In late 2025, I assembled my notes on Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu and drafted a small book titled The Truth of the Calm Spirit — I want to thank its early readers. I have since been conducting additional reading and research and have made the decision to move the bulk of that work’s content back to this site where it began, and retire the printed volume.
I have been expanding my writing over time and had thought to develop several volumes along these lines. I am discovering in doing so, that it is much more work than I have the time to realize. I have decided to keep the bulk of my continued research and reflections on my practice of kenjutsu and internal martial arts on Inner Dharma, developed in the form of smaller essays that are organized thematically.
This allows me to revise and correct them when needed in the amount of time I have available, and still maintain my own training. You will find many articles here on Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu, including its writing and swordsmen, which I hope remain of interest.
A sequel, concerned with late Tokugawa and early modern martial institutions from the Kōbusho to the Butokukai, including details on famous 19th century swordsmen and their traditions of practice can similarly now be found here on Inner Dharma, where it began. You can find that content in the history view of the post chronology.
The jikishinkageryu.org (opens in a new tab) website has links to active training groups related to the line of practice I was instructed in at the Hōbyōkan (or arts and line its students now practice). This is where I am collating information on the lineage and history of Kashima-shinden Jikishinkage-ryū. It points back to Inner Dharma for densho analyses, which may be open to interpration.
