Proving How Using Katana with One Hand is Stronger Than Two

*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

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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?
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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.

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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.

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❹ You can join even if you belong to another Ryuha style

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[WinnipegKnightlyArts]

The one handed fencing techniques look almost identical to how we'd fence with a langes messer, it's a very interesting combination of two handed, and one handed style, it seems very well fitted to this type of sword.

The kari ashi footwork is also very similar to how we would execute 'nachreisen' (chasing after): when an opponent attacks to you, you use the front leg to kind of push yourself and you sway back a little so that the opponent misses, and then you go forward with the hands, and extend the leg that you pushed with to step forward (so that it is only one step that rocks you back and then goes forward) and Indes hesitation) attack to their opening.

[rolandgdean]

Another GREAT video Shogo. Something I've noticed about Seki Sensei is that he is a very serious man when it comes to his art form and often has a serious expression on his face. However, I've noticed how he LIGHTS UP and even exposes his HUGE SMILE when he reveals techniques and teaches people. For as long as he's been doing this, to retain that level of passion for what he does is so amazing to witness. It's easy to see that he genuinely cares DEEPLY for his craft and passing that knowledge on to future generations.

[tullyontherocks]

As a longtime practitioner of both Eastern and Western disciplines, mixed handed use of a Katana becomes instinctual. Excellent vid, true practical use being demonstrated. A little Rapier Mojo there, wonderfully logical.

[B..B.]

Not a katana user myself but there's always things to apply over, now I can improve my saber skill even further. Thank you

[heavybolter]

interesting how a lot of katana one handed techniques seems hold some similarity to what you sometimes see with saber, with the moulinet at 0:11

[LiShuBen]

This is crazy. Alot of details aren't mentioned but are still very much on display. This is truly a battlefield art! Thank you for sharing so openly!

[matiasdelatorreoverton]

As a Hema practitioner I really love and enjoy this videos. I find them really informative and instructive.
I can see it would take A LOT of skill to pull of this katas.
Thank you for sharing them!

[ScaryLeafz]

Can you do a video with sensei showing techniques with dual swords or katana and wakizashi

[addictedtoblades]

Love your channel, always looking forward to watching more of your videos

[reginaldwelkin]

I've always thought it didn't make sense that martial arts aimed for perpetual stability...since some of my most unexpected and fastest moves were while off-balance. It's awesome that this was recognized in Kari-Ashi!

[brianquint]

Watching Seki Sensei move at that level of skill is addicting.

[NachtKaiser]

Almost halfway there for the sub count and we're not even done with February! Good job! 😄

I love how this art keeps considering how every slight action you make affects your next action, it truly is a form of high-speed, quick reaction chess! Of course the katas are simulations, but it gives a good idea of how a real fight could happen. Keep up the great work all of you!

[unsaltedbanana]

These videos are so intresting and fun to watch. Thank you Seki sensei, Shogo and everyone else involved

[sparklepawz]

3:50 I think there's a similar "fool's guard" in HEMA that baits the opponent by tricking them into thinking you're exposed only to counter when they step in to attack. I'm not an expert in HEMA or a practitioner of it though so I could be wrong, I just remember hearing about it.

[CashewNuts]

The one handed techniques reminded me of european saber fighting.

[Braindazzled]

So interesting for me, a former iaidoka, and with many years of Western fencing as well. The katana always seemed equally suited to be used with one hand (dare I say "western style"?) as with two hands, and now I learn that using it one handed is not strictly "western style" at all. It's a sword with many strengths! Thank you for this! Another edifying lesson.

[TheCCBoi]

Kari-ashi is one of the coolest concepts I've heard in Kubudo. I can't wait to train in this art.

[DustinGhia]

That makes a lot of sense. Soro does it like this!

[itskarl]

5:43 "If you're doing it with two hands, you're killing the speed of the katana yourself by holding on to the handle"
Only if you don't use the second hand to help the movement. Two hands can always make a sword change directions faster than one hand. You have the weight distributed over two hands, so you don't have one hand dealing with all the momentum, and using two hands the tsuka becomes a lever. If you find it faster with one hand, it is only because you haven't learned to do it properly with two. This is seen demonstrated not only in the majority of kenjutsu schools, but in all schools of European longsword as well.

Using the katana one handed is an important skill, but one should always be careful not to fall too much in love with a new idea. There's a reason why the common techniques are common. The swordmasters back in the day knew what they were doing.

[raymondsosnowski]

Very interesting dynamics! It occurs to me that katate waza (1-handed techniques) would be rather dependent on a well-balanced katana.
Also, there are manifestations of kari-ashi in Tendo-ryu Naginata-jutsu - moments in unstable (I like to think of it quasi-stable) positions that are actually part of general tai-sabaki (whole body movements) to create dynamic flows of motion.