Why Katana Bowing is Necessary for Budo (But Why We DON'T Do it)

[@rtp4919]

I find the logic applied to the bowing very reasonable and respectful. As all considerations are taken into account. Please thank Seki Sensei for sharing this with us. On a separate note, allow this humble old man to wish you all a Happy Father's day. With much love and respect.

[@theguyinthechair225]

I just want to take a moment and say how much I really enjoy this series that you have created on Asayama Ichiden. I do not train actively now, but when I was younger, this was a great interest of mine, the katana. I did train and was a part of an organization from Japan. You and your Sensei touch on the nuances of the school much more than I can remember… it is good to have this.

[@johnchipmanseishinaikido1531]

These subtle details are so beneficial especially in a world where attention is very superficial and focus lacking. These old traditions reel in patience to practice such things

[@jayim7996]

How I was taught to bow in Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo by my teacher, Morihiro Saito, was using the Yu bow. His explanation was in weapon practice, your bow was to be shallow, so to keep eyes on your training partner. He said it did not matter the difference in rank or if your partner was your teacher. Since Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo came from Koryu like Kashima Shintō Ryu some of the old traditions carried over.

[@docwhiskey996]

These knowledge given in these videos is a pleasure and a privilege.

[@davidrobbins6906]

I trained under the Komei Juku and our bow in was similar yet different. All done with the same detail in respectful representation of the Iaijutsu training. Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu Yamauichi Ha. Watching the demonstration brought back very strong feelings and I could feel the pull of those memories. Thank you for sharing your art and in keeping alive this spirit.

[@AJBernard]

This is enlightening! Thank you. We do some of these things in my Iaido school, and I've wondered why. I didn't realize there was so much mysticism involved!

[@Metawraith]

I don't formally train with the katana, but I quickly find myself enjoying the specific style taught by Seki Sensei. The general concept behind his style's bowing is similar to my own martial arts school's reasoning. Very much in tune with my own personal thoughts too.

[@jjs3890]

I am loving every moment of learning this system. Everything little movement has a purpose and is explained in detail.

[@PoisonPython]

While I don't personally train in martial arts It's still fascinating to learn about them and the rituals associated with them. Thank you for sharing these videos with us

[@Adhius]

Your videos made want to take proper care of a katana I own since a long while ago, even if it is a cheap one for cosplay. Thank you for all the effort both of you are putting in these videos! 本当にありがとうございます！心から感謝します。

[@blasalvice]

Ahhhh I'm glad we're learning about this topic, I often hesitated on asking! Didn't quite know how to phrase my questions :)

[@haydonation]

I love this channel and all the content! I would love to see more on two katana style from Niten Ichi Ryu :) as that is what I’m mainly training. Thank you for all the knowledge and wisdom! :)

[@themainediverschannel4495]

I've learned so much from this channel. The moves I have learned I have applied to practicing with my Han Dynasty straight sword, albeit slight modifications of course. It is all a combination of spiritual and of exercise for me every day. Thank you so much for changing my life for the better mentally and physically.

[@tungsteng1]

A martial artist in my country had self learned japanese kenjutsu. He was sharing his thought that when you have your sword, even image training with a wooden sword, suddenly all kind of bloodlust energy spike up. Put it to action and there will be bloodshed. That’s why the essence of etiquette in sword training is extremely important, it cools the hot and insane heads. The full perspective of any fight (let alone the deadly sword fight) is not only to combat but also to avoid the combat, to control the up and down scale of hostility, to make truce and dialogue instead of open fight... So people who is serious about learning sword should make a habit of respect and etiquette their reflective muscle memory. For their own safety in practical sense.

[@MikeHagakure]

I have learned much from watch this. Thank you for sharing 🙏🙇‍♂ OSU!!

[@sai-kittsui8883]

this is very interesting. There are aspects ,they let me view the Katana in an other way. It is always a pleasure listen to Seki Senseis Lectures. Hope I could meet him in future. Greetings from Germany

[@letsasksekisensei]

🎫Purchase Your Ticket to the Annual Asayama Ichiden Ryu Training Camp in Japan: www.patreon.com/c/lets_ask_sekisensei/shop ⚔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 (kzbin.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 instruct you 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. 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 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?❓ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKlfKCNoq-jgNk 📱Instagram📱 instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here #katana #iaido #kenjutsu #kobudo #asayamaichidenryu

[@ayzannah9885]

Although I don't believe in any of the magical or spiritual stuff, there is something straight up beautiful about adding this level of ritual, patience and respect to, well, just life in general I would say. To be mindful of the place you're in, the people around you, and the history you're a part of. Thanks a lot for sharing this!

[@mattcgw]

I'd be interested in seeing Saki-Sensei do some of the Kyoto tourist activities. His insight and knowledge would be immensely interesting. I'd really like to see a Fist martial arts master or practitioner (Karate, Judo etc.) Spar with Seki-Sensei or his student's. Completely blind with little preparation beforehand. Just to see the transferable skills between types of Martial Arts. Also how fighting with a double-edged western style sword can change the Kata or techniques of Japanese Kenjutsu styles. Like a cutlass, long-sword and so forth. The presence of a handguard obviously changes how you can approach and pressure your opponent. Whom doesn't have one.

[@itoeats]

I’m training in the style of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū. We have a lot of chiburi and rei. I love the fact that Asamaya Ichiden Ryu is always ready for combat and Sensei Seki being the most humble and skillful masters of our century. One day I dream of being sensei’s student. Love from Myanmar!

[@letsasksekisensei]

We will be waiting for you too! www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei

[@Jesuselectrifyus]

My sensei taught me the Iaido federation style of bowing 🙇 but I love the difference!

[@Kitsuneinfernofox]

Please please please do more tanto moves I absolutely love that sword and I’m eager to see more. I was thinking of getting one myself sometime

[@WhiteApeMA]

At first glance it seems like alot, if one is not from these disciplines. But, you know, it's really nice to see at the same time, the practice of routinely respecting a weapon, what it's capable of, and what it represents... handling it with such care and structure. It's far harder to watch some practitioners of other sword disciplines, even if very skilled, still handle their weapons so complacently and sometimes completely carelessly outside of direct use. Great video! Looking forward to more.

[@KateJohn2013England]

We really love our Ryuha it's so brilliant 👍 Always ready for combat 🙏 We believe everything has energy or spirit and we thank everything from the car to the microwave 😮 And although we are not Japanese we have a special reverence for the Katana 🙏 We believe the Katana is one of the most spiritual symbols we have come across it just has a special energy about it 🙏 Thank you for this we love the history and trying to understand the meaning for all the acts we perform. This is so helpful 🙏 Thank you Shogo San and Master Seki for bringing this knowledge to us🙏 And not forgetting Tsukada Sensei and Kurosawa Sensei (camera guy Sensei) for all they do to share this wonderful Ryuha with us 👍🙏 Take care. Stay safe 🙏

[@outboundflight4455]

What koryu do you practice

[@jjs3890]

Well said. I am beyond grateful to be part of this community. See you Saturday!

[@KateJohn2013England]

@@outboundflight4455 Asayama Ichiden Ryuha! As in our! Take care. Stay safe 🙏

[@KateJohn2013England]

@SCD-MJJ We can't wait for Saturday best hour of the week 👍 See you there 👍 Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate

[@mudwalkers8338]

As a Christian, there are parts of this ritual that my religion prohibits me from doing, but it IS very beautiful and clearly deeply meaningful to everyone in your ryuha. Well done!

[@thomasturner4253]

Thanks Shogo for explaining this

[@spacetimepilgrim]

いつもありがとうございます

[@AnttiVi]

Funny thing with the Yu bow is that it is very similar to so called "Finnish nod". People in Finland regularly greet on the street or office with a slight nod instead of verbal greetings like saying "hello". This is incomprehensible to many from USA or other cultures, but it sounds like it would be perfectly understandable in Japan.

[@madeleineg2049]

Thank you for the video.

[@secretagent4610]

"Everything begins and ends with respect." -Mas Oyama

[@circejean]

Thank you!

[@半蔵-o1w]

Hello! I train Hokushin Itto-ryu, in this ryuha we hold our Katana in our right hand normally, and when we bow you turn the kantana into right about 90 degree.

[@outboundflight4455]

This is very interesting because other Koryu use different koryus customs within their syatem as well. This is mostly with the reiho and such. Really fascinating stuff. This pretty much confirms that not all koryu is pure. And even yet after so many generations amd soke the koryu we have today no matter how "pure" they say they are might do things differently than centuries ago by such a small detail with the nihonto or even body movement.

[@sabahrahma1598]

Thanks so much

[@Johny_5]

You mention that as you're bowing to the kamidana the tsuka should be on the left to show respect. What is the implication/meaning of placing the katana with the tsuka to the right then? Or rather, when would that be considered appropriate, given its ease-of-draw appearance? I note that Shogo-san was doing so in one shot here, but the context/surrounding was not clear. It is not something I have come across before, so I am curious. Thank you for your excellent videos!

[@mikemckague9506]

Japan makes some gorgeous blades such as Yamanbagiti Kunihiro,Heshikiri Hasebe & Onikirimaru

[@dubdeluxe6192]

interesting to learn, thanks

[@spencerthestupidsamurai7326]

I’d love for Seki Sensei to do an in depth look at honor and Bushido, in a more historically accurate sense.

[@jjs3890]

He covers all that frequently in these videos and in class. He’s strongly recommended the online courses if you’re able.

[@mattcgw]

I used to do weekly Karate. So we'd all have to bow at the beginning and end of the lesson to the Sensei.

[@swindle9695]

I'm curious on Seki Sensei's opinion of Ninjutsu or Nenpo and whether or not it's still practiced as a martial art or if it hasn't dissolved and been absorbed into other various schools of martial arts.

[@theguyinthechair225]

Ninpo/ninjutsu originated from Koryu... At least the unarmed combat. “Ninjutsu” is not fighting... It's non combat related skills.

[@swindle9695]

@@theguyinthechair225 Ah yeah. Perhaps you're right. I did a little reading before asking the question. From what I could tell, Ninjutsu was more survival techniques for shinobi than a proper martial art. According to Google at least.

[@theguyinthechair225]

@@swindle9695 It's been a debate for quite a number of decades.

[@ShawnValsean]

Hey Shogo/Seki Sensei, something I've wondered about when looking at katana designs and Iaido practices is, are there weaknesses to having sukashi too open or wide? Are there iai/kenjutsu that take advantage of a more open sukashi in the tsuba?

[@letsasksekisensei]

Thank you for leaving a comment! Seki sensei explained in a previous video that having a large Sukashi will be a disadvantage, because there is a risk of getting your fingers/hands attacked! So strictly speaking, the katana he is using is not so good… But it’s a gift from his sensei, so that’s why he still uses it!

[@ShawnValsean]

@@letsasksekisensei which video was that? I'd love to give it a watch

[@johnchipmanseishinaikido1531]

Excellent explanations here thank you! When laying down katana, tsuka to left side, is the Ha facing in toward you?

[@letsasksekisensei]

Yes, the sharp side toward yourself!

[@paulocesarribeiro756]

OSS!! Can you present the CC in Portuguese as well? Thanks...

[@crow666ification]

In my martial art (well I on't practice it anymore) at the beginning and at the end we stand on seiza and say : Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo, then we clap twice ,do a zarei and clap another time. Then do another zarei to the sensei ,(sensei ni rei), who is also doing it, saying at the same time onegaishimasu (if its on the beginning) or domo arigato gozaimashita (at the end).

[@knate44]

Hello Shogo, do you know when the tradition of bowing to combatants and to the sword originated?

[@jfrault7960]

Mr Shogo. Could you please ask Sensei if he has any films of him competing when he was younger and if so, would he mind sharing them on his KZbin channel ? 🙏 . Thank you.

[@narusawa74]

I knew I spotted some Yagyu influence !! The man was such an artist that you can trace his mindset through the techniques. Clan Yagyu, training 007 agents since the 17th century😂

[@TaroAndreas]

Dear Shogo, how does bowing work for those taking online lessons?

[@warrennass24]

I bow to the sword with it raised the once in obi, before performing kata, I do a slight bow with one foot forward. Otherwise I do it Katori Shinto Ryu way.

[@slipperywhale7089]

Greetings!

[@markfergerson2145]

It seems the bowing ritual here is a balance between the religious/spiritual aspect and the practical need to be ready to fight at any time.

[@fuggleeartshow]

I no longer do any bowing as I do not participate in budo that require it, but at one time I studied budo that bowed from seiza to a kamidana after doing kuji kiri and repeating "shinken harimitsu daikomyo" then bowing to the teacher. Hopefully I spelled that correctly. Unfortunately I think this video just confirms that I'll never participate in traditional Japanese budo again, but I still find it interesting to watch the training.

[@William.Driscoll]

... Is it because you 'bow to no-one'-?

[@fuggleeartshow]

​@@William.Driscoll no

[@UniversdunSabreur]

I train in Muso Shinden Ryu and Bugei Kokoro Ryu, I Can say that the katana bowing in my dojo is less complexe than Asayama Ishiden Ryu

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

👍

[@nickegbg]

Why Katana Bowing is Necessary for Budo (But Why We DON'T Do it) where can i see this? didnt find it while watching

[@emissaryofelohim1431]

I just have a bit of wood paper and steel in my hand. I got strings, call them things TzitTzits or Tehilit. I bow to The Most High YaH. And I can make steel move right. People try to teach and I appreciate that. Shalom.

[@l.a.ksgames2663]

Taihen omoshiroi!💯🙂‍↕️

[@richt63]

❤❤❤

[@samuelvonratterich1959]

🙏❤

[@alexanderkstrauss9943]

❤

[@nickegbg]

do you buy to the area and katana because of shinto? cause to many other cultures it would make no sense to show respect to inanimate objects

[@gibrannicholau3447]

The diversity of bowing ettiquite in Japan has parralels with Java. Although we usually didn't ever bow (except to dieties) instead clasping our palms together ('sĕmbah') where we rest the clasped hands on our body already communicates the level of respect/hierarchy. Sembah ḍaḍa: hands at chest (ḍaḍa) and facing the front, indicates mutual respect (much like yū) Sembah grana: hands about same level as nose (grana): respect to someone elderly, or an ancient heirloom/weapon, much like the Rei So far, both sembahs are usually done sitting cross-legged, although sembah ḍaḍa can be done standing. Sembah karna: palms not clasped, but thumbs touching respective ears (karna), done while standing up. Done by a senior showing respect to a younger person, or as a sign of accepting a sembah from another person. Rarely known these days.

[@NeoViper64]

Ichi yu

[@pwangeking2567]

I'll be honest one thing I've kind of always been uncomfortable with when training japanese swordsmanship has been bowing to the sword, due to religious beliefs I really don't like doing it all that much I'm fine with bowing to others since it's more about respect but given the meaning of bowing to the sword it's always made me feel a little uncomfortable. But that's beside the point I really liked the video it's really interesting because I'd only ever seen swordsmanship in japanese culture as bowing to the sword as part of the process.

[@nickegbg]

Your "bowing" is more like swedish bowing

[@kostudas1]

I do the bowing at every dojo even if they dont want it !