The Code of the Samurai

A Candid Interview with Master Swordsman Hanshi Ken Penland.

Hanshi Ken Penland is a senior martial artist with over forty years of experience in the martial arts. He makes his home in Los Angeles, California. As a Californian Hanshi Penland has seen the growth of the martial arts. He is also a long time practitioner of Japanese swordsmanship and in this article he gives his candid viewpoint on traditional Japanese swordsmanship and how it fits into the modern martial arts scene. Fighting Spirit of Martial Arts.

F.S. Tell us how you got involved in the martial arts?

K.P. Well, I started with my dad in the late 1950s. We practiced judo. He was in the U.S. Army and learned combat judo and jujitsu during World War Two. This is how many of today’s senior martial artists started their martial arts careers.

F.S. What other martial arts did you study after that?

K.P. In 1962, I met Ed Parker and began training in Kempo Karate. Later, I began studying Japanese karate and was eventually introduced to the Shorin Ryu style of Okinawa. In the 1970s I met Master Fusei Kise and began training under him in both karate and Okinawan weapons. Later, I was introduced to grand master Yuichi Kuda (1928-1999). I trained under him and learned his particular Shorin Ryu style and weapons system.   

F.S. How did you get interested in swordsmanship?

K.P. You might say it was a natural progression from judo to karate and then to swordsmanship. These arts were imported to this country in that chronological order. But remember that the ultimate symbol of the Japanese martial arts is the sword. So, it was only logical that I was attracted to it as part of my martial arts quest. 

F.S. What are the origins of swordsmanhip?

K.P. Wow! That’s a question that could take days to answer.

F.S. Well just give us the abbreviated answer. Our readers would like to know.

K.P.  OK! I’ll give you the short version. Swordsmanship originated in medieval Japan. Because Japan’s history is a tale of continual warfare it is also the history of the martial arts. The samurai warrior class arose around 1185 AD. Feudal lords were engaged in constant warfare over control of the rice fields in Japan. The samurai warriors were retainers who served these lords and were sworn to the utmost loyalty. The samurai were fierce fighters who wielded the katana or samurai sword with great skill.

In the late Heian Period two samurai clans, the Taira and Minamoto Clans, were warring factions in one of Japan’s many internal power struggles. By 1185 the Minamoto finally defeated the Taira Clan.

This period of continual warfare gave rise to the samurai or bushi as a distinct class within Japanese society.  At this time the code of the samurai known as bushido or “Way of the Warrior” was developed. The code of the samurai emphasized three significant virtues, honor, loyalty and courage. The legacy of the samurai continues even until today and is a deep part of Japanese culture.

F.S. Are there different styles of swordsmanship?

K.P. Most definitely! There are literally hundreds of different styles that evolved. They developed in every corner of Japan. The great military battles of Japan were over by the beginning of the seventeenth century. After this there were no more great battles but many individual duels.

It was then that the various schools or styles of swordsmanship developed. The sword became a way of life for many samurai. If a master were particularly skilled in one technique or another he would base his teaching or style around this technique or concept. Around this time the art of the quick draw became important. A samurai had to deal with many close combat engagements or ambushes. So being able to respond to a surprise attack was a necessary skill. In fact, many of the kata or forms that we practice today are based on this concept.

F.S. What style do you practice?

K.P. The system I do was originally called Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu founded by Hasagawa in the 1500s but it is known today as Kushin Ryu. 

F.S. What does a sword class consist of?

K.P. Basically, we practice various fighting postures and then combine them with basic movements. These are cuts in swordsmanship practiced in a drill called happo no giri or eight cuts. Then there are the solo kata or forms of swordsmanship. These are the cornerstone of the martial art and are practiced over and over to perfect them. We also practice two-man kata known as kumiuchi or fighting sets. These are practiced with a partner using bokken or wooden swords. Finally, taemaeshigiri or test cutting is performed not only to test one’s skill in cutting but also to learn to cut or more precisely learn the feel of cutting.

F.S. I understand there is some controversy over what real swordsmanship is. What is the difference between modern kendo and kenjutsu or iaijutsu?

K.P. What people are really referring to here is the difference between sport kendo and martial arts that are practiced for the sake of spiritual development and the preservation of an older martial discipline. The big controversy as you put it [which really isn’t so big], is that modern kendo uses a shinai or bamboo sword and the other forms of swordsmanship use a real sword. The idea is that modern kendo is relatively safe because the shinai and armor that is worn called dogu affords a certain amount of protection against the opponent‘s blows. However, the use of a shinai doesn’t teach one how to properly use a real sword. There is a distinct difference in involved in knowing how to cut with a sword. Many people who practice kendo overlook this. However, modern kendo has many attributes. It builds stamina, fighting spirit and teaches combative engagement skills with a sword. The use of a real sword is just the other side of the equation or the big picture.  

F.S. How does the traditional style of swordsmanship fit in with today’s martial arts?

K.P. Hmm! Well, traditional Japanese swordsmanship is the senior martial art. The other arts such as judo, karate and aikido all get their philosophy and ideology from the sword arts. Karate and judo are weaponless arts. But their practice can be enhanced by the practice of the sword. The discipline and concentration necessary to practice the sword is helpful in the practice of the other martial arts.  In Japan there is competition in both kata and cutting. However, the Japanese are still very traditional when it comes to the sword. Here in America we have taken some license with the traditional kata especially in tournament competition. Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of what you see in the movies is not real swordsmanship. It’s the movie version. Real swordsmanship is epitomized by a life and death struggle between two skilled opponents who only have one cut and one life!  

Hanshi Ken Penland has been featured on a new video entitled Japanese Swordsmanship The Art of the Samurai. To order please contact Yamazato International at 1-888-299-YAMA (9262) or Mastersline Videos at 1 (310) 248-3633.