Samurai Training & Arts: From Iaido to Calligraphy

About Samurai Castles

The samurai were more than warriors with swords. They were highly trained professionals who combined martial discipline, spiritual practice, and refined arts. This in-depth guide explores the core disciplines that shaped samurai life — from iaido and kenjutsu to calligraphy and the tea ceremony — and shows you where to experience them in modern Tokyo.

What Made Samurai Training Unique?

Samurai education was built on the idea of budo — the “martial way.” Training was never just about winning fights. It was about shaping character, controlling emotion, and acting with dignity in every situation. A well-trained samurai was expected to:

  • Fight effectively on the battlefield
  • Serve as an administrator or official in peacetime
  • Write, read, and negotiate at a high level
  • Show refined manners in social and diplomatic settings

The Ideal of “Bugei Jūhappan” (Eighteen Martial Skills)

From the late medieval period onward, samurai were encouraged to study a broad set of martial disciplines known as bugei jūhappan, or the “eighteen martial arts.” The list varied by school, but typically included:

  • Kenjutsu (swordsmanship)
  • Iaijutsu / Iaido (sword drawing)
  • Kyujutsu / Kyudo (archery)
  • Sojutsu (spear combat)
  • Bajutsu (horseback riding)
  • Jujutsu (unarmed combat)
  • Hojutsu (gunnery, matchlock firearms)
  • Suiei-jutsu (combat swimming)

In practice, most samurai specialized in a smaller set of these skills, but the ideal shows how comprehensive their training was meant to be.

Iaido: The Art of Drawing the Sword

What Is Iaido?

Iaido focuses on drawing the sword, cutting, and returning the blade to the scabbard in one continuous, controlled motion. Many forms begin from a seated position, mirroring everyday life in the past. Unlike modern competitive fencing, iaido is often practiced solo through pre-arranged forms (kata).

Why Samurai Valued Iaido

  • Instant readiness: reacting calmly to surprise attacks or sudden conflict
  • Mental clarity: movements reveal the practitioner’s inner state
  • Refined posture: correct alignment of the body leads to efficient, elegant motion

Iaido Today

Today, iaido is practiced worldwide as a path of “moving meditation.” In Japan, you may see practitioners in hakama trousers and kimono performing quiet, concentrated forms in a dojo. Even for spectators, the discipline and stillness are striking.

Kenjutsu: Swordsmanship and Strategy

Schools and Lineages

Japan developed hundreds of sword schools (ryu), each with its own strategies, footwork, and philosophy. Famous examples include schools that served the shogunate and regional lords. While details differ, almost all schools emphasized:

  • Sharp awareness of distance (maai)
  • Timing and initiative (sen)
  • Balance between attack and defense

Training Focus in Kenjutsu

  • Partner drills: paired forms to learn timing and targeting
  • Footwork: smooth, stable movement that maintains balance on uneven ground
  • Use of wooden swords: safe but realistic tools for repeated practice

From Kenjutsu to Modern Kendo

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, protective armor and bamboo swords allowed full-contact practice, eventually evolving into modern kendo. While kendo is a sport, it still carries strong elements of samurai discipline and etiquette.

Kyudo: Archery as a Spiritual Discipline

From Battlefield Archery to Meditative Practice

Before firearms, archery was crucial in Japanese warfare. Samurai fought as mounted archers and as foot archers in large formations. Over time, as guns spread and warfare changed, archery shifted from a pure battlefield skill to a refined discipline focused on inner development.

Core Ideas in Kyudo

  • Correct form: posture, breathing, and alignment of the body
  • Unity: bow, arrow, archer, and target should feel connected
  • Inner calm: the arrow should be released without hesitation or tension

Many kyudo practitioners say that “the real target is yourself” — the goal is to stabilize the mind, not simply to hit the center of the target.

Jujutsu: Unarmed Combat and Control

Why Samurai Needed Jujutsu

In castles, city streets, or during formal audiences, samurai were not always able to draw their swords. They needed methods for controlling and subduing opponents without killing them on the spot. Jujutsu provided exactly that.

Typical Jujutsu Techniques

  • Joint locks to immobilize an opponent
  • Throws that use the opponent’s momentum
  • Chokes and pins to end a struggle quickly
  • Techniques to defend against grabs, knives, or attempts to seize the sword

Legacy in Modern Arts

Many classical jujutsu schools influenced modern arts such as judo and aikido. When you watch a judo match or aikido demonstration, you are seeing elements of samurai unarmed training in a modern format.

Other Martial Skills: Spear, Horseback, and Firearms

Sojutsu (Spear Fighting)

On the battlefield, long spears often mattered more than swords. Spear units could hold ground, break charges, and protect commanders. Samurai trained in spear handling, group formations, and coordinated movement.

Bajutsu (Horseback Riding)

Mounted warriors needed excellent riding skills to shoot arrows, issue commands, or move quickly between parts of the battlefield. Bajutsu included controlling the horse under stress and maneuvering in close proximity to other riders.

Hojutsu (Gunnery)

After firearms were introduced in the 16th century, gunnery became an important part of domain military training. Samurai learned how to organize gun units, reload in formation, and coordinate volleys with archers and spearmen.

The Artistic Side of Samurai Training

Why Warriors Studied the Arts

For centuries of relative peace during the Edo period, most samurai rarely saw real combat. Instead, their role shifted toward administration, policing, ritual, and culture. To function in this world, they were expected to cultivate refined tastes and clear thinking. This is where arts like calligraphy, poetry, and the tea ceremony came in.

Calligraphy: Writing as a Mirror of the Mind

Calligraphy in Samurai Life

Calligraphy (shodō) was central to samurai education. Documents, letters, and official orders all had to be written by hand. But beyond practical needs, calligraphy was understood as a direct reflection of character. A shaky or careless hand suggested a shaky or careless mind.

What Samurai Gained from Calligraphy

  • Concentration: each stroke requires full attention
  • Emotional control: hurry or frustration show up instantly on the page
  • Aesthetic sense: balance, spacing, and rhythm sharpen the eye

Calligraphy as a Meditative Practice

Even today, many people use calligraphy as a way to calm the mind. The repetitive motions of grinding ink, loading the brush, and forming characters create a rhythm that encourages deep focus.

The Tea Ceremony: Calmness, Etiquette, and Presence

Tea Ceremony and the Warrior Class

The Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu or sado) became deeply tied to the warrior class from the 16th century onward. Tea gatherings were places where lords and retainers could meet in a controlled, highly symbolic environment.

Skills Developed Through Tea

  • Composure: moving calmly even when important guests are present
  • Attention to detail: everything in the tearoom has meaning
  • Respectful communication: each gesture expresses consideration for others

For samurai, mastering tea was another way to master themselves.

Daily Dojo Life: Etiquette, Cleaning, and Repetition

More Than Just Techniques

Whether training in swordsmanship, iaido, or other arts, samurai and modern practitioners share certain habits:

  • Cleaning the dojo together before and after practice
  • Bowing when entering and leaving the training space
  • Starting and ending class with silent reflection
  • Repeating basic forms thousands of times

These customs reinforce humility and respect — qualities at the heart of traditional martial arts.

Where to Experience Samurai Training & Arts in Tokyo

Samurai Sword Training in Harajuku: SAMURAI EXPERIENCE

If you want to feel samurai training with your own body, you can join a hands-on sword lesson in central Tokyo. At SAMURAI EXPERIENCE in Harajuku, professional samurai instructors teach you:

  • How to wear samurai-style costumes
  • Basic sword handling and striking forms
  • Simple iaido-style movements focusing on posture and awareness
  • How to try TATE (samurai stage combat choreography) yourself in a safe, guided way

The session is designed for international visitors, with English support and clear step-by-step instruction. It is a practical way to connect the history in this article with a real physical experience.

Multi-Art Cultural School: HiSUi TOKYO

HiSUi TOKYO offers classes in several traditional arts under one roof — including Japanese sword basics, calligraphy, kimono dressing, and tea ceremony. It is a good option if you want to explore multiple disciplines in a single place.

Calligraphy Workshops in Tokyo

There are several English-friendly calligraphy workshops where you can experience shodō firsthand. For example:

Tea Ceremony Experiences

To explore the calm side of samurai culture, you can join a tea ceremony experience. A few options include:

How to Choose the Right Experience as a Traveler

If You Like Action and Movement

  • Samurai sword workshops (like SAMURAI EXPERIENCE in Harajuku)
  • Trial lessons in iaido or kenjutsu at selected dojos

If You Prefer Calm and Reflection

  • Calligraphy classes focusing on brush control and mindset
  • Tea ceremony sessions with explanations in English

If You Want a “Balanced” Samurai Day

Combine one physical activity (such as sword training) with one quiet cultural activity (such as calligraphy or tea). This combination mirrors how historical samurai balanced martial skills with refined arts.

Conclusion: The Spirit Behind Samurai Training

Iaido, kenjutsu, kyudo, jujutsu, calligraphy, and tea ceremony may look very different on the surface, but they share a common goal: to shape a person who is calm, disciplined, and aware of others. When you join a samurai-related experience in Tokyo, you are not just playing with a sword or brush — you are touching a living tradition of training the body and mind together.