A Brief History of Japanese Sword: Beauty, Survival, and a Way of Life

Each of our arts has a rich history backed by an intact lineage of lifetime instructor-student relationships. Shihan Crosswell trained under one of the great 20th century Iaido masters, and later received distinguished rankings from one of today's most renowned swordsmen.

Early history: The sword as the soul of Japan

Like many signature aspects of Japanese culture, the earliest records of the sword date back to a time when legend, myth, and history become inseparably intertwined. There is no doubt, however, that iron swords and swordsmanship were critical in the founding of Japan and in the subsequent development of its history and culture. By the sixth century, both quality blades and systems of martial arts created by and for professional warriors had taken hold, but it was not until the fifteenth century—the age of the samurai—that unique martial traditions (ryu) became codified and integrated with the warrior’s ethical code as we know it today.

To the Japanese, the sword is more than an elegant and deadly weapon. It is a work of art and supreme craftsmanship; a way to develop spiritual perfection, psychological strength, and moral courage; and perhaps ironically, a symbol of ethical purity and great peace. Given the deadly nature of the weapon itself, training the art of swordsmanship can certainly enable the practitioner to effectively subdue an enemy in a single stroke. However, sword masters have always stressed a profound balance between the mental and physical discipline needed to properly handle such a powerful and revered weapon.

Katsuo Yamaguchi

Decorative hilt featuring
a phoenix & lion dog

Toshishiro Obata in full samurai regalia

Decorative hilt featuring
a dragon & waterfall

Training in a time of peace: Swordsmanship in the modern era

Iaido, the art of drawing and using the Japanese sword, was developed in its current form during the 20th century, and stresses the use of the weapon for non-combative applications. Still, its proponents trace their origins to an unbroken line of master swordsmen stretching back to the time of the samurai. Meijin Katsuo Yamaguchi, renowned as the greatest swordsmen of his generation, was a master in the Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu style of Iaido, which traces its roots to the sixteenth century.

The Batto-do system of sword study also evolved in the early 20th century as an offshoot of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu. In contrast to Iaido and Kendo, which incorporate many stylized aspects of sword practice, Batto-do adopts a perspective that reaches even farther back in history, focusing on actual combative maneuvers with immediate practical applications. Though the spiritual and mental aspects of swordsmanship are still a key aspect of Batto-do training, practitioners strive for efficiency and effectiveness above all.

Crosswell with katana

Crosswell with Obata

Crosswell with Yamaguchi

Toshishiro Obata

A return to the essence of combat: Japanese sword and the Arizona Budokan today

Shinkendo is a modern system of sword practice that evolved primarily out of the Batto-do tradition. Its founder, Toshishiro Obata, sought to distill and integrate the core strengths of the many styles of sword that he learned from his Japanese masters and present them in a powerful, cohesive package—one that is both staunchly traditional and readily applicable in the modern age.

Shihan Crosswell was first exposed to Japanese sword during his years in Japan in the late 1960s, and continued training in the mid-1980s under the legendary Katsuo Yamaguchi. He met Toshishiro Obata in the early 1990s and began training with him in the art of Batto-do. One of the few practitioners in the world to study closely with Obata before he founded his now world-renowned Shinkendo system of sword study, Shihan Crosswell was subsequently one of the first to be awarded high-level instructor and practitioner rankings in the art.

Today, the Arizona Budokan offers complete training in the art of Shinkendo, a practically-focused system that includes forms, solo exercises, partner practice, and test cutting with live blades. Shihan Crosswell’s approach to sword study also draws from his lengthy and rich interactions with other sword masters, including Fumio Demura (Batto-do) and Katsuo Yamaguchi (Iaido). The result is a comprehensive, in depth presentation of an ancient and profound Japanese art, one that forges discipline, courage, and expertise in handling one of the most beautiful and efficient weapons ever forged by human hands.

For more information on the history of Japanese swordsmanship and the art of Shinkendo,
we invite you to visit the International Shinkendo Federation website.