門正弘 - Fourth Generation: Yoshida Zen'emon Masahiro (1713 - 1747).
- 五代 山東彦左衛門清秀 - Fifth Generation: Santō Hikosaburō Kiyohide (1756-1831).
- 六代 山東半兵衛清明 - Sixth Generation: Santō Hanbei Seimei (1792-1858).
- 七代 山東新十郎清武 - Seventh Generation: Santō Shinjūrō Kiyotake (1824-1909).
- 八代 青木規矩男久勝 - Eighth Generation: Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu (1886-1969).
- 九代 清長忠直政実 - Ninth Generation: Kiyonaga Tadanao Masami (1919-1976).
- 十代 今井正之信勝 - Tenth Generation: Imai Masayuki Nobukatsu (1915-2006).
- 十一 清長文哉政 - Eleventh Generation: Kiyonaga Fumiya (1954 - 2004).
- 十二 吉用 清元正 - Twelfth Generation: Yoshimochi Kiyoshi (1948 – 2020).
- 師範 五所 元治 - Shihan of Generations 10th, 11th, and 12th: Gosho Motoharu (1919 – 2012).
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