Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for hundreds of koryu sword schools, each with its own kata taught in person. The universal solo layer is kamae, fundamental cuts and suburi.

Starter program (from zero)

Daily: 30 vertical cuts, 20+20 diagonal, 20 thrusts
Twice a week: horizontal cuts and 1-min holds in the five kamae
Weekly: check your line in a mirror or on video

Kata / Forms

Okul kataları hakkında 古流形

Note

Kenjutsu kata are school-specific; without a school, invest in cut quality or use the standardised Iaido/Kendo kata.

Techniques & Strikes

Fundamental cuts

Kiri oroshi (shomen): Vertical centre cut braked by the core, not the wrists.
Kesa giri: Diagonal cut along the monk's-robe line, both sides equally.
Gyaku kesa / kiri age: Rising reverse diagonal cut.
Do giri (yoko ichimonji): Horizontal torso cut driven by the hips.
Tsuki: Thrust to the throat — line over power.

Kamae and suburi

Beş kamae: The five guards (see Bokken); names and angles vary by school.
Suburi rutini: 30 vertical, 20+20 diagonal, 10+10 horizontal, 20 thrusts; check form in a mirror weekly.

Tips

Without a school, cut quality is the best investment, not kata count — you'll learn that school's own kata once you join one.
Cutting toward an actual small target (rolled newspaper, a cork on a string) reveals line errors instantly, better than a mirror.

Turn this guide into a daily practice: log your sessions, keep your streak, earn belts.