劍法

I maintain an ongoing study and practice of classical Japanese swordsmanship as a form of shugyō.

Lineage of Practice

I studied several approaches to classical Japanese swordsmanship before moving to Seattle in 2016, chief among them Kashima-shinden Jikishinkage-ryū heihō.

The Hōbyōkan of Dr. David Hall in Rockville, MD maintains an unofficial practice of Kashima-shinden Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu in the line from Odani Shimosa-no-kami Nobutomo (男谷下總守信友), Sakakibara Kenkichi (榊原鍵吉), Yamada Jirokichi (山田 次朗吉), Kawashima Takashi (川島 堯), Ōnishi Hidetaka (大西英隆) to Namiki Yasushi (並木靖) and Itō Masayuki (伊藤雅).

L to R: Ōnishi Hidetaka, Namiki Yasushi, and Kawashima Takashi at Heki-ryu Sekka-ha kyujutsu practice.

I trained at the Hōbyōkan between 2007 and 2016, reaching the level of chuden in 2018. I have since continued traditional katageiko, conducted analyses of kata in a process called kuzushi and performed combative pressure testing called tameshi-ai. My practice over time has become increasingly influenced by my continued study of internal martial arts.

I have taken to describing my practice as Gassan Shinkage-ryū (月山神陰流) instead of Kashima-shinden Jikishinkage-ryū, as I train outside of a formal lineage. I do not want to imply I have any standing with Kashima Dai Jinja or that I am doing the "true" or "correct" (jiki) Shinkage-ryū. When writing Shinkage-ryū I often utilize the characters 陰 and 神 to acknowledge both my previous training in Shintō-ryū, influence from the multiple lines of Shinkage-ryū practiced at the Hōbyōkan and my ongoing study of internal martial arts where the concept of spirit (shen) is central to advanced levels of practice.

Where To Train

Tōsha Dōjō is a study group maintaining a practice of the kata of Jikishinkage-ryū led by two gentlemen I mentor. Training is by invitation only after observing a practice and undergoing a traditional interview process.

Gallery

Below are some galleries of events the Gassankan Kenpō training cadre has participated in as a group:

Kagami Biraki: 2025

Kagami Biraki: 2024

Kagami Biraki: 2023

Pandemic Keiko: 2021

Memorial Enbu for Karuna-sensei: 2016