How Free Sparring Training is Like at Our Dojo (Seki Sensei Beating Us Up)

*The content of our videos is based on the teachings of Asayama Ichiden Ryu and personal studies/experience | There is no intention of denying other Ryuha styles, theories, and cultural aspects

⚔️Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔️

❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future)

🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons:
Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up?
A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.

Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully instruct you on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons so you can watch what every other student has learned. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.

Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō at least two blocks longer than the standard length.

The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.

Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.

The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.

🗡️Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡️

Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo.
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style

💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻

🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵
Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi)
Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko
Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta

❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓

📱Instagram📱
*Please ask us questions through the DM here

#katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

[letsasksekisensei]

⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔

❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style
❺ You can receive OFFICIAL DAN RANKS by taking exams online (and opening a DOJO in the future)


🧐Frequently Asked Questions About Our Online Lessons:
Q❓: I have no experience with katana. Will I still be able to catch up?
A💡: You don’t need any previous katana martial arts experience to participate in our lessons.

Seki Sensei, the instructor of the online lessons, will carefully instruct you on how to handle the katana regardless of your level. You will also be able to access all the videos of the past lessons so you can watch what every other student has learned. You can also send us videos of your progress, and Seki Sensei will be happy to give you feedback.

Q❓: What is the right length of the Iaito (zinc alloy training katana) I should use?
A💡: Please purchase an Iaitō at least two blocks longer than the standard length.

The standard length for Seki Sensei is about 177cm, so he should use a 2.45 Shaku long katana. However, he uses a 2.6 Shaku-long katana that is supposed to be used by someone 190cm tall. If the katana is too short, it becomes too easy to draw, which is not good for training.

Q❓: Can I join even if I belong to a different Ryuha style?
A💡: Yes, it’s not a problem at all.

The Seki Sensei himself has trained in more than five styles and various other weapons. If you don’t want others to know that you are participating, you can join the online lessons with your camera off. To have the Sensei check your progress, you can send us a video of you practicing.

🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡

Interested in taking Iaido lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo.
❶ No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime
❷ Every lesson will be RECORDED and will be available to rewatch anytime
❸ You can ask Seki Sensei questions about the techniques and samurai culture/history
❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style

💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻

🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵
Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi)
Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko
Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta

❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓

📱Instagram📱
*Please ask us questions through the DM here

#katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

[brianquint]

Seki Sensei's menacing aura is even more terrifying because of his kind smile.

[ecth]

What I really loved about this episode is that Seki Sensei took the time to explain the actual purpose of sparring as a training methods in your ryuha. As martial artists it’s far too easy to fall into the trap of believing that sparring is the end all be all of training, when really it’s a teaching tool like basics, kata, and drills.

[Bahnking]

Seki Sensei tapping Shogo on the wrists multiple times in succession to highlight the stiff extended arms. My kendo sensei use a similar method of repeating when they really want to make a point such as "stop pushing your arms out" or "stop going backwards". Makes me feel like an idiot, which allows one to become aware of the issue, thus starting the process of improving.

Great video. Looking forwards to the next one!

[frogman]

Seki Sensei's distancing is absolutely phenomenal, and his techniques are so effortless. Mad respect from a HEMA practitioner

[AnnXYZ]

3:40 The fact that he just do minimal move to block your attack and just walk to thrust is very cool imo

[Artanis]

Very nice example of live sparring. I've noticed that Seki-sensei has incredible sense of distance (maai) which is why Tsukada-san's techniques keep missing. I've also noticed that Shogo is very easily pressured into giving ground. My advice would be to get a little more agressive as you are giving all the initiative to the opponent and let him dictate how the fight will go. You will probably get hit more at the start, but it will get better.

[DGFTardin]

"That's proof you don't have courage" OUCH! Good thing Shogo is a good student and took it too heart to improve, instead of curling on the ground and moping. Definitely shows Seki Sensei stern side as well.

[moz]

It’s very interesting. Shogo is doing exactly the same mistakes that you see beginners do in boxing: turning their back when attacked, closing their eyes, crossing their legs, tense arms, excessive forward lean and so on. Then Seki and Tsukada fellow are constantly composed, relaxed, do not cross their legs ever (as far I noticed), do not close their eyes and face the attack,

It’s really scary to have a big man punch in the face. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must be to have somebody swing a blade of sharpened steel towards you. However, mentally and physically you are training very similar things.

Even though Shogo might not seem to be able to use any of his Iaido now, were he to do this kind of sparring regularly for six months tp a year all that practice woul emerge I believe.

[Lavarpsu]

It's cool to see the three levels of experience in free sparring - people who haven't done contact martial arts before severely underestimate how much the stress of even controlled free sparring changes your thinking. It can be seen clearly in how much Shogo, Tsukada-san, and Seki-Sensei's techniques change (or don't) from static practice to pressure testing. Thank you for the video!

[denismedinanagorni]

This is the second time I see Seki Sensei sparring and I will say this: the man moves like a ghost. He is never in a rush. He doesn't move particularly fast but I can't see him moving either. He seems to easily read his opponents moves and more importantly: he has an amazing way of pressuring the opponent. He calmly and silently corners his opponents and he doesn't seem to do something special yet he doesn't seem to be stopped.
He is really scary. He really awes me. As I said before, he moves like a ghost. He simply kinda appears.

[idleeidolon]

Your sparring is so beautiful. The foreigner mindset appreciates sparring more than kata (or drills or shadowboxing in foreign martial arts). You can demonstrate drills, techniques, kata all day, but there's something unique and so amazing about seeing free sparring and a practitioner do a technique he's been practicing in a spontaneous setting where an opponent is trying to resist. There's also a beauty in seeing the two practitioners provide each other with the best training experience, and not letting tempers rise and being generous to each other.

[mikloskoszegi]

Beautiful. Seki Sensei does everything fluidly, with minimal movements, while his eyes are constantly focused on the opponent, instantly reacting to any mistake. I'm sure it would be very scary facing him, even just for practice.

[madnessbydesignVria]

I always feel bad for people who don't want to 'look foolish' in class by getting tossed around by a master. Thank you for showing that this is the best way to learn! Sparring is not about beating the other person, it's about beating the person you used to be... :)

[Draslia]

This sensei look like a great sensei! Calm, not focusing on "imaginary" enemies, but actual practical things.

[scariuslvl]

shogo: when I watch you sparring I recognise a mistake I also used to make, and that the sensei doesn't make: you have learned to swing to cut, but whenever you swing to take the sensei's blade you take a small "leap" with your weapon. In the west we call that "telegraphing your moves". You can notice that Seki Sensei does not do that when he beats your blade away: that's why he is so much faster than you. You let him predict your movements, while he hides them well so you don't have time to react

[richt]

Great video ❤ I know European Fencing is not the same as Japanese Kenjutsu and free sparring. But my dad who was taught by my Great grandfather who served in the great Prussian war as a calvary officer taught my father Fencing. Then my father taught me. Strangely my father had the same amuse smile and pretty much did the same thing as Seki Sensei did. But with European Fencing style. I don't think my father was being malicious when he taught me Fencing and was sparring with me. He was happy to pass on what he knew. I feel Seki Sensei feels the same way as he teaches his students and Shogo-san what he knows. The joy of passing on what he knows. Great video ❤

[fangyang]

9:50-10:00 i like how the master was like “na thats not how u disarm THIS is how u disarm” silently with no words haha

[crimsonsoul]

I really enjoyed watching Seki Sensei sparing with Shogo as you could tell the entire time he was trying to teach Shogo that he was extending his arms too far out. Between all of the times Seki Sensei was able to twist Shogo’s Fukui-Shinai away showing the lack of control with his arms outstretched and in the latter part where he keeps getting hit on the wrists showing that his arms also become an easy target. Very cool to watch!

[TheCCBoi]

I love all the sparring videos on the JP channel - it's great seeing it on the EN channel now. We can finally start dispelling the myth that Japanese Kubudo martial arts didn't spar - this is especially true since the Fukuro-shinai was invented over 500 years ago. Samurai always tried to practically apply their techniques.