I also increased the number of daily katate-suburi (one-handed swings) before starting to practice basic shikake waza at the dojo. Learning Nito-ryuīefore using nito at regular dojo practices for the first time, I practiced nuketo (drawing of the swords 抜け刀) and noto (sheathing of the swords 納刀), nito kamae and other basics of handling two swords at home. All the important principles of Kendo, like ki-ken-tai-ichi, seme, maai or zanshin are the same in both itto and nito Kendo. Ideally, an experienced nito player should be able to use both sei-nito and gyaku-nito as well as the corresponding footwork. Also, the shinai can be held with the hand anywhere on the tsuka (handle), although most nito teachers grip the daito at the bottom of the handle. Nito footwork is similar to regular Kendo, but the feet can be positioned with either foot in front. This choice was made for me, since my injured right shoulder only allowed for gyaku-nito (“reverse” nito, daito in the left hand), as opposed to sei-nito (“standard” nito, daito in the right hand). The first, most basic one: In which hand to hold the long sword (daito 太刀) and the short sword (shoto 小刀), respectively. Musashi promoted the use of a one-handed grip, which allows utilizing both swords of a samurai’s daisho (large sword and small sword pair 大小).Ĭompared to the strictly standardized itto (one sword 一刀) Kendo, Nito-ryu is more flexible and offers a challenging variety of choices. Nito-kendo’s koryu (old school 古流) foundation is Niten-ichi-ryu, a style created by Miyamoto Musashi, Japan’s most dramatized swordsman and the author of the famous book “The Five Rings”. In Nito-ryu Kendo, two swords are used simultaneously. This cannot be taken for granted and is a great privilege.

I was lucky enough to have two instructors with nito experience at my dojo who taught me the basics, and to have a head sensei who allowed it to happen. It was then that one of my sensei suggested learning Nito-ryu (two sword style 二刀流) in order to make use of my intact shoulder and arm primarily. After I injured my shoulder more than a year ago, my Kendo and Iaido practices were reduced to mitorigeiko (watching keiko 見取り稽古) for several months. Sometimes, misfortune brings opportunity. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities in the expert’s mind there are few. This is a guest article by Patrick Schultheis with the San Diego Kendo Bu and UCSD Iaido Club.

Odd looking iaido stance