“The essence of swordsmanship is to cut by developing the spirit, freeing the mind, and hardening the belly.”
Ittō Tenshin-ryū®
Itto Tenshin-ryu kenjutsu was founded by Kurosawa Kojiro (circa 1900) and brought to the United States in the 1960s by the third-generation headmaster, Mr. Fredrick Lovret. The current headmaster is Mr. Arvind Rajguru. By the time the Itto Tenshin-ryu was created, the major wars leading to the unification of Japan had been over for almost three hundred years. In keeping with the times, the techniques of the style were oriented more toward personal combat than mass engagements. The history of the Itto Tenshin-ryu is not well documented prior to the founder of the tradition, or the wellspring of his training. According to our oral traditions, the heart of the art descends from the Itto-ryu through the Tenshin Itto-ryu.
The purpose of the Itto Tenshin-ryu is not to perpetuate a set of physical techniques or to preserve an archaic method of combat, but to develop a powerful, orderly and unfettered being. Our methodology of training is short, simple techniques combined with vigorous training.
Licensing is divided into five levels: Kyosei, Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi, and Menkyo Kaiden, held by the headmaster of the ryu. The curriculum is divided into roughly three stages: Shoden, Chuden and Okuden. Students of Itto Tenshin-ryu practice paired combat forms with long and short wooden swords (bokken), supplemented by studies in the spear (yari), polearm (naginata), and four-foot staff (jo), and Jujutsu techniques to impede or disarm an opponent. The teachings include an extensive curriculum of solo and paired forms with real swords (shinken).
Four Essential Principles of the Itto Tenshin-ryu:
Techniques are to be done in a natural and fluid manner.
Techniques shall be large and open. Small techniques are for small spirits.
The realization of an orderly, unfettered, and powerful being is of primary importance.
There is no defense; only attack, Attack, ATTACK!
