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Ito Ittosai Kagehisa 伊藤 一刀斎 景久 (c. 1560 – 1653)The Founder of Itto-ryu
Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu
Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu
Ono-ha Itto-ryu is a traditional Japanese martial art centered on the sword that originated 400 years ago during Japan’s Warring States period. The warrior, Ito Ittosai Kagehisa, created the school after engaging in numerous duels to the death and coming to the realization that the mind, body, and sword must act as one. He passed the school to his successor, Ono Jiroemon Tadaaki, who gained such a fearsome reputation that he was recruited by Japan’s most famous shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, to be his personal guard and teacher. Along with Yagyu Munenori of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Tadaaki served as an official instructor of kenjutsu to the Tokugawa Shogunate. Over the intervening centuries, Ono-ha Itto-ryu became known for its practicality and effectiveness and exerted a major influence on the development of the modern sport of kendo.
The techniques of Ono-ha Itto-ryu center around the katana, the traditional Japanese sword. Students practice in pairs, using a wooden sword, or bokuto, and thick protective gauntlets unique to our school called onigote to ensure a realistic yet safe training environment. This type of practice allows students to learn proper distance and timing and other essential skills for both offense and defense. Students start with basic movements and progress, step-by-step, to more advanced techniques as they develop their abilities and understanding. Senior students practice with a steel sword with a blunted edge called a habiki that provides even more realism.
Tools of the trade. Various bokuto (wooden training swords) and shinai (split bamboo training swords) used in Ono-ha Itto-ryu.
The Komaba Eden Church. Also home to the Reigakudo, the hombu dojo (main training hall) of Ono-ha Itto-ryu in Tokyo, Japan.
Our Ono-ha Itto-ryu study group falls under the auspices of the Reigakudo Foundation of Tokyo Japan, which is the internationally recognized headquarters for the mainline school of Ono-ha Itto-ryu. Members of the Reigakudo have the opportunity to train with the 18th headmaster (soke) of the school, Yabuki Yuji, both in Japan and in international seminars around the world. Our students also travel to Japan regularly to train at the Reigakudo, experiencing the fascinating culture of Japan first-hand.
Our study group is one of several in the U.S. authorized by the Reigakudo, and instruction is conducted under the supervision of the highest-ranked and trained member of the Reigakudo outside of Japan.
If you would like to experience training in an ancient, genuine, combat-tested school of samurai swordsmanship, contact us at: martialartspreservation@gmail.com.
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