Tsukahara Bokuden

Tsukahara Bokuden 1489 – 1571

“Kensei Sword Saint"

Tsukahara Bokuden was a famous swordsman and lone-samurai warrior of the early Sengoku period. He was widely regarded as a kensei (sword saint). He was the founder of a new Kashima style of fencing, and served as an instructor of ShogunAshikaga Yoshiteru.

Bokuden lived at a time when Japan was engulfed into almost a century of civil wars. Everyone was on constant alert improving their martial arts and developing new tactics. Skilled swordsmen were at a premium. His father, a priest at the ancient Kashima shrine, trained him from early childhood in Kashmir-Koryu swordsmanship

Bokuden learned the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū from his adopted father and later honed his skills by engaging in musha shugyō (warrior's ascetic training), traveling throughout Japan and training with most of the skillful and knowledgeable swordsmen of the day. He fought and won over 100 personal duels in his lifetime.

Tsukahara Bokuden was the classic knight. A rich nobleman, he travelled the Japanese countryside, often with a full entourage. He later systematized the teaching of the Kashima area's local martial arts, including such approaches to combat as Kashima no tachi and Ichi no tachi. He named his martial system as Kashima Shinto-ryu.

Bokuden was the most deadly Samurai of his day. He earned his reputation by fighting and beating the best martial arts experts the country had to offer. He was loyal, noble, and always ready to die if necessary. He was reportedly a fine warrior, and a caring teacher. What was unusual about Bokuden was that in later life he developed the philosophy that there was more merit in avoiding conflict than there was in fighting and killing an opponent, that one should not put so much emphasis in defeating others but in not being defeated. This philosophy was all but unheard of at the time. Subsequent martial arts history reveals that many great masters echoed this, showing Bukoden to have been a forward thinking samurai legend.

In one anecdote recorded in the Kōyō Gunkan, Bokuden was challenged by a mannerless ruffian. When asked about his style, Bokuden replied that he studied the "Style of No Sword". The ruffian laughed and insultingly challenged Bokuden to fight him without a sword. Bokuden then agreed to fight the man without his sword but suggested they row out to a nearby island on Lake Biwa to avoid disturbing others. The ruffian agreed, but when he jumped from the boat to the shore of the island, drawing his blade, Bokuden pushed the boat back out, leaving the ruffian stranded on the island. Bokuden explained: "This is my no-sword school".

Historians say he was a reincarnation of a great master swordsman who is reborn only once every 500 years.

Bokuden died of natural causes in 1571. His grave at Temple Baiko of Suga is in Kashima, Ibaraki. Those devoted to Japanese sword fighting would make pilgrimages to the Kashima shrine, considered the spiritual home of kenjutsu.

Bokuden’s motto was: Being aware makes all things possible. Nothing is impossible.

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