When you imagine a samurai…
what do you see?
A lone warrior standing in the wind.
A steady gaze.
A silent blade drawn at sunset?
For most of us, that image was shaped by illustrations, film, anime, games, and comic books. The samurai in our minds is inherited through fiction.
Martial training can bring you closer to that image — but there is another layer that allows it to fully take shape.
The element of performance.
Samurai performance lives in the details —
in how one stands, moves, and enters a space.
It lives in proper mannerisms, in understanding equipment, in the subtle forms that distinguish one kind of samurai from another.
Even the way a sword is worn can quietly declare who you are —
a proper samurai,
a wandering ronin,
or something else entirely.
Authentic Samurai Online Lesson was created for those who want to explore that deeper layer — beyond just trivia, beyond tourist experiences.
This course offers historical insight, essential background, and foundational techniques for sword-fighting performance — not just so you can hold a sword, but so you can express the character behind it.
Inside a Session
Come for the fun. Stay for the details.
The sessions focus on the skills of samurai performance, from the fundamentals—posture, footwork, handling the katana, and basic cuts—to more advanced movement and choreography. As students continue training, they can build on these foundations while newcomers can begin with the basics.
Along the way, the techniques are explored not only in terms of what to do, but how they work. Insights from other Japanese traditions, movement disciplines, and ongoing research into Japanese movement are introduced whenever they help make a concept clearer, more interesting, or simply more enjoyable to explore.
The goal is simple: to become better at performing a samurai—and to have a great time doing it. The more details you discover, the more there is to enjoy.
Typical flow of a session
0
Arriving
The session opens 30 minutes before the official start time.
Ace will be warming up during this time, and you are welcome to join if you so desire, though this is entirely optional.
Details
This time is only meant to be a buffer, so you may join and spend the time however you wish.
You’re equally free to join right at the start of the lesson.
1
Opening Bow
We begin by stepping into the right mindset. The bow is not a formality — it carries meaning, and we’ll learn what it is.
We will also look briefly at how etiquette shifted across different social classes and historical periods.
2
The Training
What fills the time between the bows varies by session and by the group. The skills build progressively, but the fun does not have to wait until the fundamentals are mastered. A session might begin with a striking cut, an iconic guard, or a dramatic sheathing technique—something that readily evokes the image of a samurai in your mind.
The first time a movement comes together, it feels great. As the excitement settles, there is often a feeling that something could be better, even when it is difficult to say exactly what. A small adjustment at the right moment can make the difference immediately visible. Posture, balance, grip, and alignment, just to name a few, all have a part to play, and each new detail can reveal another way to make the same movement more satisfying.
The deeper the practice goes, the more there is to discover.
Foundations
Learning basic concepts that support the use of a katana.
Details
- Finding proper alignment and posture
- Standing, sitting, walking using center of gravity
- Basic knowledge of how stage combat and samurai performance works, etc…
The focus is not speed or strength, but balance and clarity. Small adjustments go a long way when practice compiles.
No prior experience is needed.
Sword Exercises
Basics of learning how to use a katana to attack, block, parry and more.
Details
- How to hold a katana and why the grip matters
- Different Guards and Stances
- Cuts from different directions to different targets, and the mechanics and intent behind them
- Multiple approaches to defense
- Important safety protocols understood in performance, etc…
Intensity remains low to moderate.
Application
With some fundamentals under the belt, we explore how they translate into performance.
Details
- Different styles of sheathing (including spin sheathing)
- Cuts designed for visual impact
- Simple choreography
- Other performance related techniques
3
Closing Bow
We mark the end a formal lesson with a bow.
4
Open Floor
After the lesson ends, there will be time for casual conversation.
Details
Questions, historical curiosities, film references, performance details — anything related is welcome.
You’re absolutely free to leave at the end of the hour. The additional time is simply there for those who want to hang around a little longer.
Equipment
Required
- Zoom environment
- A safe, light object that can stand in for a katana, short enough to swing comfortably in your space
- Clothing suitable for light movement
Optional
(Enhances the Experience)
- A long strip of cloth to function as an obi
- Something to sit on (such as a yoga mat)
- An object to approximate a sheath
*Please note that use of live blades are strictly prohibited in all our sessions
Lesson Details
Lesson fee
$30
Duration
1 Hour
Location
Online(Zoom)
12 people/class max
Schedule
Please refer to sign-up section
Online Lesson Sign-up(Currently still in Preparation)
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