Enter the Dojo
The Kenshinkan Dojo blogs explore the technical, philosophical, cultural, and spiritual elements of the era of the Samurai.
Heijōshin (平常心) The Ordinary Mind
There is a common assumption in martial arts that peak performance requires a special state — heightened focus, intensity, something above the everyday. The samurai
Why Drawing the Sword Was a Social Act
Etiquette, Consequence, and Escalation In modern media the sword is often portrayed as a purely personal weapon — something drawn instantly in anger, defence, or
What Does It Mean to Be Sensei in Koryū?
In koryū (古流) — the classical Japanese martial traditions founded before the Meiji Restoration — titles carry precise cultural, historical, and social meaning. They do
Shisei (姿勢), Why Posture Reveals Character
Before a sword is drawn, before a word is spoken, before a decision is made — something is already visible. Posture. In the samurai world,
Jinsei-kan (人生観), The Samurai View of Life
Every culture carries an underlying assumption about what life is. Is it something to enjoy? To endure? To conquer? To perfect? For the samurai, life
On and Giri, The Debt You Can Never Fully Repay
When students first encounter Japanese martial culture, they often hear the word giri translated as “duty” or “obligation.” It sounds straightforward. Almost contractual. It isn’t.
The Year of the Horse: Movement, Momentum, and a Cut That Commits
The Year of the Horse is not subtle. It arrives with motion, urgency, and a clear message: hesitation is no longer an option. Where other
Kami, Ancestors, and Accountability
Living Under Constant Witness Modern discussions of samurai ethics often focus on Bushidō, loyalty, or the sword itself. Yet beneath all of these sat a
Tengu: Mountain Spirits and the Sword in Japanese Legend
Among the many figures that inhabit Japanese folklore, few are as closely intertwined with the martial path as the tengu. Part deity, part demon, part
Kami and the Sword: The Sacred Presence in Iaijutsu
In Japanese culture, the sword has never been merely a weapon. It is an object of reverence, symbolism, and spiritual weight. To understand Iaijutsu properly—beyond