What Weapons Can You Use in Gendai Budo?

Wondering why there are so few weapons in martial arts dojos?

The majority of weapons used in martial arts were used in “old style” martial arts, called koryu bujutsu. These martial arts were meant to be used in battles to protect the entire group rather than one’s self. The martial arts we know today – karate, judo, jujutsu, etc. - are considered gendai budo. These are modern martial arts meant for self-defense and self-improvement rather than for battle.

Here are some weapons you may see in modern martial arts:

Katana – The katana is a sword with a long, curved, single-edged blade and is meant to be held with two hands. In iaido, you’ll practice first with a wooden sword called a bokken, then with an alloy sword called an iaito. Advanced students can practice with a shinken – sharp edged sword – like a katana. Katanas were meant to cut down enemies in one smooth movement.

Yumi – A yumi is a longbow used in the art of Kyudo – Japanese archery. The bows are much larger than the kind used in Western archery, and the arrows - called "ya" - are made from bamboo. Bushi warriors also used bows in early battles, but later, during the Edo period, kyudo began being studied as a modern martial art to aid in physical and spiritual development.

See more Japanese weapons!

Work with Weapons When You Practice Iaido in Ann Arbor

Working with weapons is fun!

You can practice martial arts with weapons by studying iaido at JMAC.

Did you know iaido can be done by anyone? It doesn’t matter your age, experience, or skill!

To start practicing iaido in Ann Arbor, contact JMAC today!