Lernard Rodriguez


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By Jeff Broderick.

To students of the martial arts, one of the best things about living and training in Japan is the opportunity to immerse oneself in traditional Japanese culture. Although the modern landscape here, with all its concrete, traffic jams, Pachinko parlors, and fast-food restaurants, does nothing to conjure up the spirit of bushido, we are occasionally given the opportunity to attend cultural events that remind us of Japan’s illustrious warrior past.
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The annual kobudo enbu taikai will be held again this year on February 7th at the Nippon Budokan main hall in Tokyo, from 1030 to 1550.

This festival is the premier showcase for the classical arts, providing an overview of many of the main schools of the ancient arts, their techniques, systems of etiquette, and dress. Each style demonstrates a number of kata over a 10-20 minute span, including archery and musketry.

Kendo World has a limited number of complimentary tickets and we’ll be happy to pass them on a first-come-first-serve basis. Simply send a mail with your full name and we will send you the details. ...

Saito Denkibo (1550-1587)

Student of Tsukahara Bokuden and founder of the Ten-ryu tradition. Originally printed in Kendo World Issue 2.2, 2003. Translated by Alex Bennett.



Tsukahara Bokuden, who we have featured in the last few issues had many disciples who also shone as great warriors. Of them Saito Denkibo was one of the brightest, if not the most pugnacious. Denkibo was born in a small village in Hitachi (modern day Ibaraki prefecture.) He learned the sword and spear from Bokuden. Denkibo was not happy about learning from Bokuden as there were already many people in the area who were also students of the same great teacher. This would make it difficult to create a name for himself, so he really wanted to stand out from the crowd and do something different.

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