⚔Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei⚔ Sign Up HERE (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei Interested in taking lessons directly from the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with 400 years of history with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo (kzfaq.info). 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) 🛍Purchase the Equipment You Need for Training: tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo🛍 🗡Iaitō (training katana): tozandoshop.com/collections/habahiro-heavy-weight-iaito/products/byakko-tenryu-semi-custom-iaito?variant=34479502164101 *🗡Bokutō (wooden katana) with plastic Saya (scabbard): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-bokuto/products/the-nyumon-iaido-beginners-set 🥋Dōgi and Hakama: tozandoshop.com/collections/kendo-uniform-sets/products/basic-synthetic-kendo-uniform-set-1?variant=39417538216069 🥋Inner Obi (any color): tozandoshop.com/collections/iaido-obi/products/cotton-kaku-obi?variant=34282096230533 🥋Outer Obi (must be WHITE): tozandoshop.com/collections/aikido-obi/products/white-aikido-obi?variant=34120442413189 🦯Short Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/4-21-shaku-jo?variant=39604823195781 🦯Long Jō staff: tozandoshop.com/collections/polearms/products/5-shaku-bo?variant=34073586106501 🧐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 give you instructions 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 in the past. 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 that is 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🗡 Sign Up Here (One Lesson FREE): www.patreon.com/sekisenseiiaidotraining 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💻 sekisensei.com/ 🎵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?❓ kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aMdyftCI0rDUeqs.html 📱Instagram📱 instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here ♪Music♪ elements.envato.com/audio otowabi.com/category/material/japan #katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

The details in Kata's instruction are an art in itself. I am moved by the privilege of being allowed to see the incredible art unfold.

What is important with kata (called drills in European fencing) is that repeating the same movements down to perfection imprints them into your muscle memory. In a real fight you have to act faster than you think, and though you wouldn't execute the technique exactly like in training, all those trained moves could save your life. Another thing is that each of these practices gives you insight into body mechanics, things like controlling your opponent's weapon, psychology, using their own movement and body weight against them, or lock them in place where they can do nothing. Again, you might not perform them exactly the same way, but if you examine them carefully you can learn rules of combat and that understanding is essential to survivng fights. Lastly, each of the kata in these videos has a specific context tied to it. Being attacked in a castle, being attacked when walking against the sun. This was the everyday life of a samurai, and sparing in controlled environment alone wouldn't be enough to prepare them for these situations.

It's good that Sensei was patient enough to explain kata. In today's martial arts world, especially in the west, there is the pervading idea of proving a technique's worth "in real life" and if it isn't "real" then it has no value. While I don't disagree with the value of pressure testing and un-choreographed sparring, I think there is also a lot of value that would be missed in the kata of it's overlooked. Especially in an art like this that has kept its roots from actual combat and hasn't been watered down by the peaceful eras or by the modern martial sports. I still value martial arts for survival purposes in a dangerous world and not just for sport or fun, and I greatly value arts that have managed to keep their combat heritage through to modern times. They are becoming more and more rare, so I am glad to find this dojo is still alive and expanding.　どもうありがとうございました

The bits of lore and strategy inside the kata are very nice to see. The blade reflecting the sunlight was especially nice, with the other hand as a sunshield. Very cool.

Great explanation of the concept of Kata. A lot of people don’t get the fact that kata teach principles more than technique

I am a big fan of the wakizashi. Thank you for more information on this amazing sword.

Thanks for pointing out what the purpose of Kata for western audiences - there is so much misunderstanding about the topic.

i think it would be very good to have actual sparring sessions where these fixed kata are shown in real time and realistic fighting. where one of the partners doesn't know which nor when the technique will be used on him. That will be a great way to showcase that an experienced sword fighter that knows all these tech/ues has the advantage on the less experienced even when they are clearly fighting back, resisting. :)

I am so glad that the wakizashi is being covered. 👏👏👏

木刀の動きが良く分かり、勉強になりました、ありがとうございました。

It is truly a blessing to be able to watch Seki Sensei teach

Mike Tyson summed up fighting and battle and war best "everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth" 🤣 true words

These Kata are both exciting and extremely interesting to see!

Thank you for working so hard and sharing these pieces of history and battlefield techniques with us. I live in a very rural area and there is a TKD school near me but I would like to learn other martial arts too. I really hope Seki Sensei can start online classes. I would love to join.

Good explanation about the kata!

I wish I could study this ryuha in America!

Thank you for highlighting the concept of "budo logic." Likewise the theoretical nature of Kata - it's a concept my Naginata students struggle with (I have also seen & experienced it in other arts as well - iaido, battodo, jodo & kenjutsu). Finally, that overhead, 2-hand block with the wak reminds we of a similar waza in Tendo Ryu Tanto-jutsu - surprisingly effective against a daito using the proper tai- & ashi-sabaki.

Fantastic 💕. I understand, the kata is to train and condition one's body to respond. It's purpose is not to be used in a real fight. However as one with a walking disability and uses a cane to assist in walking around at times I think it can useful to condition a body to respond with a cane.

I’m sharing this channel. What a treat. Thank you.

I feel like I'm learning more with every video, always wonderful

This is an excellent point about what kata are for. It is the same in all skills. Even in something like boxing, jiu jitsu, mma etc. you still do drills to practice a specific skill or aspect of your training. I will say that sometimes a kata (or a drill for that matter) becomes too rigid in it's practice to be useful, but again, that is entirely on the participants to keep it alive, and demonstrations are a bit different than actual practice as well. The important thing is how the skills develop, all kata and drills etc. are a method of improving your skills, but just going through them passively isn't enough.

Verry nice video shogo and seki sensei so interesting.i woud like to see if posible some techniques about how to fight whit one arm or how to kyu gunto swords where used.thanks for those videos...

I like the fact that you doing video's with this sensei. I was following him for a while but there werent many video's with subtitles. So i really like it that you can translate it for the fans and followers who cant speak Japanese. Keep up the good work. Thnx.

Another excellent video. This channel has already become a must watch for me. Thank you so much and I look forward to the next.

I loved this video and how you explained the purpose of training kata. I love learning from this channel.

Great video again, learned a few new things, In will explore that in a more detailed way. Those videos gave me the motivation to look into the book about the Asayama Ichiden Ryū that was given to me.

Love watching your channel, it’s very informative and teaches in a way many can understand.

So happy you started this series! goes perfectly with my kenjutsu training and i am trully enchanted by Seki Sensei. Domo arigato gozaimashita 🙏

¡AL FIN! Shogo me quito el sombrero, la explicación que diste sobre el entrenamiendo de Kata es perfecta. Como alguien que desafortunadamente tuvo que pelar para evitar un robo/omocidio (Venezuela no es muy segura de noche, y menos en el 2016) uno no sabe qué va a pasar y peleas por tu vida como puedas, no imparte si la técnica fue honorable o sucia, el objetivo es sobrevivir a como de lugar. Es cierto que a veces los movimientos parecen sobre actuado pero si el maestro fuera enserio siempre, todos los alumnos hubiéramos muerto en nuestra primera clase.

I have really enjoyed watching this and it is so informative and interesting! Thank you to all of you for your hard work! Great job!

I am so glad I found this channel. Keep up the great work Shogo san, and please relay our many thanks to Seki sensei.

Blow away by the techniques taught on this video .

cool combat with the wakizashi, thanks seki sensei!

I look at Katas as exercises to develop efficient movement and establishing muscle memory. In this way, you do not waste limited mental processing capacity on how to move, but rather focus on what moves are necessary to counter your opponent and your body executives the movement subconsciously.

Domo arigato gozaimashita to both Seki Sensei for sharing this knowledge with us and to Shogo for making this all possible. I really appreciate you sharing this instruction and information with those of us who are far away. The extra history makes it that much better!

Thank you so much for putting these together, as short sword has been particularly intriguing to me lately. Can you please talk about using the term "wakizashi" vs. "kodachi", which I believe I'm hearing instead?

This is GOLD! Seki-sensei is a truly generous educator to share the teachings of his ryuha on KZfaq when so many others would be looking for profit. It is a blessing in the study of kenjutsu to find these rarities. Every second of these videos is a precious gift that should be received with honor.

These videos are great! I would really like to see some videos on the naginata in the future!

We love the look of the Katana and Wakizashi in the Obi. Stylish yet deadly 👌 Can't even see the other weapons he is carrying 😮 Ready for anything 👍Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate

Zatoichi's Cane Sword techniques, please! :)

Kata are templates linked together in a systematic manner. Every martial art has known two person drills just like a jab, cross, hook and uppercut in boxing. They give us a foundation.

Enjoyed the video and Seki Sensei is a great teacher, very interesting and logical explanations ! ❤

Your content is outstanding I love it! Thank you!

These techniques are so beautiful and effective. Amazingly demonstrated.

"longer is stronger" and "shorter is more danger" always keeping distance when using longer weapon.

What a masterful video. A martial art that is like a ballet of grace.

Thank you for the demonstration! It's very interesting to see how these techniques differ but at the same time are very similar to other budo schools I'm familiar with. It gives an insight on their development and historical application.

reminds me of having, ime, a bastard sword and a long dagger as side weapon... it is far away from this example you masters are showing, and single side blade to double side blade fighting is different, but i see some comparsion to what i learned in european medieval fighting... btw. great addition to karate anyway, great showing of skill and strategy, i like the distraction of the opponet with the wielding weapon, we do such stuff also and btw. abo is for sure

I am honored by these gifts of knowledge and insight. *bows*

I like the focus on the wakizashi. It's shorter length makes it a very wieldable tool, and in some ways more versatile. Thank you for the video!

Thank you for the video, it was very interesting. Seki Sensei is a very kind teacher. I used to train in Aikido, but our sensei didn't practice many katas with us. Well, he was pretty young, so maybe he didn't know many. I learned a lot from this video. ども　ありがとうございます。

As much as we love the katana it is great to see the focus on the wakizashi for a change :) Shogo-san do you think it's a western thing to misunderstand kata as a step by step instruction to fighting, rather than a way to train your body to move in certain ways so you can adapt to the situation? I've heard this often, and seems quite common to encounter the "what if..." student, ie. The one who is constantly saying "what if I do this instead of that attack" or "but I would just do this and your technique would not work". I always explain that there is always a "what if", always a counter, but in that moment you are training the form and so should focus on what you can learn from it, henka comes later!

Awesome Teacher Master Seki.

Your humility is refreshing, and is something we must reclaim in the west. I applaud your exemplary skills, and appreciate the context. Continue to teach good sir, you do the arts a great service.❤

Thank you and Sensei for the video. I am going to study how Sensei used his left hand to augment his wakizashi block while minimizing the exposure of his left hand. The first three cut defense against the katana was elegant and frightening.😮

Thanks for the translation! now I can understand it

My old Sijos and Sifus used to tell us to train. Add tools to the toolbox.

Please keep on the good Work!🙏🏽

Just subbed today love all the videos

This is really good!

Shogo, you NEVER DISAPPOINT with the Japanese MASTERS you showing!💯

thank you so much for sharing

This is such a cool channel to sub to

That's a great point about the Kata and their effectiveness in battle/live situations. I've always held the opinion that Kata train the body in how to move in accordance with the style you are practicing. Once you have the basics down (i.e. Shodan) that's where you learn the real art and use the basics in different applications. Additionally, a lot of tanren is built into certain Kata. So their purpose isn't necessarily to execute a technique but rather to train and build up the musculature by moving in those specific ways.

It has been interesting to watch. Always wondered what each sword was used for.

Well done!

In my humble opinion/observation, Seki Sensei weapons techniques and instruction of said techniques are indeed indicative of that of a true master martial arts practionner. Osu!

Came here from the community post and don't regret it at all 👍

It's hard in the US to find techniques for using wakizashi. Thank you for sharing!

There is a kamae for the sun thing but with a katana. you place the katana parallel to your torso and the katana blade covers your right eye and use the blade to reflect the sun on your opponent eyes while covering your own from it

The first strike using a katana versus someone dual-wielding these weapons should be a strong diagonal attack on the side of their dominant hand, thus shocking the wrist and almost disabling both of their hands for a brief moment if they block with both weapons. Imagine holding onto a piece of steel and trying to take on the pressure of the strike-through your arms. A dual-wielder is far more likely to deflect or riposte through one of their weapons and then counter-attack.

3:45 why would he block? the wakizashi can't even touch him? if the answer is :"It's part of the kata" I'm ok with that :D

Thank you Gentlemen for the demonstration 🙏 respect 🫡

Would love to hear about kendo matches someone has done where they were able to do maneuvers they learned from katas. Im sure it happens a lot and would definitely show the practical side of them.

Disciplined, beautiful and deadly

Thank you

I practice to help me keep the present in mind and help with focus.

Amazing technic

In music, we learn how to operate our bodies and instruments through exercises and etudes (learning pieces) that build understanding and muscle memory, so that we can perform more demanding music - and perform it more musically, when our minds are no longer preoccupied with operating the instrument and getting comfortable doing so. Kata seem very logical and somewhat familiar from that perspective.

I LOVE IT. I love it.

I wonder, does this system incorporate randori such as is trained in Aikido, where one person faces multiple attackers?

My wakizashi has about a 21 inch blade, so luckily mine is a tad bit longer than this one

I practice Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and Hoki Ryu and it's always amazing to see such different Budo styles!

Kata is so important in building muscle memory 🙏

The one with the shorter weapon must use more skill to control the distance.

This is true in these kata they get a better understanding of how the mechanics work and dose give you a better understanding on how to use them and when to use them. And there are many styles but it’s usually the person with the better understanding of the art and more experienced who wins this isn’t always the case but in the battle field it was better to have skill rather then being a farmer sent out to fight with no skills.

kata is not to make you stronger, it is to make you conscious.

This is wonderful! Does anybody know if there is any written material on Wakizashi Kata / forms?

Training Kata utilizes muscle memory for fundamental movements.

Cosindering I almost cut off my finger with a mere kitchen knife, I doubt that after the alternative second attack there's anything left to grab to throw the enemy to the ground with 😂 truly a fiece move, I flinched even with those wooden swords

Kata is like learning music. First you learn the notes. Then you learn the chords. Then you learn songs. Then you are able to improvise. Shu-ha-ri.

You often mention that the uchi-katana is sacred. Is the wakizashi treated the same, or is there a hierarchy of blades?

Love it. Our Sensei would teach Wakizashi kata once a week, both sitting and standing kata. Especially at close quarters.

My Sensei has always described that Kata/Waza are like sentences. Each move is like a word, so you can take each “word” and rearrange them into a new sentence.

Magnifique ❤ merci c’est vrai que c’est effrayant Sayonara 🙇🏾👺😻😼

I have a bamboo katana, but I don't have wakizashi to train these skills, so now I am looking for a katana AND wakizashi kit. XD I found a steel ones, but they are going to be really heavy... and OBVIOUSLY dangerous (these are swords after all).

thank you, this is sick 🤣

If enemy use two wielding sword and we just have 1 sword or even 1 small sword how we can parry or counter his/her attack

Most criticism against kata and budo/bujutsu techniques comes from people who never held a sword nor had any kind of formal training involving weapons or techniques beyond what combat sports allow. These comments should enter in one ear and go out in the other.