A major martial arts’ school from the Edo Period that boasted 7,000 students.
A classical martial art whose techniques still retain a strong sense of armored fighting.

A major martial arts’ school from the Edo Period that boasted 7,000 students.
A classical martial art whose techniques still retain a strong sense of armored fighting.

Asayama Ichiden-ryu was created by Tensho and Keicho Period (1573-1620) martial artist Asayama Ichiden Shigeaki. In the Edo Period it was a major school boasting 7,000 students.

Asayama Ichiden-ryu’s distinctive characteristic is techniques that still retain the sense of fighting in armor; its foundation are postures and footwork that originated in the battlefields and techniques that assume the opponent is wearing armor. Also known for being adopted by the police during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the school today is teaching the use of various fighting techniques involving the sword, the stick, the staff and the sickle as well as iai and unarmed techniques.

In this video, Nobuhide Seki, the 22nd generation headmaster of Asayama Ichiden-ryu, explains these realistic techniques in full detail.

・Making maximum use of the weapon’s shape (Suri, Maki)
・Defending and attacking simultaneously (Nisun Gobu no Kage)
・Getting into a psychological fight with the opponent (Tatakai no Kokoroe)

And other important classical martial arts concepts that are hard to grasp by observation only, are explained clearly.

In addition, headmaster Seki is not only an expert in classical martial arts, but also a multiple-time winner of both the All Japan Iaido and All Japan Jodo tournaments and a 5th dan in Kendo so his reasoning and techniques are very convincing.

This video will be of great help to everyone learning, exploring and practicing martial arts.

Instruction, editorial supervision: Nobuhide Seki
Born in 1972, he is the 22nd headmaster (soke) of Asayama Ichiden-ryu Hyoho. He studied kendo and iaido from an early age and became headmaster of Asayama Ichiden-ryu Hyoho in 2004. He is an 8th dan iaido kyoshi, a 7th dan jodo renshi and a 5th dan in kendo from the All Japan Kendo Federation. He is a member of the Japan Kobudo Promotion Society (Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai) and an associate member of the Nihon Kobudo Association (Nihon Kobudo Kyokai) and has won several All Japan Iaido and All Japan Jodo championships. He is also a 15th generation shihan Koden Mubi-ryu Iaijutsu and a shihan of Muso Shinden Iai Hayashizaki Jushin-ryu Tsumeai.