Our School 「私たちの道場」
Who We Are
We are a group of fun-loving individuals dedicated to studying the sword as handed down by the Shinto-Seibu tradition. Founded in Seattle in 2010, we represent a mix of different ages, backgrounds and levels of experience. It is our hope and honor to pass on this art to the next generation and, in turn, grow our family.
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What We Do
Seibu Ryu is a school of 'Iai-battojutsu', a traditional Japanese sword art. It combines the graceful study of 'kata' with the drawing and cutting techniques of 'Battojutsu'. Our style was formed in 1890, by Hibino 'Raifu' Masayoshi, and continues to be based in Fuji City, Japan, under Soke Mochizuki Takeshi, the current head of the school.
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Why We Do It
At the most basic level, we get to gracefully master a deadly weapon while keeping fit. It teaches self discipline, introspection and an etiquette that promotes respect. It can be the ultimate test of one's skill.
We also connect with others through our shared passion, whether it is performing in demonstrations together, grabbing a bite to eat and talking about our favorite anime or Kurosawa films, or just sharing our passion for martial arts and the Japanese culture. Through time, this can create bonds, and even family. At the same time, we get to give back, either by passing this tradition on, preserving it for generations to come, or by honoring all those who preserved it before us. By staying true to how it was given to us, we honor our teachers as well as ourselves. Ultimately, the study of the sword is the study of the self. It is a journey of finding the path of improvement from within. This is done through hard work, repetition, and humility. The sword becomes our teacher. The sword becomes our own self. |