Strange Katana Stances You've Never Seen Before (and Why We Do it)

If you are a Budo fan like I am, I’m sure Kamae stances are something you enjoy learning about.
So today, Seki sensei, the 22nd headmaster of the Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, will introduce 4 unique Kamae from the various Ryuha styles he has trained in. You will hardly see each Kamae in other Ryuha, and although it may seem strange, they all have effective logic behind them.
*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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#asayamaichidenryu #kobudo #kamae #stance

[@letsasksekisensei]

▼Join the Online Kobudo Training with Seki Sensei▼ patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei?Link& 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. Every lesson will be recorded and will be available to rewatch anytime. (Learn more about the online lessons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHO7op2Ol8eepK8 | This is an example of what our lessons are like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2nCYal6obtgbqc) ▼Please support this channel through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)▼ ko-fi.com/letsaskshogo The management (filming, editing, etc.) of this new Asayama Ichiden Ryu's English Channel "Let's ask Seki Sensei" is completely Shogo’s voluntary work. If he is not able to pay for the expensive bullet train fare from Kyoto to Ibaraki Prefecture (where the main Dojo is located), and hotel/filming expenses, this activity will cease. Please help us spread and preserve this 400-year-old martial art. In return, we will try our best to create the most educational and exciting content about Japanese Kobudo. ▼The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Katana, Dōgi Training Gear, etc.): Tozando▼ tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo Everything that Shogo uses for their katana training is bought at this shop… Shogo still uses the first training katana he bought in 2016 and is still in good shape! ▼Welcome to the Membership▼ kzbin.info/door/H2QObLwiO1LnghsJRmVPEwjoin Your support will help us to do more activities in the future, and to achieve the ultimate goal of reviving the golden age of Asayama Ichiden Ryu when we had 7,000 students nationwide. -Priority reply to comments (video requests are welcomed) -Monthly membership limited video -Monthly membership limited livestream ▼Check out our merchandise▼ my-store-db9e71.creator-spring.com/ Get our shirts, hoodies, towels, etc. with the Asayama Ichiden Ryu Crest ▼The GOAL of this channel: To achieve 100,000 subscribers by the end of 2023” If you help us achieve this goal, we can make more videos, start online lessons, and hold teaching activities overseas! Please subscribe and support us if you want to learn more from Seki Sensei! ▼What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?▼ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKlfKCNoq-jgNk ▼Related videos on this channel▼ -How "Throw" Draw is Actually Used in a Real Fight kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5zCap9_o8psq5Y -How to Draw & Sheath a 150cm/60in Long Katana kzbin.info/www/bejne/nne5fWOIr9KVmKs -How Samurai Actually Fought with Wakizashi (Short Katana) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ravLe3iqlr5npaM ▼Instagram▼ instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here | We will not reply to emails ▼Shogo's Main KZbin Channel: Let's ask Shogo▼ kzbin.info In this channel, you can take a closer look at Japanese traditional culture, tips on traveling to Kyoto, and social problems in Japan. So learners and lovers of the Japanese language and culture, be sure to subscribe to enjoy more content!

[@FigureOnAStick]

It's fascinating to watch this as a HEMA practitioner, and to observe the strange convergences and divergences in a completely unrelated sword art. For example, the kata demonstrated at 4:27, a descending cut from a rear-weighted shoulder stance displacing an opponent from the center-line, is extremely common in European longsword, being both one of the five master cuts in the German kunst des fechtens (Zornhau) and the first sword-in-two hands play in the Italian l'arte d'armizare. It's very strange for me to think of it as an obscure play, but that only goes to demonstrate the true breadth of historical swordsmanship. Thank you and thank Seki Sensei for sharing with such a well-crafted video!

[@zaberfang]

Wherever the country on earth, the human biomechanics remain the same.

[@couththememer]

@@zaberfangBlack or white, we all just some nerves and bones fr 🗣🔥

[@limonsolitario740]

1:45 That kamae looks similar to one that I watched in the anime "Shigurui"

[@senju_tengu]

The Kogan-Ryu style, Lol I literally said “Nagareboshi!” 😂

[@markostupar740]

1:30 Seki sensei trained with Iwamoto Kogan 👍

[@Akinohotarubi]

My first thought when I saw the thumbnail as well.

[@officekuroro]

was checking for this comment

[@dsgdsg9764]

The way he pivots so easily is very impressive you can tell he's dedicated a big portion of his life to this study

[@kagemusha2203]

Sensei does the kamae as a natural part of his life like walking , very impressive .!👏

[@christopherbalzano9744]

Amazing how subtle these movements are, I can only imagine how much depth there is below the surface of shar is plainly visible in these techniques.

[@richt63]

Fantastic. I feel Seki Sensei is giving us a true glimpse of what the samurai of old practice. Unlike the Budo practice nowadays.

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

1:45 “Nami-wake” known better in Kakegawa and the Noubi area as…“Nagare-boshi”

[@user-sq3fe5sy9v]

後半の二本は初めて拝見させて頂きました。 浅山一傳流ホームページで型が二百数十本と書いてありましたが、これまで見せて頂いた型はまだまだ一部でしかない事に改めて驚きです。 とても勉強になります、ありがとうございました。

[@gilbertoez1994]

The way he's able to move so smoothly... While at the same time the blade travel so quickly is just incredible😮 holy heck dude. 😅 I would have just dropped my blade and run away. Amazing video thank you for sharing.

[@eedwardgrey2]

1:12 that one shows up in the anime/maga Shigurui (extreme content warning in case you want to Google) under the name Nagareboshi. I always kinda assumed it was made up.

[@lucasbs3267]

I’d love to train with Seki Sensei for a few years. He’s such a humble person and his kobudo is and kenjutsu is just 100% real and battlefield realistic.

[@bigpoopyboipeepeepants6699]

The nami-wake stance is reminding me of shigurui all over again

[@STARBLAZERZ]

I love the way grandmaster teaches us technique and traditional. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge with all of us we appreciate that. We are grateful❤

[@MrByaeger]

One thing I have learned about traditional Japanese arts is if it's there, it's there for a reason. The attention to detail is incredible.

[@michael3088]

alot of people tend to over look that

[@Hamond1989]

While I sadly never found a school for learning any style with the Katana near where I live after several years of searching I found a HEMA club and been doing that for some years now, also visiting other schools throughout the country to learn basic of different styles. It was very interesting to see this video from that point of view, as we have stances extremely similar to Kata-dai and Uki-bune where the first one is basically our "standard to-go stance" and the second one one of the more regularly used ones, while another school I visited basically focused primarily on fencing from the second one. I always find it extremely fascinating how similar different martial arts develop due to human body mechanics but then wildly differ due to cultural differences or individual preferences of style founders.

[@KateJohn2013England]

Brilliant 👍 Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate

[@markfergerson2145]

It's been said that the best defense is distance; in general, to not be where the enemy's weapon is. I see that to be a fundamental of Seki sensei's teaching.

[@motepral34]

that logic with luring an specific attack with each stance is something i figured out alone, glad to know even formal martial arts use that logic too!

[@jimanHK]

Simply beautiful . Airigato Master Seki for sharing your knowledge with the world. Thank you Shogo for English translation.

[@nickregnier1]

Thank you so much! Once again, Seki Sensei showed amazing techniques with rare Kamae. Truly educational! I love your work and channel!❤

[@Heavenfound]

Greetings from a Shodan in Bujinkan Budo. In one of our ryuha called Togakure Ninpo we have a similar kamae like the one from Muso Shinden Jushin Ryu. We call it Ichi no Kamae, because it looks like how you write number one in japanese 🙂. However, we are also familiar with Asayama Kobudo, and its Taijutsu forms - hand to hand combat. Is it possible for us, your followers, for Sensei to demonstrate some of his Taijutsu skills? Thank you so much for this opportunity and looking forward for more and more excitement of this beautiful tradition. Good luck with your channel ❤

[@Yuriel1981]

I just want to say thank you so much to Seki Sensei for sharing his incredible knowledge and acumen with the world. My love for Budo finally feels feed thanks to this amazing channel.

[@8revilo89]

i just love these videos even when i am not trying the techniques i just love watching them because of everyones approach and positive attitude. This channel is definitely one of the many reasons im going to train in Japan. Thank you for the videos and please keep teaching us through them.

[@monicab204]

It all looks so amazing!! Thank you!❤

[@nazarnovitsky9868]

Thank You both very much ! This is really unique content 🙂

[@IPLayedVR42Long]

It's so interesting learning the full context of these stances! I must admit, though I am knowledgeable on a lot of these, I was never taught the full context or history of them. Thank you for this lesson.

[@na7698]

Thank you for sharing! Amazing content and episode.

[@legendzero6755]

Thank you for the lesson!

[@SM-um5iu]

Amazing. Thank you very much for the video

[@CAPNGRIZZ]

This is fantastic feel like I'm watching long forgotten fighting styles and tricks employed so long ago thanks for sharing this.

[@edwardrichard2561]

These videos are really great. Thank you and sensei.

[@SvenEdelweiss]

Thank you very much, for your job on this chanel!

[@ChildTerminator]

Seki Sensei is so cool! Everything's really easy to understand.

[@nickjones6646]

When I used to train in Toyama Ryu Battojutsu we had a kamae very similar to Uki-bune but it was called seigan. Really love your videos!

[@matthunter9562]

Good move & stance Seki Sensei 👍🏻

[@josefbajarias3109]

Nami-wake reminded me of something i saw while reading the manga Gamaran, holding the blade until the opponent makes a move

[@CJ-uf6xl]

Absolutely fantastic, the best Kenjutsu I have ever seen. Thank you all.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Excellent video by a great master.

[@GraylightSynes]

I study Toyama-ryu battojutsu, and while I do greatly enjoy practicing it, the few stances that ryu-ha uses feel very rigid. I love seeing this more interesting and unique stances and I hope to practice them in some form someday.

[@Peter-wj2hz]

Wonderful video. I practice naginata and can see a lot of similarities despite the differences in the weapons. We also move from hanmi to hanmi and have a variety of kamae, where we consider the effect that the point of the weapon will have on the opponent's decisions.

[@dragonrises1]

Love ❤️ your channel The lessons are awesome and that your passing a traditional art form down in a way is Kool. Continuing the knowledge is important, thankQ I've studied a northern style of kung fu for a long time, and tradition, teaching, learning, and passing it down was part of the curriculum. The preservation of the art to those open to it.

[@bajuszpal172]

Congratulations, for unique insight into the tactical role of postures, their changes, involving angular, even circular motions. Best regards. Paul, 68, a retired karateka and fan of both European fencing and Kendo of the East.

[@blackmambamilitia2315]

Keep him in videos coming

[@ClipsFromMaine]

Awesome video, thank you! Continuing a comment I left on an earlier video: I started to get good drawing my five shaku katana sword, and decided to show my family. I took an extra step back just to be safe, and my television was the casualty😂 Spacial awareness is important 😁

[@robertpalmer4817]

We're lucky to have him as an instructor. I began training in the Japanese style of Wado Ryu Karate as a boy until earning my black belt. I left that style to train in MMA as it was just beginning to emerge. Over the years I have trained with so many different instructors. However I can only think of 3 instructors from my past that have radiated such a powerful yet peaceful influence to begin as a their student. Now I have found a 4th. I have always had a deep craving to learn the way of the Sword, I could just never find a teacher. Now I can't stop practicing what I'm watching.

[@Ryan21888]

Excellent!

[@vikitheviki]

This dude is solid! My years with Hatsumi Sensei told me that 😊😊

[@tietosanakirja]

Very interesting. I would like to see the explanations for the more common kamae.

[@circejean]

Thank you!

[@NaturalDigitalSymmetryArt]

The second stance was phenomenal

[@archmagos1436]

It was fun to see Tsukada-san (I hope I spelled his name right; my Japanese isn't very good) performing a kata this time! You can tell he's quite capable too. Would love to see more of his prowess too!

[@letsasksekisensei]

Tsukada-san is a Shihan-said of Asayama Ichiden Ryu, meaning he can be the instructor if Seki sensei is not present!

[@leavemynameoutofthis]

I was going to comment this as well! I got excited when I saw Tsukada-san got to be the lead.

[@rolandgdean]

His "ashi sabaki" techniques are great...of course...he IS a master of his art after all. Footwork is a great way to control distance in a fight and the person that controls distance, sets the pace for the fight. Another way that my sensei taught us was also using our arms. Similar to the "floating boat", our normal "default" stance was with our arms slightly bent but out in front of us at eye level to our opponent. Just THAT ALONE, sticking your empty hands out toward someone's face, will make them step back. I've done it many times working security years ago. PLUS, with a nearly 3 shaku sword out in front of you like that, they have to charge in TOWARD the "business end" of a deadly blade JUST to get started...not something done lightly or easily.

[@rolandgdean]

Another thing about a blade pointed at your face is that it almost disappears from your field of vision.

[@el.guitarmaniac295]

"Final Kamaya" is what Geralt did in Polish TV series "Witcher". Also he has catana instead of steel sword, but in the book it got described as "strange witcher blade, razor sharp", so imho it fits there.

[@MajesticRidez]

It takes a passion and love for the sword to study this much and so many styles and techniques truly a skilled man

[@jigsawalwayswins8636]

As a rapier enthusiast and Katana enthusiast. Thank you for you input Sensei

[@ravnjokr]

I remember the last stance from Kenshin anime. So cool!

[@thomasturner4253]

Thank you

[@mitchhamrick3117]

Thanks!

[@toshironif]

That is very interesting. Definitely see some applications that are unique to the katana and very informative. The last one, "Floating Boat", does remind me of the "Long Pointe" stance seen in longsword. I wonder if the applications for that stance are similar. Specifically, is it also used as a way to create space or discourage the opponent from closing?

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

cool stances!

[@zaberfang]

The Floating Boat stance was also used in Rorouni Kenshin by the titular character when he fought Hannya.

[@NeoViper64]

Very cool

[@PXCharon]

Nami-wake bears a strong resemblance in both position and use to a guard position used with the rapier in Fabris' tradition. It's always nice to see parallels even with vastly different weapons.

[@ThomasToPC]

Now we know where some Manga/Anime with uncommon katana stances and techniques got their inspirations! 😊

[@adriantepes4355]

Just by looking at his face you could tell that sensei is passionate about his practice.

[@scariuslvl9987]

some of those stances look very much like germanic longsword stances, namely the shoulder stance, which looks like Von Tag, "from the roof" (the first stance beginners learn), the floating boat is called "longpoint", the katana behind the head made me think of the "wrath" stance except they don't have the same point at all. The most basic stance being one you guys know as one specialised for armour combat is very interesting, because it might point at the idea that european medieval longsword fencing tradition started out as armoured combat first (which makes sense, because in europe two handed swords only really started to spread when armour got protective enough to allow not using a shield)

[@josegoblin3260]

Arigato Seki sensei

[@RoboticSafey]

In German ( Liechtenauer) longsword putting the sword on your shoulder like that is a common guard and is called vom tag. The way he moves to that position and out of it wouldn't be out of place in a longsword sparring match.

[@SirConto]

Vom tag seems to have quite a lot of variationsm, but usually it seems to hold the sword above the head, like in what's called "jodan no kamae" in kenjutsu. Never seen a vom tag variation that actually puts the sword on the shoulder like that.

[@limonsolitario740]

7:18 OMG! I saw a similar kamae in Rurouni Kenshin old series.

[@michaeljosephdimaano2802]

The first time I saw that Uki-bune stance is when I was watching an episode in the anime Rurouni Kenshin (a.k.a. Samurai X) where Kenshin was fighting Hanya (The Oni mask wearing ninja henchmen with stripped sleeves).

[@kwolfdan3976]

I love Japan's culture and theyr people..and i was fascinated by theyr culture..and samurai! God Bless Them!

[@MansMan42069]

Love the parallels with European longsword arts

[@dominiclapinta8537]

An interesting stance is where you stand partly sideways, with your sword pointed behind you at a low guard and your torso forward, with your legs in a power stance, as if you are about to swing the sword from underneath. But instead, when your opponent goes for an attack to your exposed torso, as they move forward, you move backwards as you bring the your sword over them as they close in and it catches them off guard, because they assured,,from your stance, that you were going for a low blow, and so they wind up stepping in too soon and leaving themselves open for a power attack from you.

[@spyfer-exm9338]

Im trying to train too, but heres one question that i really wanna ask. Can you do a video where Seki sensei demonstrate how to fight against a spear ?

[@stefanospapavasileiou9676]

5:49 -"source?" -"I made it up" I mean.. if it works, it works.

[@ecth97]

He didn’t say he “made it up”, but rather that it is a technique that is described in the system but doesn’t have a baked in kata

[@DeathWishMonkey]

There are a copule of longsword guards that look similar to this. Guard of the Lady and High Guard of the Lady looks like the defense look like the defense in 4:11. They are used to swipe aside a cut while simulatenous making a thrust to the enemy's throat by using his forward momentum against him.

[@mikeneidlinger8857]

I've been practicing Silat and Escrima since 1993 and Taiji, Bagua and Xingyi since 2008. I like practicing slow twisting and circling steps with blades. It nourishes my brain and I circulate my chi to stay healthy and massage my internal organs to stay soft and limber. The first thing I would teach someone is how to relax and root and circulate Qi. After relaxing,, someone can learn basic Gong Fu!

[@thattrickytrickster612]

I'd love to see a practioner of this particular style spar with someone who had long sword HEMA training, perhaps of the German or Italian discipline. Too often I see Kendoka spar with HEMA practioners, which isn't bad but it does not really translate the ACTUAL combat samurai would have done.

[@joeyvanhaperen7715]

For the upperstance I don't have a ō-yoroi but I do have a europeen plate harnes which has the same restricitions for the shoulder and it makes a lot of sense to hold it like that. It's bit like the wraith guerd in europeen sword fighting where you rest the blade on your shoulder. For the last one what is keeping people from relising what your doing fainting a snap attack at you only to go in a upper stance to deflect your sword away to then cut your hand off? Or even simpler move in with your point up to then tape his sword away with your flat while he try's to move it only to come down with a cut of your own. Seems a little easy to read since you don't give your self many options, that's why I already knew what was going to happen when you took that stance, before you did anything.

[@Deniz_50]

Man, I love kobudo, It's a shame it isn't as popular as iaito or kendo. I think my favourite stance so far is the Han-Getsu (half moon) stance.

[@mr.harris3682]

What is the song or music that starts at roughly 5:18? It's awesome! I'm not sure how to look up this type of music I like it but I'm sure it has a specific name.

[@t3rcx]

Quite interesting that something close to Ushiro-jodan shows up in one of the Gumbup in Haidong Gumdo (Korean sword). Haidong Gumdo is a more modern martial art which borrowed a lot from Japanese styles, so I would love to know the deeper history behind the kata that Seki-sensei demonstrated. Also, please forgive me, but I will be stealing Uki-hune for my school to show the students how stances like that and Ichi no Kamae can truly be useful!

[@martinbach7333]

After watchin a lot of these Seki Sensei videos, i wonder how it would go if he, with his techniques, met someone who practices HEMA.

[@kendallwolfenbarger4952]

The last kata also appears in kukishin ryu which I study called ichi no kamae

[@scooby45247]

the last stance will help with any self defense melee weapon..

[@Hadras7094]

There's an european equivalent to the floating boat stance I think. Long point it is called in longsword fencing if I remember correctly

[@gamemak0r]

It blows my mind how aware of the blade they are! Are the blades sharp?

[@architectsly3242]

This sensei moves like he actually may have time travelled from the past

[@sowergamingbro5885]

1:20 Kogan ryu, Nagare Boshi

[@snak-s7952]

🙏

[@sweepingtime]

You could probably learn all these techniques in a week. But having the mind to perform these techniques correctly in a match is hard, and that’s where years of practice comes in.

[@luca88bucciarelli]

about the first technique shown, there is an entire manga based on it called Shigurui

[@MrMuziekman]

i know pretty much next to nothing abouth fighting with a katana but i do have a certain passion for the weapon i cant explain where it comes from,all the way back in 2011 or so i whent to go pick up my sister from her job and while waiting chekked out the pawnshop saw this cheap bamboo katana,i grabbed it and the moment i had it in my hands it jsut felt familiar somehow,according to my sister when i unsheated the blade to look at it i apreantly stared at it in a trance like state(to mee it felt like iw as only lookign at for 5 sec max,but my sister claiemd i was looking at it for a solid 30 sec atleast and not responding to her at all),if i had to describe wat i felt in that moment,was like i had found something i didnt know i was missing

[@c2lhu]

1st is like nagare Boshi from shigurui

[@yoshi658]

Kata-dai is very similar to the wrath guard and the lady's guard in longsword ushiro jodan is very similar in function to some of the drills of the Iberian montante and some of the uses of the lady's guard. uki bune is identical to the angulo recto used verdera destreza I really didn't find them strange at all

[@YTPrule]

Uke-Bune or similar was seen in the manga Rurouni Kenshin.

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

👍

[@TheGrmany69]

So many similarities to Miao dao and Yang shi Taijidao (aka one hand miao dao or military dao). The vertical posture has more to do with allowing fast movement of the whole body (either spining or displacement), remember all these arts were bound by the tradition of Qi/Ki, and so this is an old stance that show the link between iaido/kenjutsu with Kung Fu from the Tang dynasty and others.

[@mrm0nty550]

I've been wandering about this, but do students spar under traditional kenjutsu budo? If so, how different is a kenjutsu sparring match from a kendo match?